with him. Herein the witness which he SERM. bore of his divine mission, while it ex- VI. tended to all men, had a special and more forcible application to his Cotemporaries and Countrymen the Jews, who had an immediate interest in the prophecies that related to him, and who were eye-witnesses of the miracles that he performed. And that later times and other people might be put in possession of a testimony not inferior to that of the Jews, he prophecied himself the rise and progress of that spiritual Kingdom which he founded upon earth. And according to what he had foretold he supplied his Disciples with extraordinary powers to accomplish this important design. Yet the means which they employed were in no wise adequate according to the conceptions of human reason to so vast and marvellous a work. Though they walked in the flesh, they did not war after the flesh for the weapons of their warfare were not carnal; but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations and every thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. N 2 SERM. Christ P. Instead of active courage and VI. enterprize, which the Warriors of this world are accustomed to display, they were called to the exercise of patience and heroic martyrdom:' and by submitting to persecutions they undertook to subdue the world. All other dominions have been established by an arm of flesh: but this dominion bore internal evidence, that it was established by the power of divine grace and by the sword of the Spirit, . That a Plant, arising from so small a seed, should in spite of all incumbrance grow to the height and compass of so large a tree, is an undeniable proof, that the special eye of divine Providence continually watched its growth, and that the dews of heavenly grace have been abundantly dispensed to give it nurture and promote the increase. That a Kingdom, risen from such weak beginnings, and advancing by such improbable means to so large and extensive a dominion, should successfully prevail in spite of every impediment from the passions and prejudices of men, and should finally triumph over 2 Cor. x. 3, &c. all all the Kingdoms of the world, is an SERM. unquestionable argument, that its origin v1. was from Heaven, and that its Builder and Maker was God 9. Again, while the parable supplies an argument of Christian Faith, it also yields an encouragement to Christian Practice. It directs us where we may resort for protection and comfort under the unavoidable troubles of human life. And so much we may understand to be implied in what is said, that the birds of the air came and lodged in the branches thereof. For though it is not necessary to look for an express and particular import in every minuter circumstance of parable, yet this interpretation it will fairly and reasonably bear. Without the countenance of religion mankind would be left in a desolate and deplorable condition, would be exposed to every blast of evil without any shelter of resort. Such was the case of the Heathens, who, though they had some notion of a superior Being, yet had no fixed idea of those attributes of wisdom and goodness, with which he reveals himself in the gospel; and there SERM. VI. fore had no firm trust in his providence, and no assured expectation of a world to come. Equally unacquainted with the nature of God and the design of Man, they were at a loss for some anchor of the soul, on which to rest their hopes in the uncertain and frequently troubled ocean of human life. And when the waves and the storms came over them, they might be disposed with disconsolate inquietude to ask, Who will shew us any good? But why should our hearts be full of heaviness? Or why should our souls be disquieted within us? While we live under the shade of this healing plant, we can put our hope in God; we can go into his house with the voice of joy and gratitude, and offer up our prayers to him, who is the health of our countenance and our God'. Instructed as we are both in the attributes of God and the end of Man, we can commit the keeping of both our bodies and our souls to a faithful and merciful Creator', who is continually with us, and has daily holden us with his right hand, who guides us with his counsel now, and will afterwards receive us into • Psalm xlii. 4, 5. 1 Pet. iv. 19. glory. : VI. glory. Provided we comply with the SERM. conditions he has appointed in his holy v1. word, we have a certain ground of hope in every state and circumstance of life. If we are in possession of the good things of Providence, we are assured of better things in store at the resurrection of the just and if we are burdened with the evil things of life, we are equally assured, that our light afflictions will work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ". Thus in all the situations and in all the vicissitudes of life we may always resort to this Branch of Righteousness, as a shadow from the heat and a covert from the storm ". While therefore we are placed under the spreading tree of the Gospel, we ought to be very grateful for the blessing of this divine shade. And that we may duly express our gratitude to God for his inestimable gift, it is expedient that we carefully receive the seed of religion in our hearts, that we cherish it with all our care, and employ all our diligence to improve its nurture and Psalm lxxiii. 24. 2 Cor. iv. 17. ▾ Isa. iv. 6. N 4 pro |