Sermons /

Front matter

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SERMONS by the late

REV, JOHN SCOTT, D.D.

Preface

whojudgeth righteously. This painful trial he herewith his usual resignation and magnanimity, and no doubt experieneed its sanetifying influence in preparing him fully for the rest which remaineth for the people of God.

From my ministerial connexion with those among whom he had long laboured, I can bear ample testimony to the success of his exertions in converting sinners, and in edify¬ ing the body of Christ ; and especially in impressing the minds of the young, and in guiding the views and comforting the hearts of those who were labouring under the pressure of temporal or spiritual distress.

The Discourses contained in this volume are, I think, eminently fitted to be useful, especially to those who have been awakened to some sense of the importance of religion, but who have not yet formed clear and distinct views of the leading doctrines of the Gospel, and are involved in difficul¬ ties and anxiety about their spiritual condition ; and to those more advanced in the Christian life, who, amid the temptations and perplexities of the world, are desirous to walk circumspectly and in wisdom, and to adorn the doc¬ trine of their God and Saviour in all things by a life and conversation becoming the Gospel.

The Rev Dr Barr of Port-Glasgow has kindly furnished a Memoir of Dr Scott’s life and professional character ; while his son has given a short sketch of his father as he appeared in his private and domestic relations.

It may be added to the facts recorded in the Memoir, that in 1803 the University of Glasgow unanimously conferred

PIlKFACi:.

Til upon him the degree of Doctor in Divinity ; that he died upon the 26th March 1836 ; and that an excellent sermon, preached in the New Church of Greenock, on the Sabbath after his funeral, by the Rev. ]\Ir Smith of Lochwinnoch, a friend whom Dr Scott greatly valued, was soon after pub¬ lished.

In an Appendix will be found a biographical notice of Dr Love of Anderston, with whom Dr Scott lived many years in terms of intimate friendship, originally intended for newspapers, and several letters addressed to Christian friends who had been visited with painful bereavements.

Wm. CUNNINGHAM.

Edinburgh, March 1839.

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SERMONS.

SERMON I.

Job xxxii. 7. — I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years sho Id teach wisdom . . . . 1

SERMON II.

Job xlii. 5, 6. — I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear : but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes . 16

SERMON III.

Genesis iii. 12. — And the man said. The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat . ,...35

SERMON IV.

Isaiah xlv. 22. — Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and there is none else . . . . . 52

X

CONTKNTS.

SERMON V.

1 Peter ii. 7* — Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.... Page 69

SERMON VI.

John xiv. I — 3. — Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also . 88

SERMON VII.

Revelation vii. 13 — 17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto

me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they ? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes . 113

SERMON VIII.

Romans xiv. 1.-— — Weak in the faith . 140

SERMON IX.

John vii. 37- — In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink . 159

SERMON X.

Genesis xxxii. 24 — 32. — And Jacob was left alone ; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And, when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And he said. Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let

Contents

XI thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him. What is thy name ? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, TeUme, I pray thee, thy name. And he said. Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name ? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel : for I have seen God face to face, and my life is pre¬ served. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hoUow of the thigh, unto this day : because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank . Page 182

SERMON XI.

Luke xvii. 32. — Remember Lot’s wife . 211