SELECT THOUGHTS

AND

SERMONS

OF THE LATE

REV. EDWARD PAYSON, D. D.,

PASTOR OF THE SECOND CHURCH IN PORTLAND.

PUBLISHED BY J. L. GIHON,

NO. 409 CHESTNUT STREET.

18 5 8.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord 1846,

BY HYDE, LORD & DUREN,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maine.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,

saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my

ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. — Isai-

AH lv. 8, 9.

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31

SERMON III.

ALL THINGS CREATED FOR CHRIST.

All things were created by him and for him. COLOSSIANS i. 16.

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SERMON IV.

THE OLD WAY WHICH WICKED MEN HAVE TRODDEN.

Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which

were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overthrown with a flood;

which said unto God, Depart from us; and what can the Almighty do for

them?-JOB xxii. 15, 16, 17.

SERMON V.

SINS ESTIMATED BY THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy

countenance.-PSALM XC. 8.

43

53

67

SERMON VI.

MEN TRIED AND FOUND DEFECTIVE.

Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. — DANIEL. v. 27. 79

SERMON VII.

OUR SINS INFINITE IN NUMBER AND ENORMITY.

Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?-Joв xxii. 5. 92

SERMON VIII.

THE WICKED THROUGH PRIDE REFUSE TO SEEK GOD.

PAGE.

The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after

God.-PSALM X. 4.

SERMON IX.

RECOLLECTIONS OF GOD PAINFUL TO THE WICKED.

I remembered God, and was troubled. - PSALM lxxvii. 3.

SERMON X.

SINNERS WILFUL AND PERVERSE.

105

117

And the Lord said, Whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation?

and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the mar-

ket-place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you,

and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye

say, He hath a devil. The Son of Man is come eating and drinking; and

ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans

and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children. - LUKE Vii. 31-35. 128

SERMON XI.

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AMIABLE INSTINCTS NOT HOLINESS.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your

whole spirit and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of

our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 THESSALONIANS V. 23.

SERMON XII.

THE PROMISED FRUIT OF CHRIST'S SUFferings.

139

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.-ISAIAH liii. 11. 152

SERMON XIII.

MESSIAH'S VICTORY PREDICTED AND DESIRED.

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty, with thy glory and thy

majesty; and in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meek-

ness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whereby the

people fall under thee.-PSALM XlV. 3, 4, 5.

162

SERMON XIV.

SINNERS ENTREATED TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE.

The Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your

hearts. HEBREWS iii. 7, 8.

SERMON XV.

THE DIFFICULTY OF ESCAPING THE DAMNATION OF HELL.

176

How can ye escape the damnation of hell? - MATTHEW XXIII. 33.

190