As Dr. Lowth translates Isaiah lv. 12. And with peace shall ye be led onward. Of the wicked it is written, Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known." How agreeable soever the path of sin may appear, yet it will be bitterness in the end. Yea, as Solomon repeatedly observes, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Such is the way of the selfrighteous, and of every kind of false religion. But the way of Christ is the way to peace, to everlasting rest, to perfect and eternal bliss. To him, in the highest sense, are the following words applicable: "He is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon him and happy is every one that retaineth him." He is indeed the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." O my hearers! what a blessing is heavenly peace! Peace on a death-bed! Peace for ever! But before I close, I would answer an : objection or two to the doctrine of our text. First: One may be drawn from the testimony of such as never found any pleasure in religion, or who seem to find but very little. In answer to this, I would observe, that in order to enjoy the pleasantness of these ways it is necessary to walk in them, to keep in them, yea, to press forward in them. It cannot be known how pleasant they are, by those who never entered upon them, or whose hearts are not in them. A constrained attendance on the forms of religion, whether it be urged upon us by authority, or we are influenced by custom, or excited to it by an uneasy conscience, will be a very dull affair, if we are destitute of heart-felt religious principle. Or if the influence of that principle is feebly felt, our pleasures will be proportionably small. If we have had a slight taste of sacred joy, it will be interrupted if we turn aside from the right way, or if we are not aiming to make progress therein. It is justly affirmed of God's way, they that run therein shall not be weary, the most that is said of those that walk slowly is, they shall not utterly faint. Secondly: Another objection is sometimes drawn from the angry disputes that have been carried on respecting religion, and the persecutions that have been raised against it, or as some suppose, have been raised by it. To this I answer, that our Lord has made it our duty to contend earnestly for the faith, but they go out of his way who do not contend for it with meekness and love. True zeal does not indulge bitterness against the persons of men, though it excites a benevolent opposition to their errors and sins. Surely religion ought not to be blamed for the opposition of its enemies; nor yet for the misconduct of those that are merely pretenders to it. And as to the miscarriages of its true friends, these are not occasioned by religion itself, but are owing to their want of more of it. Thirdly: Some may object also, on account of the trials and difficulties to which good men are often exposed. But these are ordained partly for their correction, and partly for the trial of their faith, and other graces. And those who have endured the greatest measure of afflictions, will testify in the strongest manner that they have found them sweetly counter-balanced. They have found that the Lord is good, à strong hold in the day of trouble; he knoweth those that trust in him. If they had never known religion, they would have been equally exposed to various distresses, but they would have been strangers to the supports and consolations they now enjoy under them, and to the peaceful fruits of righteousness which they yield to them. Of how much importance is it, that we consider our ways, Let us examine if we have been led into the paths of peace, and have found the ways of wisdom pleasant to our souls, Certainly, no such pleasures can be found elsewhere. The pleasures which sinners fancy they experience, are fleeting and transitory; they are delusive, intoxicating, and poisonous; debasing the character of a rational and immortal creature, and ending in everlasting woe, How then should we bless God for delineating the right way to bliss in his word, and entreat that he would guide our feet into it. Certainly, if we pay any regard to the testimony of the God of truth, we shall conclude, that we cannot enjoy divine pleasure and heavenly peace too soon, nor can we have too much of it. Yet some, I fear, are near the end of the journey of life, who have never known the way of peace. They have had long experience of the disappointments, miseries, and vexations of the ways of sin, and still they are not wise enough to forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. Alas! you are near the end of life, but can you be near heaven, who never yet set your affections on things above? Whither then must you be going? Oh! think how near you are to endless perdition! And you, young persons, beware of indulging groundless prejudices against religion. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Surely it cannot be too soon to be at peace with God; too soon to be safe and happy! "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding: for I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee : love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." Let Christians be concerned to walk daily in these pleasant ways. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking off, from every discouragement, every allurement, and every imperfect example, unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Follow after, that you may apprehend that for which you were apprehended of Christ. Set a proper value on divine ordinances. Neglect nothing that your Lord has commanded. Live much in the exercise of grace. Show how happy your religion makes you. Remember it is written, They shall sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright. Bless God for ever bringing you into it. Pray that he would powerfully attract your hearts to himself. Draw us, and we will run after thee." Seek constant guidance and assistance. Turn not aside for any difficulties. Listen not to any temptation. Where can you find such pleasure as you have found in communion with God? Live always as in his sight. Prove that you abide in Christ, by walking as he himself also walked. Recommend his good ways to all : around you. Show how humble, how loving, how benevolent, how patient, how forgiving his religion makes you how hard to be overcome of evil, how ready to overcome evil with good. Thus recommend his good ways to all around you, and adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things. XXXII. THE WAYS OF DEATH. PROV. xiv. 12. xvi. 25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. JEREMIAH has described the human heart as not only desperately wicked, but as deceitful above all things; and in nothing does its deceit appear worse, than in blinding a man's eyes to the heinousness of his own sins. Many impositions do men practice on others; but they still more frequently and more successfully impose upon themselves. So exceedingly do the passions influence the judgment, that it seems almost as if men could persuade themselves of any thing that they wish to believe. Solomon expresses himself in still more general terms; yet that observation must not be taken without any limitation: and here it is spoken of merely as a case that very frequently occurs, not universally. This, however, should suffice to put us on our guard, and excite us to watch and pray that it may not be our case. Yet, much as sinners are inclined to palliate their evil conduct, many of them know not only that some parts of their practice are contrary to the will of God, but that their general course is such as cannot lead to future happiness; on which account they purpose, some time or other, to amend their ways. But in many other instances the text to this day is fulfilled, as I shall endeavor to show; and I pray God that I may so discuss the subject, as to detect the mistake, if any present are of the number. Though I have been a preacher now for many years; yet as far as I can depend upon my own memory and conscience, I think I never said any thing in the pulpit, whereby I aimed to expose any individual to the censure of others: but I certainly should be very glad so to preach, as to help my hearers to detect their own mistakes, and to guard against self-deception. Consider, FIRST: To what ways will this observation especially apply? Shall I mention, First, The way of thoughtless self-gratification? Can you include this among the ways that seem right to you? As long as you do no great injury to others, and do not run into excesses that impair your health, or waste your fortune, do you persuade yourselves, it is right you should indulge so far in youthful pleasures, as to leave no time at present for serious reflection, or the remembrance of your Creator in the days of your youth? And are you ready to call every propensity natural and innocent, which you find is common to man since the fall, without distinguishing between what belonged originally to the human frame, and what is the consequence of sin? Will you flatter yourself, that because you are neither a profligate, nor a persecutor, therefore you cannot be in danger of death? Temporal death may soon overtake you; and can you escape eternal death, if you have no title to eternal life, nor preparation for it, nor scarcely any concern about it? Shall we apply it, Secondly, To the way of the diligent worldling? Surely, if conscience be not very unfaithful, you can have little more excuse than the former character. You are busily employed in worldly concerns: amassing riches for yourself, or perhaps for your family: and this you plead is right, to provide things honest, and lay up for your family: but is it indeed right you should mind only earthly things? that you should care only for time? and live without God in the world? Is it not right you should consider, who has put it into the power of your hands to get wealth? and for what purpose you are entrusted with so much? Is it not right to realize your dependance and responsibility? to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? to use what God bestows, for his glory? to become a stranger and pilgrim on earth? to set your affections on things above? And |