Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE

Reasonableness and Nature

ОР

GOD'S DOMINION.

SERMON V.

PSALM CXIV.-VERSE 13.

Thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations.

IMPRESSED with a powerful conviction of the existence of a Supreme Being, the devout and attentive mind naturally feels an anxious solicitude to obtain all needful information respecting him. Immoral and dissipated men, indeed, feel no desire for enlarged and enlightened ideas of the exalted character of God. Their grovelling souls aim at nothing higher than earth.It is enough for them to know, "What they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewith they shall be cloathed." Their knowledge being thus confined to sensual objects, their hearts remain depraved. No sense of dependence on the blessed God is

experienced-no inward conviction of their infinite obligations to him is felt, and consequently his supreme authority over them. is rejected without fear. While therefore the Minister of Christ feels it a privilege to relieve, as much as possible, the anxiety of those who are thirsting after the knowledge of God; tender compassion and a sense of duty excite him to use his utmost endeavours, to become the happy instrument of awakening and enlightening the careless and ignorant part of his hearers. This observation, my brethren, it is presumed, will appear to be a sufficient reason for calling your attention to a further description of that God with whom we have to do. This description will relate to the REASONABLENESS and the NATURE of His dominion over us.

I. I describe the reasonableness of God's dominion over us.

This particular, my dear hearers, is of the utmost importance to us all. Our eternal interests are involved in it. In order, therefore, that it may, through a divine blessing, be duly impressed upon every heart, I shall beg leave to illustrate what I have to say with great plainness of speech.

The making, keeping or purchasing of any thing, entitles a person to a right of dominion over it. Now, apply this idea to the

[ocr errors]

connexion which subsists between God and yourselves, and you cannot but allow the reasonableness of his authority over you. Who is it that made you? To whom are you indebted for your present existence? Who formed those hands to supply your necessities? Who gave you those eyes to see? -those ears to hear? that tongue to converse? those feet to walk? Who imparted to you the ability of sitting, standing, moving, and stopping, just as inclination dictates, and circumstances require? Was it yourselves that did all this? Was it any of your fellow creatures? You know to the contrary; and you feel disposed to reply" The Lord who is God, He it was that made us, and favoured us with these wonderful frames, and not we ourselves, nor any of our fellow mortals." But if the Lord made you-if it is in him you live, and move, and have your being, you must of course allow, that it is reasonable he should exercise his dominion over you. Let then every heart adopt the declaration of the Psalmist" It is he that hath made us and not we ourselves, we are therefore his people,"-weput ourselves under his authority, and are the sheep of his pasture."

[ocr errors]

Recollect further, that the Almighty not only made you, but also continues to keep and preserve you. If you have strength to attend to your daily employments, it is the

Lord who gives you that strength. If your temporal concerns are in a prosperous state, divine providence alone grants you that prosperity. If you enjoy a good state of health, it is to God you are indebted for this unspeakable favour. If you are preserved from misfortunes, it is because he constantly watches over you for good. Why have you an appetite for food that nourishes and supports your bodies? To whose superintendence is it owing, that your food digests and communicates strength throughout the various faculties of the body and mind? How comes it to pass, that sleep insensibly steals upon you when the business of the day is finished, and that by this repose your weary frames are as much recruited with strength, as if they had not been in the least degree fatigued; Are all these mere accidental circumstances? Are they not rather so many demonstrations that the Lord continually keeps and preserves you? Convinced that this is the case, you must necessarily acknowledge the reasonableness of his dominion over you. Over whom do you think it proper and consistent to exercise your authority? Is it not over those whom you daily protect, support, and supply with the necessaries of life? Acquiesce then in the justness of God's claim to your constant obedience, and consider it your bounden duty to be his servants all the days of your life.

Let the point be again considered, with reference to the Price which God paid to obtain your souls for himself. When you have purchased any thing, and paid for it, you very justly conclude that you have a right to use it in your service. Apply this idea to the present subject, and the reasonableness of God's dominion over us will immediately be seen. We are his "purchased possession." The ransom was paid down, and, with reverence be it spoken, all was given that could be given to make us his own property. The Almighty gaveshall I say a world of Angels?-the costly mines of Ophir?-or the countless number of Seraphs which, with fixed alacrity, constantly do his pleasure? Ah! these sink below notice, when compared with the price which he actually gave for our souls. He gave his only beloved, his co-equal, and co-eternal Son; he sent him from heaven, from happiness, and from glory-to a world of sin, degradation, and misery. His Son, much dearer to him than ten thousand worlds, he gave to the dreadful curse which we deserved, to agonies inconceivable, and to the ignominious death of the cross. This is the ransom, that was paid-this is the price with which the eternal Jehovah purchased us for himself. What could have been given more? See, brethren, see! God that he might not lose you that you you—that

1

« PreviousContinue »