Part 5

8. And as he was deeply sensible of the truth of that word, _without me ye can do nothing_, and consequently, of the need he had to be _water’d_ of God _every moment_; so he _continued daily_ in all the ordinances of God, the stated channels of his grace to man. _In the apostles doctrine_ or teaching, receiving that food of the soul with all readiness of heart, _in the breaking of bread_, which he found to be _the communion of the body of Christ_, and _in the prayers_ and praises offered up by the great congregation. And thus he daily _grew in grace_, increasing in strength, in the knowledge and love of God.

9. But it did not satisfy him, barely to abstain from doing evil. His soul was a-thirst to do good. The language of his heart continually was, _My Father worketh hitherto, and I work_. My Lord _went about doing good_; and shall not I _tread in his steps? As |he| had opportunity_ therefore, if he could do no good of a higher kind, he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, helped the fatherless or stranger, visited and assisted them that were sick or in prison. He _gave all his goods to feed the poor_. He rejoiced to labour or to suffer for them; and wherein soever he might profit another, there especially to _deny himself_. He counted nothing too dear to part with for them, as well remembring the word of his Lord, _Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me_.

10. Such was _Christianity_ in its rise. Such was a Christian in ancient days. Such was every one of those, who _when they heard_ the threatnings of _the chief priests and elders, lift up their voice to God with one accord, and were all filled with the Holy Ghost. The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart and of one soul._ (So did the love of him in whom they had believed, constrain them to love one another.) _Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common._ So fully were they crucified to the world, and the world crucified to them. _And they continued stedfastly with one accord in the apostles doctrine, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer. And great grace was upon them all; neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles feet; and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need._

II. 1. Let us take a view, in the second place, of this _Christianity_, as spreading from one to another, and so gradually making its way into the world. For such was the will of God concerning it, who _did not light a candle to put it under a bushel, but that it might give light to all that were in the house_. And this our Lord had declared to his first disciples, _Ye are the salt of the earth, the light of the world_: at the same time that he gave that general command, _Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven_.

2. And, indeed, supposing a few of these lovers of mankind, to see _the whole world lying in wickedness_, can we believe they would be unconcerned at the sight, at the misery of those for whom their Lord died? Would not their bowels yearn over them, and their hearts _melt away for very trouble_? Could they then stand idle all the day long, even were there no command from him whom they loved? Rather would they not labour, by all possible means, to _pluck_ some of _these brands out of the burning_? Undoubtedly they would: they would spare no pains to bring back whomsoever they could of those poor _sheep that had gone astray, to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls_.

3. So the Christians of old did. They laboured, having opportunity, _to do good unto all men_, warning them to _flee from the wrath to come_, now, now, to escape _the damnation of hell_. They declared, _The times of ignorance God winked at; but now he calleth all men every where to repent_. They cried aloud, _Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; so iniquity shall not be your ruin_. They _reasoned_ with them _of temperance and righteousness_, or justice, of the virtues opposite to their reigning sins, and _of judgment to come_, of the wrath of God which would surely be executed on evil doers in that day when he should judge the world.

4. They endeavoured herein to speak to every man severally as he had need. To the careless, to those who lay unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death, they thundered, _Awake thou that sleepest; arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light_: but to those who were already awakened out of sleep, and groaning under a sense of the wrath of God, their language was, _We have an Advocate with the Father; he is the propitiation for our sins_. Mean time those who had believed, they _provoked to love and to good works; to patient continuance in well-doing; and to abound more and more_ in that _holiness, without which no man can see the Lord_.

5. And their labour was not in vain in the Lord. His _word ran and was glorified_. It _grew mightily and prevailed_. But so much the more did offences prevail also. The world in general were offended, _because they testified of it, that the works thereof were evil_. The men of pleasure were offended, not only because these men were _made_, as it were, _to reprove their thoughts_. (_He professeth_, said they, _to have the knowledge of God: he calleth himself the child of the Lord: his life is not like other mens; his ways are of another fashion: he abstaineth from our ways, as from filthiness: he maketh his boast, that God is his Father_.) But much more, because so many of their companions were taken away, and would no more _run with them to the same excess of riot_. The men of reputation were offended, because, as the gospel spread, they declined in the esteem of the people; and because many no longer dared to _give them flattering titles_, or to pay man the homage due to God only. The men of trade called one another together, and said, _Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. But ye see and hear that these men have persuaded and turned away much people. So that this our craft is in danger to be set at nought._ Above all, the men of religion, so called, the men of _outside_ religion, “the saints of the world,” were offended and ready at every opportunity to cry out, _Men of Israel, help! We have found these men! Pestilent fellows, movers of sedition throughout the world. These are the men that teach all men, every where, against the people, and against the law._

6. Thus it was that the heavens grew black with clouds, and the storm gathered amain. For the more Christianity spread, _the more hurt was done_, in the account of those who received it not, and the number increased of those who were more and more enraged at these _men who_ thus _turned the world upside down_; insomuch that more and more cried out, _Away with such fellows from the earth; it is not fit that they should live_, yea, and sincerely believed, that _whosoever_ should _kill them, would do God service_.

7. Meanwhile they did not fail to _cast out their name as evil_: so that this _sect was every where spoken against. Men said all manner of evil of them_, even as had been done of the _prophets that were before them_. And whatsoever any would affirm, others would believe. So that offences grew as the stars of heaven for multitude. And hence arose, at the time foreordain’d of the Father, persecution in all its forms. Some, for a season, suffered only shame and reproach; some, _the spoiling of their goods_; some _had trial of mocking and scourging_; some _of bonds and imprisonment_; and others _resisted unto blood_.

8. Now it was that the pillars of hell were shaken, and the kingdom of God spread more and more. Sinners were every where _turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God_. He gave his children _such a mouth, and such wisdom, as all their adversaries could not resist_. And their lives were of equal force with their words. But, above all, their sufferings spake to all the world. They _approved themselves_ the servants of God, _in afflictions, in necessities; in distresses; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours; in perils in the sea, in perils in the wilderness; in weariness and painfulness, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness_. And when having _fought the good fight_, they were _led as sheep to the slaughter, and offered up on the sacrifice and service of their faith_, then the blood of each found a voice, and the Heathen owned, _He being dead, yet speaketh_.

9. Thus did _Christianity_ spread itself in the earth. But how soon did the tares appear with the wheat? And the _mystery of iniquity_ work as well as the _mystery of godliness_! How soon did Satan find a seat, even _in the temple of God_! Till _the woman fled into the wilderness, and the faithful were_ again _minished from the children of men_. Here we tread a beaten path: the still increasing corruptions of the succeeding generations, have been largely described from time to time, by those witnesses God raised up, to shew that he had _built his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell should not_ wholly _prevail against her_.

III. 1. But shall we not see greater things than these? Yea, greater than have been yet from the beginning of the world. Can Satan cause the truth of God to fail, or his promises to be of none effect? If not, the time will come, when _Christianity_ will prevail over all, and cover the earth. Let us stand a little, and survey (the third thing which was proposed) this strange sight, a _Christian world. Of this the prophets of old enquired and searched diligently_: of this _the Spirit which was in them testified, It shall come to pass in the last days, that the Mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. In that day there shall be a Root of |Jesse|, which shall stand for an ensign of the people. To it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people; and he shall set up an Ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of |Israel|, and gather together the dispersed of |Judah|, from the four corners of the earth. The wolf shall then dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt nor destroy, saith the Lord, in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea._

2. To the same effect are the words of the great apostle, which it is evident have never yet been fulfilled. _Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. But through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles. And if the diminishing of them be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,――That blindness in part is happened to |Israel|, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in: and so all |Israel| shall be saved._

3. Suppose now the fulness of time to be come, and the prophecies to be accomplished, what a prospect is this? All is _peace, quietness, and assurance for ever_. Here is no din of arms, no _confused noise_, no _garments rolled in blood_. _Destructions are come to a perpetual end_: wars are ceased from the earth. Neither are there any intestine jars remaining; no brother rising up against brother; no country or city divided against itself, and tearing out its own bowels. Civil discord is at end for evermore, and none is left either to destroy or hurt his neighbour. Here is no oppression to _make_ even _the wise man mad_; no extortion to _grind the face of the poor_; no robbery or wrong; no rapine or injustice; for all are _content with such things as they possess_. Thus _righteousness and peace have kissed each other_; they have _taken root and filled the land_: righteousness flourishing out of the earth, and _peace looking down from heaven_.

4. And with righteousness or justice, mercy is also found. The earth is no longer _full of cruel habitations. The Lord hath destroyed both the blood-thirsty_ and malicious, the envious and revengeful man. Were there any provocation, there is none that now knoweth, to _return evil for evil_: but indeed there is none that doeth evil, no not one; for all are _harmless as doves_. And being _filled with peace and joy in believing_, and united in one body, by one spirit, they all _love as brethren_, they are all _of one heart and of one soul. Neither saith any of them, that ought of the things which he possesseth is his own._ There is none among them that lacketh; for every man loveth his neighbour as himself. And all walk by one rule, _Whatever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them_.

5. It follows, that no unkind word can ever be heard among them: no _strife of tongues_, no contention of any kind, no railing or evil-speaking; but every one _opens his mouth with wisdom, and in his tongue there is the law of kindness_. Equally incapable are they of fraud or guile: their _love_ is _without dissimulation_: their words are always the just expression of their thoughts, opening a window into their breast, that whosoever desires may look into their hearts, and see that only love and God are there.

6. Thus, where _the Lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power and reigneth_, doth he _subdue all things to himself_; cause every heart to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise. _Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Arise, shine_, (saith the Lord) _for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Thou hast known that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the mighty God of |Jacob|. I have made thy officers peace, and thy exacters righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. Thy people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever: the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The sun shall no more be thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory._

IV. Having thus briefly considered _Christianity_, as beginning, as going on, and as covering the earth, it remains only that I should close the whole with a plain practical application.

1. * And first, I would ask, where does this _Christianity_ now exist? Where, I pray, do the _Christians_ live? Which is the country, the inhabitants whereof are _all_ thus _filled with the Holy Ghost_? Are _all of one heart and of one soul_? Cannot suffer one among them _to lack any thing_, but continually give _to every man as he hath need_? Who one and all have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbours as themselves? Who have all _put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering_? Who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth? But in every point do unto all men, as they would these should do unto them. With what propriety can we term any a _Christian country_, which does not answer this description? Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a _Christian country_ upon earth.

2. I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, if ye do account me a madman or a fool, yet _as a fool bear with me_. It is utterly needful that some one should use great plainness of speech towards you. It is more especially needful at _this_ time; for who knoweth but it is the _last_? Who knoweth how soon the righteous Judge may say, _I will no more be intreated for this people? Tho’ |Noah|, |Daniel|, and |Job|, were in this land, they should but deliver their own souls._ And who will use this plainness, if I do not? Therefore I, even I, will speak. And I adjure you, by the living God, that ye steel not your breasts against receiving a blessing at _my_ hands. Do not say in your heart, “_Non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris_: Or, in other words, Lord, thou shalt not _send, by whom thou wilt send_. Let me rather perish in my blood, than be saved by this man!”

3. _Brethren I am persuaded better things of you, tho’ I thus speak._ Let me ask you then, in tender love, and in the spirit of meekness, is this city a _Christian_ city? Is _Christianity, Scriptural Christianity_, found here? Are we, considered as a community of men, so _filled with the Holy Ghost_, as to enjoy in our hearts, and shew forth in our lives, the genuine fruits of that spirit? Are all the magistrates, all heads and governors of colleges and halls, and their respective societies, (not to speak of the inhabitants of the town) _of one heart and one soul_? Is _the love of God shed abroad in our hearts_? Are our tempers the same that were in him? Are our lives agreeable thereto? Are we _holy as he who hath called us is holy, in all manner of conversation_?

4. I intreat you to observe, that here are no _peculiar notions_ now under consideration; that the question moved is not concerning _doubtful opinions_, of one kind or an other; but concerning the undoubted, fundamental branches (if there be any such) of our _common Christianity_. And for the decision thereof, I appeal to your own conscience, guided by the word of God. He therefore that is not condemned by his own heart, let him go free.

5. * In the fear then, and in the presence of the great God, before whom both you and I shall shortly appear, I pray you that are in authority over us, whom I reverence for your office sake, to consider, (and not after the manner of dissemblers with God) Are you _filled with the Holy Ghost_? Are ye lively portraitures of him, whom ye are appointed to represent among men? _I have said, ye are Gods_, ye magistrates and rulers; ye are by office so nearly allied to the God of heaven! In your several stations and degrees, ye are to shew forth unto us _the Lord our governor_. Are all the thoughts of your hearts, all your tempers and desires, suitable to your high calling? Are all your words like unto those which come out of the mouth of God? Is there in all your actions dignity and love? A greatness which words cannot express, which can flow only from an heart full of God――and yet consistent with the character of _man that is a worm, and the son of man that is a worm_!

6. * Ye venerable men, who are more especially called to form the tender minds of youth, to dispel thence the shades of ignorance and error, and train them up to be wise unto salvation, Are you _filled with the Holy Ghost_? With all those _fruits of the Spirit_, which your important office so indispensibly requires? Is your heart whole with God? Full of love and zeal to set up his kingdom on earth? Do you continually remind those under your care, that the one rational end of all our studies, is to know, love, and serve _the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent_? Do you inculcate upon them, day by day, that _love_ alone _never faileth_? (Whereas, _whether there be tongues, they shall fail, or_ philosophical _knowledge, it shall vanish away_:) and that without love, all learning is but splendid ignorance, pompous folly, vexation of spirit. Has all you teach an actual tendency to the love of God, and of all mankind for his sake? Have you an eye to this end in whatever you prescribe, touching the kind, the manner, and the measure of their studies; desiring and labouring, that wherever the lot of these young soldiers of Christ is cast, they may be so many _burning and shining lights, adorning the gospel of Christ_ in all things? And permit me to ask, Do you put forth all your strength in the vast work you have undertaken? Do you labour herein with all your might? Exerting every faculty of your soul? Using every talent which God hath lent you, and that to the uttermost of your power?

7. Let it not be said, that I speak here, as if all under your care were intended to be clergymen. Not so: I only speak as if they were all intended to be Christians. But what example is set them by us who enjoy the beneficence of our forefathers; by fellows, students, scholars; more especially those who are of some rank and eminence? * Do ye, brethren, abound in the fruits of the spirit, in lowliness of mind, in self-denial and mortification, in seriousness and composure of spirit, in patience, meekness, sobriety, temperance, and in unwearied, restless endeavours, to do good, in every kind, unto all men: to relieve their outward wants, and to bring their souls to the true knowledge and love of God? Is this the general character of fellows of colleges? I fear it is not. Rather, have not pride and haughtiness of spirit, impatience and peevishness, sloth and indolence, gluttony and sensuality, and even a proverbial uselessness, been objected to us, _perhaps_ not always by our enemies, _nor wholly_ without ground? O that God would roll away this reproach from us, that the very memory of it might perish for ever!

8. * Many of us are more immediately consecrated to God, called to _minister in holy things_. Are we then patterns to the rest, _in word, in conversation, in charity; in spirit, in faith, in purity_? Is there written on our forehead and on our heart, _Holiness to the Lord_? From what motives did we enter upon this office? Was it indeed with a single eye _to serve God, trusting that we were inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, to take upon us this ministration, for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people_? And _have_ we _clearly determined, by God’s grace, to give ourselves wholly to this office? Do we forsake and set aside, as much as in us lies, all worldly cares and studies? Do we apply ourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all our cares and studies this way?_ Are we _apt to teach_? Are we _taught of God_, that we may be able to teach others also? Do we know God? Do we know Jesus Christ? Hath God _revealed his Son in us_? And hath he _made us able ministers of the new covenant_? Where then are _the seals of our apostleship_? Who _that were dead in trespasses and sins_, have been quickened by our word? Have we a burning zeal to save souls from death, so that for their sake we often forget even to eat our bread? Do we speak plain, _by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God_? Are we dead to the world and the things of the world, _laying up all our treasure in heaven? Do we lord over God’s heritage?_ Or are we the least, _the servants of all_? When we bear the reproach of Christ, Does it sit heavy upon us? Or do we rejoice therein? When we are _smitten on the one cheek_, Do we resent it? Are we impatient of affronts? Or do we _turn the other also: not resisting the evil_, but _overcoming evil with good_? Have we a bitter zeal, inciting us to strive sharply and passionately with them _that are out of the way_? Or is our zeal the flame of love, so as to direct all our words with sweetness, lowliness, and meekness of wisdom?