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04 - Scriptural Christianity - Sermons on Several Occasions · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Scriptural Christianity. Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet and
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Speaker 1: taketh not warning, if the sword come and take him away,
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Speaker 1: his blood shall be upon his own head Ezekiel, thirty three,
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Speaker 1: verse four. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
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Speaker 1: Acts four, verse thirty one. The same expression occurs in
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Speaker 1: the second chapter, where we read when the day of
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Speaker 1: Pentecost was fully come, they were all the apostles, with
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Speaker 1: the women and the Mother of Jesus and his brethren,
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Speaker 1: with one accord, in one place. And suddenly there came
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Speaker 1: a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind.
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Speaker 1: And there appeared under them cloven tongues, like as of fire,
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Speaker 1: and it sat upon each of them, and they were
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Speaker 1: all filled with the Holy Ghost. One immediate effect, whereof
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Speaker 1: was they began to speak with other tongues, insomuch that
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Speaker 1: both the Parthians, medes elm Mites, and the other strangers
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Speaker 1: who came together when this was noised abroad, heard them
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Speaker 1: speak in their several tongues the Wonderful Works of God,
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Speaker 1: Acts two, verses one through six. In this chapter we
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Speaker 1: read that when the apostles and brethren had been praying
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Speaker 1: and praising God, the place was shaken where they were
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Speaker 1: assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
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Speaker 1: Not that we find any visible appearance here such as
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Speaker 1: had been in the former instance. Nor are we informed
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Speaker 1: that the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were then
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Speaker 1: given to all or any of them, such as the
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Speaker 1: gifts of healing, of working other miracles, of prophecy, of
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Speaker 1: discerning spirits, the speaking with divers kinds of tongues, and
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Speaker 1: the interpretation of tongues. One Corinthians twelve, verse nine and ten.
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Speaker 1: Whether these gifts of the Holy Ghost were designed to
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Speaker 1: remain in the church throughout all ages, and whether or
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Speaker 1: no they will be restored at the nearer approach of
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Speaker 1: the restitution of all things are questions which it is
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Speaker 1: not needful to decide. But it is needful to observe this,
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Speaker 1: that even in the infancy of the Church, God divided
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Speaker 1: them with the sparing hand. Were all even then prophets,
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Speaker 1: were all workers of miracles, had all the gifts of healing?
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Speaker 1: Did all speak with tongues? No? In no wise, perhaps
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Speaker 1: not one in a thousand, probably none but the teachers
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Speaker 1: in the church, and only some of them. One Corinthians twelve,
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Speaker 1: verses twenty eight through thirty. It was therefore for a
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Speaker 1: more excellent purpose than this, that they were all filled
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Speaker 1: with the Holy Ghost. It was to give them what
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Speaker 1: none can deny to be essential to all Christians in
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Speaker 1: all ages, the mind which was in Christ, those holy
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Speaker 1: fruits of the Spirit, which whosoever hath not is none
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Speaker 1: of his, to fill them with love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness,
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Speaker 1: goodness Galatians five twenty two through twenty four, to endue
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Speaker 1: them with faith. Perhaps it might be rendered fidelity, with
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Speaker 1: meekness and temperance, to enable them to crucify the flesh
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Speaker 1: with its affections and luss its passions and desires, and
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Speaker 1: in consequence of that inward change, to fulfill all outward righteousness,
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Speaker 1: to walk as Christ also walked in the work of faith,
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Speaker 1: in the patience of hope, the labor of love. First
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Speaker 1: Thessalonians one, verse three. Without busying ourselves, then in curious,
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Speaker 1: needless inquiries touching those extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, let
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Speaker 1: us take a nearer view of these His ordinary fruits,
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Speaker 1: which we are assured will remain throughout all ages, of
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Speaker 1: that great work of God among the children of men,
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Speaker 1: which we are used to express by one word Christianity,
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Speaker 1: not as it applies a set of opinions a system
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Speaker 1: of doctrines, but as it refers to men's hearts and lives.
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Speaker 1: And this Christianity, it may be useful to consider under
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Speaker 1: three distinct views, first as beginning to exist in individuals,
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Speaker 1: second as spreading from one to another, and third as
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Speaker 1: covering the earth. I designed to close these considerations with
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Speaker 1: a plain, practical application. And first, let us consider Christianity
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Speaker 1: in its rise, as beginning to exist in individuals. Suppose,
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Speaker 1: then one of those who heard the apostle Peter preaching
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Speaker 1: repentance and remission of sins, was pricked to the heart,
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Speaker 1: was convinced of sin, repented, and then believed in Jesus.
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Speaker 1: By this faith of the operation of God, which was
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Speaker 1: the very substance or subsistence of things hoped for Hebrews eleven,
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Speaker 1: verse one, the demonstrative evidence of invisible things, he instantly
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Speaker 1: received the spirit of adoption, whereby he now cried Abbah
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Speaker 1: Father Romans eight, verse fifteen. Now, first it was that
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Speaker 1: he could call Jesus Lord by the Holy Ghost first
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Speaker 1: Corinthians twelve, verse three, the spirit itself bearing witness with
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Speaker 1: his spirit, that he was a child of God Romans eight,
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Speaker 1: verse sixteen. Now it was that he could truly say,
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Speaker 1: I live not but Christ liveth in me, and the
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Speaker 1: life which I now live in the flesh. I lived
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Speaker 1: by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
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Speaker 1: and gave himself for me Galatians two, verse twenty. This
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Speaker 1: then was the very essence of his faith, a divine elgos,
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Speaker 1: evidence or conviction of the love of God the Father,
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Speaker 1: through the Son of His love to him. A sinner,
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Speaker 1: now accepted in the beloved, and being justified by faith,
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Speaker 1: he had peace with God Romans five, verse one. YEA,
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Speaker 1: the peace of God ruling in his heart, a peace which,
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Speaker 1: passing all understanding pantin now in all barely rational conception,
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Speaker 1: kept his heart and mind from all doubt and fear.
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Speaker 1: Through the knowledge of Him in whom he had believed.
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Speaker 1: He could not therefore be afraid of any evil tidings,
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Speaker 1: for his heart stood fast, believing in the Lord. He
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Speaker 1: feared not what man could do unto him, knowing the
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Speaker 1: very hairs of his head were all numbered. He feared
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Speaker 1: not all the powers of darkness, whom God was daily
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Speaker 1: bruising under his feet. Least of all he was afraid
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Speaker 1: to die. Nay, he desired to depart and to be
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Speaker 1: with Christ Philippians one, verse twenty three, who through death
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Speaker 1: had destroyed him that had the power of death, even
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Speaker 1: the devil, and delivered them who, through fear of death,
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Speaker 1: were all their lifetime till then subject to bondage Hebrews two,
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Speaker 1: verse fifteen. His soul therefore magnified the Lord, and his
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Speaker 1: spirit rejoiced in God, his Savior. He rejoiced in him
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Speaker 1: with joy unspeakable, who had reconciled him to God, even
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Speaker 1: the Father, in whom he had redemption through his blood,
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Speaker 1: the forgiveness of sins. He rejoiced in that witness of
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Speaker 1: God's Spirit, with his spirit, that he was a child
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Speaker 1: of God, and more abundantly in hope of the glory
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Speaker 1: of God, in hope of the glorious image of God,
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Speaker 1: in full renewal of his soul, in righteousness and true holiness,
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Speaker 1: and in hope of that crown of Glory, that inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled.
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Speaker 1: In that fateth not away. The love of God was
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Speaker 1: also shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost,
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Speaker 1: which was given unto him. Romans five verse five. Because
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Speaker 1: he was a son, God had sent forth the spirit
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Speaker 1: of his son into his heart, crying Abbah Father, Galatians four,
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Speaker 1: verse six. And that flile love of God was continually
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Speaker 1: increased by the witness he had in himself First John five,
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Speaker 1: verse ten, of God's pardoning love to him by beholding
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Speaker 1: what manner of love it was which the Father had
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Speaker 1: bestowed upon him, that he should be called the child
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Speaker 1: of God. First John three, verse one. So that God
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Speaker 1: was the desire of his eyes and the joy of
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Speaker 1: his heart, his portion in time and eternity. He that
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Speaker 1: thus loved God could not but love his brother also,
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Speaker 1: and not in word only, but in deed and in truth.
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Speaker 1: If God said he so loved us, we ought also
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Speaker 1: to love one another. First John four, verse eleven. Yea,
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Speaker 1: every soul of man, as the mercy of God is
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Speaker 1: over all his works Psalm one of forty five, verse nine. Agreeably.
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Speaker 1: Here too, the affection of this lover of God embraced
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Speaker 1: all mankind for his sake, not excepting those whom he
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Speaker 1: had never seen in the flesh, or those of whom
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Speaker 1: he knew nothing more than that they were the offspring
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Speaker 1: of God, for whose souls his son had died, not
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Speaker 1: accepting the evil and unthankful, and least of all his enemies,
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Speaker 1: those who hated or persecuted, or despitefully used him. For
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Speaker 1: his master's sake, these had a peculiar place both in
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Speaker 1: his heart and in his prayers. He loved them even
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Speaker 1: as Christ loved us. And love is not puffed up
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Speaker 1: one Corinthians thirteen, verse four. It abases to the dust
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Speaker 1: every soul wherein it dwells. Accordingly, he was lowly of heart, little, mean,
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Speaker 1: and vile in his own eyes. He neither sought nor
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Speaker 1: received the praise of men, but that which cometh of
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Speaker 1: God only. He was meek and long suffering, gentle to all,
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Speaker 1: and easy to be entreated. Faithfulness in truth never forsook him.
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Speaker 1: They were bound about his neck and wrote on the
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Speaker 1: table of his heart. By the same spirit he was
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Speaker 1: enabled to be temperate in all things, refraining a soul,
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Speaker 1: even as a weaned child. He was crucified to the world,
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Speaker 1: and the world crucis to him, superior to the desire
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Speaker 1: of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the
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Speaker 1: pride of life. By the same almighty love was he
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Speaker 1: saved both from passion and pride from lust and vanity,
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Speaker 1: from ambition and coveteousness, and from every temper which was
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Speaker 1: not in Christ. It may be easily believed he who
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Speaker 1: had this love in his heart would work no evil
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Speaker 1: to his neighbor. It was impossible for him, knowingly and designedly,
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Speaker 1: to do harm to any man. He was at the
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Speaker 1: greatest distance from cruelty and wrong, from any unjust or
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Speaker 1: unkind action. With the same care did he set a
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Speaker 1: watch before his mouth and keep the door of his lips,
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Speaker 1: lest he should offend in tongue, either against justice or
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Speaker 1: against mercy or truth. He put away all lying, falsehood
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Speaker 1: and fraud. Neither was guile found in his mouth. He
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Speaker 1: spake evil of no man, nor did any unkind word
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Speaker 1: ever come out of his lips. And as he was
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Speaker 1: deeply sensible of the truth of that word, without me,
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Speaker 1: ye can do nothing. And consequently of the need he
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Speaker 1: had to be watered of God every moment. So he
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Speaker 1: continued daily in all the ordinances of God, the stated
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Speaker 1: channels of His grace to man, in the apostle's doctrine
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Speaker 1: or teaching, receiving that food of the soul with all
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Speaker 1: readiness of heart, in the breaking of bread, which he
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Speaker 1: found to be the communion of the Body of Christ,
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Speaker 1: and in the prayers and praise is offered up by
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Speaker 1: the Great Congregation. And thus he daily grew in grace,
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Speaker 1: increasing in strength in the knowledge and love of God.
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Speaker 1: But it did not satisfy him barely to abstain from
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Speaker 1: doing evil. His soul was athirst to do good. The
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Speaker 1: language of his heart continually was, my Father worketh hitherto,
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Speaker 1: and I work my Lord went about doing good, and
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Speaker 1: shall not I tread in his tie as he had opportunity. Therefore,
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Speaker 1: if he could do no good of a higher kind,
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Speaker 1: he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, helped the fatherless
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Speaker 1: or stranger, visited and assisted them that were sick or
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Speaker 1: in prison. He gave all his goods to feed the poor.
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Speaker 1: He rejoiced to labor or to suffer for them, and
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Speaker 1: whereinsoever he might profit another there especially to deny himself.
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Speaker 1: He counted nothing too dear to part with for them,
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Speaker 1: as well as remembering the word of his Lord. Inasmuch
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Speaker 1: as he had done it unto the one of the
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Speaker 1: least of these my brethren, he have done it unto me.
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Speaker 1: Matthew twenty five Verse forty. Such was Christianity in its rise,
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Speaker 1: Such was a Christian in ancient days. Such was every
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Speaker 1: one of those who, when they heard the threatenings of
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Speaker 1: the chief priests and elders, lifted up their voice to
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Speaker 1: God with one accord, and were all filled with the
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Speaker 1: Holy Ghost. The multitude of them that believed were of
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Speaker 1: one heart and of one soul. So did the love
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Speaker 1: of Him in whom they had believed constrain them to
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Speaker 1: love one another. Neither said any of them that aught
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Speaker 1: of the things which he possessed was his own. But
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Speaker 1: they all had all things in common. So fully were
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Speaker 1: they crucified to the world, and the world crucified to them.
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Speaker 1: And they continued steadfastly with one accord in the apostles doctrine,
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Speaker 1: and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers Acts two,
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Speaker 1: verse forty two. And great grace was upon them all.
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Speaker 1: Neither was there any among them that lacked, For as
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Speaker 1: many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them,
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Speaker 1: and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
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Speaker 1: and laid them down at the apostles feet, And distribution
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Speaker 1: was made unto every man according as he had need.
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Speaker 1: Acts four verses thirty one through thirty five. Let us
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Speaker 1: take a view in the second place of this Christianity
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Speaker 1: as spreading from one to another, and so gradually making
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Speaker 1: its way into the world. For such was the will
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Speaker 1: of God concerning it. Who did not light a candle
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Speaker 1: to put it under a bushel, but that it might
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Speaker 1: give light to all that were in the house. And
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Speaker 1: this our Lord had declared to his first disciples, Ye
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Speaker 1: are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.
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Speaker 1: At the same time that he gave that general command,
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Speaker 1: Let your light so shine before men, that they may
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Speaker 1: see your good works and glorify your Father, which is
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Speaker 1: in heaven Matthew five, Verses thirteen through sixteen. And indeed,
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Speaker 1: supposing a few of these lovers of mankind to see
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Speaker 1: the whole world lying in wickedness, can we believe they
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Speaker 1: would be unconcerned at the sight at the misery of
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Speaker 1: those for whom their lord died. Would not their bowels
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Speaker 1: yearn over them and their hearts melt away for very trouble?
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Speaker 1: Could they then stand idle all the day long, even
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Speaker 1: were there no command from him whom they loved. Rather,
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Speaker 1: would they not labor by all possible means to pluck
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Speaker 1: some of these brands out of the burning. Undoubtedly they would.
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Speaker 1: They would spare no pains to bring back whomsoever they could,
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Speaker 1: of those poor sheep that had gone astray to the
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Speaker 1: Great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls Verse Peter two,
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Speaker 1: verse twenty five. So the Christians of old did. They labored,
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Speaker 1: having opportunity to do good unto all men. Galatians six,
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Speaker 1: verse ten, warning them to flee from the wrath, to
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Speaker 1: come now now to escape the damnation of hell. They declared,
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Speaker 1: the times of ignorance God winked at, but now He
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Speaker 1: calleth all men every word to repent. Acts seventeen, verse thirty.
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Speaker 1: They cried aloud, turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways,
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Speaker 1: so iniquity shall not be your ruin Physekul eighteen, verse thirty.
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Speaker 1: They reasoned with them of temperance and righteousness, or justice
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Speaker 1: of the virtues opposite to their reigning sins, and of
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Speaker 1: judgment to come of the wrath of God, which would
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Speaker 1: surely be executed on evil doers in that day when
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Speaker 1: He should judge the world. Acts twenty four, verse twenty five.
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Speaker 1: They endeavored herein to speak to every man severally, as
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Speaker 1: he had need to the careless, To those who lay
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Speaker 1: unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death, they thundered, Awake,
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Speaker 1: thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall
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Speaker 1: give thee light. But to those who are already awakened
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Speaker 1: out of sleep and groaning under a sense of the
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Speaker 1: wrath of God, their language was, we have an advocate
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Speaker 1: with the Father. He is the propitiation for our sins. Meantime,
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Speaker 1: those who had believed, they provoked to love and to
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Speaker 1: good works, to patient continuance in well doing, and to
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Speaker 1: abound more and more in that holiness without which no
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Speaker 1: man can see the Lord Hebrews twelve, verse fourteen. And
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Speaker 1: their labor was not in vain. In the Lord, his
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Speaker 1: word ran and was glorified. It grew mightily and prevailed.
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Speaker 1: But so much the more did offenses prevail. Also the
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Speaker 1: world in general were offended, because they testified of it
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Speaker 1: that the works thereof were evil. John seven, verse seven.
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Speaker 1: The men of pleasure were offended, not only because these
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Speaker 1: men were made, as it were, to reprove their thoughts.
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Speaker 1: He Professeth said they to have the knowledge of God.
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Speaker 1: He calleth himself the child of the Lord. His life
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Speaker 1: is not like other men's. His ways are of another fashion.
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Speaker 1: He abstaineth from our ways, as from filthiness. He maketh
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Speaker 1: his boast that God is his father wisdom two verses
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Speaker 1: thirteen through sixteen. But much more because so many of
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Speaker 1: their companions were taken away and would no more run
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Speaker 1: with them to the same excess of riot Verse Peter four,
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Speaker 1: verse four. The men of reputation were offended because as
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Speaker 1: the Gospel spread, they declined in the esteem of the people,
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Speaker 1: and because many no longer dared to give them flattering
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Speaker 1: titles or to pay man the homage due to God.
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Speaker 1: Only the men of trade called one another together and said, Sir,
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Speaker 1: as ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
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Speaker 1: But ye see and hear that these men have persuaded
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Speaker 1: and turned away much people, so that this our craft
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Speaker 1: is in danger to be set at naught Acts nineteen,
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Speaker 1: verses twenty five. In following above all, the men of religion,
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Speaker 1: so called the men of outside religion, the saints of
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Speaker 1: the world, were offended and ready at every opportunity to
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Speaker 1: cry out, Men of Israel, help. We have found these
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Speaker 1: men pestilent fellows movers of sedition. Throughout the world, Acts
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Speaker 1: twenty four, verse five. These are the men that teach
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Speaker 1: all men everywhere against the people and against this place.
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Speaker 1: Acts twenty one, verse twenty eight. Thus it was that
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Speaker 1: the heavens grew black with clouds, and the storm gathered
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Speaker 1: a main for the more Christianity spread, the more hurt
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Speaker 1: was done in the account of those who received it not,
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Speaker 1: and the number increased of those who were more and
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Speaker 1: more enraged at these men, who thus turned the world
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Speaker 1: upside down. Acts seventeen, verse six. Insomuch that more and
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Speaker 1: more cried out away with such fellows from the earth.
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Speaker 1: It is not fit that they should live, yea, and
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Speaker 1: sincerely believed that whosoever should kill them would do God's service. Meanwhile,
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Speaker 1: they did not fail to cast out their names as
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Speaker 1: evil Lukes six, verse twenty two, so that this sect
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Speaker 1: was everywhere spoken against. Acts twenty seven, verse twenty two.
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Speaker 1: Men said all manner of evil of them, even as
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Speaker 1: had been done of the prophets that were before them
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Speaker 1: Matthew five, verse twelve. And whatsoever any would affirm, others
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Speaker 1: would believe. So that offenses grew as the stars of
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Speaker 1: heaven for multitude, and hence arose at the the time
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Speaker 1: for ordained of the Father, persecution in all its forms.
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Speaker 1: Some for a season suffered only shame and reproach, some
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Speaker 1: the spoiling of their goods. Some had trial of mocking
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Speaker 1: and scourging, some of bonds and imprisonment, and others resisted
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Speaker 1: unto blood Hebrews ten, verse thirty four and eleven, verse
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Speaker 1: thirty six, and following. Now it was that the pillars
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Speaker 1: of hell were shaken, and the kingdom of God spread.
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Speaker 1: More and more sinners were everywhere turned from darkness to light,
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Speaker 1: and from the power of Satan unto God. He gave
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Speaker 1: his children such a mouth and such wisdom as all
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Speaker 1: their adversaries could not resist. And their lives were of
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Speaker 1: equal force with their words. But above all their suffering
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Speaker 1: spake to all the world. They approved themselves the servants
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Speaker 1: of God, in afflictions, in necessities and distresses, in stripes
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Speaker 1: and imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in perils in the sea,
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Speaker 1: imperils in the wilderness, in weariness and painfulness, in hunger
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Speaker 1: and thirst, in cold and nakedness tewod Corinthians six, verse
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Speaker 1: four and following. And when having fought the good fight,
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Speaker 1: they were led as sheep to the slaughter and offered
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Speaker 1: up on the sacrifice and service of their faith. Then
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Speaker 1: the blood of each found a voice, and they heathen
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Speaker 1: owned he, being dead, yet speaketh. Thus did Christianity spread
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Speaker 1: itself in the earth. But how soon did the terrors
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Speaker 1: appear with the wheat and the mystery of iniquity work
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Speaker 1: as well as the mystery of godliness. How soon did
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Speaker 1: Satan find deceit even in the temple of God, till
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Speaker 1: the woman fled into the wilderness, and the faithful or
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Speaker 1: again minished from the children of men. Here we tread
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Speaker 1: a beaten path. The still unceasing corruptions of the succeeding
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Speaker 1: generations have been largely described from time to time time
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Speaker 1: by those witnesses. God raised up to show that he
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Speaker 1: had built his church upon a rock, and the gates
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Speaker 1: of hell should not wholly prevail against her Matthew sixteen,
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Speaker 1: verse eighteen. But shall we not see greater things than these?
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Speaker 1: Yea greater than have been yet from the beginning of
22:20
Speaker 1: the world. Can Satan cause the truth of God to
22:23
Speaker 1: fail or his promises to be of none effect? If not,
22:27
Speaker 1: the time will come when Christianity will prevail overall and
22:30
Speaker 1: cover the earth. Let us stand a little and survey
22:35
Speaker 1: the third thing which was proposed, this strange sight, a
22:39
Speaker 1: Christian world. Of this the prophets of old inquired and
22:43
Speaker 1: searched diligently one Peter one, verses ten and eleven. And
22:48
Speaker 1: following of this the spirit which was in them testified.
22:53
Speaker 1: It shall come to pass in the last days that
22:55
Speaker 1: the mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in
22:58
Speaker 1: the top of the mountains, and shall be exact alted
23:00
Speaker 1: above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it,
23:04
Speaker 1: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their
23:06
Speaker 1: spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword
23:10
Speaker 1: against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah two,
23:15
Speaker 1: verses one through four. In that day there shall be
23:19
Speaker 1: a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign
23:22
Speaker 1: of the people, to wit shall the gentiles seek, And
23:26
Speaker 1: his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to
23:29
Speaker 1: pass in that day that the Lord shall set his
23:31
Speaker 1: hand again to recover the remnant of his people, and
23:34
Speaker 1: he shall set up an ensign for the nations. Shall
23:37
Speaker 1: assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed
23:41
Speaker 1: of Judah from the four corners of the earth Isaiah eleven,
23:45
Speaker 1: verses ten through twelve. The wolf shall then dwell with
23:49
Speaker 1: the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the
23:52
Speaker 1: kid and the calf, and the young lion and the
23:55
Speaker 1: fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. They
23:59
Speaker 1: shall not hurt nor destroy saith the Lord in all
24:02
Speaker 1: my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of
24:05
Speaker 1: the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the
24:07
Speaker 1: sea Isaiah eleven, verses six through nine. To the same
24:12
Speaker 1: effect are the words of the Great Apostle, which it
24:15
Speaker 1: is evident, have never yet been fulfilled. Hath God cast
24:20
Speaker 1: away as people God forbid? But through their fall salvation
24:25
Speaker 1: is come to the gentiles. And if the diminishing of
24:28
Speaker 1: them be the riches of the gentiles, how much more
24:31
Speaker 1: their fullness. For I would not brethren, that you should
24:34
Speaker 1: be ignorant of this mystery, that blindness in part is
24:37
Speaker 1: happened to Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be
24:40
Speaker 1: come in, and so all Israel shall be saved. Romans eleven,
24:46
Speaker 1: verses one, eleven, twenty five, and twenty six. Suppose now
24:52
Speaker 1: the fullness of time to become, and the prophecies to
24:55
Speaker 1: be accomplished. What a prospect is this? All is peace, quietness,
25:01
Speaker 1: and assurance forever. Here is no din of arms, no
25:05
Speaker 1: confused noise, no garments rolled in blood. Destructions are come
25:11
Speaker 1: to a perpetual end. Wars are ceased from the earth.
25:15
Speaker 1: Neither are there any intestine jars remaining, No brother rising
25:20
Speaker 1: up against brother, no country or city divided against itself
25:23
Speaker 1: and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord is at
25:27
Speaker 1: an end for evermore, and none is left either to
25:30
Speaker 1: destroy or hurt his neighbor. Here is no oppression to
25:34
Speaker 1: make even the wise man mad, no extortion to grind
25:40
Speaker 1: the face of the poor, no robbery or wrong, no
25:43
Speaker 1: rapine or injustice. For all are content with such things
25:47
Speaker 1: as they possess. Thus, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
25:52
Speaker 1: Psalm eighty five, verse ten. They have taken root and
25:56
Speaker 1: filled the land, Righteousness flourishing out of the earth, and
26:00
Speaker 1: peace looking down from heaven. And with the righteousness of justice,
26:04
Speaker 1: mercy is also found. The earth is no longer full
26:07
Speaker 1: of cruel habitations. The Lord hath destroyed both the blood
26:11
Speaker 1: thirsty and malicious, the envious and revengeful man. Were there
26:16
Speaker 1: any provocation, there is none that now knoweth to return
26:20
Speaker 1: evil for evil. But indeed there is none that doeth evil,
26:23
Speaker 1: no not one, For all are harmless as doves, and
26:28
Speaker 1: being filled with peace and joy in believing, ununited in
26:32
Speaker 1: one body by one spirit. They all love is brethren.
26:36
Speaker 1: They are all of one heart and of one's soul.
26:40
Speaker 1: Neither saith any of them that aught, of the things
26:43
Speaker 1: which he possesseth is his own. There is none among
26:46
Speaker 1: them that lacketh. For every man loveth his neighbor as himself,
26:50
Speaker 1: and all walk by one rule. Whatever ye would that
26:54
Speaker 1: men should do unto you, even so do unto them.
26:57
Speaker 1: It follows that no unkind word can ever be heard
27:00
Speaker 1: among them, no strife of tongues, no contention of any kind,
27:05
Speaker 1: no railing or evil speaking. But every one opens his
27:08
Speaker 1: mouth with wisdom, and in his tongue there is the
27:12
Speaker 1: law of kindness. Equally incapable are they of fraud or guile.
27:17
Speaker 1: Their love is without dissimulation. Their words are always the
27:21
Speaker 1: just expression of their thoughts, opening a window into their breast,
27:25
Speaker 1: that whosoever desires may look into their hearts and see
27:30
Speaker 1: that only love and God are there. Thus, where the
27:34
Speaker 1: Lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power, and reigneth.
27:38
Speaker 1: Doth he subdue all things to himself, cause every heart
27:42
Speaker 1: to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise.
27:46
Speaker 1: Happy are the people that are in such a case.
27:49
Speaker 1: Yea blessed are the people who have the Lord for
27:51
Speaker 1: their god. Psalm one forty four, verse fifteen. A rise, shine,
27:58
Speaker 1: saith the Lord, for thy light is come, and the
28:01
Speaker 1: glory of the Lord has risen upon thee. Thou hast
28:04
Speaker 1: known that I the Lord and thy Savior, in thy Redeemer,
28:08
Speaker 1: the Mighty God of Jacob, I have made thy officer's
28:12
Speaker 1: peace and thy exactor's righteousness. Violence shall no more be
28:16
Speaker 1: heard in the land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders.
28:21
Speaker 1: But thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise.
28:26
Speaker 1: Thy people are all righteous. They shall inherit the land forever,
28:30
Speaker 1: the branch of my planting the work of my hands,
28:34
Speaker 1: that I may be glorified. The sun shall be no
28:37
Speaker 1: more thy light by day, Neither for brightness shall the
28:41
Speaker 1: moon give light unto thee. But the Lord shall be
28:44
Speaker 1: unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory
28:49
Speaker 1: Isaiah sixty verses one and sixteen through nineteen. Having thus
28:55
Speaker 1: briefly considered Christianity as beginning, as going on, and as
29:00
Speaker 1: covering the earth, it remains only that I should close
29:03
Speaker 1: the whole with a plain practical application. And first I
29:07
Speaker 1: would ask, where does as Christianity now exist, Where I pray,
29:12
Speaker 1: do the Christians live? Which is the country the inhabitants,
29:15
Speaker 1: whereof are all thus filled with the Holy Ghost, are
29:20
Speaker 1: all of one heart and of one soul. Cannot suffer
29:23
Speaker 1: one among them to lack anything, but continually give to
29:27
Speaker 1: every man as he hath need, who one and all
29:32
Speaker 1: have the love of God, filling their hearts, and constraining
29:35
Speaker 1: them to love thy neighbor as themselves, who have all
29:39
Speaker 1: put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long suffering,
29:44
Speaker 1: who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed,
29:47
Speaker 1: against justice, mercy or truth, but in every point do
29:50
Speaker 1: unto all men as they would these should do unto
29:53
Speaker 1: them with What propriety can we term any a Christian
29:57
Speaker 1: country which does not answer this description? Why, then, let
30:01
Speaker 1: us confess we have never yet seen a Christian country
30:04
Speaker 1: upon earth. I beseech you, brother, by the mercies of God,
30:08
Speaker 1: if ye do account me a madman or a fool,
30:11
Speaker 1: yet as a fool, bear with me. It is utterly
30:14
Speaker 1: needful that some one should use great plainness of speech
30:18
Speaker 1: towards you. It is more especially needful at this time,
30:22
Speaker 1: for who knoweth, But it is the last who knoweth.
30:25
Speaker 1: How soon the righteous judge may say, I will no
30:29
Speaker 1: more be entreated for this people. Though Noah, Daniel and
30:33
Speaker 1: Job were in this land, they should but deliver their
30:35
Speaker 1: own souls. And who will use this plainness if I
30:39
Speaker 1: do not? Therefore I even I will speak, and I
30:43
Speaker 1: adjure you by the Living God that ye steal not
30:46
Speaker 1: your breasts against receiving a blessing at my hands. Do
30:50
Speaker 1: not say in your hearts non persuad debis etiamsi persuas suis.
30:57
Speaker 1: Your persuasions shall not prevail with us, even though they
31:00
Speaker 1: should really convince us. Or in other words, Lord, thou
31:06
Speaker 1: shalt not send by whom thou wilt send. Let me
31:09
Speaker 1: rather perish in my blood than be saved by this man. Brethren,
31:14
Speaker 1: I am persuaded better things of you, though I thus speak.
31:18
Speaker 1: Let me ask you, then, in tender love and in
31:20
Speaker 1: the spirit of meekness, is this city a Christian city
31:25
Speaker 1: is Christianity, scriptural Christianity. Found here are we considered as
31:31
Speaker 1: a community of men, so filled with the holy ghosts
31:34
Speaker 1: as to enjoy in our hearts and show forth in
31:37
Speaker 1: our lives the genuine fruits of that spirit. Are all
31:41
Speaker 1: the magistrates, all heads and governors of colleges and halls
31:45
Speaker 1: in their respective societies, not to speak of the inhabitants
31:49
Speaker 1: of the town. Of one heart and one soul is
31:53
Speaker 1: the love of God shed abroad in our hearts? Are
31:57
Speaker 1: our tempers the same that were in him? And are
32:01
Speaker 1: our lives agreeable? There too are we wholy as He
32:06
Speaker 1: who hath called us is holy. In all manner of conversation,
32:09
Speaker 1: I entreat you to observe that here are no peculiar notions.
32:13
Speaker 1: Now under consideration that the question moved is not concerning
32:17
Speaker 1: doubtful opinions of one kind or another, but concerning the
32:21
Speaker 1: undoubted fundamental branches, if there be any such of our
32:25
Speaker 1: common Christianity. And for the decision thereof, I appeal to
32:30
Speaker 1: your own conscience, guided by the word of God. He therefore,
32:35
Speaker 1: that is not condemned by his own heart, let him
32:37
Speaker 1: go free in the fear, then, and in the presence
32:40
Speaker 1: of the Great God, before whom both you and I
32:43
Speaker 1: shall shortly appear. I pray you that are in authority
32:46
Speaker 1: over us, whom I reverence for your office's sake to consider,
32:51
Speaker 1: and not after the manner of dissemblers with God? Are
32:55
Speaker 1: you filled with the Holy Ghost? Are you lively portraitures
32:58
Speaker 1: of Him whom ye are appointed to represent? Among men?
33:02
Speaker 1: I have said, ye are gods, ye magistrates and rulers.
33:07
Speaker 1: Ye are by office so nearly allied to the God
33:10
Speaker 1: of Heaven. In your several stations and degrees ye are
33:14
Speaker 1: to show forth unto us the Lord, our governor. Are
33:18
Speaker 1: all the thoughts of your hearts, all your tempers and
33:21
Speaker 1: desires suitable to your high calling? Are all your words
33:26
Speaker 1: like unto those which come out of the mouth of God?
33:30
Speaker 1: Is there in all your actions dignity and love a
33:33
Speaker 1: greatness which words cannot express, which can flow only from
33:38
Speaker 1: a heart full of God? And yet consistent with the
33:41
Speaker 1: character of man that is a worm, and the son
33:45
Speaker 1: of man that is a worm. Ye venerable men, who
33:49
Speaker 1: are more especially called to form the tender minds of
33:52
Speaker 1: youth to dispel, thence the shades of ignorance and error,
33:56
Speaker 1: and train them up to be wise into salvation. Are
33:59
Speaker 1: you filled with the Holy Ghost, with all those fruits
34:03
Speaker 1: of the spirit which your important office so indispensably requires.
34:07
Speaker 1: Is your heart whole with God, full of love and
34:11
Speaker 1: zeal to set up His kingdom on earth? Do you
34:14
Speaker 1: continually remind those under your care that the one rational
34:17
Speaker 1: end of all our studies is to know love and
34:21
Speaker 1: serve the only true God, in Jesus Christ, whom he
34:24
Speaker 1: hath sent. Do you inculcate upon them day by day
34:29
Speaker 1: that love alone never faileth, whereas whether there be tongues
34:33
Speaker 1: they shall fail, or philosophical knowledge it shall vanish away.
34:39
Speaker 1: And that without love, all learning is but splendid ignorance,
34:43
Speaker 1: pompous folly, vexation of spirit. As all you teach an
34:48
Speaker 1: actual tendency to the love of God and of all
34:51
Speaker 1: mankind for His sake, have you an eye to this
34:54
Speaker 1: end in whatever you prescribe, touching the kind, the manner,
34:58
Speaker 1: and the measure of their study, desiring and laboring that
35:02
Speaker 1: wherever the lot of these young soldiers of Christ is cast,
35:06
Speaker 1: they may be so many burning and shining lights, adorning
35:09
Speaker 1: the Gospel of Christ in all things, and permit me
35:13
Speaker 1: to ask, do you put forth all your strength in
35:16
Speaker 1: the vast work you have undertaken? Do you labor herein
35:21
Speaker 1: with all your might, exerting every faculty of your soul,
35:25
Speaker 1: using every talent which God hath lent you, and that
35:28
Speaker 1: to the uttermost of your power. Let it not be
35:31
Speaker 1: said that I speak here as if all under your
35:33
Speaker 1: care were intended to be clergymen. Not so, I only
35:39
Speaker 1: speak as if they were all intended to be Christians.
35:42
Speaker 1: But what example is set them by us who enjoy
35:46
Speaker 1: the beneficence of our forefathers, by fellows, students, scholars, more
35:51
Speaker 1: especially those who are of some rank and eminence, Do ye, brethren,
35:55
Speaker 1: abound in the fruits of the spirit, in lowliness of mind,
35:59
Speaker 1: in self denial and mortification, in seriousness and composure of spirit,
36:04
Speaker 1: in patience, meekness, sobriety, temperance, and in unwearied restless endeavors
36:09
Speaker 1: to do good in every kind unto all men, to
36:12
Speaker 1: relieve their outward wants, and to bring their souls to
36:15
Speaker 1: the true knowledge and love of God. Is this the
36:19
Speaker 1: general character of fellows of colleges? I fear it is not. Rather,
36:24
Speaker 1: have not pride and haughtiness of spirit, impatience and peevishness,
36:28
Speaker 1: sloth and indolence, gluttony and sensuality, and even a proverbial
36:33
Speaker 1: uselessness been objected to us, perhaps not always by our enemies,
36:38
Speaker 1: nor holy without ground. Oh, that God would roll away
36:42
Speaker 1: this reproach from us, that the very memory of it
36:45
Speaker 1: might perish forever. Many of us are more immediately consecrated
36:49
Speaker 1: to God, called to minister in holy things? Are we
36:52
Speaker 1: then patterns to the rest, in word, in conversation, in charity,
36:57
Speaker 1: and spirit, in faith, in purity? One Timothy four, verse twelve.
37:02
Speaker 1: Is there written on our forehead, in our hearts holiness
37:05
Speaker 1: to the Lord? From What motives did we enter upon
37:08
Speaker 1: this office? Was it indeed with a single eye to
37:11
Speaker 1: serve God? Trusting that we were inwardly moved by the
37:14
Speaker 1: Holy Ghost to take upon us this ministration for the
37:18
Speaker 1: promoting of His glory and the edifying of His people.
37:21
Speaker 1: And have we clearly determined by God's grace to give
37:24
Speaker 1: ourselves holy to this office? Do we forsake and set aside,
37:28
Speaker 1: as much as in us lies all worldly cares and studies?
37:32
Speaker 1: Do we apply ourselves holy to this one thing? And
37:35
Speaker 1: draw all our cares and studies this way? Are we
37:39
Speaker 1: apt to teach? Are we taught of God? That we
37:42
Speaker 1: may be able to teach others? Also? Do we know God?
37:46
Speaker 1: Do we know Jesus Christ? Hath God revealed his son
37:49
Speaker 1: in us? And hath he made us able ministers of
37:53
Speaker 1: the New Covenant? Where then are the seals of our apostleship?
37:58
Speaker 1: Who that were dead and trust asses and sins have
38:01
Speaker 1: been quickened by our own word? Have we a burning
38:04
Speaker 1: zeal to save souls from death? So that for their
38:07
Speaker 1: sake we often forget even to eat our bread? Do
38:11
Speaker 1: we speak plain by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves
38:15
Speaker 1: to every man's conscience in the sight of God? Second
38:18
Speaker 1: Corinthians four, verse two. Are we dead to the world
38:23
Speaker 1: and the things of the world? Laying up all our
38:25
Speaker 1: treasure in heaven? Do we lord over God's heritage? Or
38:30
Speaker 1: are we the least the servants of all? When we
38:33
Speaker 1: bear the reproach of Christ? Does it sit heavy upon us?
38:37
Speaker 1: Or do we rejoice therein? When we are smitten on
38:41
Speaker 1: the one cheek, do we resent it? Are we impatient
38:45
Speaker 1: of affronts? Or do we turn the other also? Not
38:49
Speaker 1: resisting the evil but overcoming evil with good? Have we
38:52
Speaker 1: a bitter zeal inciting us to strive sharply and passionately
38:55
Speaker 1: with them that are out of the way? Or is
38:59
Speaker 1: our zeal the flame of love, so as to direct
39:02
Speaker 1: all our words with sweetness, lowliness, and meekness of wisdom.
39:06
Speaker 1: Once more, what shall we say concerning the youth of
39:09
Speaker 1: this place? Have you either the form or the power
39:13
Speaker 1: of Christian godliness? Are you humble, teachable, advisable or stubborn?
39:18
Speaker 1: Self willed? Heady and high minded? Are you obedient to
39:21
Speaker 1: your superiors as to parents? Or do you despise those
39:25
Speaker 1: to whom you owe the tenderest reverence? Are you diligent
39:29
Speaker 1: in your easy business, pursuing your studies with all your strength?
39:33
Speaker 1: Do you redeem the time crowding as much work into
39:36
Speaker 1: every day as it can contain? Rather, are you not
39:41
Speaker 1: conscious to yourselves that you waste away day after day,
39:44
Speaker 1: either in reading what has no tendency to Christianity, or
39:48
Speaker 1: in gaming or in you know not what? Are you
39:53
Speaker 1: better managers of your fortune than of your time? Do you,
39:57
Speaker 1: out of principle, take care to owe no man anything?
40:01
Speaker 1: Do you remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,
40:04
Speaker 1: to spend it in the more immediate worship of God.
40:08
Speaker 1: When you are in His house? Do you consider that
40:11
Speaker 1: God is there? Do you behave as seeing Him that
40:14
Speaker 1: is invisible? Do you know how to possess your bodies
40:18
Speaker 1: in sanctification and honor? Are not drunkenness and uncleanness found
40:23
Speaker 1: among you? Yea? Are there not of you who glory
40:27
Speaker 1: in their shame? Do not many of you take the
40:30
Speaker 1: name of God in vain, perhaps habitually, without either remorse
40:34
Speaker 1: or fear? Yea, are there not a multitude of you
40:37
Speaker 1: that are forsworn? I fear a swiftly increasing multitude. Be
40:42
Speaker 1: not surprised, brethren, before God and this congregation. I own
40:46
Speaker 1: myself to have been of the number, solemnly swearing to
40:49
Speaker 1: observe all those customs which I then knew nothing of,
40:53
Speaker 1: and those statutes which I did not so much as
40:56
Speaker 1: read over, either then or for some years after. What
41:00
Speaker 1: is perjury if this is not? But if it be, oh,
41:04
Speaker 1: what a weight of sin? YEA sin of no common
41:07
Speaker 1: die lieth upon us, and doth not the most high
41:11
Speaker 1: regard it? May it not be one of the consequences
41:15
Speaker 1: of this that so many of you are a generation
41:18
Speaker 1: of triflers triflers with God, with one another, and with
41:22
Speaker 1: your own souls. For how few of you spend from
41:26
Speaker 1: one week to another a single hour in private prayer?
41:30
Speaker 1: How few have any thought of God in the general
41:33
Speaker 1: tenor of your conversation. Who of you is in any
41:36
Speaker 1: degree acquainted with the work of His Spirit, his supernatural
41:40
Speaker 1: work in the souls of men? Can you bear unless
41:44
Speaker 1: now and then in a church any talk of the
41:46
Speaker 1: Holy Ghost? Would you not take it for granted if
41:50
Speaker 1: one began such a conversation that it was either hypocrisy
41:53
Speaker 1: or enthusiasm. In the name of the Lord God Almighty,
41:57
Speaker 1: I ask what religion are you of? Even the talk
42:00
Speaker 1: of Christianity ye cannot will not bear. Oh, my brethren,
42:05
Speaker 1: what a Christian city this is. It is time for
42:08
Speaker 1: thee Lord to lay to thine hand, For indeed, what probability,
42:13
Speaker 1: what possibility? Rather speaking after the manner of men, is
42:17
Speaker 1: there that Christianity, scriptural Christianity should be again the religion
42:22
Speaker 1: of this place, that all orders of men among us
42:26
Speaker 1: should speak and live as men filled with the Holy Ghost?
42:29
Speaker 1: By whom should this Christianity be restored? By those of
42:33
Speaker 1: you that are in authority, Are you convinced then that
42:36
Speaker 1: this is scriptural Christianity. Are you desirous it should be restored?
42:41
Speaker 1: And do ye not count your fortune, liberty, life dear
42:45
Speaker 1: unto yourselves? So ye may be instrumental in the restoring
42:49
Speaker 1: of it. But suppose ye have this desire, who hath
42:52
Speaker 1: any power proportion to the effect. Perhaps some of you
42:56
Speaker 1: have made a few faint attempts, but with house small success.
43:01
Speaker 1: Shall Christianity then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men.
43:07
Speaker 1: I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it would
43:10
Speaker 1: not some of you cry out, young man, in so doing,
43:13
Speaker 1: thou reproachest us. But there is no danger of your
43:17
Speaker 1: being put to the proof. So hath iniquity overspread us
43:21
Speaker 1: like a flood? Whom then shall God send the famine,
43:25
Speaker 1: the pestilence, the last messengers of God to a guilty land,
43:30
Speaker 1: or the sword the armies of the Romish aliens to
43:34
Speaker 1: reform us into our first love. Nay, rather, let us
43:38
Speaker 1: fall into Thy hand, o Lord, And let us not
43:41
Speaker 1: fall into the hand of man. Lord save or we perish,
43:46
Speaker 1: take us out of the mire that we sink. Not, Oh,
43:50
Speaker 1: help us against these enemies, for vain is the help
43:54
Speaker 1: of man unto THEE, all things are possible according to
43:58
Speaker 1: the greatness of thy power. Press Deserve thou those that
44:01
Speaker 1: are appointed to die, and preserve us in the manner
44:04
Speaker 1: that seemeth to THEE good. Not as we will, but
44:09
Speaker 1: as thou wilt. End of Section four.