The moral and religious miscellany; or, Sixty-one aphoretical essays, on some of the most important Christian doctrines and virtues. By Hugh Knox, D.D. in St. Croix. ; [Seven lines of quotations in Latin]

ESSAY LX. CHRISTIANS, LIGHTS IN THE WORLD; OR, THE BEAUTY and EXCELLENCY of the CHRISTIAN LIFE: A SERMON FROM PHILIPPIANS II. 15, 16.

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of GOD with∣out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.

THE Christian character, my brethren, is a most lovely and amiable character; although alass! it is a most rare and uncommon one in the world, even in the Christian world, where, as all are Christians by name and profession, so all ought to be such in deed and in truth.

He is not a Jew, (says the Apostle) who is one outward∣ly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and

circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of man but of God* 1.1.

—So may we say with regard to christianity:

He is not a Christian who is one meerly in name and outward profession; but he only who has the heart, the spirit the temper, the principles, and the conduct of a Christi∣an, whose praise is not of man only, but of GOD also.

To be Christians indeed and in reality, my brethren, is to be lights in the world, to be harmless and blameless; un∣rebukeable and unreproveable, in the midst of a crook∣ed and perverse generation. And not only so; not merely to be thus negatively good; but also positively so; shining as lights to direct others in the way of life and happiness—Holding forth the word of life—Holding forth our good examples, as luminous torches or flambeaus, to conduct the feet of erring, wandering, benighted travellers, into the path of peace and felicity.

As natural light is the most pleasing and comfortable object to the eye and to the mind;—as it reveals all na∣tural objects to us;—directs our steps in this world;— points out the dangers of our way, and enables us to dis∣tinguish between that which is pleasant and eligible, and that which is hurtful and pernicious.

For truly, (as Solomon observes) the light is sweet, and a plea∣sant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun† 1.2.

So truth and virtue arrow_forward , which answer much the same purposes in the moral and intellectual worlds, as material light does in the natural, are beautifully termed the light of the mind, in a figurative and metaphorical sense. Hence also, GOD, the great source and examplar of all truth and arrow_back virtue arrow_forward , is called light.

GOD is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

And CHRIST, who is the

brightness of the Father's glory, and the express

image of his person,

is called, by way of eminence,

The light of the world;—and that light which light∣eth every man, which cometh into the world.

The scriptures also, which are the purest channels of truth and arrow_back virtue arrow_forward to a benighted world, are called,

Lights in a dark place;—a light to our feet, and a lamp or lan∣thorn thorn to our paths.

AGREEABLE to all this;—when sinners are converted, or turned from error and vice, to truth and arrow_back virtue arrow_forward , they are said to have their eyes opened; their understandings en∣lightened, and to be brought from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to GOD: And GOD is said to bring them out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Ye were sometime darkness, (says the Apostle) but now are ye light in the Lord.

AND hence, true Christians are called children of the light,—and commanded to walk in the light; to shine as lights in the world,—and to let their light so shine before men, that others, seeing their good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven.

To be a true Christian, therefore, my brethren, is to su∣stain the most honourable and beautiful of all characters:— It is to imitate and resemble GOD, who is the great source and fountain of light, and in whom there is no darkness at all;—to imitate and resemble CHRIST, who is the light of the world, and the life of men;—to imitate and re∣semble the saints, those brave and generous souls, who, in all ages, have copied after GOD, and shone as lights in the world, in the midst of a crooked and per∣verse generation, holding forth the word of life.—To be true Christians, is to be as like to the glorious GOD, both in arrow_back virtue arrow_forward and happiness,—and to do as much good to our fellow-creatures in our day and generation, as possibly we can:—in a word, to be as lovely, as venerable, as virtuous, as holy, as happy and as useful, as

the capacities of our limited, depraved nature will permit.

ST. PAUL had founded a church in Philippi, which worshipped the true GOD, and received the LORD JE∣SUS CHRIST, while many of their brethren and fellow-citizens, still continued in their idolatry and infidelity. It was, therefore, the desire and ambition of the good Apostle, that the converted Philippians should labour for the conversion of their heathen brethren. He desired, that the unbelieving and idolatrous Philippians, (who were attentive and malicious observers of their Christian brethren, because of the new religion they had embra∣ced, and the new kind of life they had devoted them∣selves to) should see nothing in them, but what was wise, reputable, and of good report; and such as becometh the gospel of CHRIST.

THIS, however, it seems had not been the case, so much as the good Apostle wished. These young converts although they had broke off from the idolatry and infi∣delity of their neighbours, yet were still of very imper∣fect characters, in point of morality:—Although they had embraced the profession of Christianity; yet they had not fully imbib'd its spirit and temper. However sound they might be in faith, yet they lacked that charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and without which true Christianity, cannot either live or move or have its being. No sooner had they broke off from their unbelieving and idolatrous brethren, than they began to quarrel among themselves. This seems to have been the true ground and motive, of the Apostle's noble and excellent exhor∣tation, in our text; which will ever be equally useful, and equally applicable, while Christianity has a being in a corrupt, imperfect, world and state.

Do all things, (says the Apostle) without mur∣murings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of GOD, without, &c.

IN the words, we have three things observable, and which-shall (through the divine assistance) be the subject of the present discourse.

I. THE post or station of a Christian in this world. He lives

in the midst of a crooked and perverse ge∣neration;

who are, at heart, enemies to that holiness which he professes; who will be close and malicious observers of all his conduct; and who are capable of being either greatly benefited, or greatly hurt by his example and conversation.

II. WE have the Christian's destination in this world; what divine providence designs he should be; or what purpose he is designed to serve, in the midst of a crook∣ed and perverse generation. He is to shine as a light in the world: Holding forth the word of life,—that he may serve the double purpose of both saving himself and others.

III. WE have the duty of a Christian in this world, in order to his answering this destination of providence:

He is to be harmless and blameless; a child of GOD, without rebuke;

that the gospel may not be blamed; that sinners may be converted, and that his Christian brethren may be edified: In a word,

He is to let this light of his so shine before men, that others, seeing his good works, may glorify our Father which is in hea∣ven.

ARE there any amongst us, my brethren, who have the noble ambition, not only of obtaining this heavenly feli∣city ourselves, but also of leading others in the same road? Are there any amongst us, who have the noble ambition of concurring with JESUS CHRIST in the work of human redemption? Let such learn, to day, from St.

Paul, to prosecute so noble a design by shining as lights in the world; by being harmless and blamless as the children of GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. May the holy Spirit himself in∣spire us with this divine ambition—and may the bles∣sing of GOD, attending this discourse, give us power and spirit to pursue so noble a design, until our en∣deavours are crowned with heavenly glory.—Amen.

I. THEN we are briefly to consider the post and station of a true Christian in this world:—

He lives in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

THIS sentiment and expression of the Apostle might be easily justified and illustrated, by considering the religion and morals of the Jews and Heathens, amongst which the primitive Christians lived, to whom he here writes. The character which our Saviour and his Apostles have left us on record, both of the Jews and Gentiles of that age, (and which is abundantly confirmed by contempo∣rary writers) makes it appear, that they were, indeed, "a crooked and perverse generation."

THE Jews had scarcely the very shadow of religion left amongst them in that abandoned age. The mea∣sure of their iniquity seems then to have been filled, and they were ripe for destruction. To the Pharisees, the 'most numerous and respectable sect amongst them, our Saviour thus addresses himself—

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnati∣on of hell?

And, as to the Sadducees, they were men of atheistical principles, and detestable morals.

FOR the morals and manners of the Heathens of that time, and into what a state of luxury, bebauchery, and universal corruption they had degenerated, I might re∣fer you to their own historians, moralists and satyrists: But that portrait which this Apostle himself has given

us of the Romans, one of the most learned, philosophi∣cal, and civilized Heathen nations, shall suffice in lieu of every other authority.—

Being filled (says the Apostle) with all unrighteousness, fornication, wick∣edness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, back∣biters, haters of GOD, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; vile in their affections; changing the truth of GOD into a lie; and worshipping and serving the creature more than the CREATOR, who is GOD over all, blessed for ever* 1.3.

What a black catalogue of vices is this? And was not that a "crooked and perverse generation," indeed, of which this was the general and prevailing character?

BUT, my brethren, we need not go back to antiquity, to justify and illustrate this observation of the Apostle. In every age of the world, GOD'S true church and people,

live in the midst of a crooked and per∣verse generation.

THE Apostle is still addressing every Christian amongst us, in the words of our text, with equal propriety as he did his converts at Philippi—

Be ye harmless and blameless, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, amongst whom ye shine as lights in the world.

The world, as distinguished from the church, ever has been, and ever will be, "a crooked and perverse generation." This world has been ever distinguished into two grand classes of men, diametrically opposite in their principles, ends, motives, dispositions and manners, and generally distinguished in scripture by the appellation of the

world, and the church;—the seed of the woman, and seed of the

serpent;—the sheep and the goats;—the tares and the wheat;—the righteous and the wicked;—the chil∣dren of this world, and the children of light.

If we attentively read the scriptures, we will find that the word world, is generally used to repre∣sent the worst of these two classes.—

The world (says St. John) lieth in wickedness.—The world (says he) knoweth us not.—Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.

St. James tells us,

that the friendship of the world is enmity with GOD;

and therefore beseeches Christians, to keep themselves unspotted from the world. St. Paul tells us, that

the LORD JESUS CHRIST gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of GOD;

—and there∣fore earnestly beseeches Christians not to be conformed to this world, in its manners, customs, spirit or maxims, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

If the world hate you (says CHRIST to his disciples) ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

IT were easy, my brethren, to multiply quotations to this purpose; but surely evidence enough has been pro∣duced to prove, that the world, in which Christians live; or, that that company of men with which the church is contrasted, and from which it is distinguished every where in scripture, is

a crooked and perverse genera∣tion.

THE same truth will evidently appear from the general maxims and prevailing manners of the world, by which the crookedness and perverseness of their sentiments and conduct will be clearly manifested. Will either the dictates of enlightened reason, the best interests of socie∣ty, or the gospel of CHRIST, justify such maxims as the following:—

Youth is the proper season for pleasure and gallantry:—It is ridiculous to make much ado about religion:—We should not aspire to be saints: All that religion requires of us, is to be just and honest in our dealings:—Calumny and ridicule are the salt or zest of conversation:—It is unworthy of a man of honour to put up with an affront. Revenge is sweet: —Ambition is the vice of noble souls:—Impurity is intollerable in women, but pardonable in men. We should be conformed to the world, and act agreeable to its maxims.

—Which of these my friends, (and a great many more might be added to the number) does not flatly contradict some precept of CHRIST, and the very spirit and genius of Christianity?—And yet which of these maxims is not received in society as a first principle, against the truth of which, it would be deemed affectation to dispute?

AND are not the prevailing manners of the world, exact∣ly conformable to these maxims?—How few regard even the solemnity of an oath, where interest is concern∣ed? —What faith is, now a days, to be put in the pro∣mises or professions of men? The very form of religion is in such sovereign contempt, that it is deemed highly impolite to introduce even the mention of it into com∣pany. How few in Christian countries, comparatively speaking, attend the ordinances of CHRIST, or pay any regard to the public worship of GOD?—What are the lives of the generality, but a course of mere extrava∣gance, sensuality, and dissipation—of enquiry how they may provide for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof—

what they shall eat, or drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed, without a single serious thought about the state of their souls, or eternity? If we enquire into the source of mirth and pleasantry in most companies, shall we not find the laugh almost perpetually raised, either at the expence of religion, or at the natural or moral failings and infirmities of our fellow-creatures? Subjects which drew tears from the eyes of David, and which no right mind can contemplate, without pain and anxiety! Indeed, what is modern wit and gaiety, but calumny, slander and profanity, rendered laughable, by the ludicrous garb in which they are dressed?—To all this, may I not add, that some of the most scandalous and filthy vices are become so common and fashionable in Christian countries, that to resist or decline them, would be deemed an almost unpardonable singulari∣ty.

SURELY nothing more need be added to prove, That the world in which Christians live, is

a crooked and perverse generation;

—that to follow the multitude, is to renounce the guidance of reason and religion; and that to be conformed to this evil world, in its general customs, maxims and manners, is to imitate the very worst exam∣ples, and to forfeit all that glory and happiness which the gospel has set before us. I am now to lay before you, under the

II. HEAD of discourse, The Christian's destination in this evil world; or, what purposes he is designed and appoint∣ed to serve in the midst of a crooked and perverse gene∣ration.—

He is to shine as a light in the world, hold∣ing forth the word of life.

Upon such a view of things, Christians may possibly say,

Since such is the world in which we live;—since human society is so empoisoned and corrupted, let us shun the contagion: —Let us break off all commerce with the living:—

Let us abandon the society of men, and, like hermits, secure our innocence in obscurity and retirement, in the solitude of desarts and caves of the earth.

By no means, says St. Paul. Man is a social creature, and is designed for society: Flee not, therefore, from the des∣tination of Providence: Continue in that world where the example of your arrow_back virtue arrow_forward is so necessary: Labour to disabuse and undeceive your fellow-mortals, and to pre∣vent them, if possible, from falling into misery: Let your life, your conversation, and your whole deport∣ment, be a reproach to their vices, and a light to direct their feet into the paths of peace, holiness and happi∣ness:

Shine as lights in the world; holding forth, in your example and behaviour, the word of life, for the direction and instruction of others.

THE Greek word, which we translate light, has a pe∣culiar energy in the text. It is compounded of two words, which signify an elevated light, or a light held up, for the guidance and direction of others. The Apostle probably alludes to the ancient Pharos, a tower or light∣house, built by Ptolemy Philadelphus, on an island of the same name, in the mouth of the river Nile in Egypt, on the top of which a fire was kept continually kindled in the night, to direct vessels into the harbour. The allu∣sion, my brethren, is very plain and very beautiful. The Christian serves as a guide and director to a crooked and perverse generation. Elevated above the false maxims and corrupt manners of the world, he holds forth be∣fore him the word of life; i. e. he shows and manifests, by his example, that which the word of GOD demands of us, in order to our entering into life eternal.

THE word of GOD is termed* 1.4,

A light to our feet and a lamp to our paths,

because it gives us direc∣tion in the whole of our conduct. When our temporal

and eternal interests clash and interfere with each other, it puts that important and significant question,

What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

In the time of affliction, it calls us to consider,

and to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt us in due season.

—Under the influence of riches and prosperi∣ty, it directs us,

not to trust in uncertain riches—to be rich in the good works of charity and liberality— to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God; willing to distribute; ready to communicate:—To make unto ourselves friends of the mammon of un∣righteousness, that when we fail here, they may re∣ceive us into everlasting habitations.

—On a death∣bed, and in the near prospect of eternity, it is a light to our feet, and a lamp to our paths—by representing death as a conquered, disarmed tyrant;—by opening an eternal world of glory to the faith of the Christian;— by assuring him, that when

his heart and his flesh fail, GOD will be the strength of his heart and his portion for ever;—that blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, for they do rest from their labour and their works do follow them.

Now, that which David says of the word of GOD, St. Paul here says of the destination of the Christian. As GOD hath given his word to be a light to men's feet and a lamp to their paths,—to guide their feet into the way of peace and happiness,—so he hath also destined and ap∣pointed Christians,

to shine as lights in the world, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,

— practically holding forth, and examplifying the word of life, for their guidance and direction.

THE Christian's life and conversation should be the word of GOD reduced to practice; a living comment on the word of life; so that the ignorant and wicked

world, who either cannot or will not read the word of GOD, may see it clearly held forth, and plainly exam∣plified in the life of the Christian. And indeed, my bre∣thren, what have the lives of the saints been, in all ages, but just a holding forth of this word of life? They have preached more powerfully and more effectually, by their lives and examples, than their doctrines, to those crooked and perverse generations, among whom they shone as lights in the world. GOD hath set them up, in every age and generation, as beacons and Pharoses, to stem the torrent of human depravity and corruption;— to shew the practicability of arrow_back virtue arrow_forward in human nature; —to be a reproof and reproach to prevailing vice and immorality, causing iniquity, as ashamed, to hide its face,—and to allure mankind into the paths of arrow_back virtue arrow_forward and happiness.

WOULD we see, for instance, the preference which the interests of eternity should have to those of time; let us behold it examplified in the conduct of Moses,

Who refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of CHRIST great∣er riches than the treasures of Egypt, because he had respect to the recompence of reward.

—In the lives of Abraham and Joshua, we have the noblest examples of pious masters of families:

As for me, (says Joshua) and my house, we will serve the Lord.

For I know Abraham, (says GOD) that he will command his children, and his houshold after him, to keep the way of the Lord, and to do justice and judgment* 1.5.

—In King David, the most fervent piety and animated devotion shine forth conspicuously.—Job taught the world, in his day, that dutiful submission and entire resigna∣tion

which we owe to the will of GOD in times of the deepest calamity and affliction;

What! shall we receive good at the hand of GOD, and shall we not receive evil also; the LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away, and blessed be the name of the LORD* 1.6.

In Zaccheus we have a bright example of the proper use of riches, and the great duty of restitution;—

Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man, by false accu∣sation, I restore him four-fold† 1.7:

And in the life of St. Paul himself, we have examplified a whole con∣stellation of Christian virtues and duties;—the most examplary humility, patience and self-denial;—un∣paralelled zeal and diligence in promoting the glory of GOD, and the salvation of men,—and the most earnest desire

of being absent from the body and present with the LORD.

—All these answered the designation of divine providence, and fulfilled this positive and active part of their Christian calling:—All these were burning and shining lights in the world; holding forth the word of life to those crooked and perverse generations, among whom divine providence had stationed and placed them.

NOR, my brethren, was this duty peculiar to these great lights of the ancient world; it is equally the duty, the honour and the interest of every individual Christian to the end of time, to be a burning and a shining light in his day and generation, and thus to hold forth the word of life, to the crooked and perverse generation, among whom he is stationed by divine providence.

MANY Christians, indeed, are not able to build church∣es, to found hospitals, to preach or defend the gospel, or to propagate it to distant parts of the world;—but every Christian is surely able to live a good, virtuous and

examplary life.—Every Christian is able

to adron the doctrine of GOD his Saviour,

to exhibit the vir∣tues and graces of genuine Christianity;—to encou∣rage arrow_back virtue arrow_forward and piety, and discountenance vice and im∣morality as far as his influence and example can reach. And this is every Christian's duty:

Let your light, (says CHRIST, the great Lord and Law-giver of Christians) so shine before men, that others seeing your good works, may glorify your Father in hea∣ven. —Be ye harmless and blameless, (says the Apos∣tle) the children of GOD without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.—Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles; (says St. Peter) having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in CHRIST—and may, by your good works which they shall behold, glorify GOD in the day of visita∣tion.

THESE scriptures, my brethren, while they point out the duty of Christians, also shew the propriety and ex∣pediency of it. It is proper, it is fit and expedient, that Christians should maintain and preserve an immacu∣late and examplary character—that the gospel may not be blamed;—that their profession may not be disgraced; —that sinners may be reclaimed, and that the church may be edified. They owe this duty to GOD, to them∣selves, to the Church, and to that crooked and perverse generation, among whom GOD hath placed them as lights, to hold forth the word of life.

THIS is the positive part of the Christian's duty. He is to be actively holy and examplary, in all manner of life and conversation; and that, not merely from the selfish and contracted view of securing his own salvation;— but also, from the more catholic and charitable motive of promoting the salvation of his fellow men;—that he

may prosecute the noble and GOD-like design of saving both himself and those who behold his good conversa∣tion in CHRIST.—Proceed we now,

III. To the negative duty of a Christian, in order to his answering this destination of providence:

He is to live harmless and blameless, as the child of GOD, without rebuke.

THESE words must be understood here (as indeed eve∣ry where else in scripture when applied to men) not in their most rigid and strictly literal meaning, as implying a sinless perfection: For, alas! in this sense,

there is not a just man upon earth, who doeth good and sin∣eth not. In many things we all offend: And if we say we have no sin, we are liars and the truth is not in us.

They must therefore be understood in a qualifi∣ed sense, as only implying gospel sincerity and evangelical righteousness.

Be ye harmless, blameless and irre∣proachable as the children of GOD;

that is,

pay a constant regard to the laws of that great Master whom you serve, so far as human weakness and infirmity will permit; and let it appear evidently even by the very nature of those failings and short-comings which the weakness and imperfection of your nature sometimes betrays you into, that your sins are not deliberate and allowed, proceeding from a spirit of rebellion; but arising wholly from the weakness and infirmity of your nature, in the present imperfect state.

It is said emphatical∣ly of the wicked* 1.8,

They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of GOD'S children; they are a perverse and crooked generation.

GOD'S children, it seems, have their spots; but they are not the spots of the wicked. They sin not cordially, presumptuously, allowedly, nor perseveringly. They love holiness and

pursue it, as far as the weakness and infirmity of their nature will permit. It is their honest and hearty en∣deavour,

to be harmless and blameless, the children of GOD, without rebuke;

and with the charitable and right-thinking part of mankind, they generally ob∣tain a good report, an irreproachable character. A real Christian can join Job, with some sincerity, in saying:

I will not remove my integrity from me; my righte∣ousness I hold fast, and will not let it go? My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

And what was predicated of Job, may, with some propriety, be said of him;

That he is a perfect man, and an up∣right; one who feareth GOD and escheweth evil† 1.9.

It will be his great ambition and earnest endeavour, as a child of GOD, not only to imbibe the temper and dis∣position of a child, crying Abba Father; but also to imitate his heavenly Father in all those virtues and graces which constitute his moral character, being holy as GOD is holy, pure as he is pure, and merciful as he is merciful, in all manner of life and conversation.

IN VAIN, my fellow Christians, do we assume the cha∣racter of being the children of GOD.—In vain are we the expectants of a glorious immortality, in conse∣quence of this assumed character:—and, in vain do we impose on a credulous world, by this hollow and hypo∣critical profession, while we are unlike our heavenly Fa∣ther in the temper of our minds, and the conduct of our lives; while, instead of being harmless, blameless, un∣rebukeable and examplary, we continue to be a perverse and crooked generation, and have lives and conversations all blurr'd over with the spots of the wicked. Indignant hea∣ven must justly spurn such affrontive insolence; and that omniscient GOD, who requires truth in the heart, and sincerity in the inward part, will appoint us our portion with hypocrites, where shall be weeping and wailing,

and gnashing of teeth. But I have already trespassed too long on your patience, and shall beg leave to con∣clude, by addressing my most tender exhortations to two sorts of persons: And, 1st, To such of you, my bre∣thren, who, by your Christian profession, and by a cor∣respondent examplary life, have the honour of shining as lights, in the midst of a crooked and perverse gene∣ration, holding forth the word of life.

I CALL you, my brethren, to consider the grand and sublime of your Christian character and calling. When St. Paul would animate his son Timothy to a zealous dis∣charge of the duties of his ministry, he tells him,

Take heed unto thy self, and unto thy doctrine: For, in doing this, thou shalt both save thy self, and them that hear thee* 1.10.

He makes him a kind of subordinate saviour; a fellow-labourer and fellow-worker with CHRIST, in the glorious work of human redemption.

BUT what Timothy did by his ministry, every Christian is called, in our text, to do by his example. If, indeed, my brethren, you are

harmless and blameless, the chil∣dren of GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life,

you shall not only save yourselves, but also be highly instrumental in saving others. And oh! what an honour, what a blessedness is this?—In pursuing this de∣sign, you enter into the plan of redemption, and partake of the honours of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Re∣deemer;—you do a work the most pleasing to GOD; the most profitable to yourselves, and the most beneficial to your fellow-creatures:—A work which employed the counsels of GOD from all eternity;—and a work, on which he lavished (if I may so speak with reverence)

the life and blood of his dear Son; I mean, the salva∣tion of poor mortals.

BY this divine and God-like labour of love, you are al∣so brightening your immortal crowns and doubling your eternal rewards.

For what is our hopes, (says St. Paul to the Thessalonians,) or our joy, or our crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, at his coming? For ye are our glory and our joy.

—In like manner, my brethren, those souls, to whose salvation you have contributed, by your virtuous and pious examples, will be your crown, your joy, and your glory, through eternal ages. In those regions of perfect love, you will be happy, not only in seeing the happiness of those whom you loved here, but also in having promoted their eternal happiness;—in having preserved them from the contagion of the age;— in having recovered them from a crooked and perverse generation, and in having snatched them as brands from the burning.—And O! my friends, can there be any difficulty unconquerable—any arrow_back virtue arrow_forward too severe—any self-denial too painful with such motives as these before your eyes? Is it possible, that any frivolous pleasure, or trifling emolument of sin, should have power or influ∣ence enough to rob you of this glory, this joy, and this crown of rejoicing? I would,

2. BEG leave to address myself in a few words, to such as are unhappy enough still to make a part of that crooked and perverse generation, amidst whom the few righteous shine as lights in the world.

MY unhappy fellow-sinners! Let me beseech you in the spirit of love and meekness, to enter into the views of providence, who has set those eminent examples of arrow_back virtue arrow_forward and piety before your eyes! For what reason hath GOD, the Father of mercies, kindled up so many burning and shining lights in this world of his—Men of

our own nature and make, adorned with so many con∣spicuous virtues—who have been ornaments to human nature, and benefactors to the world?—Is it only that we should behold them with an eye of envy and contempt? Is it only that we should blacken their characters, and pursue them with calumny and slander; thus aggra∣vating our own guilt and condemnation?—Is it not that we should emulate their virtues, imitate their examples, and be corrected, reformed and instructed by their manners?

LET us blush to think that men of the same common nature with ourselves; composed of the same flesh and blood; animated with the same passions, and born heirs of the same corruptions and infirmities, should have yet so far outstripped us, in every thing noble, GOD-like, rational and divine?—Are not the same succours, the same promises of aid and assistance, the same sources of grace, arrow_back virtue and holiness, open to us, as were to Abraham, to Moses, to Job, to Elijah, to Paul; and as are to all the good, the virtuous, the pious, and examplary, of this as well as every foregoing age? Wherefore then do we not avail ourselves of these advantages?—Is there any assignable reason why any of our fellow-creatures should outdo us in any thing amiable, lovely, virtuous, praise-worthy and of good report? Why any of our fellow-men should excel us in the care of their own souls, or of the souls of their fellow-creatures?

The saints, are the excellent ones of the earth, in whom should be all our delight:

Let us respect their virtues: Let us cherish their acquaintance: Let us love their society, and follow their examples. Too, too long have we scandalized the church, it is now time we should edify it. Too, too long have we laboured for the destructi∣on of our fellow-men, it is now time we should labour for their conversion and salvation. Too, too long have

we been joined to this crooked and perverse generation; this world which lies in wickedness.—It is now time we should shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life, for the guidance and direction of those whom our bypast evil examples have perverted and confirmed in their wickedness!

To conclude in one word: Let me address that ex∣hortation to all of you, my dear hearers, which St. Peter addressed to the Jews—

Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

—Deliver yourselves from their principles, maxims, customs and manners; from their sins and from their judgments.—

Make haste, flee for your lives, lest ye perish.

May GOD, the merciful Fa∣ther of our spirits, give weight to this exhortation, and set it home powerfully upon each of our consciences; and to his great name shall be the eternal praise, through JESUS CHRIST our only Lord and Redeemer. Amen and Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 11. 28, 29.
• † 1.2

  Eccle••. xi. 17.
• * 1.3

  Rom. i. 21,—34.
• * 1.4

  Psal. cxix. 105.
• * 1.5

  Gen. xvii. 19. Josh. xxiv. 15.
• * 1.6

  Job i. 21.—ii. 10.
• † 1.7

  Luke xix. 8.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 xxxii. 5.
• † 1.9

  Job i. 1.—xxvii. 6.
• * 1.10

  1 Tim. iv. 16.