PART I, SKETCH LLXIII: PIETY REPROVED AND JUSTIFIED

“…And Michal…said, how glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids…And David said unto Michal, it was before the Lord….” (2 Samuel 6.20-22.)

Introduction. You will recall that God killed Uzzah for touching the ark that was being improperly carried. Terror seized the minds of all. Three months later we see David dancing before the Lord in a linen ephod after the ark is carried safely. Passing by his house, he is accused of immodesty by his wife. David, not easily angered usually, is provoked, and the Lord strikes Michal with the worst curse an Eastern woman could know—she goes childless to the day of her death. Here is a lesson. David’s joy was on the threshold of grief. Up hill and down hill is the way to heaven. 

(1) David’s Trouble. It came from where it should have been least expected. The chief joy of our heart is often the means of causing us the most pain. The children of this world never did understand the children of the next, and never will. There must be conflicts while there are two natures in the world and two sorts of men. Natural affections are like delicate nerves that cannot be injured without causing a severe sensation. David might recollect that in his worst times, Michal had forgotten him. But he must recall, too, that she saved his life once. The delight of his heart became the foe of his spirit. Happy are the husband and wife who help each other on the path to heaven. When it is otherwise, as with some of you, that is a sore trial. It is curious that when men are going to hell no one will stop them. Get the dog out of his way! But here comes one who wants to go to heaven. Block his path; throw stones in front of him! Good people are employed by Satan to obstruct our way. They do not know any better. 

(2) David’s Justification. David’s justification was God’s election of him. God had chosen him before Michal’s father, Saul. Being lifted up, he stooped to praise and dance with common people. The Christian might be considered enthusiastic. But he has reason to be, for he is forgiven and blessed. Michal would act the same way if she felt as we feel. Be a missionary to the heathen? This is not extravagant for one who has been accepted in the Beloved. Ministers like Whitefield and Wesley, because they knew their calling, were not afraid to dance like David and degrade their clerical character by preaching in lowly places. They chose to suffer for the sake of Christ rather than reign without him. If you do not feel that God has done great things for you, then shun the cross. Tell Michal you are sorry you displeased her. Some of you are ready to object. Sovereign grace has made you give up the pipe and the beer for the Bible and prayer. 

(3) David’s Resolution. May God grant your resolution to be like David’s. If it be vile to serve Christ, serve him even more. An old writer says that in the old days they ate out of oaken bowls, and then they had oaken men. Now we have willow men who can bend every which way. Stand up for every grain of truth. Remember your forefathers: the Baptists, Waldenses, etc. Will you be cowardly sons of heroic fathers? If you are not called to suffer as a martyr, bear the spirit of one. If division happens in your family, be sure it is for faith and not fault. Never blush to suffer for Jesus’ sake. Let your adversary be the hammer. You be the anvil the hammer is broken upon. You may be a flower grown in a conservatory. Pray for those who have to be outside in the frost. This text has a warning for scoffers, hypocrites, and empty professors. 

Selection from Conclusion. “Brethren and sisters in the Lord, ‘stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, in nothing terrified by your adversaries…Amen.’”

PART I, SKETCH LXXII: THE TREASURES OF GRACE

“The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1.7.)

Introduction. As Isaiah spoke more of Christ than any other prophet, so Paul proclaimed the grace of God more than any other apostle. Not that we are at liberty to prefer one apostle over another. But Paul outstripped them all in declaring the grace that brings salvation. The sense of grace pervades his thoughts. He sees grace going before his conversion, attributes his ministry to grace, etc. Ministers who contend most for free, sovereign, unconditional grace are those who before conversion were gross sinners, like Bunyan and Newton. Strange indeed that God would have it so. 

(1) The Riches of his Grace. In the riches of grace there are mines too deep for man to fathom. In men, grace may grow into a habit. But God is gracious by nature. Grace is as necessary to his being as are the attributes of omnipotence and omniscience. Since every attribute of God is infinite, his grace is without bounds. He has grace enough to give anything and everything to the very chief of sinners. As his knowledge comprehends all, so his grace comprehends all the sins, trials, and infirmities of the people his heart is set upon. All that has been taken out of God’s mine of grace has not diminished his store by a particle. Come to the glittering treasury of divine grace. It is called the Covenant, written, signed, sealed, and ratified from old eternity by the Sacred Three. The Father willed to save his chosen; the Son agreed to bleed and die to satisfy justice; the Holy Spirit agreed to quicken, preserve, sanctify, and perfect those called by grace. God has led us to inspect mightier trophies than the monuments of ancient kings. Some trophies of grace come from harlotry, some from taverns, and some from shedding innocent blood. I see the men that nailed the Saviour to the tree. The neighbor you are sitting beside might be a trophy. I think God is gracious when I see others saved. I know he is because he saved me, a wayward, willful boy. The queen of Sheba was amazed at the sumptuousness of Solomon’s table. But just one saint requires so much grace for one day that only the Infinite can supply. And there are many saints, for many years, century upon century, race after race, all drinking to the full and living on the fullness of God in Christ. Even though the broken meat at God’s back door of grace would be enough, saints are all fed like Mephibosheth. And look how God’s people are clothed, each one with a robe divine and complete, better than Adam’s righteousness, and with a drop of blood in every throw of the shuttle. 

(2) The Forgiveness of Sins. The treasure of God’s grace is the measure of our forgiveness. God is as happy to give as we are to receive. Man sometimes forgives ungraciously. When God forgives he draws the mark through every sin, past and future. And when God forgives, he not only forgives all, but once for all. He never punishes afterwards, like a judge, though he chastises like a father. You would perhaps give your first-born as payment to be forgiven. But forgiveness is freely offered. Only acknowledge your sin and put your trust in Christ. 

(3) The Blessed Privileges which Follow. You will have peace of conscience. Instead of thinking of God as a consuming fire, you will feel as if you can talk to him as a friend. You will fear no hell. Even sinning daily, you will feel your sins atoned for. You will know that Jesus was punished instead of you. You will expect heaven. You will know that sudden death is sudden glory. 

Selection from Conclusion. “There is faith, dear brothers and sisters; may we all have it and receive forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. Amen.” 

PART I, SKETCH LXXI: FAITH ILLUSTRATED

“…I know whom I have believed…he is able to keep that which I have committed….” (2 Timothy 1.12.)

Introduction. Better than any knife to spill the blood of our boasting is a remembrance of our safety in Christ. Assurance will not only keep us humble in prosperity, but it will preserve us from despair in adversity. Get then, Christian brethren and friends, get assurance. Don’t be content with hope, but get confidence too. Rest not in faith, but labor after the full assurance of faith. Don’t be content until you know your election, are sure of your redemption, and are certain of your preservation. I propose this morning to labor both for the edifying of the saint and the conversion of the sinner. 

(1) The Grandest Action of the Christian’s Life. Many churches and chapels do not give the anxious inquirer a clear idea of what must be done to be saved. I hope to be clear. When the apostle committed himself to Christ, he renounced dependence on his own efforts to save himself. He had been one of the very straightest of the straightest sect of his religion. Then grace intervened. And we hear him say, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” You cannot be saved with one hand on self and the other hand on Christ. Let go, sinner; renounce all dependence on works. There are only two steps to heaven: out of self, and into Christ. When Christ is your all, you’ll be safe. Next, the apostle had implicit confidence that Christ would save him. Some men relinquish self, but then cannot see that Christ will save them. They want an angel, a vision, or a voice. They may think themselves too vile. But the chief of sinners committed himself to Christ just as he was. Repose your all on Christ; lay hold on him. Joab was not safe when he laid hold on the altar. But if you lay hold on Christ, you will be safe from the sword of vengeance. When the guilty sinner flies to the cross, Christ lifts up his wounded hands and cries to Justice, “Stand back! in the secret place of my tabernacle do I hide him.” The viler you are, the more will you honor him by believing he is able to make you clean. The apostle also made a full and free surrender of himself to Christ. He became Christ’s property and servant forever. Salvation is through being bought with a price. You must not be your own, and no longer Satan’s. Like committing your gold to a bank to keep it from thieves, you must commit your soul to our Redeemer to keep it from sin and Satan. Will you now trust him entirely? This act of faith must be continual, through life and in death, in tempest, sunshine, poverty, and wealth. 

(2) The Justification of this Grand Act of Trust. The apostle did not rely upon one whose character he could suspect. Rome should not talk of pardoning others while fornication is licensed there. If you can’t trust a priest with your cash-box, don’t trust him with your soul. Will you be so foolish as to lay your soul at the feet of a man who is likely ten thousand times more wicked than you are? Trust not your soul with anyone but God. Jesus is your God. Paul was not wrong to trust Jesus. He knew Jesus’ Godhead, redemption, resurrection, power, love, etc. He knew these things by faith, but by experience also. Knowledge of Christ is like climbing a mountain. The higher we climb, the more we can see the expanse of his excellencies and beauties. 

(3) The Apostle’s Confidence. See this man. He is sure he shall be saved. But why? Let us catechize the apostle. O apostle, what if you should be chained to the stake? Yea, he says, Jesus will then hold me fast. Paul, Paul, what if a kingdom were offered to you? The world’s flatteries might soon move me to renounce my own soul, he says, but they could not move Jesus to give me up.  

Selection from Conclusion. “O poor sinner! come and put thy soul into the hands of Jesus.” 

PART I, SKETCH LXX: A HOME QUESTION

“But are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God” (2 Chronicles 28.10.)

Introduction. When the children of Israel had bloodthirsty thoughts towards their brethren of Judah, the prophet discouraged them. “Are there not with you…sins against the Lord your God?” This is a good question to pose to nations, sects, and classes among men. Let reformation begin at home before we attempt it elsewhere. We must not shun to declare the full counsel of God. But we must first deal with ourselves. I am not ashamed of being a Baptist. But we have our faults too. The question may be repeated continually in the ears of all. The poor man has his tavern. But the rich man has his drinking parties. We have the same gospel for all. We acknowledge no class distinctions. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

(1) A Home Question. Let me single out the moralist. He has no religion maybe. But he has the outward form of morality. He condemns the thief, and rightly so. My dear moralist, have you never broken a command? Have you never read that the Lord shall judge a man for every idle word? Turn your attention to yourself. And what if other men are worse than you are? Will that save you? Morality is good, but not enough to save. You need a living faith in a dying Saviour. Remember, one sin will sink your soul lower than the lowest hell. Repent, O moralist. I turn now to the accuser of the brethren. I have seen men, and women too, who are prone to observe the evil in another rather than what is good. But what about yourself? If you have directed false accusations against a servant of God, you have brought down upon your head the worst doom that can ever fall on a man. And now I turn to the religious man, the one who tries to carry out every Christian ritual. “If ye say that ye have no sin…the truth is not in you.” Next there is the honest man who professes no religion. Your honesty is a mask. And do you suppose that God will accept you because you are honest about never professing to serve him? Now let this eye look into every face. “Are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?” 

(2) A Common Sense Inquiry. They say that common sense is worth all the other senses together. It is a fine thing to use in matters of religion. Young says, “All men think all men mortal but themselves.” But who are you to think you will escape the punishment of sin? Will your fine pedigree exempt you? Even princely blood springs from Adam, the dishonest gardener. It will be vain to plead respectability before the throne of God. Evil works must be punished unless a substitute is found through whom sin can be put away. To the man who hugs or cloaks his sin, there is no pardon, only the sword of divine justice that is ready to be plunged into his heart. 

(3) A Little Advice. Quit your slander, for fiery coals do wait to burn the false tongue. Judge yourself instead. Lay on the whip. Do not spare yourself. He that condemns himself will God forgive. He that stands self-convicted may look to Christ and see his sins forever put away by the sacrifice of him upon the tree. Look to the salvation of your own soul.   

Selection from Conclusion. “What is thy shop, compared with thy soul? Nay, what is thy body, thine eyes, thy senses, thy reason, compared with thine immortal soul?…I beseech thee, look well to thyself, lest eternity should become to thee a sea without a shore, where fiery billows shall forever toss thy wretched soul…Oh! sinner, hear the cry of thy poor starving soul; hear, I beseech thee, the cry of thy poor body. The body does not wish to be cast into fire, and thy soul shrinketh from the thought of everlasting torment…come, I pray you, to penitence and to faith.” 

PART I, SKETCH LXIX: THE CHAFF DRIVEN AWAY

“The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away” (Psalm 1.4.)

Introduction. And who are the ungodly? Open sinners, blasphemers, criminals, atheists? Yes, but the ungodly the Psalmist especially intends to single out are those who, though not openly guilty, are guilty of putting on a mere show of religion. If you are not born again, not made right toward God, not forgiven, then the curses in the Bible, and the one in this text, belong to you. 

(1) A Fearful Negative. The words not so refer back to the previous verse. And so the ungodly are not like a tree planted. They are not pruned and cared for, but are like wild trees of the forest that have no Dresser. Yes, the ungodly are the subjects of God’s general providence, but not special. They are not specially watered and sheltered so that fruit is produced no matter what. The ungodly are not like a tree planted by the rivers of water. They have a casual thunder-cloud that passes over to drop a bit of rain, but no drinks from the fullness of Christ. When the temporary water they have dries up, what then? Only fire. The ungodly do not bring forth fruit in season. Many people imagine that they are in trouble only if they do wrong. But Meroz was cursed by God for not doing right (Judges 5.23.) Meroz would not fight for God. Are you a Meroz? Though you do not fight against God, you do nothing for him? You occupy a seat in church for years, but your inactivity shows you are not even converted. The ungodly man’s leaf shall wither. Rowland Hill was a tree that maintained green leaves till the end by preaching in old age. I have seen the ungodly spreading themselves like a green bay tree, and even envied them. But one day I passed by, and lo, there was not so much as a stump of them left. God had cursed their habitation. Christians have tribulation, yes. But whatever happens, yet their souls are prosperous. The ungodly, if he gets fat, it is for the slaughter.

(2) The Terrible Comparison. “The ungodly are like the chaff.” They are not even like a dead tree, which may be of some service. They are like what remains from the wheat at harvest, and is driven away by the wind. There is no sap of life, no fruit in chaff. A broken piece of pottery may be used by Job to scrape himself with. But chaff is good for nothing. If it is gathered at all, it is only for burning. The ungodly are like chaff. See then, your value, my hearers, if you fear not God. Maybe you think you are good for much, but God says you are good for nothing. 

(3) The Awful Prophecy. “They are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Chaff and grain grow together. How nearly related are the ungodly to the righteous! Maybe you are an ungodly man who is the father of a godly child. You have been to that child what chaff is to wheat. You have been wrapped around it, and have nourished it and cherished it. Is it not awful that you have been so close, only to be separated everlastingly? And you church-goers who are ungodly, are you content to go from the songs of the saints to the shrieks of the doomed? My mother said to me once, after she had long prayed for me, “Ah, my son, if at the last great day you are condemned, remember your mother will say amen to your condemnation.” That really stung me! But does not the wheat say amen to the chaff being blown away? 

Selection from Conclusion. “Jesus Christ himself hath said it—‘he shall burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’ You die, but die not…I beseech you, think of your destiny…The wind, and after the wind the whirlwind, and after the whirlwind the fire…forever…Is sin so luscious to you that you will burn in hell forever for it? Is Christ so hard a master that you will not love him?” 

PART I, SKETCH LXVIII: SIN IMMEASURABLE

“Who can understand his errors?” (Psalm 19.12.)

Introduction. What we know is small compared to what we do not know. He who has descended into the deepest mine must be aware that he has viewed just a part of the mere crust of this world. The astronomer will tell you that the grand clusters of unknown worlds exceed the little we can explore, as a mountain exceeds a grain of sand. In spiritual matters also, concerning God, Christ, the atonement, and sin, we have only begun to learn. “Who can understand his errors?” 

(1) Explaining the Question. “Who can understand his errors?” Any notion that we are without sin should discover to us that we indeed abound in it. Who knows how much a thing may be an error which we imagine to be a virtue? Who among us can tell how much sin is mingled with our goodness? Who is able to detect all the parts of an action so as to determine the proportion of right and wrong in our motive? We can detect the absolute black of sin. But the shades of evil are known by God. And who can understand the number of his errors? The mightiest mind cannot count those of a single day. Who can estimate the guilt of sin? since even a tiny one deserves God’s eternal displeasure? If one single sin remain unforgiven, God must cast his dearest from his presence. The aggravation of sin is such that a minister may be so conscious of his faults that he would give up the ministry if he dared. There is something about each one of us that makes our sins especially aggravating to God, like maybe you struck a deal with him that time you were in trouble, and then after he delivered you, you broke your promise. 

(2) Impressing the Question on the Heart. Before a man could understand his errors he must know several mysteries. First, he must know how much the fall has perverted his judgment and how vicious his nature has become. Until then, he cannot know how guilty he is. Most of our sins are hidden, like worms beneath the ground. Inspired tongues are unable to fully tell how vile man is. God even protects us from knowing all our wickedness to save us from becoming crazy. Second, he must know the law. The commandments look simple to obey, until we realize that they require obedience in act, word, and thought. The law of God is like a star, with brilliant points. But just approach it, and there is a body greater than the sun: “The commandment is exceeding broad.” Third, he must know the perfection of God. To get a full idea of how black sin is, we must know how bright God is. If we are spotted with sin as compared to an apostle, how spotted must we be beside our spotless God! Fourth, he must know about hell. Sin is best measured by the penalty it deserves: an eternity of indescribable agony. Fifth, he’d have to feel and endure the Almighty wrath that Jesus suffered for our sins.

(3) The Practical Application. What folly, then, to hope to save yourselves! Even your good works are evil. And even if you had committed no sins, then skipping the good you should have done is what men will be cast into the lake of fire for. Come, then, with your glory dragging in the mire, and confess. Do not wait until you feel guilty. You’ll never know nor feel how guilty you are. 

Selection from Conclusion. “It is every man’s solemn duty to trust Christ…Trust now in his precious blood…and you shall see his face in heaven…What if thy sins were greater than heaven’s breadth, yet Christ is greater than heaven…If thy sins were deeper than the bottomless hell, yet Christ’s atonement is deeper still…for Christ went to the end of punishment, and deeper thy sins can never plunge…God help thee to believe.”

PART I, SKETCH LXVII: A REVIVAL SERMON

“Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper” (Amos 9.13.)

Introduction. God’s promises are not exhausted when they are fulfilled. They continue to overflow as we draw from them. Frequently you find a promise literally fulfilled that shall be fulfilled spiritually, the promise this way continuing to overflow. This is true of the promise before us. The land of Canaan has been a rich and fruitful one. It is barren now, but it will flow with milk and honey again, if once the severity of Turkish rule is removed. The soil is not barren. Neglect and robbers are to blame. But, my dear friends, though Palestine will again thrive, I take it this verse holds more fully a spiritual than an earthly promise. 

(1) A Great Promise of Spiritual Revival. One season, by reason of the abundant harvest, shall run into another: souls will be gathered into the Church like in Whitfield’s time. (This will by no means clear the ministers who have been content with dull routine.) The revival will have in it converts who grow in grace amazingly fast: the plowman shall overtake the harvester. This fruitfulness will come by increased activity: preachers during a revival may preach ten or twelve times in a week. There seems to be no fatigue in being greatly blessed. We are experiencing such beginnings of revival right now. Seed is bringing forth a twenty fold, thirty fold result, yet we hope for a hundred. Anglicans, Independents, Methodists, and Baptists are all busy. “The mountains shall drop sweet wine”—this means that conversions will happen in unusual places. I have seen this, Roman Catholics and military men crowding in to hear the Word from a Puritanic minister. Sailors, men supposed to be the least likely to be reached by the gospel, are calling me brother! Out of one whole crew just three are unconverted. An eyewitness told me, “I never heard such praying before—they pray with such power as only a sailor can pray.” And “the mountains shall drop sweet wine”—this means that some extraordinary sinners will become extraordinary saints, and even, as in John Newton’s case, extraordinary ministers. 

(2) What Doctrinal Lesson is Taught by Revival. When God promises to bless his Church and to save sinners, he does not add, if men are willing. Man has a free will, and God does not abuse it. He just bends it as with a mighty rushing wind, by his grace. God’s power is the doctrine of revival. It is God who causes the increase, whether gradually by slow degrees, or suddenly all at once. 

(3) An Incentive for Further Exertion. If God withholds the dew, we are not to withhold the plow. But what an incentive to further work, when we are having such success! It is time to invest in the Lord! Sow the seed everywhere. There is a wondrous harvest coming. But we must not be proud even of God’s power. All the more in time of revival, God desires to work through instruments. Now clouds of blessing have come to us from America. God sent them. It is our duty to bring down the rain. It’s already falling on some parts of our country. Pray! The Church has often been plagued by God because she did not make proper use of his favor. 

(4) A Word of Warning. In any revival of religion it is often those who are totally unconnected to a church that are brought to hear the gospel, and to repentance. But let me give a warning: It would be the hell of hells to have been in the midst of a revival and die unconverted.  

Selection from Conclusion. “Ah! man, thou mayest laugh thyself into hell, but thou canst not laugh thyself out of it…Give up thy sins.”