The Hundred and Seventh Sacrament, January 7, 1739

The peace of God, one of the greatest blessings enjoyed by the believer with considerations on “the blood of sprinkling.”

There have not been many public days of my life which have been more varied and mingled than this. I began it seriously; and, indeed, considering the extraordinary time that I spent in the devotions of the fast day and yesterday, as well as that it was the first Sabbath in the year, and that I had a very experimental and useful subject assigned me by my good friend, Mr. Browne, that is. Psalm xxvii. 14, I expected something considerable; and, perhaps, that was one reason why I succeeded no better. Another was, that I permitted myself to write some letters in the morning which, though in the main serious, were not necessary, and thereby contracted the time of preparation, in too great a presumption on some late enlargements. The consequence on the whole was, that my spirits were very much straitened, and I preached to my own apprehension, very ill, although it pleased God to render it, in the main, acceptable and useful to several persons who heard me.

The subject of my meditations at the table of the Lord was, “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Psalm xxix. 11. His people have peculiar reason to expect strength. I hope that we find it given. Here is an additional promise worthy our contemplation; “The Lord will bless his people with peace;” that is, peace in life, — calmness and serenity in their own consciences, as reconciled to themselves, when they can look inward, and see a pardoned, sanctified, and quickened spirit. Peace with God, and a sense of peace. Whereas he might long ago have said, “What hast thou to do with peace?” — And peace at death! Many of our dear friends (I particularly referred to Miss Bliss and Mrs. Wingate) had in a remarkable manner a sweet and calm serenity, in that awful hour which might throw nature into so much commotion and distress. And peace to all eternity; so that we should then enter into peace: no more war, no more alarm, no more sorrow. Christ is our peace; in him we have it, and that even while we have tribulation in the world.

In breaking the bread, I said, “In this was manifested the love of God.” 1 John iv. 9. This is the most glorious display of it. Let the pagan, let the Mohammedan say, what has, on their principles, been done for them comparable to this. Let the Jew boast that he calls Abraham, father; that God delivered his fathers from Egypt, settled them in Canaan, wrought them out wonderful deliverances there, sent them Moses and the prophets, and gave them his laws: nay, but he gives his Son to live, to die for us! He raised him to his own right hand, and has seated him in glory, and made him Head over all things.

Then, in pouring out the cup, 1 mentioned that text, “Ye are come — to the blood of sprinkling.” Heb. xii. 22, 24. Do we not come to it? Do not our souls apply to it, and desire to be washed in it? It “speaketh better things” than “the blood of Abel.” And in consequence of it, we are come to “the general assembly and church of the first-born.” It is delightful to think, that we are come to a church on earth; to look round on such an assembly. O how much more important to look on an innumerable company of angels! To have seen one would have been a pleasant thing; but so to converse with them without any danger of idolatry; yea, to be numbered among their society, made equal to angels, and “the spirits of just men made perfect!” It was delightful to converse with many saints now in glory, in the midst of all their imperfections and sorrows; but now that they are complete in holiness and glory, what admiration and joy would it give! We may now think with pleasure of coming even to God as a Judge; because his righteousness and justice are engaged to accept us through Christ.

Just before I took the cup I said. Thanks be to God, who already causeth us to triumph in Christ, and turns the greatest terrors into comfort; witness those three most dreadful words to an impenitent sinner, death — judgment — eternity. O! now what a source of pleasure! Death — to get rid of sin and sorrow, to fall asleep in the arms of Christ. Judgment — to appear, to be rewarded and applauded. Eternity — to dwell for ever with God, and Christ; and with holy angels, and saints. O blessed words! Death — judgment — eternity! They are so, because the savour of Christ has been spread abroad upon our hearts.