a

a

66

gone-ber eyes, closed-and, for waiting to receive you; don't a few minutes, a pulse was the stand it out as long as I did.” only indication that the new-born Someone spoke of that distress soul was not really departing from as the fruit of sin. 66 Sin !" she its clayey tenement. Soon she exclaimed, with uncommon verevived, and exclaimed, " Jesus-- hemence, and as if speaking to all there he is--I see bim--my Re- present, “ tread it under your feet." deemer, crucified for me !" Then, And after a short pause,

66 tremble with a loud voice, “Glory to before God." God," several times repeated. Being again offered a cordial, “ Jesus took me by the hand and she replied, “ Christ is enough said I was his ;--Yes, yes, Jesus Christ is enough. I have starved take me; I am thine; here I am; my poor soul almost to death.”— take me.” Being asked whether A relative of her’s being mentionshe wished to go then to Jesus, or ed, she asked, in a hurried manremain a while in this world, she ner, “Where is he ??? She was ananswered, “I am ready to go swered, that he was in a certain now ; yes, Jesus, I am ready;" place asleep. “ Asleep in his accompanied with a look and man- sins," she exclaimed, “Lord, don't ner, which words are too poor to let him rest!" When one obsery. express. Her hands alternately ed that that room and that spot clasped together, and then raised would be ever dear to her, shetowards heaven. Her countenance, replied, “ not near so dear as Jeher smile, and even her laugh, sus is.” To those present, who could be compared to nothing were professed followers of Christ, earthly, and indicated that heaven she said, in the most endearing itself was begun in her soul. Her and affectionate manner; " Now penitence was expressed by most I'll go with you.” She spoke pathetically exclaiming, “ How with the greatest apparent delight could I do so ;--why did not I of uniting with her pious schoolgive up sooner? Christ was wait- mates, at their next stated meeting to receive me all that time, ing for prayer. These, and

many and I refused to come to him." other expressions of similar imTwo other persons present were port, succeeded each other as fast under deep convictions, one of as her exhausted state would alwhom broke out into loud and low, during two hours that she convulsive sobs and groans. To lay in the position in which she her she said, calling her by name, first fell. The awful interest of

Prepare to meet your God; ap- this scene was vastly heightened point a time when you will meet not only by the contrast of her your God; don't cry and groan present with her former feelings, so--tears and groans will never but also by contrasting her with save you; come to Jesus ; he is the two other individuals present,

who were the subjects of deep reduced as to confine her to the convictions, one of whom sat in si. bed for nearly a week. lent distress, while the other, This protracted narrative shall whose face seemed almost to gath- be closed with a few brief reflec. er blackness, gave vent to her tions, which this instructive event anguish, as has been before de- naturally suggested. scribed. During the whole of 1. It was a most clear illustra. this night, few loud words were tion of those passages of scripture spoken, except in supplications at which impute the fault of man's the throne of mercy, by those impenitence entirely to his own whose privilege it was to be wit- will. That disposition which exnesses of the scene. The awful ists in all hearts—which is hid. solemnity of it was not interrupt den from themselves, in most, was ed by any noise or agitation ; all by the illumination of the Holy were impressed with a sense that Spirit, rendered perfectly clear in supplication and silent adoration hers. It was a glass, in which all was their only business; for God who desire to see themselves, may was there.

look and be convinced. Her subsequent account of her 2. It is probable, that even in feelings, at the time of the change this case, but a very small part of was this; that she was brought to the enmity and obstinacy of the see the gulf of perdition open be- heart was manifested; as much as fore her, her feet upon the slip- she could bear, was all that God pery brink, and herself, indeed, showed her. If so, the heart sliding down! Then, and not till must indeed be 66 deceitful above then, she was willing to lay hold all things and desperately wicked." on the only hope! Then and not 3. Man can, and probably will, till then, she was willing to give turn to God, when he sees himherself into the Savior's arms, self stripped of all other hopes. which were open to receive her! 4. If perdition consists in a sense Her view of the yawniog gulf, her of sin, and the anger of God against turning to God as the only refuge, it, and if the small degree of this and her subsequent joy, were in. which man can bear in this world stantaneous. Her own expression be so inexpressibly dreadful, even was, 66 when the sinner will give for one night, what must be an up, how quick the Lord can give eternity of wo, where the full vi. comfort!" She thought she saw als of God's wrath will be poured the Savior in a bodily form ; bis out without mixture forever and rich grace and glory so filled her ever, and not a gleam of hope alenraptured soul, as to produce the lowed to enter! effects already attempted to be 5. If sin be the procuring cause described, and which language has of such torment in this world, and no power to express. It was the in the world to come, then surely opinion of those present, and of it is a bitter thing, and every man herself, also, that the manifesta. ought to spend his whole life in tion of perdition and glory-of striving against it; and, finally, if wrath and of love-wa

-was as great a momentary foretaste of heaven as her mortal frame could sustain ; fill the soul with such joy, what that one more pang of conviction, must heaven itself be, and how or one more ray of glory, would good that God who has prepared have dissolved this clay, and have such a mansion for his repenting set the spirit free that animated children ; and that Savior wbo has

It may perhaps be proper to died that we might inherit it.

"e, that her strength was so Hear and understand. R.

THE

CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE.

VOL. II.

APRIL, 1825.

No. 4.

SERMON.

question the third time, that he John, xxi. 17.— And he said unto had reference to his denying him him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thrice, which cut him to the heart. thou knowest that I love thee. It is now natural to inquire, how

The third time that Christ ap- Peter could sincerely make such peared to his disciples after his a solemn profession of love to crucifixion, he dined with them; Christ? Christ repeatedly asked and after they had dined and were him whether he loved him, and sitting together in free and famil- Peter as often replied, without hesiar conversation, Christ turned to itation or reserve, in the affirmaPeter and addressed him in this tive, and appealed to him as the free and affectionate manner:“ Si- Searcher of hearts, for the truth mon son of Jonas, lovest thou me of his declaration—66 Yea, Lord, more than these? He saith unto thou knowest all things; thou him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest knowest that I love thee.” It that I love thee. He saith unto seems, that Peter must have had bim, Feed my lambs. He saith some solid foundation, upon which unto him again the second time, to make such a solemn profession Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou of supreme love to Christ, whom me? He saith unto him, Yea, he had so lately forsaken and proLord : thou knowest that I love fanely denied before his mortal enthee. He saith unto him, Feed emies. He had given great occamy sheep. He saith unto him the sion not only to Christ, but to his third time, Simon son of Jonas, fellow disciples, to call his sincerilovest thou me ? Peter was griev- ty in question. He had been aled because he said unto him the most as guilty in denying Christ, third time, lovest thou mne. And as Judas had been in betraying him. he said unto him, Lord, thou How then could be obtain clear knowest all things; thou knowest and satisfactory evidence to himthat I love thee.” Peter plainly self that he loved Christ sincerely perceived by Christ's putting the and supremely ?

To answer this question is the Peter answered and said, Thou main design of the present dis- art the Christ the Son of the liv. course. Here then I would ob- ing God. And Jesus anwered and serve,

said unto him, Blessed art thou, 1. Peter had true love to Christ. Simon Barjona : for flesh and

When he called him to be his blood hath not revealed it unto disciple, he instantaneously and thee, but my Father which is in cheerfully obeyed his call. And heaven.” Here Christ not only while he attended Christ in the approves of Peter's faith in specucourse of his ministry, he frequent- lation, but represents it as flowing ly expressed a supreme love to from a special divine illumination, him When some of Christ's nom- which stamps his character as a inal disciples disapproved bis doc- true believer. And this appears to trines and forsook him, Peter re- have been his real character, ! mained firm and unshaken in his from another declaration of bis, attachments to his person and connected with Christ's promise doctrines. It is said, “ From that to him. When the disciples beard time many of his disciples went the remark which Christ made back, and walked no more with upon the rich young man, who him. Then said Jesus unto the had left him sorrowful, “they twelve, Will ye also go away?- were exceedingly amazed, saying Then Simon Peter anwered bim, Who then can be saved ? But JeLord, to whom shall we go? thou sus beheld them, and said unto hast the words of eternal life.-- them, With men this is impossible; And we believe and are sure that but with God all things are possithou art that Christ the Son of the ble. Then apswered Peter and living God." By this profession, said unto him, Behold, we have Peter manifested his sincere love forsaken all and followed thee; to Christ, and his firm trust and what shall we have therefore ? confidence in him as the only and And Jesus said unto them, Verily all-sufficient Savior. And so he I say unto you, that ye which have did on another occasion, when followed me in the regeneration, Christ questioned his disciples res- when the Son of man shall sit in the pecting their faith. 6. When Je- throne of his glory, ye also shall sus came into the coasts of Cesarea sit upon twelve thrones, judging Philippi, he asked his disciples, the twelve tribes of Israel.” Thus saying, Whom do men say, that I Christ repeatedly pronounced Pethe Son of man, am ? And they ter to be a friend to truth and an said, some say that thou art John heir of glory, which puts it bethe Baptist ; some say Elias ; and yond doubt, that he loved him others Jeremias, or one of the supremely. Besides, Christ treatpropbets. He saith unto them, ed Peter with peculiar respect.But whom say ye that I am ? And Whenever he selected any of his

a

disciples to attend him on particu- taught him to exercise pure disinlar occasions, Peter was always terested love. Such an affection one of the number. Peter, James

as this is entirely different from and John attended him on the any unholy, selfish affection. Pe. mount of transfiguration, and in ter's supreme love to Christ was his agonies in the garden. Christ totally distinct and different from loved Peter and Peter loved Christ, any unfoly, selfish affection. By with a sincere and ardent affection. nature he was like all other men He was willing to part with all by nature, totally depraved and things for Christ, and even to lay under the entire dominion of selfdown his life for him. This he ishness. Whenever it was that manifested at the trying time, he became a friend to Christ, his when his enemies came to appre- affections were changed from what hend him. He smote off the ear they were in the state of nature.-of the high priest's servant; and His gracious atfections never harhad pot Christ restrained him, he monized with his sinful ones, would undoubtedly have persisted but created a sensible warfare in in his defence, until he bad either his own breast, by which he could dispersed his enemies, or fallen distinguish them from each other. by their hands. Thus it appears The moral discernment which he that Peter did rea!ly love Christ had as a moral agent, enabled him sincerely and supremely. This to perceive the moral difference leads me to observe,

between his sincere and supreme II. That Peter's love to Christ love to Christ, and all the other was 'essentially different from all exercises of bis mind. When the selfish affections of his heart. Christ was in view, and his mind True love to Christ is disinterested was fixed on his person and charand supreme, and consequently acter, he could sensibly feel those distinct from, and opposite to, er- affections towards him, which he ery unholy and selfish exercise of never felt towards any other perthe true believer. This Christ son or object. When he was contaught at different times and in versing with him, he could enjoy different forms. He said, “no a pleasure and satisfaction, which man can serve God and Mammon." was different from, and superior 66 He said no man can be his disci- to, all other enjoyments. He ple, unless he loves him more than could sensibly prefer him before father or mother, brother or sister all created objects. He could feel wife or children, houses or lands, a willingness to deny himself of or even his own life.” And he any thing and everything, to applied this doctrine practically. promote his cause and interest in When a very amiable young man

the world. He could be conscious came to him, to know what he that he was willing to die with must do to inherit eternal life, he him, or for him. In a word, se

30281