Conclusion
Let the reader review the preceding pages in the fear of God. The subject is of eternal moment. A mistake here, is a mistake for eternity. Under a deep sense of his need of the searching influences of the Divine Spirit, let him, as he reflects upon what he has read, adopt the language of the Psalmist, Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there he any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
He that is riot with mc, saith the Saviour, is against me. There is no principle within the whole compass of morals, that admits of more strict demonstration than this, that there can be but two moral characters that are essentially different. There must be necessarily in every intelligent being, a conformity to the will of God, or the want of it. It is as impossible that a man should be neither right nor wrong, as it is that a portion of matter, at any given period, should be neither at rest nor in motion. It is absurd to suppose, that he is neither a saint nor a sinner; neither penitent nor impenitent; neither a believer nor an unbeliever. So long as men possess any moral character, they must view themselves, and be viewed by others, either for God or against Him. In the great contest which enlists the feelings and the power of three worlds, it is impossible that there should be a neutral. One side or the other will claim every intelligent being in heaven, on earth, and in hell. And it is right they should do so. If the line should now be drawn by the invisible hand of the Great Searcher of hearts; on the one side would be the friends of God, on the other, His enemies.
Suffer me, then, beloved reader, before I take leave of you, plainly, solemnly, and affectionately, to ask the question. On which side do YOU stand? If you possess nothing more than mere visible morality; nothing more than the naked form of religion; nothing more than a speculative knowledge of the system of revealed truth; nothing more than simple conviction for sin; nothing more than a vain confidence of your own good estate, connected with some apparent zeal for the cause of God, and a few transient and spurious affections: how can you be one of the children of the Everlasting Father? If yon are a stranger to love to God; to repentance for sin; to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; to evangelical humility; to genuine self-denial — how can you cherish the hope that you are a Christian? If you know nothing of the spirit of prayer; nothing of the Jove of the brotherhood; nothing of mortifying the spirit of the world; nothing of growth in grace; of cordial, habitual, persevering obedience to the divine commands — how can it be, that you have been brought nigh by the blood of Christ? If these things are so, thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Does this agitate you? The writer of these pages takes no pleasure in exciting needless ‘alarm. But how can he raise the unhallowed cry. Peace, Peace, when the Eternal God saith, There is no peace? How can he raise the unhallowed cry, when every note of the syren song would only lull the hypocrite into a more death-like security, and every sentence prove the blow to sink him deeper into the eternal pit? Poor, self-deceived man! who vainly imaginest that thou art in the way to heaven, while thou art in the way to hell, rather than amuse thee wUh to?ne, smooth, pretty things, O that I could raise a voice that would make thee “tremble, even in “the grave” of trespasses and sins! Be entreated to dismiss thy deceptions; to give up thy delusive confidence. Cast not the anchor of hope upon a shore so yielding that the final blast will break its hold. However Hard the struggle, despair of mercy without being washed in the blood of Jesus. Cherish not a delusion which the King of terrors will tear from thy heart!
But shall 1 presume that all my readers are hypocrites? No; many of them, I trust, are the dear people of God. Some of them may be weak in foith, and weak in hope. Beloved Christian, I woidd not lisp a syllable to rob thee of thy confidence. Though weak and trembling, there is every thing to encourage and strengthen thee. It cannot discourage you to examine closely whether the foundation of your hope be firm; whether your confidence is built upon the sand, or whether it rest on the Rock of Ages. Feeble Christians are called upon to mourn over their weakness. Their want of strength is their sin. Their graces may be well compared to the “dimly smoaking flax.” They emit little that warms and enlightens. Their love is cold; their joys barren and poor. God hides his face and they are troubled. Tossed, like Peter, upon the tempestuous sea, they have hardly faith even to cry, Lord, save, or I perish! Still, they may rejoice. The Angel of the everlasting covenant lives. That precious covenant itself recognizes the heart-reviving principle, Redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. Well then, believer, mayest thou rejoice, even in the midst of trembling. What, though thou art bowed down under the weight of guilt; what, though poor in spirit, filled with apprehension and almost hopeless; what, though thou art like the bruised reed — frailty itself still more frail, ready to fall by the gentlest breeze! A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoaking flax shall he not quench. No, never. It shall not be broken, but supported — cherished; yea, by a hand that is omnipotent, transplanted to the garden of the Lord, and flourish in the courts of our God. The Great Head will never disregard the feeblest members of His own body.
There is a peculiar adaptedness in the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the weakness and fears of His people. Early was He designated as one who should hear our grief s, and carry our sorrows J commissioned to bind up the broken hearted, and to comfort all that mourn. The man Christ Jesus is touched with the Jeeling of our infirmities; He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are but dust. The Shepherd of Israel will gather the lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. It is He that giveth power to thejaint; and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength.
O believers! that we all might learn to fasten our affections, to rivet our hopes, on the cross of Christ! Here is our comfort. We must think much, and make much of Christ, In Him, all fulness dwells. He, is the Captain of your salvation. He, is a fountain for your uncleanness, and a light for your way. // is He, that is of God made unto His people, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and complete redemption. No matter how great your guilt; rest on Him, and He will be increasingly precious; precious in life, precious in death, precious for ever. While your life is hid with Christ in God; however languid the throb, it shall never expire.
Come, then, lift up the hands that hang down, and confirm Ihejeehle knees. The heavens and the earth shall sooner crumble into their native nothing, than the feeblest Lamb of the Shepherd’s fold stumble and finally fall. Loose thyself, therefore, /rom the hands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion! If thou hast seasons of trial, be not alarmed; if thou hast moments of despondency and weakness, be not dismayed. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, for thou shall thrash the mountains and heat them small. Thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, He mil strengthen thee; yea. He will help thee; yea. He will uphold thee by the right hand of His righteousness. Say, is it not enough? Thanks he unto God for His unspeakable gift!
I close these Essays, then, by beseeching the reader to devote himself unreservedly to the Lord. What! know ye not that ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; wherefore glorify God in your souls and your bodies, which are His, Render unto God the things that are God’s, What higher delight, what greater privilege can you enjoy, than to consecrate all that you are, and all that you possess, to God! Come then, and make a voluntary surrender of every thing to Uim, and choose His service as your highest delight.
Henceforth let it be your greatest care to honour the Lord, who has bought you. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so wcdk in Him — ROOTED and built up in Him — and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Yes, blessed Redeemer! Other Lords besides Thee have had dominion over us; but by Thee only will we make mention of thy name, O Thou Eternal, Incarnate, God! I am thine — doubly thine — wholly thine — thine for ever. Amen.
FINLS.
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