far al for thy servant heareth. Young as you are, you should consider yourself a servant of God, you should hear what he speaks, and hear in order to obey. Think of the children who sang Hosannahs in the Temple ; and of Jesus himself, who at twelve years of age was found in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing and asking them questions. Pray you for God's blessing, as that child did of whom it is said that she never entered the house of God without secretly offering up this petition, “ Lord, help me to remember something.” The way in which the young become strong and overcome the wicked one, is by having the word of God abide in them, 1 John ii, 14. Are you IN INFERIOR SITUATIONS--Clerks, apprentices, or engaged in manufactories in large cities or towns, or in laborious situations, where you are confined during the week to a close and constant employment? possibly you think yourselves at liberty to neglect hearing on the Sunday, and to spend it-in walks and recreation. We allow that the inducements to the carnal mind are very strong, when, to adopt words used on another occasion, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of the singing of birds is come, to neglect the less agreeable privilege of hearing the sacred word; and to pursue, without restraint, the delightful recreation afforded to one who has been shut up all the week by the view of the simple scenery of nature, and the refreshing breezes of a pure air. Probably the necessities of your family allow you no other day for such an enjoyment. Probably your earthly master would not, or could not, allow you time for such a refreshment. You think it right to obey him, lest your temporal interests should suffer. But would you think it an act a early to attentive stand. De child be ren, low #1 oph and Me Latimers ber, and the Note they great a jilat 1 cordeoni 231 Godzin of extreme folly, and call it a wasteful idleness to be wandering among the fields when your earthly master, for your family call you to work, and have you not a heavenly master, and have you not spiritual necessities? God has issued his command- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy! Will you disregard it? God gives his wages: will you undervalue them? I thou tur away thy fool from doing thy pleasure on my holy doy and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honourable, and shalt honour him, not doing thine out ways, nor finding thine oun pleasure, nor speaking thin own words, Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord. Christians! there are much higher joys, even in this world, thay contemplating the beauties of nature! 0. to have our sins washed away in the blood of Christ and to be justified freely by his grace, to be renewed by his Holy Spirit, and to become a child of God, this is true happiness on earth! And there are before yet higher joys still in the paradise above, the ne hearens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteout ness. May the blessed Spirit of Christ give us a taste for these; let us not forfeit these for any mere temporary indulgences. - Our life is now a life of faith, and not of sense; be not surprised therefore if you have to give up some temporal pleasures; those which are innocent shall be enjoyed with a double relish. In any case the time is hastening on when we shall enter the joy of our Lord, even fulness of joy.. But will you still say--Surely we may have Sunday for a day of pleasure. By all means let Sunday be a day of pleasure : but what is your pleasure? Is it idie conversation, feasting, and light and vain company! O these are not real pleasures; they are very vusatisfactory and transitory gleams of false pleasure. Delight you self in the Lord, there is the true happiness of the nortal spirit. Hear and read his word--that tells ** labourer of satisfying joy, of the rest which remaineth the people of God; there you have set before you ...t which will afford you comfort and happiness in all ar toils and sorrows. It is specially needful that I should hear, and thus learn divine truth when you *h, for you have not time, nor opportunity, for much idy, and deep learning; and therefore you should f * ail yourself of those advantages with which you are 20.65w favoured. Ina Christian country you have, through kind providence, ministers appointed to instruct you, "hose special office it is to acquire divine knowledge for te bur edification. In hearing a faithful and wise preacher, ou have, in the short time of the delivery of a sermon, le resulti of much study and prayer applied to your 2 articular necessities. By due attention to such serwe nons, joined to your own reading of God's word, you and chere di vill increase in the knowledge of the Son of God, till you come to a perfect man, unto a measure of the stature of he fulness of Christ. Be not, by neglect of such Chrisnstruction, unhappy in both worlds. Hear, believe, se divuit and obey'; and so shall you be blessed here and for Do you say that you are ashamed to appear for want of clothes fit to come in? but are you not ashamed si thm of being away, when the eye of God marks you in your absence? Do you say there is no room? I reply, 0. that our churches were ordinarily crowded as they might be! Be in good time, and you will find room. More churches would be built, if those that are erected were more crowded. Are you SERVANTS? you should not neglect to hear. d valin cha Shut not yourselves out from so great a privilege, where you have permission to attend, and remain not in any P arada de ever. erefore it's puble rekt e shell we v8 let Siena easure Teasure : family where you are excluded from hearing God word. You have souls as precious as those of the highest monarch. You must be happy or miserable and that for ever. Neglect not the grand ordinance God for your eternal salvation. The truths which w hear, received in a believing heart, will sweeten to bitterest service, will smooth the most rugged patli, as innni:ely heighten the comfort of the happiest conditie How blessed is the portion of one, whom no out#27 circumstances can separate from the Father's love, the Saviour's redemption, the Holy Spirit's guidance, au the sure prospect of an eternal glory yet to be reveale and fully enjoyed. To every human being we say-Neglect to hear, as you fall under the sentence of destruction ; (Acts iii, 23 hear, and your souls shall live. Isa. ly. We set befor you life and death : choose you this day. Be wise hi eternity. As far as you are concerned, let it no longe. be the reproach of Christians that three-fourths of thos called by the name of Christ, despise his word. Sligt not your greatest interest. Believe in God. cannot deceive, so he will not be mocked. He invite now; but despised, he will arise to judge and condens O neglect not so great salvation. As Ee We conclude all with the words of our Lord, HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR AND BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP IT. is that he Page 1.**ddress to different classes to attend to hearing 306 those in eminent şifuations 307 those in extensive business 308 parents and children 309 those in inferior situations 310 Strvants 312 e Kui Inswers to objeclions against practical obedience 206 worldly interests may suffer 206 the expediency of delay 210 the fear of an odious name 211 the dislike of hypocrisy 213 the opposite opinions of men in general 214 250 PT Antichrist, Bacon's view of Antinomian, really rejects the doctrine of the cross 58 Augustine's writings, quoted 23, 32, 113, 134 Bacon, his application of Antichrist to the Pope 250 114 Il comer. Barnard, Sir John, his practice Baxter's Catholic Thcology referred to 82 Beveridge, quoted 76, 133, 145 i, despies' Bingham's Christian Antiquities, quoted 33, 34, 112 Blessedness of faithful hearing, 287 faculties are employed aright 288 our advantages are improved 289 our knowledge is increased, 289 our calling is ascertained 293 conviction of sin is given 291 faith is bestowed 293 justification is confirmed 296 adoption is certified 296 election is secured 297 sanctification is promoted 298 spiritual comfort is advanced 299 souls are ripened for glory 300 perfect knowledge will be attained hereafter 301 Books, list of, for poor men 179 for private christians 179 Bradford, quoted, 35, and his works recommended 137 Bucer, quoted, 38 Bullinger, view of, trur prosperity, 24 Burnct's History of his own time, quoted 32 Campbell, Professor, quoted 106, 108 00. Hronds of our EAR, LETA EAR THET CP IT 1 |