SERMON XIV.

THE ENGRAFTED WORD ABLE TO SAVE THE

SOUL.

JAMES I, 21.

"Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

THE age in which we live is constantly termed (with what propriety I presume not to determine) an enlightened age. Its claim to that appellation, however, is at least in one sense-and that the sense in which we are all most deeply interested— a just and valid claim. You will have anticipated my allusion to the light of religious truth. This is neither the time nor the place to discuss how far the improvement of the intellectual faculties is connected with that of the moral principlesor whether the progress of knowledge and information is conducive to the general happinessbut we can have no such hesitation with regard to the diffusion of the Scriptures. This, by whatever instruments, and even from whatever motives

it may be effected, must be productive of unmixed good; and therefore, however we may differ as to the respective claims and merits of the societies which are engaged in this holy work (though surely all must be good), we may say with St. Paul, "Every way Christ is preached, and therein we do rejoice; yea, and will rejoice." The only disadvantage which appears capable of being connected with this general dissemination of the Divine word, is comparatively so remote and so limited, that it is scarcely to be taken into account when we form an estimate of the whole; -though it may yet be of deep moment to individuals. It is this:-that while we share the benefit with so many, and are ourselves instrumental in imparting it to them, we may be tempted to forget how far it ought first to be made our own. Exhorting you, therefore, to lend your willing assistance, so far as your ability and opportunity may extend, in dispensing the Scriptures to others, I would teach you how to profit by them yourselves; and shall therefore endeavour, from the expressive words of my text, to answer three questions arising out of this subject, in which we have all an individual and important interest.

I. WHAT IS THE ENGRAFTED WORD?
II. HOW OUGHT IT TO BE RECEIVED?
III. OF WHAT POWER IS IT POSSESSED?

I. The epithet applied to "the word" in this passage, is scarcely rendered with sufficient accuracy by the term "engrafted;" it means more properly "inwardly implanted or produced;' and refers, with great beauty and exactness, to the gradual advancement of the Christian in divine knowledge, or what is emphatically termed "growth in grace." Under present circumstances

it

may relate with peculiar propriety to that word, which we hear proclaimed Sabbath after Sabbath, and the effect of which, if duly and profitably heard, is like the progress of vegetation - slow, indeed, and gradual-but uniform and certain. When once the good seed of the Gospel has penetrated beneath the hard and barren soil of the heart, it begins to corrupt, and to expand takes root downward that it may bear fruit upward it puts forth first the tender blade; then it rises into the ear; then swells and produces the full corn in the ear and like that corn, the growth and the progress of which are not discoverable by the husbandman, but it "springeth up and groweth

he knoweth not how"-so is the word of God in the heart. Nay, I believe there are not a few persons in the Church, and some, I would hope, even in this congregation, who, though they advance so gradually that their advancement is

it,

imperceptible to themselves, yet do advance; and who, though they can discern no great difference or improvement in themselves, by comparing their characters with what they were a week or a month ago-can detect a very considerable difference by recalling them as they were at the interval of a longer period. This, indeed, is among the distinguishing features of the Gospel-that it leads the sincere Christian forward unconsciously, by imperceptible advances, and thus deserves and retains its title as "the engrafted or implanted word."

So much for the particular meaning of the epithet "engrafted." I should scarcely think it necessary to observe, that the general term "word," denotes that book which we denominate the Biblefor what else can it signify? If there be a supreme Ruler of the universe, and if he has bestowed upon the beings of his creation a revelation of his will, we might be almost as reasonably expected to prove that the sun shines in the heavens at noon-day, as to demonstrate, that creatures are bound to obey the will of their Creator. This too may be said irrespective of the immediate tendency, independently of the proffered benefits of the Bible: it needs no other title to our attention, no other claim to our obedience, than that it is the word of God. This being once established, the rest

will follow of course.

Whatever the Deity may

be pleased to command, men are unquestionably bound to obey.

But I would extend the term, 66 engrafted word," beyond the Scriptures themselves, to that word which is preached by the ministers of Christ in his name; and I should consider, that whatever made just pretensions to the same origin, is entitled to be received somewhat in the same manner, and with something of the same deference, as the revelation of God. It is very obvious, that if the ministers of Christ are to exert any degree of influence, they must be furnished with some measure of authority; if they are to speak the word with power, they must be admitted to speak in the name and by the commission of their master; and therefore it was, that St. Paul assumed a high tone in addressing his converts." With me," he said, "it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment; yea, I judge not mine own self: he that judgeth me is the Lord" it is to his own master that every one must stand or fall. If, therefore, you testify against those of our body who are negligent and remiss, who take no account of the souls which have been committed to their charge-if you raise against them the solemn "Woe be unto you, cry, if you preach not the Gospel :" yet remember, that