To be of the day, he said, implied-1. a state of knowledge; 2. safety; 3. comfort, &c. In enforcing the admonition, he exhorted them to the exercise of faith and love; gave them good grounds for hope; and shewed that these three graces had a tendency to comfort and strengthen believers. In the afternoon, from Acts xvii. 30, 31. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead! He considered-1. the certainty of a future judgment; 2. the person of the Judge; 3. the circumstances of the day; 4. the necessity of repentance inferred from the text. He, indeed, is a worthy man, and appears well suited for a missionary. In the evening 1 heard Mr. L at the Chapel, from John iii. 14. For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,' &c. He said many good things, and is very earnest in the good cause. Last Lord's day we had Mr. Magain; text in the morning, Heb. vi. 11. "And we desire, that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.' He considered-1. the thing mentioned-the full assurance of hope; 2. shewed that it might be attained; 3. exhorted them to diligence in aspiring after it. Time and room forbid me to make any remarks upon the sermon (which was a good one) in the afternoon, from Acts xvi. 9. • And then stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, come over and help us.' In discoursing on it, shewed-1. that the heathens want help; 2. that it is the duty of ministers and people to give it them; and 3. that men should exert themselves for the purpose. It appeared like a collection sermon; and he went afterwards and got a little money of a few friends at Hertford, for the mission to China. "In the evening, having been previously invited, I went at six o'clock to Mr. K- 's, to see the minister. I was there during family worship; and after that, Mr. M. and self went up stairs to talk a little together. He asked me about my learning, &c. then how long I had been seriously disposed, &c. He appeared satisfied with my answers, and asked me if I was not going into the country; I told him 'yes.' He asked me if I should have an opportunity of attending to my books there. This naturally led to the whole affair: he seemed glad, and asked me if I designed to be a minister in this country. I told him I wished to be quite resigned to the will of Providence in that matter. gave me some good advice; and then we knelt down, and he engaged in a short and affectionate prayer. I was much affected with the advice, conversation, and prayer. 66 I am sensible that to me is as unshaken as ever. He your attachment I hope you pray ministers of the that both of us may be made gospel; and, in some future day, have our wishes respecting that completely fulfilled. I am very desirous that you may be shortly placed in a situation in which you will have more leisure for reading, writing, studying, &c. O that you were going with me to Harwich. Still continue to pray for one who feels his own unworthiness for the service of his God, and yet wishes to be an instrument of doing great good to souls: and if I should not be very successful in my ministry, methinks it would be reward enough to have laboured for God, and not to have been employed in the drudgery of Satan." The next letter, to the same correspondent, contains a specimen of his talent for the composition of sermons at that age. It affords a pleasing proof of his early skill in the practice of an arty in which he eventually so much excelled. No. 5. Hertford, Dec. 3, 1805. "I have sent you my thoughts upon (or rather my way of discussing) that text Mr. Knight preached from. I hope your candour will excuse imperfections. I never read any thing upon it, and it is the production of a boy. MATTHEW v. 20. "For I say unto you, that except your righte ousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." GENERAL HEADS. 1st.-EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. 2d. SHEW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR RIGHTEOUS NESS MUST EXCEED THEIRS. 3d.--NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSESSING A RIGHTEOUSNESS NO BETTER THAN THEIRS. 1st HEAD.-EXPLAIN THE NATURE, &c. 1st.-This righteousness is founded in ignorance Of God's nature, Of the spirituality of his law, Of the deceitfulness of the heart, And of the true method of salvation. 20 HEAD. SHEW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR RIGH TEOUSNESS SHOULD EXCEED THEIRS. 6 The righteousness here termed yours' is the righteousness of Christ, which becomes ours by imputation, in the same manner as our sins became Christ's. This righteousness thus becoming ours, exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, 1st. In its origin. It is divine-the other human, or Satanic; as we doubt not, Satan first infused self-righteous thoughts into the minds of men, &c. 2d.-Its nature and particular properties. This righteousness Delivers us from bondage, Gives us holiness of life, Happy through all eternity. The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees cannot do this. But our Lord might also allude to that righteousness which is implanted in us, as well as that which is imputed to us, and that far exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees in its effects, which are real good works, which Spring from a good motive, Are directed to a good purpose, And have a good end. These works are not meritorious, but serve for the justification of our faith, not of our persons, and they far exceed the legal performances of the self-righteous. 3d HEAD. NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POS SESSING A RIGHTEOUSNESS NO BETTER THAN Fe shall in no case enter into, &c. 1st. Here we must necessarily dwell a little upon the nature of the kingdom of heaven.-Consider 1. The person of the King. 2. The happiness of the subjects. 3. The eternal duration of his reign, &c. 2d.-How dreadful a thing to be shut out of this kingdom. |