A Goodly Heritage

"Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?" This question, along with others, the Almighty proposed to the holy and patient Job, in order to his deeper and more complete humiliation. There are awful mysteries in the nature of death, which baffle the inquiries of the wisest, and appall the spirit of the boldest of mankind. Man, standing alone, is unequal to the conflict with an enemy whose nature and powers surpass his investigation. Blessed be God, there are opposite mysteries of love and power, exhibited in behalf of dying Christians, by which the least of the Redeemer's flock becomes a mighty conqueror in this solemn warfare. It is not, however, by shallow and trivial thoughts and emotions, that the soul ascends into the strength which prevails over death: It is by profound, deep-felt, and, in most cases, long-continued meditation, that the soul, invigorated by grace, hath access to this light of victory and...

The groves of the original paradise were fair and pleasant, fragrant and fruitful; but, through the instability and ingratitude of man, sin found its way into that paradise, and death immediately followed. The land of Canaan was prepared by Divine goodness for the posterity of Abraham, as a kind of second paradise; but, behold the effects of sin! See, in the preceding chapter of this book, what denunciations of wrath issued forth from the God of Israel, against his favorite land. Death and desolation did overspread the consecrated territory. It is, my brethren, the universal lot of mankind, to be subject to the empire of death, the king of terrors; therefore, wherever the salvation and happiness of man are spoken of, attention must be paid to this capital evil; if provision be not made against this calamity, nothing is done. The Israelitish nation and church, residing in Canaan, was the theater, on which the great anointed Deliverer of mankind was now to be exhibited to the vie...

In this publication of His law God clothes Himself with this title, “The Lord thy God”-- I.  With reference to His gracious, external interpositions in behalf of that people. II.  To intimate the gracious tendency of this seemingly severe revelation. III.  And its connection with the offer and communication of God according to the method of His grace. But there are two inferences falsely made from this preface which ought to be avoided. 1.  That an assured apprehension of God, as ours, is the beginning of religion, and that this must go before all beneficial knowledge of God and His law, whereas there must be a spiritual knowledge of God and His law in the order of nature necessarily antecedent to any such apprehension of God, otherwise we have no just ideas of Him whom we apprehend (but embrace an idol), nor of the footing on which we do apprehend Him. 2.  That, after reconciliation with God, a man hath nothing to do with His law. To overt...

I.  THE REASONS WHICH RENDER A GREAT FEAR OF GOD, IN RELIGIOUS SERVICES, NECESSARY AND BECOMING. 1.  The mysteriousness and un-searchableness of God, and of all those things which employ our mind in worship. 2.  The infinite fulness of peculiar glory, which resides in the Divine Being. 3.  His Majesty, as the Creator, Law-giver, and Judge of mankind. 4.  The sublime majesty which appears in the character and procedure of God in the work of redemption.(1) Its first projection in the sovereign counsels of God.(2) The terrible events that have come to pass in subserviency to this work, and, as it were, to make room for its glory.(3) How shall we think or speak of that unspeakable majesty, which beams forth from the Son of God, when we contemplate Him as descending into our low nature, and accomplishing the mysterious purchase of salvation!(4) The awful majesty which attends the Spirit's work in applying redemption to the souls of the elect. II.  THE...

"And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." Exodus 33:14. The events of four thousand years were, for the most part, only introductory to the work of redemption, and adapted to illustrate the future glory of that work. So slowly did the sovereign mercy of God advance forward to its abundant manifestation. The wonders performed in behalf of the Israelites, their sins, and the judgments which their sins drew upon them, are held up to the view of the Christian church, till the end of time. From their history we learn, that no miracles, or external favours, or natural relentings of the affections, can conquer the depravity of human nature. In respect of all such things, the heart is "desperately wicked." We also learn, from what befell the Israelites, that no external privileges, or blessings of providence, not even though accompanied with miraculous interpositions, are sure tokens of God's special favour, or are connected inseparab...