taken the man to himself. So the word is thrown out, to bring forth fruit we know not where; but we are sure that it will not be utterly lost. May each one for himself resolve that it shall not be lost in him! Last year we had the warnings; and I fully believe, that although to many they were utterly wasted, yet in some they quickened that which was dull, and roused that which was slumbering. Now, again, the voice of joy and health is in our dwellings; may the voice of gratitude and of faith be heard there also? Let us not think that we shall never be moved, for that were folly; but let us think that it is God who has made our hill so strong, and that though that hill will surely be overthrown, for it is but of the earth and earthly, yet that there remains for God's true children, a hill, whose foundations are eternal, whose builder and maker is God. SERMON XXXI. INWARD CHANGES. MATTHEW, xxii. 12. Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a weddinggarment? In the description of the last judgment, given in the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, there occurs a passage, whose lesson is nearly the same with that of the text. The wicked are represented as saying to Christ, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" For the lesson of both these passages seems to be, that men stand greatly in need of self-knowledge; that, from one cause or another, they think themselves better than they are: not feeling, on the one hand, their want of the wedding-garment of true righteousness; nor being aware, on the other, of the presence of much actual evil which is really tainting their souls. Thus they deceive themselves while they are in God's church here: and would fain, if we may so far assume the literal truth of our Lord's description, enter into God's church in heaven with the same presumption. But then the glass of their true state is held up to them, and they feel, for the first time, that they are evil, and not good. "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; for many are called, but few are chosen." The lesson, then, contained in these passages of Scripture, may be expressed in the words of St. Paul: "If we would judge ourselves, we shall not be judged of the Lord." "If we would inquire, and see whether or no we have on us the weddinggarment of righteousness; whether we are every day neglecting and despising Christ, or no; then we should here by ourselves surely anticipate God's judgment of us; and if our heart condemned us not, then might we justly have confidence towards God." And this self-examination, as it is most necessary to be practised, so also it ought to be practised wisely; to be directed, that is, to the right points; for if it be not, it may produce great disquiet, but no peaceable fruit of righteousness; it may be a great means of harassing and distracting our minds, but none of improving them. VOL. III. A A Now we will consider the case of those whom we call good men; what their need of self-examination is, and how they should conduct it. Let us take, therefore, any person who is certainly in earnest in his profession of the Gospel; -it matters not whether he be old or young; -a person who is what is commonly called serious, who is regular in the public worship of God, and at the communion; whose language and whose practice seem generally to be according to the Spirit of God. Let such a person suppose that he has got on the wedding-garment; let him imagine that he is treading his course heavenward; let him look forward to the blessedness of being for ever with Christ and all Christ's servants; let his habitual state of mind, therefore, be cheerful and happy. What shall we say to this? Shall we say, that here are the fruits of Christ's spirit; that the man is enjoying the peace of God; that in him is visibly fulfilled the assurance, that godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come? I think we should suppose so in the case of another; I think that it would be a breach of charity to think otherwise. But turn to the man himself, and let him consider whether he should think so also. Surely there is many a passage in God's word, not meant to frighten or confound, far less to turn God's promises into nothing; but yet, which he may not pass by unheeded. What is it, "Happy is the man that feareth always?" What is it, that "that which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God?" What is it, that "to be raised again with Christ, it is necessary first to have died with him?" What is it, that " we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God?" What is it, that we "must take up our cross daily?" These, and many other such Scriptures, have their meaning and their use for all of us; for the good and happy servant of his Lord, not less than for the careless and disobedient. And let him not neglect to use them; let him see how he stands; let him consider whether, indeed, the heaven that he desires is really his; whether his life is but a sure and gradual advance in the way of eternal glory. He may say that it is; not, indeed, for his own merits, but for Christ's, that he has the true wedding-garment of righteousness; not his own imperfect works, which never could deserve the name, but Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to him as one of Christ's members. And therefore he may say, here is the peace of the Spirit of Christ, dwelling in the hearts of those who, having cast off the righteousness which is of the law, have put their trust in the righteousness of God only. |