rolled away, if there can then be any diftinction of time, the glorious thought will ftill recur, that though the fun hath ceased to shine, and the stars have dropped from their orbits, though earth and heaven have passed away, yet the joys of the celestial hierarchy, like the word of the ALMIGHTY, fhall feel no change, fhall find no end. f Such is the kingdom which OMNISCIENCE hath prepared.-But for whom is it prepared? Did CHRIST promise this great inheritance only to that little flock which first heard the voice of the Shepherd? Not unto them only, but unto all who live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world, looking for that bleed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great GOD, and our Saviour JESUS * *Titus ii. 12, 13. SERM. XII. SERM. XII. The Deliverer of mankind came not to feek and to fave an inconfiderable number. He fent not his apostles only to the loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael, but commanded them to teach all nations; He is not the propitiation for our fins alone, but alfo for the fins of the whole world*: GoD is no respecter of perfons; but in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him+: Heaven is not the refidence of one chofen people, one elected race, but of every kindred, and tongue, and people ‡; it is not the abode of one fect of believers, one party of enthusiasts, but many shall come from the eaft, and from the west, and shall fit down with Abraham §, with the patriarchs and the prophets. Nor let us prefume to fay that the uninftructed, who never heard the I John ii. 2. + Acts x. 34... + Rev. v. 9. name name of CHRIST, fhall lofe the benefit of SERM. his death, and perish through want of knowledge. But this we know, and this is fufficient to influence our lives, the children of difobedience shall be caft out. If expulfion from the Divine prefence will be the certain confequence of vice, who fhall dare to be vicious? If happinefs, eternal happinefs, will be the certain recompenfe of virtue, who fhall neglect to be virtuous? Were he left unaffifted and unprotected, man might fometimes efteem his conqueft over fin and the world as hopeless and impoffible, and refign himfelf a prey to comfortless despair; but there is a fecret arm to lead us through difficulty and danger, to fupport us when we faint, and to raise us when we fall. Then fear not little flock-Conducted by a SAVIOUR and REDEEMER, how can we err? Sheltered under the wings of XII. SERM. OMNIPOTENCE, what fhall we dread? Suftained by the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, what shall we not refolutely endure? And inspired by the hope of immortality, what fhall we not cheerfully refign? Who shall Separate us from the love of CHRIST, who hath given us fuch great and precious promifes? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or fword? Surely neither the fufferings of the present hour, nor the terrour of approaching evil, can shake the conftancy of him, who confides in this cheering, this illuftrious declaration: It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. .Rom. viii. 35. ΟΝ |