Parochial and Plain Sermons

"Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice witl trembliug."

HY did Christ show Himself to so few witnesses after He rose froln the dead? Because IIe was a Kitg, a King exalted upon God's "IIoly bill of Zion; '" as the Psalm says which contains the text. Kings do hot court the multitude, or shov themselves as a spectacle at the will of others. They are the rulers of their people, and have their state as such, and are reverently waited on by their great men: and when they show themselves, they do so out of their condeoeension. They act by means of their servants, and must be so«ykt by those who would gain favours from them. Christ, in ]ike manner, when ex:dted as the Onlybegotten Son of God, did not mix with the Jewisb people, as in the days of I-Iis humiliation. He rose from the grave in secret, and taught in secret for folaty days, because "the g-overnment n-as upon ttis shoulder." He was no longer a servant washing His disciples" feet, a.nd dependent on the wayward will of the multitude. He vas the acknowledged Heir of all things. His throne

 9 6 C/ristiaz was established by a Divine decrce; and those who desired tlis salvation, were bound fo seeb His face. no even by those who sough was He a once round. He did no permi tire world fo approach Him rashly, or curiously fo gaze on Him. hose only did He cll beside Him who had been tlis fi'iends, who loved Him. • hose only IIe bade "ascend the bill o the Lord," who had "elean lmnds znd a. pure hear, who had no worshipped vaniy nor sworn deeeitfully." OEhese drew near, and "sw the Lord God of lsrzel," and so were fied fo bear fle news of Ilim fo tire people zt large. lIe renmined "in Ilis holy temple;" tkeff from tlim proelaimed the tidings of His resnrreetion, and of His merey, tIis ffee pardon offered to all nlel b and the promises of graee and glory whieh His death had proeured for all who believe. Tlms are we taught to serve our risen Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Let us pursue the subject thns opened upon us.—Chrisçs second sojourn on earth (after His resurrection) was in secret. Te rime had been vhen He "preached openly in the synagogues,'" and in the public ways; and openly vrought lniracles such as man never did. Was there to be no end of His labours in our behalf? tIis dea[h "finished" them; aterwards He taught His followers only. Vho shall complain of His withdrawing Himself at last ri-oto the world, when if was of ltis own spontaneous lovingkindness that He ever showed Himself at all? Yet if must be borne in mind, that even before He enred into His 'loT, Christ spoke and acted as a King. It must hot be supposed that, even in the days of His flesh, IIe could forger who IIe was, or "behave Himself unseemly" by any weak submission to the will of the Jewish peoplc.:Even in thc lowest acts of His sclf-abasement, still tic showed Ilis greatness. Consider Ilis conduct whcn IIe washed St. Pctcr's fcet, and sec if if were not calculated (assuredly it was) to humble, to awe, and subdue thc very person fo whom Ho ministercd. Vhen Ho taugqt, warned, pitied, praycd for, His ignorant hearers, He noyer a.llowcd them fo rclax t-heir reverence or fo overlook His condcscension. Nay, He did not allow them to praise Him aloud, and publish His acts of grace; as if what is callcd popularity would be a dishonour to His holy name, and the applause of men would imply their right fo censure. The world's praise is akin fo contempt. Our LoM delights in the tribute of the secret heart. Such was Itis conduct in thc days of His flesh. Does if not interpret His dealings with us after His resurrection? He who was so reserved in His communications of Himself, even when He came fo minister, much more would withdraw Himself from the eyes of men when He was exalted over all things. I bave said, that even when a servant, Christ spoke with the authority of a king; and bave given you some lroof of if. But if may be well to dwell upon this. Observe then, the difference between His promises, stated doctrinally and gencrally, and His mode of addressing those vho came actually before Him. Vhile He announced God's willingness to forgive all repentant sinners, lu all the fulness of loving-kindness and tender mercy, yet Ho did nob use supplication to these persons or those, wha.tever their number or their rank rnight be.

9 8 Christian tcvercuce. I-Ie spoke as one who knew He had rea fvonrs fo eonfer, and had nohing" to g'ain fi'om hose who reeeived hem. Far from uring" hem fo aeeep His bounty, He showed Himself even baekward to eonfer if., inquired into heir knowled'e and motives, and eauioned them ag'ains entering His service withou counting" the eos of i. hus someimes He even repelled men fi'om Him. For instance: When there wen "grea multitudes wih Him.... He urned and said unto them, If any man corne to hic, and hate hOt his father and mother, and wife and chihlren, and brothers and sisters, yea, and his own lire also, he cannot be Iy disciple." These were not the words of one who courted popularity. He procecds;'" Which of you intending" fo build a tower, sitteth hot down first, and counteth the cost, whether he hve suftàcient fo finish it?.... So likewise, whosoever lin be of you, that forsaketh not all tha he bath, he cannot be My disciple ." On the other hand, observe IIis conduct to the powerful men, and the learned Scribes and Pharisees. There are persons who look up to human power, and who are pleased to associate their names with the accomplished and cultivated of this world. Our Blessed Lord was as inflexible towards these, as towards the crowds which followcd Him. Thcy asked for a sign; He named them '" an evil and adulterous generation," who refused to profit by wha they had already received . They asked Him, whether tte did no confess Himself to be One with God; but

Ite raher han ell sueh proud dispners, seemed even îo abandon His own real e]ailn, and made His former elear words ambignous . 8ueh was îhe Kin' of Israel n the e)es both of he multitude aml ni  their rulers   '«hard sa)'n',"  ««roek o offenee even o the disobedenî," who came fo Him "wiîh their lips, while their hearîs were far from Him." Çont.inue flis survey fo the case of individnals, and it will still appear, tlmt, lovin" and mcreiflfi as Ho vas most abun(lantly, yet still IIe showed both His power and Ilis grace with reserve, evcn te thcm, as well as te the fickle many, or the unbelieving Pharisees. One instance is preserved 4o us of a person addressin" Him, with some notions, indeed, of His greatness, but in 8 light and careless tone. The narrative is instructive from the mixture of good and bad which the inquirer's character displays 2. He was younz and wealthy, and is called "a ruler; " yet was anxious for Christ's faveur. Se far was well. Nay, he "came runnin" and kneelin te Him." And he see»,ed te address Him in what would Fcnerally bc considered as respectfifl terres: "Good Mastcr," he sald. Yet our Saviour saw in his conduct a dcficiency;—" Ont thing thou laekest:" viz. elevo?io in the true sense of the word,8 giving himself up te Christ. This young man seems te have considered religion as an easy work, and thought he could live as the world, and yct serve God acceptably. In consequence, we may suppose, he had litfle right notion of the dignity of a Messeng, er fi-om God. He did hOt assoeiate thc Ministers of relig'ion with awful prospects beyond the grave, in whieh he was interested; nor 'ecerence them aeeording'ly, though he was hot without some kind of «e.v)ect tbr thcm. Doubtless he thoug'ht he was houo«rig out Lord when he had called Him " Good 3lester;" and would have been surprised to hear his attaehment to sacred snbjeets and appointments eallcd in question. Yet out Saviour rejeeted sueh hall homag% and rcbuked what even seemed piously offered. " l]'hy eallest thou 3Ie good?" He asked; "There is nonc good but Ont, that is, Goal:" as if IIe said, "Obsea-est thon ««kat words thou art using' as if words of eome? " Good 3h«ster 'am I aecounted by thee as a teacher of man's ereation, and over whom man has power, and fo be aecosted by a form of honour, whieh, through leng'th of rime, has lost ifs meanins; or ara I acknowledged fo corne and have authority from Him who is the only source of oodness?" Nor did ont Lord relax His scverity even after this reproof. Expressly as if is told us, "He loved him," and spoke fo him therefore in great compassion,and merey,:}'et He strietly eharg'ed him fo sell all he had and give it away, if he would show he was in earnest, and He sent him away "' sorrowful." You may reeolleet, too, our Lord's fi'equent inquiry into t]efzit] of those who came to Him. This arose, doubtless, from the same rule,a regard fo His own 2Iajesty as a King'. "If thou eanst believe, all thing's are possible to him that believeth '." He did hot work miracles as a mere display of power; or allow the worhl prothnely to look on as af some exhibition of art. this respect, as in others, even Moses and Elias stand in eontrast with Him. Moses wrought miracles before Pharaoh to rival the magicians of E'ypt.:Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to bring down tire from heaven. The Son of God deigned hOt fo exert His power belote Herod, after Moses' patfcl'n; nor fo be judged by the multitude, as Elijah. He subducd the power of Satan at IIis own appointed seasons; but when the Devil tcmptcd IIim and demanded a. miracle in proof of His Divinity, He would do none. Further, even when an inquircr showed earnestncss, still IIe did not try fo gain him over by smooth representatlons of His doctrine. He declared, indeed, the gcneral characteristic of His doctrine, " 3Iy yoke is easy;" but " He ruade Himself strange and spake roug'hly" to those who came to Him. Nicodenms was another ruler of the Jews, who sought I[im, and he professed his belief in tIis miracles and Divine mission. Our Saviour answered in these severe words;" Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he caunot sec the kingdom of God." Such was our Saviour's conduct even during, the period of His ministry; much more mig'ht we expect it to be such, when He had risen ri'oto His state of servirude, and such we find it. No man saw Him rise from the grave, tlis Ang'els indeed beheld it; but His earthly followers were away, and the hcathen soldiers were hot worthy. They saw, indeed, the great Ang'el, who rolled away the stonc

3oa C'istia Reve'ozce. from the opening" of t.he tomb. OEhis was Chrst's servant; but Him they saw hot. //e was on His way fo sec His own faithful and mournlng these IIe Lad revealed His doctrine durin Ilis humiliation, and ealled them « His fi'iends. '' Firsg of all, He ppeared to lLn T Magdalene in the g, arden itself where He had been buried; then to the other women who lninistered unto IIim; then fo the two disciples travelling, fo lmnmusl then fo all the Apostles separately besidcs fo Peter and fo Jamesl and fo OEhomas in the prcsenee of thcm all. Yeg nog even these, Itis friends, had ri'ce aeeess to Him. He said fo Mry, « OEoueh Me not." He came nd left them aecordin fo His own pleasure. Vhen they saw Him, they felt an we whieh they hd hot felt durin His ministry. While they doubted if if were He, « None of them, « S. John sys, « durst sk IIim, 'ho art Tlmu? believing th i was the Lord ." However, as kins have their days of state, on whieh thev show themselves publiely to gheir subjeets, so out Lord ppointed a meeting • of His diseiples, when they might sec Him. He had determined this even before His crucifixion; and the Angels reminded them of if. « He goet.h before you into Galilee there shall ye sec Him, as IIe sMd unto you ." OEhe place of meeting • ws a mountain supposed) as that on whieh IIe had been transfired nd the number who swIlim there was rive hundred ag once, if we join St. Paul's account to that in the

ChrisNaz Rcvereucc. 3o3 Gospels. Af length, after forty days, He was taken from them; He ascended up, " and a cloud rcceived Him out of their sight." Are we to feel less humble veneration for Him now, than His Apostles then? Though He is our Saviour, and has removed ail slavish fear of dcath and judgment, are we, therefore, to make light of the prospect before us, as if we were sure of that reward which He bids us strugg'le ibr? Assuredly, we are still to "serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice vith reverence,"—to "kiss the Son, lest tIe be angry, and so we perish fi'om thc right vay, if His wrath be kindled, ye but a little." Iu a Christian's course,]èar and love must yo toyether. And this is the lesson fo be deduced from our Savio«r's withdmwing from the world after tIis resurrection. He showed tIis love tbr men ly dying for them, and rising again. He maintained His honour and great glory by retiring, froln them when His merciful purpose was attained, tlmt they might seek Him if they would find Him. He ascended to His Father out of out sight. Sinners would be ill company for the exalted King of Saints. Vhen we bave been duly prepared to see Him, we shall be given fo approach Him. In heaven, love will absorb fear; but in thls world, jfear and love must go togetker.:No one ean love God aright without fearing Him; though many fear Him, and yet do hot love Him. Self-confident men, who do not knov their own hearts, or the reasons they bave for being • dissatisiîed with themselves, do hot i'ear God, and they think this bold fi'eedom is to love Him. Deliberate inners fear but cannot love Him.:But devotiou to

304 C/zri«/]an ]'¢c«crence. Him eosists in ]ove a.n £ear, as we may merstan from our ordiary atta.ehment fo eaeh other. No one really loves another, who does hot feel a certain reverence towards him. When friends tansgress this sobriety of affliction, they lllgy indeed continue associates for  time, but hey have broken the bond of union. Itis mutual respect which makes friendship lasting. So again, in the feelings of inferiors towards supcriors. Fear must go before love. Till he who has uthority shows he has it and can use it, his fo'bearance vill hot be valued duly; his kindaess will loo1 like wc,lness. We learn to contemn what we do hot fear; and we cannot love what we contennu So in religion also. We cannot understand Christ's mereies till ve understand His power, Itis gloç, Ilis unspeakable holiness, and our demerits; that is, mtil we first fear Him. Not that fear cornes first, and then love; for the most part thcy will proceed together. Fear is allayed by thWlove of Him, and out love sobered by our fear of Him. Thus He draws us on with encouraging voice amid the terrors of His threatenings. As in he young ruler's case, He loves us, yet speaks harshly to us that we may learn to cherish mixed feelings towards Him. He hides Himoelf from us, and yet calls us on, that we ma.y hear His voice as Sanluel did, and, believing, approach H with trembling. This may seem strange to those who do hot study the Scriptures, and to those who do hot know what it is earestly to seek after God. But in proportion as the state of mind is strange, sois there in it, therefore, untold and surpassing pleasure fo those 'ho

Cl'istiaz Reverozce. 3o 5 partake it. The biffer and the sweet, strangely tempered, tlms leave upon the mind the lasting faste of Divine truth, and satisfy if; hot so harsh as fo be loathed; nor of that insipid sweetness whieh attends enthusiastie feelins, and is wearisome when if beeomes familiar. Sueh is the feeling of conscience too, God's einal gitt; how painful! yet who would lose if? " I eened my month and panted, for I longed for hy eommandments. '' his is l)avid's aeeonnt of if. Ezekiel deseribes somethin of the same feeling when the Spirit lifted him up and took him away, "and he weng in bitterness, in the heat of his spirit.," « the hand of the Lord" being" « strong" upon him. '' Now how does his apply fo us here assembled? Are we in daner of speaking- or thinkin of Chrisg irreverently? I do hot think we are in any immediate danger of deliberate profaneness but we are in g'reat dan.er of this, riz. first, of allowing" ourselves to aI0æeaP protSne, and seeondl, of gradually beeoming irreverent, while we are pretending" fo be so. Nen do hot begin by iredi fo dishonour Goal i but they are afraid of the ridicule of others: they are ashamed of ppearing" relig%usl and thus are led o pretend that they are worse than they really are. They say things whieh they do hot mean; and, by a. miserable weakness,.llow actions and habits to be imputed fo them whieh they date hot really indulge in. Henee, they affeet a liberty of speeeh whieh only befits the eompanions of evil spirits. hey take God' naine in vain, to how

306 C/zristiat lcveretce. t.ha they ean do what devils do, and hey invoke the evil spirit, or seak t'amiliarly ot  ail that pertains fo him, and dea.1,about curses wantonly, as though they were hot fire-brands,-as it  acknowledging"the Author of Evil fo be thcir g'reat toaster and lord. Yes! he is a toaster who allows himself fo be served without tremblin. It is lais very art to lead men to be at case with him, to think lightly of him, and to trifle with him. He wil! submit to their ridicule, take (as it were) their blows, and pretend to be their slave, that he may ensnare them. IIe bas no dignity fo maintain, and he waits lais time when lais malice shall be gratified. So if has ever becn all over the carth. Amont all nations it has been lais aire fo nmke men laugh at him; golng to and fi'o upon the earth, and walking" up and down in it, hearing" and rejoicing" in that lig'ht perpetual talk about him which is lais worshi2). Now, if is not to be supposed that all this careless language tan be continued without its affecting" a man's heart af last; and this is the second danger I spoke of. Throgh a false shame, we disown religion with our lips, and next our words affect our thoughts. Men at last become the cold, indifferent, profime characters they professcd thcmsclves fo be. They think contemptuously of God's Ministers, Sacraments, and Worship; they slight Itis Word, rarely looking into it, and never studying if. They undcrvalue ail religious proIssion, and j udging of others by themselves, impute the conscientious conduct they witness to bad motives. Thus they are in heart infidels; though they lnay hOt t%rmally be such, and may attempt to disguise their own unbelief under

pretence of objecting fo one or other of the doctrines or ordinances of religion. And should,n rime of temptation corne, when it would be sale to show themselves as they really are, they will (almost un,nwares) throw off their profession of Christianity, and join themselves fo the scoffing world. And how must Christians, on the other h,nnd, treat.such heartless hen? They have our Lord's exa.mi.le to imitate. Not that they date precisely follow thc conduct of Him who had no sin. They dare hot assunle to themselves any honour on their own accourir; and they re bound, especially if they are His Ministers, to humble themselves as the Apostles did, and "going out to the highways and hedges (as it were) compel  " nlen fo be s,ved. Yet, while they use greater ealaestness of entreaty than their Lord, they must hot forger dignity the while, who sends them. He manifested His love towards us, "' in deed and in truth," a.nd we, His Ministers, declare if in word; yet for the very reason that it is so abundant, we must in very gratitude learn rcverence towards Him. We must not take advantage (so to sy) of His goodness powers committed to us. Never mnst we solicitously press the truth upon those who do not profit by what hey already possess. It dishonours Christ, while i does the scorner harm, hot good. If is casfing pearls befbre swine. We must wait for all opportunities of being useful to men, but beware of attempting too much at once. re must impart the Scripture doctrines, in measure and season, as they ean bear them; hot bein eager to recount them all, rather, hiding them fi'om th world. Seldom must we engage in controversy or dis. pure; for if lowers the sacred truths to make them  subject for ordinary debate. Common propriety sug. gests rulcs like these at once. Who would speak freel. about some revered friend in the presence of those whc did hOt value him? or who would think he could with, few words overcome their indiffcrence towards him? o who would hastily dispute about him when h;_s hearer, had no dcsire to be made love him? Rather, shunning ail intemperate words, let us show out light belote men by out worg's. Here we must b sale. In doing" justice, showing mercy, speaking the truth, resisting sin, obeying the Church,min thus glorit)-ing God, there tan be no irreverence. And, above all, let us look at home, check all bad thoughts, presumptuous imaginings, vain desires, discontented murmurings, self-eomplacent reflections, and so in our hearts ever honour Him in secret, whom we reverence by open profession. May God guide us in a dangerous world, and deliver us from evil. And may He rouse to serious thought, by the power of His Spifit, all who are living in profaneness or unconcern!