At eventide. Discourses

Front matter

'•iiiiM!»'««tr'r*i i ii^ii Mm I tiiji I III iMMBMli

AT EVENTIDE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.!

Contents

SERMON. PAGE.

I. The Offers of the Gospel. . 13 II. Have we Permission to Love God ? 32

III. Paul's Estimate of Himself Be-

I. TEE OFFERS OF THE aOSPEL

" Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. " — Isa. 55 : i.

WE have here a man who wishes to dispose of something which he calls on people to buy. He is a minister of religion. He is like all true ministers of religion every where. They offer the same things, urge the same motives, and announce the same conditions of sale with Isaiah, who from ancient time has been called the evangelical prophet, because he dwelt so much on Christ and his times.

Whenever such a minister enters the pulpit, if his heart is right, this is his purpose, to offer the same things once more to men. We are here professedly for this purpose, to offer you something. We shall speak, God helping us, hoping and expecting to succeed in persuading you to receive at our hands that which we come to offer.

Let me preface what I have to say concerning our object in appearing here from time to time, that every thing which you buy of us is warranted to be genuine and perfect. It has a government stamp upon it. The purchaser is perfectly assured against counterfeits. On every thing sold you will find engraved, for example, '• This is the true bread which cometh down from heaven." " That is the true light." " Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Moreover it has a divine seal, the seal of the Holy Spirit, called, " The earnest of the inheritance," signifying, as this subjoined phrase expresses it, " the pledge of the purchased possession," or warrant of something laid up for us in heaven.

We call your attention espepially to this seal on every thing which we offer, and which is conveyed to every one who buys of us ; namely, he has in the gift of the Holy Spirit the pledge of something laid up for him in heaven ; that is, certain feelings, joys, hopes, are imparted to him under the influences of the Holy Spirit which are an advance payment of the heavenly inheritance. Under those influences one ma}^ say, " I know and am persuaded of the Lord Jesus that, feeling thus, I have a witness in my heart that I am born of God." This is the fruit of the Holy- Spirit ; his seal. So that accepting these offers, every thing which you buy of us is not only warranted ; it is guaranteed ; that is, not only is it perfect ; it is sure.

In the name and by the authority of the Most High God we give, release, assign, and covenant with you to maintain, protect, defend, and guarantee 3^o"ur title against all adverse claims forever. This we do in the name and by the authority of God. This is assured to us and to you in these words of the Saviour ; " And no man shall pluck them out of my hands." " Their inheritance shall be forever." ''• Your joy no man taketh from you." '' And my people shall long enjoy the work of their hands." " He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye." " The Almighty shall be thy defence."

The security, you perceive,, is perfect ; " As the ipountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people from this time forth even forever." Indeed it is more permanent than the earth. " For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

Some people wlio liave bought the same things which we now offer you, have already held them for five thousand and six thousand 3^ears. Abraham invested largely in them ; his possession has increased, literally, as God promised him it should, as the stars of heaven, and as the sands of the sea shore. And he is the divinely appointed representative of all who have faith in these things ; " for he is the father of all them that believe."

The terms and conditions of sale in all cases are, payment on delivery. Any thing of a promissory kind is not received.

You will wish to know how paj^ments are to be made. I answer, " Without money and without price."

This, singular as we must all acknowledge it to be, is greatly objected to as exorbitant ; it is most unpopular ; it hinders our success. But God has so ordained it.

We have been offered all kinds of payment as substitutes for this. Our purchasers are at. first extremely loth to buy " without money and without price." We could have sold every thing had Ave been wdlling to take payment in different kinds of commodities.

Some have offered moralit}^, pure and good, as they called it ; though we have an assayer who " sits as a refiner of silver," and he says it is dross, as to any commercial value, if it be without the addition of that which he counsels all to buy of him.

We have been offered tears of repentance, historical faith, respect for religion, prayers twice a da}', church going twice or three times a Sabbath, and much during the week, almsgiving, visiting the sick, conviction of sin, fear of death and hell, abstinence from swearing and lying and all vice ; in short, every thing on earth, including bodily torture and martyrdom ; but not one of our treasures was ever sold in a single instance for one of these things. If any one pretends to have sold them for such things, Christ says of him, "the same is a thief and a robber." Our pearl of great price can be had only at great cost; viz: "without money and without price." There are no other things on earth sold at such a rate as these. You all know what this means. If one present says he does not know and wishes me to explain it, I must decline, for it would be a reflection of your understanding to explain it. You have all attended these sales for years, and you understand that this is that which we always get for our payment. And many of you know that these terms are the reason that you have not made the purchase. Every one else who has any thing to sell looks for people who ^have money.

But our purchasers are in every case those who " have no money." If you have money you will not buy of us to-day. " Every one that thirsteth " for these things, and " he that hath no money," are purchasers ; " all others are merely idle, curious spectators. We are aware that ours are extremely costly, difficult terms, hard to meet. But we hope to persuade you that you will be gainers by the trade.

The first tiling^ then, which we have to offer is. Eternal Life.

Are there any here who wish for Eternal Life ?

I hear some one ask if Eternal Life means living forever ? No. That might be the greatest curse. It will be the greatest curse to many. Some who have been deceived in this thing are now weeping and wailing. They now seek to be rid of that which was once falsely represented to them as eternal life. Could they but get rid of it, annihilation would be gladly received in exchange. When it is evening they say, would God it were morning ; and when it is morning they sa}^, would God it were evening.

The eternal life which we offer you is in the soul. Life is not merely time ; it is a principle in our nature ; and when that nature is in healthy exercise you know that every thitig goes

THE OFPEES OF THE GOSPEL. 19

well. Eternal life is order, law, happiness, rigLteousness, prosperity, bliss ; and that forever and ever. Have you ever considered what forever is ? The longest journey on earth has an end. You get upon the summit at last and say, " Now we are at the top ; soon we shall begin to descend.'' But there is no summit to " forever." No Chimborazo, or Himalaya towering above every thing else. Onward and upward forever is eternal life. It is the best thing which God ever made. God's greatest gift is thus expressed : ." And I give unto them eternal life." It is even coupled with the name of God : " This is the true God and eternal life."

But any man can sell you any thing, and faster, than we can succeed in selling you this greatest of blessings.

II. I WILL OFFER YOTJ A THRONE.

But what authority have I to sell thrones ?

Here is my warrant : "■ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches : " " To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne."

One inquires, But how may you know that such things are to be obtained if we buy them?

Here is the assurance from the evangelist John who enjoyed a sight of heaven : " And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them."

He who offers these thrones, makes them. Indeed He, only, makes thrones ; " For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers."

He disposes of twelve of them at once : " Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, j udging the twelve tribes of Israel."

What does the throne which we are promising, govern ?

Some who have now obtained these thrones have told us in the inspired language of prophecy, what for substance is meant by the promise, " And hath made us unto our God kings and priests ; and we shall reign on the earth."

It might be injurious for us at present to know what this literally means. It is .sufficient to know that our future elevation can be expressed only by saying that Ave shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Am I trifling, using words without knowledge ? I use the words of God. I will vary my offers.

III. I WILL OFFER YOU A CPvOWJS-.

There is something more obviously possessive in a crown than in a throne. I offer you a crown ; and here you will at once agree that I am safe. " Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life."

Paul had obtained one of these crowns ; " which," he says, " the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Paul was glad not to be peculiar in his crown. People of good sense do not love to be peculiar in that which they wear. Paul beautifully shows his modesty, his humility, in this.

There is one thing to be said about the crown which you may obtain : It is capable, while we are in this world, of being greatly enhanced in value and beauty. Bring your jewels, and the Maker will set them for you. Paul's crown will be remarkable for this, the jewels which he obtained to be set in it.

There are crowns for all, — for all them that lo.ve his appearing.

" Think of the crowns which the ransomed shall wear,"

and obtain each of you one of them. Again :

IV. Will you have a haep ?

Those who love music and frequent tlie music halls surely will be attracted by this.

The great company of heaven are represented as " having every one of them harps." Will you spend your existence in praise ? We are always happy when we are praising, if our hearts are in it.

We read of the harps of God. Will you have one ? Will you praise forever ? " No more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more death." Will you join the song of redemption for eternity ? " No man can learn that song but they which are redeemed from among men." There is a harp for you ; but I pray you remember this : It will not be hung up draped, if you do not take it. Some one else will take it. You might chance to hear it as you pass by and forever pass away, and think, how wonderful! surpassing the instruments of earth. You would be told, that harp was destined once for you.

Secure it while it is called to-day !

V. Again, strange to say I can put you in possession of some thing more. You will hesitate to credit me when 1 tell you

I HEREBY OFFER YOU EVERY THING-.

For only listen to these words of God : " He

THE OFFEHS OF THE GOSPEL. 23

that overcometli shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

There is one word used in the Bible to express the idea of " all things." which are promised to every one who will accept them. That word is, Salvation.

On this gift of salvation are inscribed such words as these : " He shall not be hurt of the second death." " They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." "And I will raise him up at the last day." " Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

One peculiarity of it is, the author of it attends personally and bestows it. Hence He is called by the name of Salvation : " The God of salvation." Salvation is ascribed to him as peculiarly his work ; " Salvation is of the Lord." He is personally present whenever there is need of it, under all circumstances ; " Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me."

Thus we ministers of the Gospel professedly spend our lives, you providing for our temporal sustenance, and we repeating the invitation ; " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." I say, tins is professedly our employment. Sometimes, perhaps, 3'ielding to temptation, we may feel that this is too monotonous, tame, not sufQciently intellectual ; so we are led " to please men " and to come to you with excellency of speech and of man's wisdom, seeking to gain popular applause, yielding to the plea that men must be pleased in order to be Avon. It is interesting to notice tliat the apostle who disclaimed human eloquence and the art of rhetoric, was without any attempt in those directions, the most finished model of "human persuasion among all Avriters, his epistles being masterpieces of art ; while you nowhere discover in them any striving after scholastic skill. He carries out in his writings that which he says was his aim in preaching at Corinth, " the eye of Greece," as it was called ; the resort of the skilled professors of every branch of scholarly attainment. Horace says, " It does not fall to every man to go to Corinth." " I am determined," Paul says, " not to know any thing among 3^ou save Jesus Christ and him crucified." So we preach, God helping us, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. We have nothing to do but offer you the things which I 1 have enumerated. We might make lyceums of our places of worship, entertain jon with science, literature, political disquisitions ; but we have no commission so to do ; we are not instructed to lecture you on subjects of such temporal, fleeting interest as the news, and politics, or questions of the exchange and the street. Yet in our humble vocation we are not forbidden to be as eloquent as, Isaiah, as consummate masters of rhetoric as Paul, as wise as Ecclesiastes, as philosophical as the Evangelist John. But all the time we must make you feel that we are offering, you eternal life, a throne in heaven, a crown in heaven, and every thing else which God has to bestow, under the title of salvation.

This we shall continue to do, though oftentimes we are compelled to cry, " who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? " We must often point out the consequences of neglecting this great salvation, show you the desperate wickedness of 3^our hearts, the fatal consequences of your unbelief, and not spare to repeat the inspired representation of eternal damnation, with tribulation and wrath, indignation and anguish, on every soul that doeth evil. We must all the time be warning you that the time is short; that the shadows are lengthening; that you know not what a day may bring forth.

For, some of you, moved by our urgency in pressing upon you these offers, say to us in your hearts, *' Perhaps I Avill take your offers to-morrow." Dear friend, perhaps you may not be in a situation to buy of us to-morrow. So long as you have not accepted our offers of a Saviour, you are living under condemnation; there may be put a step between you and death, of which we have illustrations every week. It is most wonderful that while God might do nothing in addressing us but warn, and threaten, he pleads, he solicits ; and the great apostle to the Gentiles uses this language : " As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." While doing this, the effect of which oftentimes is to lull, and soothe, he is speaking to those who have long since forfeited all claim on divine forbearance ; so that should the Most High whet his glittering sword and cut us off, should he, as the Great Husbandman, say of us, " Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground," there is no reason why the intercessor should plead : " Lord, let it alone this year also ; " for he did so last year, and the year before that, and five years ago, nay ten, and with some of you twenty, thirty, and with one and another even more. How can you, then, promise that you will to-morrow, perhaps, accept our offers, when you may not hear these offers again ! You may be imprisoned to-morrow for eternity. This call you may have occasion to reflect upon with never ceasing regret, sajdng, " How have I hated instruction and despised reproof."

Some of 3'ou do not feel any need of these things. What can we do ? We cannot create your taste. All that we can say further of the things offered is, Here they are, full and free ; all things are read}^ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ; and he that liath no mone}', come.

Some of 3^ou, I repeat it, dislike our terms : " Without money and without price." You say, These are a poor man's terms, a beggar's terms. You sa}^, again. Those who are invited to buy are those who are without money.

Never was there a poor man, not even a beggar, so utterly poor and beggared as you and I are in consequence of sin. " All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all," But " Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Believing in his sufferings and death for you, will be the same as if you had kept the law of God as the angels have. The reason why heaven and salvation are " without money and without price " is, " Christ died for us." We once had a price to pay ; fallen angels are paying it now for themselves, and will be paying it forever ; which will be true of us if we do not accept the offer made by the Gospel ;

" He that believetli on the Son hath everlasting life;" the consequence of neglecting to do so being thus expressed: "And he that believe th not the Son shall not see life, but the v/rath of God abideth on Lim."

" And was the ransom paid ? It was, and paid (What can exalt its bounty more ?) for thee."

Therefore it is without money and without price to us, because Christ, the God-man, tasted death for every man. Hear the Gospel in these few words : " Believe and thou shalt be saved."

But if you think these terms are such as any one can easily meet, let me assure you they will seemingly cost you all which you have and are. One man went and sold all that he had and invested it in a pearl of great price which he happened to meet with ; and Christ compares all who buy these things which we offer you, to such a man. A young man who came to buy and had great possessions was told by the Saviour, •' Go thy way, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." The terms, he also felt, were very hard ; only heaven forever for his gold ! He went away sorrowful. What would he give to have the same offer made to him to-day ! He might have been an apostle. He might have written one of the Gospels. He might Lave been siirveyiDg m3aiads brought home to God by his words. Where now are his great possessions? Where are they? Ask, wdiere are the snows of that winter? And where is he ? He is somewhere to-day ; and we shall be "somewliere " when we die.

I am not sure that I shall succeed in disposing of one of these thiugs to you. Must I return and say, " Mere, Lord, are thy thrones, and crowns, and harps, eternal life and salvation." Another lost opportunity ! '^ Who has believed our report ? "

And why do I not succeed ? The principal reason is, the terms are, " Without money and without price ! "

Again ; I am tempted to make you one more offer :

VI. Take one of these things and you

SHALL HAVE THE WHOLE.

For instance, if jou will have a harp j^ou shall have a crown and throne. If you will love God and say as David did, " My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his hol}^ name forever and ever," you shall have salvation and all things ; but on the same inexorable terms, viz: "Without money and without price." We cannot abate one iota from these terms.

These thrones will one day all be set, these crowns be all put on, these harps be in hand, salvation will be complete, eternal life will be extending its reign over the full number of the redeemed. Listening, we perhaps shall hear your voice, you standing without and saj'ing, " Lord, Lord, open to us." Ah, there is a great multitude then without, wishing to buy. As we listen we hear them crjdng out in words like these : " How have we hated instruction and despised reproof ! The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Thenthe voices fall to expostulation : " Will the Lord cast off forever ? and will he be favorable no more ? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Doth his promise fail forevermore ? Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? Hath he in his anger shut up his tender mercies ? " The song within proceeds ; the harpers harp upon their harps ; the multitude which no man can number, bow like a field of ripe grain with the wind passing over it ; crowns unnumbered are cast at the feet of Immanuel ; every throne is filled ; but where are you, who cares for 3'ou, who even thinks of you ? The Registries of Deeds are burned up, gold and silver are melted, houses and lands, the earth and all that is therein are in ashes ; voices are heard lamenting ; O, that they were wise, that they understood

THE OFEEES OF THE GOSPEL. 31

tins, that they had considered their latter end !

I have reserved one piece of information for this moment. It is this :

VII. If you feel incompetent to buy

THESE THINGS, THE PEOPHIETOR OF THEM, IF YOU SINCERELY DESIHE IT, WILL FUENISH YOU WITH THE DISPOSITION.

He is able and willing. Only signify to him your sinful inability, your indisposition, to receive eternal life, the crowns, the thrones, the harps of heaven without money and without price, and sincerely beg of him to give you a heart to make the purchase on his terms, and he v/ill do it.

Now what can I say more ? He who sent me speaks ; let man be silent : " Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and 3'our labor for that which satisfieth not ? hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."

II

" I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." — Ps. i8 : i.

IT will awaken surprise in you to hear this question, yet it cannot exceed mine on hearing it as I once did, from a distinguished man whom I had long regarded as truly devout. He was a member of one of the evangelical denominations, a regular attendant on religious ordinances, a communicant, a firm believer in the fundamental truths of religion. Being together at the house of his relative, this man, of worldwide reputation as a man of genius, astonished me with this question when we were by ourselves: "What do you understand b}^ love to God ? " I looked at him with surprise ; but before I could speak, he added, " I know what fear of God means ; but I do not understand what is meant when I am called upon to love God." Had I uttered the thought which arose in my (32)

HAVE WE PEEMISSION TO LOVE GOD ? 33

mind, I should have said : " I always supposed you to be a Christian ; can it be possible that you have need that one teach you the alphabet of religious experience ? " I chose to put questions to him which w^ould make plain the secret of his difficulty ; his frank nature encouraged me to ask them. His difficulty, I soon found, was this, that loving God implied a degree of familiarity which seemed to him unsuitable in a finite creature when approaching his Creator. He acknowledged that the language of the Bible encouraged the idea of familiarity in our intercourse with God ; still he preferred to explain all such permission by what he called Orientalism. In vain w^as it urged in reply that Orientalism rather forbade than encouraged libert}^ in approaching Majesty ; prostration, even to abjectness, w^as enjoined on ministers of state, as well as menial servants. Still, he expressed a fear of presumption in drawing near to God ; he W'Ould stand afar off with the publican, and not lift up so much as his e}' es to heaven, rather than seem to' trespass beyond the limit of reverence.

It w^as impossible not to love the spirit of humility which seemed to actuate this man. Some I knew would doubt his piety, if they should hear him ask what it is to love God ; therefore I have never disclosed the conversation, being especially careful not to make allusion to it since

34 HAVE WE PERMISSIOiT TO LOYE GOD ?

his decease ; no one therefore knows to whom I refer. It was my firm belief that he was a child of God, thougli his inqiiir}^ about love to God might stir a question to the contrary in some zealous, honest mind among his friends.

His question has had two effects on me ; one, to make me endeavor to be charitable in judging others ; the other, to make clear to me the answer to the question which I propose now to consider : Have we permission to love God ?