Select sermons

Front matter

SELECT SERMONS

OF THE

REV. WORTHINGTON SMITH, D.D.

Preface

The memorial volume here offered to the reader has been prepared at the urgent request of many friends of President Smith. It has been felt that some such tribute was due to a man who had contributed so largely and for so long a time to the interests of religion and learning in the State of his adoption, and that the example of his life and a few of his public discourses would be of value to the religious public.

The Memoir has been prepared, as a labor of love, by Rev. Dr. Torrey. His acquaintance with Dr. Smith, beginning at an early period, and continued through life, left nothing to be desired as a means of knowing and appreciating his character ; while many details, that might otherwise have

IV PREFACE.

escaped his notice, were kindly furnished by Mrs. Smith and other friends.

The selection of sermons has been made, in the main, with the advice and concurrence of Dr. Torrey. The few here printed have been selected out from a large number perhaps equally worthy ; some at the desire of friends who had been interested in them when first delivered, and others because expressive of the views of Dr. Smith on some important topic, or as illustrative of his peculiar habits of thought. With very trifling exceptions, the sermons are printed as originally delivered. A very few words and phrases only have been changed, such as one on reviewing his own composition might make for the sake of perspicuity.

The writer of this preface, who has had this work in charge, and seen it through the press, is responsible for the titles given to the different sermons, and the order of their arrangement in this volume, and also for any errors that a more careful supervision might have avoided. It is hoped that these errors will not be found very numerous, or such as to impair its value, though in some degree incidental to a volume printed at a distance from the residence of the editor.

PREFACE. V

Acknowledgments are due to many friends for their assistance, — to Mr. J. E. Goodrich, for his good offices in securing the best form and place of publication ; to Dr. Stevens, Rev. B. B. Newton, and others at St. Albans, and to the Alumni of the University elsewhere, for their aid in securing subscriptions.

N. G. c.

University of Vermont, January 22, 1861.

a*

Contents

MEMOIR.

PAGE

Parentage of President Smith, 1

I. The Mission Of Good Men

FAGS

Acts xiii. 36 : " For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption," ............ 119

II. The Elements And Conditions Of Usefulness

Acts xviii, 24—26 ; " And a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord: and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the Baptism of John. And he began to speak j boldly in the synagogue : whom, when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly," 133

III. The Divine Method For Conducting Religious

INQUIRY.

John hi. 12: "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things ?" . . .152

IV. Moral Government Of The World

Ezekiel xviii. 1—4 : " The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying : What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel; saying, the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge ? As I live, saith the Lord, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls arc mine; as the soul of the Father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it ahall die," ...... 173

CONTENTS. IX

V. The Christ, The Son Of God

PAGE

Matthew xvi. 15, 16: " He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am ? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," . .189

VI. The Work Of The Spirit

Micah ii. 7 : "0 thou that art named the house of Jacoh, is the Spirit of the Lord straitened ? Are these his doings ? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly," 209

THE LAW BROKEN BY A SINGLE OFFENCE.

James ii. 10 : " For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," 260

X CONTENTS.

X. The Gospel True To The Moral Convictions

OF MEN.

PAGE

Acts xxiv. 25: "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee," . . 275

XI. Religious Convictions Resisted

John xii. 42, 43 : " Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue ; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God," 285

XII. A Saving Faith

Matthew ix. 28, 29 : " And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this ? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you," . . 296

XIII. The Religion Of The Gospel A Life

Acts v. 19, 20 : " But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said: Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life," 307

XIV. Christian Conduct Before The Impenitent

Col. iv. 5 : " Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time," g^o

CONTENTS. XI

XV. Disproportion Between The Duration And The Purpose Of Life

PAGE

Psalm lxxxix. 47 : " Remember how short my time is; wherefore hast thou made all men in vain ? " 335