chosen friendship with the enemies of truth?― this idolatry of the world?-this strangeness to the active servants of your Lord's house? --this slighting of his children?-this neglect of his only begotten Son? Ye serve God! How is it possible to serve God through such days of vanity and nights of carnal amusement? Can this be the service of that God, who loathes a mere lip service?—who cries, My Son, give me thy heart? -Oh that thou, even thou, at least in this thy day, knewest the things that belong to thy peace!" But I should apologize for the bare supposition of such a return from the grave; for there the weary are at rest: as it is said in the Book of Wisdom, "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.-In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace. Then shall the righteous stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labours. When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear; and shall bẹ amazed at the strangeness of his salvation; so far beyond all that they looked for; and, in anguish of spirit shall say, This was he whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour; how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints. Such a recal, therefore, of your late Minister to future labour on earth, is purely imaginary.But, away with the phantoms of imagination, while certain realities demand our attention! I am bound to denounce a truth firmer than heaven or earth: I am bound to assert, that your late Minister SHALL return from the dust: not as a preacher, but as a witness; not as a warning voice, but as an unquestionable evidence. For the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, when all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble -When these massy pillars shall give way!When this temple shall be crushed in dust! When these tombs shall be opened!-When these dead shall awake! Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Then will your late faithful Minister present his testimony to his Lord and Judge, respecting the impenitent of his charge. He will declare, "Near thirty years I stood on my appointed watch in the parish of St. Mary Woolnoth. I knew no rule, but thy word; and declared the message which thou gavest me. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done! Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. I called unto them from my pulpit: I sent warnings and invitations to their houses: I exhorted them as a friend: I cried as a watchman: I intreated them as a father, Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?-O my God, thou, that searchest the heart and triest the reins, THOU knowest this!"-May his parish also know it before THEY also follow him to the silent grave! My dear fellow-citizens and fellow-sinners, standing on the brink of an awful precipice! you must know, that to-morrow your cares, your sorrows, and your joys will be recollected but as a dream; and that the grand objects long presented to you from this pulpit will be then your only anxious concern. Remember, that the admonition before us respects not Ministers only. The conscience of every man before me is also addressed. The happiness or misery of every man is at stake. May God, of his infinite mercy, fix these considerations with a lasting impression on our hearts, for Jesus Christ's sake! To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. |