Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

Go on, therefore, soldiers of the Lord of hosts, and fight manfully. In these days we need resolution, strength, devotion, and entire self-renunciation; for if the weapons which the world uses are more subtle than they were in the days of the apostles and the Reformers, they are the more to be feared. The coldness and contempt of those who surround us, sometimes of our dearest friends, are flames which scorch our hearts still more grievously than those of the stake of the adversary; and the respect of men, the fear or the love of the world, has made more persons unfaithful than the sword of the executioner has. Therefore be strong, be of good cheer, and fix your eyes on the certain triumph which awaits the cause of God. The Chief whose steps you follow has already overcome all his enemies. "Having spoiled principalities and powers he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in the cross. The conversion and subjection of the whole world is promised unto him. "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree," saith the Lord: "The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Already is the King of the universe preparing all things for the accomplishment of this promise. Already "the Gentiles seek the root of Jesse which stands for an ensign of the people." Already" the Lord sets his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people." Already, in the midst of our degenerate churches, the Lord is gathering unto himself from all sides a "willing people;" and "the bright and Morning Star" is rising above the earth, weary of the long and tedious night. Soldiers of Jesus Christ! fight, then, with joy and courage, knowing that the cause in which you are engaged is the cause of God himself, and that He prepared its triumph even before the creation; let your hearts be filled with sacred courage; be energetic and vigorous, for "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power ;" and "he that overcometh," saith the Lord, "shall inherit all things; but the fearful shall have their part in the second death.' Believe and hope, if need be, against hope; for "through faith," says Paul, men have "subdued kingdoms, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions."

[ocr errors]

66

Nevertheless, my dear brethren, remember that the battle to which you are called is one of eternal charity. It is not by bitter zeal that we shall hasten the kingdom of God. What is to be your object? Is it not to be instruments in the hand of God for the salvation of souls? And how will you save souls unless you love them? Remember how Christ, your Head, in whose steps you ought to walk, appeared on earth. He appeared in love, and it is by love that he overcame the world and saved his people. "When he saw the multitudes around him, “he was moved with compassion on them, because they were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” He went about doing good." Oh! if there were more charity in our hearts, how much more glorious would be the victories we would obtain over the prince of this world, and how "souls saved from death" we would see! many more then, my brethren, love souls as God has loved them, and let that love animate and fill our souls! Let us beware of crying peace! peace! when there is no peace. But let us also beware of narrow-mindedness, of bitterness, of disputes, of a spirit of dominion and condemnation. Let us beware of abounding in the sense in which some understand it; but let us abound and superabound in the sense in which the Lord, who is love, understands it; let truth be as it were the body of the soldier of Christ, and love the robe that covers him; "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of love."

Let us

And finally, let us remember that in the confession of the name of Christ the battle which we are fighting is one of sovereign wisdom. It is not by precipitation or by carnal zeal that we shall hasten the kingdom of the Lord. This is sometimes the idea of those "novices lifted up with pride," of whom the apostle speaks; and for that reason he is unwilling that they should be bishops in the church of the Lord. What an example did our illustrious predecessors give us three centuries ago! Let us be distrustful of ourselves. Whenever we go forward in our own strength, in our own zeal, in our own wisdom, we do injury to God's cause. Let us consult the Lord before we act. Let us often wait; the servant of God should know how to wait. Let us judge with wisdom; let us always choose the noblest end, and use the best and most prudent

means of attaining it. Let us not "fall into the condemnation of the Devil." Let us have 66 the wisdom that is from above, which is not earthly, sensual, devilish, but is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy;" "for," says the apostle of the Gentiles, God hath not given

66

us the spirit of fear, but of a sound mind."

Ministers of the word of God, who are doubly my brethren, to you and to myself I would now address the word of exhortation may we all be found faithful in that sacred battle of eternal love to which we are called! Brethren, let us pray! let us pray much for ourselves; let us pray much for others! Let us gird ourselves with truth and with charity; let us "hold fast the form of sound words which we have heard;" let us courageously proclaim the counsel of God; let us clearly and truly announce his whole counsel; "for," as the Scripture says, "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle ?” "Watchmen of Zion! let us blow the trumpet" when we see the sword come," lest "the people be not warned, and the sword take any person from among them.' Shepherds of the flocks of the Lord! let us feed them on the fruit of that "plant of renown raised up for them, that they be no more consumed with hunger in the land.” Let us be "instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine." In doing this, we shall both save ourselves and them that hear us."

66

66

66

Elders in our churches who are called to labour with us; and you, great men of the earth! follow the example of those illustrious and generous princes whose faithfulness and glory you have been recalling to mind! Learn of them that the doctrine of the truth is not the exclusive property of the ministers of the sanctuary, but that it is yours as well as ours, and that you are called as we are to defend it. Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord;" but, like that assembly of princes, confess Christ before the world. And as they were the firm support of the ministers of the word of God, grant us also on every occasion your affection, your prayers, and your assistance. Let us unite in defending the doctrine of the truth which God has entrusted to our churches. Let us esteem

the gift of a faithful minister a great privilege. "We beseech you, brethren," says St. Paul, "to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."

66

And you, disciples of Christ of every age, of every rank and sex, "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called!" Confess Christ by your words with all humility and modesty; but especially confess him by your lives. "Comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. Follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'

66

And soon the promise of the Lord to you will be gloriously fulfilled. He will come; he will appear surrounded by his holy angels. He will say to you, Come, my brother! come, my sister! fear not! thou didst confess me before men; I will confess thee before my Father which is in heaven. Father! he is mine; he is my ransomed one; he is my friend; he is my brother! He has made a covenant with me by sacrifice. He has confessed me in the midst of the reproach of the world; I will confess him in thy glory. Give him a white stone,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

152

DISCOURSE X.1

THE STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY, AND ITS

G

USEFULNESS IN THE PRESENT DAY.

ENTLEMEN,-My design is to address you on the History of the Reformation in Germany in the 16th century. Literature, the Sciences, the Arts, Philosophy, the Civil History of Nations, have been successively in this city, and in the midst of you, subjects of instruction by men justly celebrated.

I invite you to a new field-the History of Christianity. I ought, then, to assign the reasons of my choice. I ought to disclose the advantages which I discover in the study of that history at this epoch.

You are, perhaps, at this very time, my justification. That we should believe it possible to fix the attention of men in our day on the history of the Christian religion; that we should command an audience desirous of hearing it: this, gentlemen, is a sign of the times. It proves that men of the world, absorbed until now in the exterior forms, the ornaments, the splendid dress of nations, and of their history, have at length begun to consider what is, what ought to be their heart and life.

And yet, who is it who dares to venture on this new career? Who dares to follow so many men, admirable for genius, profound in knowledge, and skilful in the art of speaking; whose privilege it is to gather every winter in this city, an audience of every age, and of both sexes? Powerful must indeed be the motive which brings forward one who has been called, it is true, to preach the everlasting Gospel, but who has never yet ventured to speak, save in the sanctuary, and with the aid of

1 Delivered at Geneva, January 2, 1832. This discourse was introductory to a course of lectures on the history of the Reformation and the Reformers in the 16th century.

« IndietroContinua »