Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

tation which has often been urged upon you, to live as well as speak the praises of God, is very significant, and vastly important: They that offer" such "praise, glorify God, and they that" thus "order their conversation aright," may hope to "see yet more of the salvation of God."

66

Let us now go from the house of God, and partake of the bounties of his providence, with joy and thankfulness, with sobriety and temperance. Let us bless our households, and endeavor to walk in our houses with a perfect heart, resolving that we will serve the Lord. Thus may we be persuaded by the mercies of God, to present our bodies and spirits living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is but our reasonable service. Now to that God who is daily loading us with benefits, and crowning us with loving kindness and tender mercies, be glory and honor, thanksgiving and praise everlasting. Amen.

SERMON

PREACHED TO THE

ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY

IN BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND, JUNE 1, 1761,

BEING THE

ANNIVERSARY

OF THEIR

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Rev.

BY JASON HAVEN, A. M.

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN DEDHAM.

BOSTON, N. E.:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY EDES AND GILL.

SERMON.

PROVERBS Xvi. 32.

"He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city."

THE author of these proverbs appears to have been greatly acquainted with men, and deeply studied in civil policy. He knew the springs of action in the human mind, and how to touch them in the most delicate manner. He possessed in a superior degree, "the wisdom from above, which is pure and peaceable." In answer to his judicious prayer, God gave him "a wise and understanding heart." Some valuable fruits of his wisdom may be gathered by us, if we duly attend to his important maxims, and the excellent rules for the government of our hearts and lives, which are scattered through his writings. In them, vulgar errors are corrected; false greatness is discovered; and the way to true honor and happiness marked out.

The verse, which is to be the foundation of our present discourse, teaches us to judge properly of actions and characters ;; instructs us not to be dazzled with those that wear the false glitter of heroism and magnanimity, while we overlook those that are truly noble and important, in "the judgment which is according to truth." "He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city."

In discoursing from these words, I shall endeavor-To open and explain the characters which we find in them-To compare them together, that we may see how much preferable the one is to the other-And to animate all to pursue them with a zeal proportionate to their respective importance.

In speaking of these points, some things may be said not altogether foreign to the present occasion.

The explanation of the characters in our text, is first to be attempted.

To be slow to anger, and to rule the spirit, I take to be parts of the same character; though not descriptive of precisely the same temper. The former may refer, partly at least, to the natural make and frame of the mind, as having less warmth and fire, less propensity to wrath and passion, than is frequently found in some. That there is such a difference observable in persons, before education or religion have had any influence upon them, I suppose will not be disputed. An inquiry into the reasons of this difference, is beside my present purpose. The latter, namely, to rule the spirit, may point out a mind, brought under the government of religion and the word of God, by the power of mighty reason and almighty grace, whatever the original constitution might be.

The man who deserves the character of one that rules his spirit, I take to be necessarily a man of religion; who is "renewed in the spirit of his mind, after the image of Him that created him ;" who has the fear of God ruling in his heart; who acts from the noble principles of piety and goodness; who is governed, in all his conduct, by a sacred regard to the Deity. The man that acts up to this character, has put on Christ, and possessed himself of the genius of his gospel. The inferior powers of the mind, so apt to rebel, are brought under the influence of reason and religion, which ought to bear rule. Reason, whose influence is so weak in the lives of many, in him reassumes her rightful authority, and gains obedience to her laws. And reason herein acts like herself, in not building too great dependence on her own native strength and vigor; but thankfully receives the assistance of divine revelation; "makes the word of God the man of her counsel at all times;" and freely submits to the government thereof.

Such principles, deeply wrought into the heart by sanctifying grace, will enable a man properly to rule his spirit; and nothing short hereof will be effectual to do it, to any considerable degree. Indeed the more extravagant actings of a turbulent spirit, and the more direful effects of pride and passion, cruelty and revenge, may be generally suppressed by lower motives; such as a regard to decency, and reputation among men of sober minds; and a fear of penal laws. But though these external restraints may serve thus far, yet the restless spirit, prevented from its natural exertion upon others, will prey upon the man himself, and produce strange misery and confusion in his breast and if these feebler restraints were taken off, passion and anger would be, like the breaking forth of waters, fierce and impetuous, and deal destruction all around.

The man who duly rules his spirit, has a full belief and abiding

« VorigeDoorgaan »