Page images
PDF
EPUB

shook the existing institutions, customs, and prejudices of every place, where its power and glory were displayed. As he multiplied miracles of wisdom and mercy, of power and compassion, all classes of society were shaken by their influence. While his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the dew on the multitude, on the Jew and the Greek, the Scythian, the barbarian, the bond and the free, all were moved. Indifference itself could not remain neutral. The chief priests and the rulers of the people looked around upon the field of the Redeemer's labors of love, and were shaken into paroxysms of rage, that such distinguished favors and blessings should be lavished upon the multitude without proper discrimination. "The common people" were aroused from their slumbers; heard the Saviour gladly; caught a glimpse of his rising and expanding honor; and "rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory," that they had found the "consolation of Israel, him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." A general agitation was visible in every place, where the Apostles of the Lamb preached "the gospel of the kingdom," and wrought "wonders in the name of the holy child Jesus." Polytheism trembled through all its departments. The gods were shaken from the pantheon, and the priests of idolatry from the altars, where stupid deities were blindly reverenced. Civil despotism and ecclesiastical-tyranny tottered as on the brink of dissolution. The vaunting champions of the traditions of men met their prostration, and the sour bigot found his temper mollified and sweetened, by the melting influence, and the kindly power of impartial mercy. These consequences will ever follow, where the gospel, which is the "power of God unto salvation," is preached "in the demonstration of the spirit and power" of its truth. Those who make "shrines for Diana," and patch the rents in "broken cisterns that can hold no water," will find "their craft in danger," and be utterly shaken out of employment. Those, and those only, who labor in the fields of a Saviour's love, in the fruitful

vineyard of him, who had compassion on the ignorant, and on them who are out of the way, will find their vocations permanent, and their reward sure. All others are out of "the way everlasting," and must be shaken and moved into the places destined for them by the purposes of him, "who worketh all things after the council of his own will."

وو

The scriptures abound in testimonies which substantiate these statements, but a few must suffice. God declares by the prophet Jeremiah, "I have set thee over the nations, and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, and to build, and to plant." It is no less the province of the genuine gospel of Christ, to root up and exterminate every thing in the moral and intellectual systems, contrary to the nature of God and the happiness of his offspring, than it is to plant "the word of life," and build up the kingdom of holiness and peace. The unerring teacher, who spake not as the scribes, but as one having authority, is express on this point. "Every. plant," says he, "which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. The great apostle of the gentiles, adds the weight of his testimony. "Yet once more, I shake not the earth only, but heaven also." The meaning undoubtedly is, he will produce revolutions not in the civil institutions only, but in all ecclesiastical establishments and moral habits of the world, which are in opposition to the genius and requirements of the everlasting gospel. "And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things that cannot be shaken, may remain." Thus certain it is that agitations and revolutions ever have, and ever will attend the preaching and operations of the genuine doctrine of "Jesus and the resurrection," till "all things are made new," and the true God is known and worshipped as, "ALL in ALL.”

Something of this kind has undoubtedly been witnessed in the promulgation and spread of "the common

salvation" in this place. The slumbering feelings and the hitherto inactive abilities of the friends of Jesus and of man, have been roused to noble exertions. They have arisen from "the dust and shaken themselves." The exhibition of their efforts astonishes contiguous towns and distant churches of the Lord Jesus. So commodious and splendid a temple of love and of homage, of prayer and praise, has rarely, if ever, been completed in so short a period of time. With propriety you may repeat the language of an eminent servant of our master, "We can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us."

In your efforts and progress thus far, you have probably produced a general excitement in this place, and in the neighboring villages and towns. Some have gathered with you, and many have endeavored to scatter abroad. Some are friendly, and others inimical to the prosperity of your society. Some approve, and others oppose the universality of "the gospel of the grace of God," in which you believe and rejoice. But, brethren, you will stand as "Mount Zion which cannot be moved." You have no reason to be alarmed. "The king eternal, immortal and invisible," has, through your instrumentality, shaken this section of his heritage; and he will continue to shake the nations, and cities, and neighborhoods of the whole earth, till not a vestige of wrath or impenitence, unbelief or corruption, sin or misery, remains in the family of man. "Till death, and he who hath the power of death are destroyed," till a ransomed world, made free indeed by "the truth as it is in Jesus," shall know, experimentally know him and the power of his resurrection; welcome him as the desire of their hearts; and unanimously crown him "Lord of all." These remarks will introduce the second particular.

II. The desire of all nations shall come.

This is a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, and has been literally fulfilled. He actually appeared during the continuance of the second temple, repeatedly entered it in

person, and taught "the people the things which belonged to their peace."

But the literality of this prediction, it is believed, contains but little, if any, of its real importance. The personal appearance of Christ was not all, we apprehend, which the spirit of prophecy intended by the phrase, "The desire of all nations shall come." Though higher than the kings of the earth, the Son of God, considered as an individual, was no more "the desire of all nations," than Lycurgus or Solon. Indeed when disconnected with the sublime doctrine which he taught and exemplified; his distinct and luminous exhibitions of the character and will, the requirements and beneficence of God; and the indubitable proof which he gave of a resurrection to a blissful immortality, he was, not probably, the "desire" of any nation. But the gospel of his kingdom contains truths and blessings which are, in substance, ardently desired by all nations, and families, and individuals of the earth. Equally removed in the doctrine which he inculcated, from "the leven of the pharisees and sadducees," he was "full of grace and truth." Officially and practically, he was "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person." He was the sun of the intellectual and moral world. "He was the resurrection and the life," the "salvation of God to the ends of the earth.". He was a supernatural messenger from the court of heaven, who brought "good tidings of great joy to all people." He was a teacher divinely qualified to impart to the whole Adamic family, all the information they desired, respecting the Deity, themselves, their fellow creatures, their duties and destination for time and eternity. His sublime doctrine, perfect examples, and heavenly instrutions, contained in substance every thing which all nations and individuals, from the birth of time to its final catastrophe, could possibly desire. In this sense he was "the desire of all nations." Wisdom and love, compassion and power, pardon and peace, heaven and eternal glory beamed conspicuously in the gospel of his kingdom.

Those points in theology and ethics, which had in all ages bewildered and perplexed the profoundest philosophers and moralists, were rendered by the heavenly teacher, so plain and intelligible, that "he who runs may read" and understand them.

1. He revealed the Deity in all his communicable majesty and mercy, power and glory. He developed, with infallible certainty, his nature and will; the benevolent motives of his providence; and the auspicious termination of his moral government. A deep solicitude on these momentous subjects is common to all nations, and all ages of the world. Men have ever felt, and continue to feel, not merely a prying curiosity, but a deep interest in being acquainted with the invisible power which gave and sustains their existence; which has created worlds unnumbered, and beings innumerable around them; and which continually directs and guards the multiform interests of all. So far as history reaches or experience extends its observations, this solicitude is visible. The writings of Zeno and Aristotle, Plato, Senaca, and other philosophers and moralists of remote antiquity; and especially the avidity with which their instructions were received, indubitably prove the prevalence of a powerful anxiety to be acquainted with the nature, perfections, and will of the Supreme Divinity. In the gospel of Jesus, we have clear and decisive information on this universally interesting topic. "God is a Spirit, and those who worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. There is none good but one, that is God. He maketh his sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. He will have all men to be sav-· ed and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. He worketh all things after the council of his own will.' These are but a few of the numerous passages in which Christ and his apostles clearly describe the nature and character of God our Maker. According to the teach

« PreviousContinue »