Discourses chiefly on devotional subjects ...

Front matter

t

Glass Book.

DISCOURSES

Preface

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

It has always been my wish to select some of Mr. Cappe's Sermons for publication. Proceeding from the heart, I have thought they would reach the heart; and Ihave indulged the pleasing hope that there are those who would not only read them with interest, but who would seriously endeavour to imbibe the principles, and to feel the sentiments of piety they contain, and strive daily, like the Preacher, to approach nearer, and still nearer, towards Christian perfection. In this hope I may be deceived ; but it has cheered many a lonely hour, and having so strongly felt its influence, I should not have done my duty if I had neglected to adopt the mode of conduct, suggested by it.

I am not, however, so visionary as to imagine, that the sentiments of the publick respecting the merit of these Sermons, or even the sentiments of persons whose turn of mind may be somewhat congenial, should keep pace with my own. I well know, that striking and elevating as are the views they exhibit of the power and goodness of God, and of the unspeakable importance of cultivating right affections towards him — animated and pathetick as is the strain of feeling with which they abound, they cannot be associated in the minds of others with the impressive manvi PREFACE.

ner, the persuasive tones, the simple piety, which so exceedingly increase their interest with those who heard the Preacher, and who loved him, and which to their minds so forcibly recall his image, that scarcely can they persuade themselves, he is not still speaking ! I should think, however, that independent of every thing extrinsick, they must have sufficient internal merit to recommend them. It is true, indeed, that a spirit of devotion is not the spirit of the times ; yet some persons surely there are, who wish to discriminate accurately between sterling piety, which leads to every thing great, and noble, and consolatory, and that wild enthusiasm which erringly assumes its honoured name — some, who would wish to keep strictly within the boundary, beyond which pleasure, even innocent pleasure assumes a different character — to persons such as these, the Sermons here presented to them, cannot be without their value.

The Prayers are added by the Editor ; although taken from Mr. Cappe's, yet as their present connexion and arrangement could not be his, any defects in these respects, if such there are, cannot attach to him.

In the Memoirs annexed to this volume, there are considerable additions made to those which were prefixed to the Critical Dissertations published in 1802, and the long quotations then given from the Sermons preached by Mr. Cappe on his recovery from a nervous fever in 1782, also from those on the love of God, are here wholly omitted, as the Discourses themselves form a part of this selection. The Editor has availed herself of Mr. Wood's kind permission to annex the Sermon preached by him at the funeral of the deceased, as a powerful independent testimony of the talents and virtues she has endeavoured to portray.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

1 have great pleasure in bringing forward a second edition of (he following Sermons, first published in 1805, and which have been long out of print. They have been frequently inquired for, which I consider as a consolatory proof that the spirit of pure and genuine devotion has still its sincere votaries, however it may be hidden from the philosopher, who seeks for the solution of every great and appalling event in the mere operation of secondary causes; — from the warriour, who rests for success on. his sanguinary sword ; — or from him who places his chief happiness in the fleeting unsubstantial enjoyments of the present hour. — As a proof that there are many, especially in the calm still walks of life, apart from the toils of ambition and the direful conflicts of contending nations, who do not exclude the great Ruler of the Universe from " all their thoughts ;" who consider his favour as the only true riches, and " who seek it with their whole heart" — not indeed in a pertinacious attachment to any particular system of theological speculation, but in a sincere desire of being conformed to the likeness of Him who was appointed to bring in "an everlasting righteousness ;" of Iiim who continually went about doiug good, and who did always those things that viii PREFACE.

were most pleasing to his heavenly Father — to his God and to our God !

On a careful perusal of these Sermons with a view to their republication, after the lapse of eleven years, my mind is so powerfully impressed by their superiour excellence, that I cannot refrain from dwelling for a few moments on a subject so near my heart, indecorous, as any eulogium on my part may be deemed. I should however restrain myself from this indulgence, could any impropriety of mine at all affect the memory of their revered author ; or if I did not cherish a latent hope, that by thus dilating upon their great merit, the casual reader might be induced to peruse them with more attention, and might consequently reap from the perusal more lasting benefit.

The three first Discourses on Faith cannot but be deemed highly useful, not merely as forcibly pointing out the great importance of this salutary principle in the daily intercourse and general conduct of human life, but as leading to a just discrimination between such of its objects as reason suggests and approves, and those of a blind credulity, a wild enthusiasm, or an abject, debasing superstition.

Respecting those which follow on "undue anxiety," and "on the duty of joining thanksgiving with prayer," we may confidently ask, where is the heart of ordinary sensibility which in its progress through life, in many a painful hour of anticipated misfortune or of painful suspense, has not stood in need of the cheering consolations they so powerfully recommend and so effectually impart ?

PREFACE. ix

Of the extreme importance of those Discourses which treat on the obligation and reasonableness of the love of God; on the constant care and diligence required to keep it alive ; on the incompatibility of the love of pleasure with the love of God, and on the characteristicks of those, who are governed by the love of pleasure, all must be fully aware who are in the habit of attending to the current of events, or of observing what daily passes around them. But as the generality are far from being of this description, the testimony of one who has had the ample experience of a longer life than was anciently attributed to man by the shepherd king of antiquity, must not be withheld. How many instances could she adduce from her own observation, were this the proper place for it, of the truth and unspeakable importance of the genuine Christian principles which these Discourses so forcibly inculcate ! — To the serious attention of younger readers, who are just entering on the eventful career of human life, she would particularly recommend them ; ardently wishing, that at a period when lasting impressions are most easily made, they may learn to be upon their guard respecting the opinions they adopt, and the consequent habits they form. But let them not rest on her feeble testimony, nor even on the powerful reasoning of the Christian preacher. — May the lamentable destruction of all moral and religious principle, and the total degradation of a great neighbouring nation, by the immoderate, never-ending pursuit of pleasure, operate as a more tremendous warning, and raising in a louder tone its terrifick voice, more forcibly compel the awful conviction !

The Editor may be pardoned if, as a female, she should take a peculiar interest in the Sermons which dilate on the x PREFACE.

singular honour conferred on Mary of Magdala and her sorrowing companions, by their divine Master, in his appearing first to them after his glorious resurrection : A decisive proof surely, that in however degrading a light the sex may have been considered in days of great ignorance and moral depravity, and are even yet regarded on some of the finest portions of the globe, they are not so estimated in the sight of God ; — that, in the Christian code, there is no distinction of persons ; but, of which ever sex, or of whatever country or climate, those who fear him and work righteousness, shall assuredly be accepted of him. What a stimulus this, to those happy females who bear the Christian name, to be continually making progress in every mental, moral, and religious attainment !

Nor are those reflections less valuable that take their rise in the three following Discourses, from the contemplation of the tomb of Jesus; whether as tending to the confirmation of our Christian faith, to the improvement of our Christian temper, or to the increase of our love to Christ.

The very severe illness of the Author in the year 1782, gave occasion, as is mentioned in the prefixed Memoir, to that interesting development of the state of his mind during its severe pressure, and after his happy deliverance from it, so impressively detailed in the three Discourses on the use and improvement to be derived from such afflicting dispensations. They have been read with peculiar sympathy, both on this and on the other side the Atlantick, and the Editor has had the satisfaction of hearing, have been the source of great consolation to many an afflicted spirit.

PREFACE. xi

On the four Discourses exclusively devotional, the Editor refrains from dilating. To a mind fully capable of duly appreciating the delicacy, truth, and beauty of the senliraents Ihey express, it would be wholly unnecessary, and to readers of a contrary description, who are principally occupied in pursuits of ambition, of gain, or of pleasure, it would be to address tbem in an unknown language, and consequently would be quite unavailing.

The Editor makes no apology for subjoining the excellent Sermon of the late Mr. Wood, to this, as to the former edition. Little was it apprehended on the last day of the eighteenth century when Mr. Wood delivered his able impressive Discourse, that in the short space of eight years and three months, his sorrowing friend, Mr. Wellbeloved, should be called upon to perform the like painful office at his funeral ! But such is the life of man ! — and so true it is, that his life is "even as a vapour which appeareth for a little time and soon vanisheth away I"*

* Mr- Wood was a man of uncommon talents, and all his compositions were marked by an originality of thought, and a comprehensive view of his subject, which rendered them peculiarly striking. He published very little, and consequently was not generally known or duly appreciated by the publick. His friend Mr. Wellbeloved, who was one of the few that knew him well, incorporated a very useful analysis of some of his manuscript compositions which he was permitted to peruse, in an interesting Memoir written the year after Mr. Wood's decease. This Memoir like the subject of it, has not obtained the celebrity to which its merit, had it got into extensive circulation, must have procured for it : and this is the more to be regretted, as it contains a general outline of Mr. Wood's mode of instructing his pupils, who were females, in various branches of literature and science, exhibiting a striking specimen of the superiour comprehension of his mind, and of the masterly view he took of his subject, and which might therefore be rendered extremely useful to many others engaged in similar studies.

Contents

Page Dedication iii

Preface to the Second Edition vii

Life of the Rey. Newcome Cappe xvii

DISCOURSES.

DISCOURSE I.

On Faith in general, and Religious Faith in particular .... 85

DISCOURSE II.

Faith a Reasonable Principle i .... 94

DISCOURSE III.

Faith a Desirable and Important Principle 106

DISCOURSE IV.

The Unreasonableness and Folly of undue Anxiety 117

DISCOURSE V.

On the Duty of joining Thanksgiving with Prayer, in Time of Affliction 127 xiv CONTENTS.

DISCOURSE VI.

Part II. — On the Duty of joining Thanksgiving with Prayer, in Time of Affliction 137 DISCOURSE VII

DISCOURSE VIII.

On the Obligation, the Importance, and the Reasonableness of the Love of God 161

DISCOURSE IX.

On the Care and Diligence required to preserve and keep alive the Love of God 174

DISCOURSE X.

On the Incompatibility of the Love of Pleasure, with the Love of God 186

DISCOURSE XL

Part II. — On the Incompatibility of the Love of Pleasure, with the Love of God 198

DISCOURSE XII.

Characteristicks of those who are governed by the Love of Pleasure 21 1

DISCOURSE XIII.

Part II. — Characteristicks of those who are governed by the Love of Pleasure 223

DISCOURSE XIV.

On the Appearance of Christ, after his Resurrection, to Mary Magdalene 236

CONTENTS. *v

DISCOURSE XV.

Part II.— On the Appearance of Christ after his Resurrection, to Mary Magdalene 248

DISCOURSE XVI.

Reflections on the Tomb of Jesus, as tending to confirm our Faith in the Christian Doctrine 263

DISCOURSE XVII.

Part II. — Reflections on the Tomb of Jesus, tending to improve the Christian Temper 276

DISCOURSE XVIII.

Part 111. — Reflections on the Tomb of Jesus, tending to improve the Christian Temper 286

DISCOURSE XIX.

DISCOURSE XX.

Part II. — On the glory of God, as displayed by the Heavenly Luminaries 313

DISCOURSE XXI.

Part III. — On the glory of God, as manifested in the Heavenly Luminaries 326 DISCOURSE XXII

On the Use and improvement to be derived from Severe Illness 339

DISCOURSE XXIII.

Part II. — On the Use and Improvement to be derived from Severe Illness 351 xri CONTENTS.

DISCOURSE XXIV.

Part III.— On the Use and Improvement to be derived from Severe Illness . . 362