Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

They have washed their robes, stained with the dust and wounds of their late warfare. They enjoy communion with God, the fountain of all true blessedness; no longer, as on earth, beholding him through a glass darkly, through the veil of divine ordinances, or as shadowed forth in his works of creation, and providence, and grace, but viewing him in the brightness of his immediate glory, and dwelling with him and he with them. Thus admitted with angels and archangels to sensible access to Him in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore, they are occupied in the exalted employment so partially, so feebly, begun upon earth, of worshipping and serving him; not as now amidst many cares and interruptions, often with an enfeebled body and wearied mind, with a heart ill at ease, and with innumerable temptations and impediments, but " day and night," uninterruptedly, eternally, with cherubim and seraphim, who " continually cry Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts." Thus engaged in an occupation with which they never shall be wearied, and which, after endless ages of praise and adoration, shall, if possible, become more delightful as their spirits approach nearer and nearer to the great Object of their celebration, they are raised above all earthly wants and pains, above every thing that would interfere

with their eternal enjoyment: "they hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light upon them nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

And now let us seriously ask ourselves, Are we pressing forwards towards this heavenly felicity? Is it our first desire to serve God here, looking forward to the enjoyment of his presence for ever hereafter? Are we conscious of our alienation from all just hope of this blessedness by our own merits on account of our sins? Have we repaired to the Saviour for pardon? And are we making it our great business in life to obey his commands and to live to his glory? If we are proud, or selfrighteous, or covetous, or unjust, or unforgiving, or worldly, we are not fit to join this blessed society. We must have a new heart given us by the Spirit of God; we must be prepared by that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. The greatness of the prize should encourage us to fresh ardour in our pursuit of it. It is no trifle that is at stake: if we lose heaven, we lose all. What would it profit us if we could gain the whole world at the risk of our immortal souls? What would be our feelings if, while the heavenly gates are opened to

the innumerable company of whom we have heard, they are shut against us? Let us bring ourselves to the test; let us from this moment make a decided choice; let us forsake every thing that is inconsistent with the hopes of this glorious inheritance, and follow every thing that leads to it. Let us imitate "the patience of the saints," and " keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." The blessing is freely offered: "The Spirit and the bride say, Come:" it is only our own hardness of heart, and love of the world and sin, that keep us back. Let, then, "him that heareth" say to himself, and to all around him, "Come; and let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."-Amen.

229

SERMON XIX.

HEROD'S WISH TO SEE CHRIST.

LUKE ix. 9.

And Herod said, John I have beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

THE monarch who asked this question could scarcely have forgotten that mysterious Infant, at whose birth Jerusalem was troubled, and to slay whom his father had put two thousand innocents to death. That Infant had now arrived at years of maturity; he had been from his childhood an extraordinary personage; "his fame was noised abroad;" his doctrines, his virtues, and his miracles attracted general attention. Herod could not then be quite ignorant of his character and claims. Whence then the question in the text?

To answer this it is necessary to recal to mind the circumstances of the history. John the Baptist, having reprehended Herod for his vices, had been beheaded by him at the suit of

a wicked and blood-thirsty woman, whose conduct the Baptist had reproved. Since this event a superstitious report had spread abroad, that John had returned to life, and that Jesus, whose miracles at that time excited great attention, was no other than the person whom Herod had slain. We might have supposed that Herod himself would have seen the folly of such a report; and the text would appear to intimate that he did so: "John I have beheaded; but who is this?" But conscious guilt is usually superstitious; so that Herod, notwithstanding he was probably of the sect of the Sadducees, which believed neither resurrection nor spirit, was terrified into a supposition, that the victim of his cruelty had returned to life. It is said, (Matt. xiv. 2), that he exclaimed to his servants, "This is John the Baptist : he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew themselves in him."

But, whatever might be the reasons which induced this wicked monarch to ask the question in the text, his inquiry is one that well becomes us all to propose. For he of whom Herod heard is no private character: the whole human race is interested in the events of his life and death; for this is He whom to know is life eternal, and without an acquaintance with whom we can have no well-founded hope for time or eternity.

« AnteriorContinuar »