Hints of the Sacrament, in April,, 1749

Christ will not desert his people in times of sorrow and of

trial.

I HAD some remarkable enjoyment yesterday and this morning, and a charmincr season in attendincr Mr. Robinson, after preaching from Isaiah xliii. 1,2,” Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee.” I introduced the Lord’s supper with Isaiah xlix. 13, “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” The words express a most affectionate rapture; and as if the prophet was not himself sufflciently able to express his joy, he calls upon inanimate nature. Let the mountains re-echo it downwards to the earth, and upwards to heaven, and thus let it excite our songs. Let celestial music in all its charms be employed to celebrate it. To celebrate what? — the deliverance from Babylon? If it were so, how poor to our triumph! — to come back to an earthly Canaan, where some of their fathers, some of their grandfathers had lived; where so many risks were to be run, and so many conveniences were to be resigned, that the greater part, when they had liberty to do so, still chose to reside at Babylon. If those who returned had occasion to weep the diminished glory of their temple, how much more cause have we!

“The Lord hath comforted his people.” He has a people; and if he sees them in places that need comfort, he provides it. Who else could have comforted but the Lord? Had we understood our true case, we might have derived joy from every circumstance that had given us affliction. Was it bodily pain, gout, or stone? could it be scarcely endured only for a few days? O, what would it be to endure such anguish and agony for ever! If it be grievous to support the distress of a wounded spirit but for a little while, what are the agonies of eternal despair! If the loss of a friend be grievous, what must be the everlasting loss and absence of God! If I grieve to see a dear child in pain, what must it be to behold all that are dear to me in torment! O, what must the situation of my mind be, if I can behold this with a strange kind of pleasure, rather than with sympathy! If the insults of enemies be in any degree grievous, what must the scorn and insults of infernal spirits be, wherewith they shall seize me as their helpless prey, and cry, “There shall be no deliverer!” Thus might we have argued, had not redemption taken place; and what, then, should comfort us, but this, “I, even I, am he,” saith the Lord, “that comforteth you?” Isaiah li. 12. I speak forgiveness and peace; and then, who shall give trouble? He speaks it through Christ; and by this memorial of the Saviour’s love, he will have mercy on his afflicted servants. His people may be afflicted, as in my text, they may pass through the fire and the water; but still He has mercy; he will support them, and that wonderfully. “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness.” Psalm cxii. 4. Have we not experienced it? Have we not found the blessed interposition, when He has commanded it? — when, bewildered in midnight obscurity, we have perceived a sudden light arise in the mind, we knew not whence, or how, and as if day was born from the womb of night! He will deliver them certainly, and speedily; — deliver them from death; — for what is human life, and how many years can remain of it? He will deliver them from all their afflictions: He will wipe off every tear; He will not merely put off their sackcloth, in which they lay down in the dress of death, but he will gird them with gladness. Therefore, O Sion, sing of his goodness. Say not, my God has forsaken me. Say rather, that he will never forsake me; he will multiply his comforts until he completes my deliverance.

In the administration of the elements, I observed — What if Christ were here in person, and said, “Let all that love me, all that trust in me, all that believe in me, and obey me, come down and take their seats at the table, and let the rest stay.” What would you answer? Perhaps, “Lord, I desire to love thee. Lord, take away every thing in my heart that opposes.” Well, all shall be well. That desire shows that thou art his, and that thou hast a right to be here, whatever thou mayest conceive of the matter.