The apostle, Heb. xi. 7. produces Noah as an instance of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things net seen, and exemplifying the faith by which the just do live. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, prepared an ark to the saving of his house-In like manner true faith realizes all the instructions and warnings of God, relating to the invisible and eternal world, and by an irresistible influence, moves all the subjects of it, in the way of universal and persevering obedience to the commandments of the Lord, to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. May we be subjects of like precious faith to the saving of our souls! Amen. proaching deluge, and exhorted them! to repentance, that iniquity might not prove their ruin; yet his words seemed to them as idle tales, which they ridiculed and despised; but with what mighty consternation were they filled, when they saw the flood coming and taking them all away-So Christ, by his word and ministers, admonishes sinners that the end of all things is at hand, and warns them to flee from the wrath to come; while disbelieving mockers, willingly ignorant of the destruction of the old world, say, Where is the promise of his coming? But what mighty consternation and despair will seize their souls, when they perceive all his threatenings about to be verified, and themselves overwhelmed and destroy ed in floods of vengeance, for ever and ever? When Noah and his house, secure in the ark, were floating on the surface of the mighty deep, what an admirable spectacle did they exhibit to the astonished universe?-But a spectacle how much more admira-al church and society in Somers, in ble and wonderful, amidst the disso- the presence of a large and respecta lution of the heavens and earth, and ble concourse of people; who observ. those displays of divine wrath which ed great propriety of conduct, and will destroy the wicked, will be the manifested deep and unusual solemni eternal salvation of the righteous, inty of spirit. The public religious soChrist, to astonished spectators in heaven and hell? ORDINATION. ON the 3d of April, the Rev. William L. Strong, was ordained to the pastoral office, over the Congregation lemnities were performed by the ful lowing gentlemen-The Rev. TimoOur Saviour draws a parallel, Mat. thy M. Cooley, of Granville, made the xxiv. 38. between the spirit and prac-introductory prayer; the Rev. Joseph tice of the old world, and the conduct W. Crossman, of Salisbury, preached of the Jews before the destruction of the sermon from Malachi ii. 7, Jerusalein, and of mankindbefore the beis the messenger of the Lordof Hosts;” end of the world. For as in the days the Rev. Dr. Williams, of Telland, that were before the flood, they were made the consecrating prayer: the eating and drinking, marrying and Rev. Dr. Willard, of Stafford, gave giving in marriage, until the day that the charge; the Rev. Azel BackNoah entered into the ark, and knew us, of Bethlehem, gave the right hand not until the flood came and took of fellowship; and the Rev. Mr. them all away; so shall the coming Prudden, of Enfield, offered the conof the Son of man be. cluding prayer. Donations to the Missionary Society of Connecticut. March 26. From Nathaniel Hubbard, of Bolton, April 8. 19. 23. A Friend of Missions, per Mr. Flint, Rev. E. Hyde, contributed in new settlements, $ 20 24-83 $154 28 On Covenanting with God. (Continued from p. 406.) PART III. An Address to professing Christians. DEAR BRETHREN, HE people of God are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, designed to show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. That they might act up to this high character, it is commanded that they should exhort one another daily That they should consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works. They should consider the relation they stand in to each other, as brethren in Christ; as under indispensible obligations to him, and to one another. They should consider their mutual dangers, temptations, weaknesses and tears, and counsel and warn each other against sin, encourage, assist and stimulate one Hebrews x. 24. VOL. V. No. 12. ty. another to every Christian duThey should walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise redeeming the time. They are commanded not only to exhort one another daily, but to do it so much the more as they see the day approaching. Time is short, and flies away with rapid wing. The awful day of death and judgment is swiftly approaching: A day in which the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the world and all that is in it shall be burnt up: A day in which all things shall be made manifest; when all men shall be rewarded according to their works, and time and opportunities shall be no more. This awful, this momentous day is constantly approaching. It comes nearer every hour and moment; whether we sleep or wake, whether we stand all the day idle, or whether we enter into our master's vineyard, and do the work to which he hath called us. He commands that we exhort and press one another daily to grow in grace and knowledge, Hebrews x. 25. and to discharge all covenant du- | holy conversation and godliness? ties, in proportion to the swift Wherefore, beloved, seeing that and near approach of that day in ye look for such things, be diliwhich we shall all stand togeth-gent that ye be found of him in er, before the judgment seat of peace, without spot and blameChrist. Our love, faithfulness, less. In this day the secretszeal and energy, in pressing each of the heart will be revealed, and other to duty, and in perform-judged according to the gospel. ing all our covenant obligations, Every deceit and specious preshould increase, and rise higher tence will be detected, and every and higher as the day of death mask and false covering removand judgment is approaching. ed; and how we have payed, or This duty, this brotherly and neglected to pay our vows will kind office, the writer has been be made manifest, to our exattempting to perform in the ceeding joy and triumph, or preceding papers, on covenant- shame and contempt, before asing with God; and is now still sembled worlds. No pleas of further attempting to fulfil, in fair professions, of distinguishthis address. This will natural-ing privileges, of offices and ly follow what hath been written high standing in the church, of on that subject, and serve fur-common or extraordinary gifts, ther to stimulate us to the du- without grace, will be of the ties already suggested. It be- least avail. Unless we are born hoves him to exhort you in re- of God, united to Christ by faith, alizing views of the day which is and live godly in Christ Jesus, approaching, of its near and the door will be shut against us, hasty approach to himself and and no pleas will ever avail to you, and of its immense, eternal open it. What solemn and deepconsequences to us both. It is ly affecting admonitions hath of high concern to you to re- our Lord and Judge given us of ceive this brotherly exhortation this? Not every one that saith in the love of the truth, and in unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the near and realizing views of into the kingdom of heaven; but death and the judgment day, he that doeth the will of my Faand to be quickened and anima-ther which is in heaven. Mated to all holy living, so muchny will say unto me in that the more as ye see the day ap- day, Lord, Lord, have we not proaching. The belief of such prophesied in thy name? And a day, how it approaches, what in thy name cast out devils? a day it will be, and what its And in thy name done many eternal consequences, should a- wonderful works? And then will waken, in every breast, the high- I profess unto them I never est concern to keep covenant knew you: depart from me, with God; to be circumspect, ye that work iniquity. When prayerful, sober, vigilant, sted- once the master of the house is fast, immoveable always abound-risen up and hath shut to the ing in the work of the Lord. door, and ye begin to stand withThe apostle, having spoken of out, and to knock at the door, this day and its concomitant events, observes, What manner of persons ought we to be in all 2 Peter iii. 11, 14. saying, Lord, Lord, open unto | mands of our divine Redeemer. It is written, this is the will of us, and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are: Then shall ye begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you I know you not whence you are: depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of heaven, and ye How yourselves thrust out.* should premonitions like these, penetrate the heart of every professor, of every minister, and of church officers as well as common Christians? Since persons so distinguished by gifts and privileges, and of such high standing in the church, shall thus be disowned by Christ, and shut out of his kingdom, how should it engage all to work out their salvation with fear and trembling? To be in an agony to enter in at the strait gate? To watch and pray always that they may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man? Suffer me, dear brethren, to plead this with you by the solemnities of that day when we shall stand together at the judgment seat of Christ. How dignifying and blissful, will it then be, to be found among those whose hearts have been found in God's stat-ple, and the excellency of the utes and stedfast in his covenant? But who can bear to be thrust out of the kingdom of God, and to dwell for ever where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth? At the same time, be intreated by the will of God and com. Luke xiii, 25, 26, 27, 28. The faithfulness of God in keeping covenant with his peo covenant which he hath made with them, as everlasting, ordered in all things and sure, furnish further and endearing motives to activity and fidelity, in keep * 1 Thess. iv. 3. Matt. v. 48. Levit. xix. 2. Titus iii. 8. Phil. ii. 15. eth all calculation. It has in it every thing attractive and endearing. It should constrain us ing covenant with him. He is the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keep his com- to a most strict, constant and mandments, to a thousand gen-cheerful obedience to the whole erations.* Hence his people should be faithful in keeping covenant with him. They are under indispensible obligations to imitate him as dear children. The excellency, wonderful grace and perpetuity of the covenant, render the violation of it most ungrateful, inexcusable and abominable. will of God. The apostle Paul besought the Christians of his day by the mercies of God, That they should present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God: which he insisted was but their reasonable service. From this consideration, That Christians were not their own, but bought with a price, he presFurther, our blessed Saviour seth it upon them to glorify God was faithful to us, in the great in their body, and in their spirit, work of our redemption. No which were God's. This is his poverty, shame, nor agonies of language to us, to all the churchthe garden or of the cross could es and disciples of Christ. It is divert him a moment from pur- the language of the love of God suing his Father's honor and the Father, and of the dying love the good of his people. He is of our Lord Jesus Christ. This still the same faithful Redeem-love, these mercies of God, coner. He lives for ever interced- strained the apostles and primiing for us, and governing all tive Christians to a life of wonthings for the good of them who derful self-denial, patience, forlove him. Shall we not be faith-titude and holy living. They ful to him, and walk even as he loved not their lives even unto also walked ? death, that they might obey, honor and enjoy Christ. Can we imagine that we indeed love him and are his disciples, or expect to share with them, in the inheritance of all things, if the love of Christ have not, in some good measure, the same effect upon us? Can we believe that he hath loved us, and washed us from our sins, in his own blood; that he hath delivered us from the wrath to come, made us the sons of God and heirs of all things, and not deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, and live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world? Have we this hope, and shall we not purify ourselves even as Christ is pure? Further, shall not the great love of God and our Lord Jesus Christ constrain us to a cheerful and universal obedience? The love of God in devising a way of recovery for lost men, in which he might consistently enter into covenant with them, in giving his only begotten Son from his bosom, to purchase the blessings of the covenant, and in his condescension to become a covenant God and Father to them, is without parallel. It passeth all understanding. The love of Christ in laying down his life for the sheep, and in purchasing the immense blessings of the new covenant, for his people, exceed Deuteronomy vii. 9. Rom. xii. 1. † 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. |