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say, "I am ignorant: I am sinful: I, as a female, am unauthorized to speak." Though every one is not authorized to preach, every one, in his own proper circle, is bound to declare what God has done for his soul: and if every one would exert himself as this woman did, especially in bringing others to the means of grace, that they may hear for themselves, we should see conversions far more numerous, and blessings far more widely diffused through the world. The lepers of Samaria, when they found plenty in the deserted camp of the Syrians, said, They did not well to keep the glad tidings to themselves. And can we, after having found salvation, do well in keeping it to ourselves? No: we should invite others to participate the blessings we enjoy; and, being converted ourselves, should do all in our power to strengthen and to save our brethren.]

f Luke xxii. 32.

MDCXX.

CHRIST'S DILIGENCE IN SERVING GOD.

John iv. 34. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

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OUR blessed Lord, throughout his whole life, was the most illustrious pattern of condescension to man and of fidelity to God. Both these dispositions were eminently displayed in the history before us. withstanding he was already exhausted with a long and fatiguing journey, he had been labouring for the salvation of a most abandoned adulteress: and when urged to intermit his exertions for a little while in order to recruit his strength by some necessary refreshment, he declared, that food was not so delightful to a famished body, as the prosecuting of the great ends of his ministry was to his soul.

From his words we shall take occasion to,

I. Consider our Lord's example

Jesus, in his human and mediatorial capacity, was the Father's servant. And the work assigned him was, to reveal in a more perfect manner the will of God, and to save mankind by his own obedience unto death.

In this work he engaged,

1. With fervent affection

[Nothing could exceed the delight with which he undertook the arduous task: nothing the zeal with which he accomplished it. Whether we view his private addresses to God", or his public ministrations among mend, we shall see that in him was that prophecy accomplished, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."]

2. With indefatigable diligence

[From the commencement of his ministry to the end of it not a day was unemployed. Frequently, after having laboured all the day, he spent the night in prayer, and resumed his labours with the returning light. Like the sun in the firmament, he proceeded in one steady course through all the cities, towns, and villages; nor ever ceased from his work, till he could say, "It is finished."]

3. With undaunted resolution

[What continual opposition" did he endure! He was truly "a sign spoken against," or a butt of contradiction. There was not any thing however perverse, scandalous, or contemptuous, but his ears were assailed with it from day to day. From the very first discourse he uttered till the hour of his crucifixion, his enemies never ceased to seek his lifes. Yet did he persevere in the face of every danger, and at last complete his obedience, by surrendering up his life upon the cross.]

That we may profit from this great example, we will,

II. Propose it for your imitation--

We also have a work to do for God

[Our work is great; but O! how different from that which was committed to our Lord! We have not to satisfy the demands of justice, or to endure the wrath due to sin: blessed be God! that was the Redeemer's work; and it has been finished by him on our behalf. The work which we have to do is to believe in Christ, and, from a sense of his love to us, to devote ourselves unreservedly to his service1.]

Let us then engage in it,

b Luke xii. 50.

c Heb. v. 7.

a Ps. xl. 7, 8. d He was filled with joy at the least prospect of success, ver. 35. and he grieved and wept when he could not succeed, Mark iii. 5.

Luke xix. 41.

e John ii. 17.

h John vi. 29.

f Luke ii. 34.

i Rom. xii. 1.

John xi. 8.

1. Heartily

["Whatever our hand findeth to do, we should do it with all our might." A lukewarm service is unacceptable, yea, hateful to God'. Let us then first labour to know the will of God, and then endeavour to do it with our whole hearts. Let us be "fervent in spirit, while we serve the Lord"."]

2. Uniformly

[It is not an occasional act of zeal that will please God, but a steady conscientious, uniform discharge of our duty. Our spirit, alas! is often faint; and even, when "the spirit is willing, our flesh is weak." But we must counteract our sloth, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure"."]

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3. Courageously

[We shall surely meet with reproach and persecution, if we set ourselves in earnest to serve the Lord. But let us "remember him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself." Woe be to us if we draw back through the fear of man. We must hate, not only father and mother, but even our own life also, if we would be Christ's Disciples. Let us then" take up our cross daily" after Christ's example, and "suffer with him, in order that we may be also glorified togethers."]

ADDRESS

1. Those who are unconcerned about the work of God

[Has not God appointed you a work to do; and ought you not to have begun it long ago? Is it expedient to leave it to a dying hour? What if you should die before it is finished? O, begin instantly; for the "night cometh, wherein no man can work."]

2. Those who do his work deceitfully

[God has pronounced such persons accursed, no less than if they did nothing for him. His service must be your "meat" and drink; the joy of your souls, and the business of your lives. See then that ye approve yourselves to God as servants that need not be ashamed "."]

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3. Those who are in a measure conformed to their Saviour's image—

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[Bless your God, who has thus far enabled you to serve him. But Ŏ! think how much you fall short of your heavenly pattern! Forget then what is behind, and press forward for that which is before you: so shall you in due season "rest from your labours," and be welcomed as good and faithful servants to the joy of your Lord".]

x Phil. iii. 13-15.

y Matt. xxv. 21.

MDCXXI.

THE HAPPY STATE OF THE CHURCH.

John iv. 35, 36. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields: for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

AMAZING was the condescension of our blessed Lord. No one was too mean or too vile for him to notice with his favourable regards. His enemies cast this as a reflection on his character, that he was "a friend of publicans and sinners." The woman with whom he had been conversing was certainly of as abandoned a caste as can well be conceived: but the result of his conversation with her was most extraordinary for, through her, a vast multitude flocked to hear him, and that, too, with a readiness of mind to receive his instructions, insomuch that they appeared like" a field of corn white already to harvest." This expression of our Lord respecting them will properly lead us to consider,

I. The prospects opening around us—

The times in which we live are perhaps as remarkable as any since the apostolic age. Though religion has been on the increase in this nation for half a century, yet it is within these twenty years that the spread of it has become so remarkable, as to attract the notice of all who are in the least observant of what relates to the kingdom of God. Before that time, it might have been said, "There are yet four

months to the harvest," and any prospect of reaping a harvest of immortal souls is distant: but now we may say, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." Observe what the state of things is,

1. Abroad-

[Was there ever such a co-operation seen, as that which now exists throughout almost the whole of Christendom, for the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, and for the translation of them into all the different languages of the world? A few years ago such a combination of zeal in the interests of religion would have been thought to be scarcely within the regions of possibility a --The multitude of missions, too, which are now established in every quarter of the globe, are no less worthy of our especial noticeb

A field laden with the ripened produce of the earth scarcely differs more from that which is lying fallow, than the face of Christendom does in these respects from its aspect at any period during the last two hundred years.]

2. At home

[Here it comes more within our own more immediate observation. See the societies formed throughout the land for every benevolent purpose, and especially for whatever may advance the kingdom of Christ on earth; such as, for the education of children, the circulation of the Bible, the support of missions, &c. &c. It is a remarkable fact, that whereas fifteen years ago the whole amount of annual subscriptions for such purposes did not amount to more than 50,000., they now exceed 500,000l. Together with this, true piety also has increased to a vast extent. We may well there

fore regard our whole country as " a field, that is white already to harvest."]

Let us now extend our views to,

II. The encouragement we have to make a suitable improvement of them

All should labour, to the utmost of their power, to advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. And to this we have equal encouragement,

a Here will be ample scope for such particulars as may be deemed worthy of particular notice.

b Here, also, particular Missions may be specified.

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Here any particulars relating to any of the above things may be introduced and, if need be, some reference to the particular congregation addressed.

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