cause them to cling more closely to the Saviour, that they may have him as their refuge and portion for ever. But the reason for which I do mention it, and press the subject earnestly on your attention, is, that his people may be enabled to learn from these Scriptures the fact, that the Lord does care for their temporal concerns that these are as much in his hands as their spiritual interests—that all are ordered by him as is most for his own glory and their good; and that, therefore, whatever his providence directs concerning them, that "it is well with them;" that if prosperity comes, it is well with them, for it comes from the hand of their Heavenly Father, the conviction of which sweetens all their earthly comforts; and if adversity comes "it is well with them," for infinite wisdom and infinite love has not only permitted it, but thus ordered it; and the trial of their faith, whatever it may be, though painful at present, is in truth more precious than gold that perishes though tried with the fire, and will yet be found to be to the praise and honor and glory, at the appearing of our Lord and Saviour. Looking, then, even at the temporal concerns of God's people, in this point of view, may not those who walk by faith instead of sight, with truth "surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him." say, 3dly. That it shall be well with them that fear God in that eternity which is before us, all will be ready to acknowledge. However men may differ as to its bearing upon the spiritual or temporal interests of God's people here, none differ as to its results in eternity; but we find even the most thoughtless and most worldly, when their friends have been removed from them by the hand of death, however they might have ridiculed any singularity and preciseness in religion which they observed in them while in health, clinging to this as their only comfort in their death, from the hope that it gives them of being happy in that new and eter nal state into which they have entered, bearing thus their unwilling and yet most important testimony to the truth which we have now before us, "surely it shall be will with them that fear God, that fear before him." Consider, then, those who fear God, who fear before him, in those three particulars in which we have spoken of them this day, viz. as regards their spiritual interests-their temporal circumstancesand their everlasting welfare-is it not well with them?-and may not he who exercises faith in God's gracious promises in Christ to his people, well say, "surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him?" In conclusion, then, we would again inquire, concerning whom exclusively is this statement made, that it shall be well with them ?—it is of "them that fear God, which fear before him." Who is there, then, amongst you, whose character answers this description, whose conscience, while I was speaking upon the particulars contained in it, bore testimony that it corresponded with your experience? Can you or you or you look up to the Lord, and call him to witness the gracious work which his Spirit has thus wrought in your soul? Oh ! that God may give you grace to be honest in this enquiry, and enable you to come to a correct conclusion in the matter; for on it the spiritual and everlasting interests of your souls hang. I would trust that there are some among you whose conscience could this day in the sight of God bear a favourable testimony in this matter; and to such I would observe-if it be so, you have to bless the Lord, who, of his own free sovereign grace, implanted this fear of his name in your hearts, and has preserved it there hitherto. Oh! culti you are possessed through him; and exercise more faith in his truth, his love, his power, and that glorious attribute of his, unchangeableness. Thus it is that under all the varying circumstances of life, you will enjoy peace; whether tried in your temporal or spiritual concerns, you will be enabled to possess your souls with patience, knowing that all things shall work together for your good, and that "it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him." Thus it is that you will be constrained to love Christ to keep clear of all sin, as the abominable thing which God hates, and to give cheerful and unreserved obedience to him to whom you are so deeply, yea, eternally, indebted. If there be, however, any of you, who are at this present time living destitute of that fear of God of which we have been speaking so much to-day, can I say to you, surely it shall be well with you? nay, can your own consciences even whisper to you, surely it shall be well with you? No-but to you that fearful threatening of the Lord is applicable while you continue thus, "the wicked shall be cast into hell, and all the people that forget God." I would then, this day, address you as those who are standing upon the brink of eternity-as those whom a single moment may plunge into all the realities of that tremendous and everlasting condemnation which awaits those "who obey not the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;” and I would beseech of you to flee from the wrath to come-to submit yourselves without delay to Jesus, and earnestly to beseech of him, that while he forgives you your past forgetfulness of him, he will admit you, through faith, into the possession of the blessings of the new covenant; and so, putting his fear into your hearts, cause you for the remainder of your days to cleave sincerely and exclusively to him, as all your hope and all your salvation, and to give cheerful and unreserved obedience to his will, as he may be pleased to reveal it to you; thus "it shall be well with you," and from henceforth, you will be able, with holy comfort, to sing that new song which he has given for his people, "O Lord I will praise thee, for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is become my salvation." : DUBLIN: Published by the Proprietors, T. R. and R. DUNCKLEY, at the NEW IRISH PULPIT OFFICE, 1, ST. ANDREW-ST.; JOHN ROBERTSON, W. CURRY, JUN. and Co.; R. M. TIMS, W. CARSON, D. R. BLEAKLEY. London, SIMPKIN and MARSHALL; Edinburgh, WHITE and Co.; Cork Tract Repository; Derry, CAMPBELL; and all Booksellers. -000 GEORGE FOLDS, Printer 1, St. Andrew-street, (Opposite Trinity-street, Dublin.) THE NEW IRISH OR GOSPEL PREACHER. "We preach Christ crucified "Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God."-1 COR. 1. 23. 24. No. CI. REV. W. SMYLY. SATURDAY, 25th JANUARY, 1840. PRICE 4D. REV. H. HARDY, We have been favoured with the following Discourse by a friend of the author; and we have no apology to make for inserting it in our collection, as we are satisfied it will be read with deep interest by those who have had the privilege of knowing the man as a Christian minister, and we trust with advantage by all our readers. LOVE. A SERMON, PREACHED IN THE MOLYNEUX ASYLUM CHAPEL, DUBLIN, BY THE LATE REV. WM. SMYLY, A. M. Formerly of the Diocese of Derry. 2 COR. v. 14. "The love of Christ constraineth us. "THE love of Christ ;"-this, says Paul, constraineth," impels to every duty, as the rapid stream (so the original word signifies) bears down in its onward course every opposing barrier-" constraineth us," believers, to execute our Lord's will. Not only does the Apostle mean, by this expression, the love which is in Christ himself towards us, and which he has manifested in the redemption of sinners; but also the love produced in our souls by a sense of his goodness and the influence of his Spirit. This two-fold nature of Christian love is inseparably VOL. V. united in the experience of every believer, as the Evangelist John writes, "We love him because he first loved us." Our affections are both captivated by his redeeming mercy, and purified and exalted by his gracious teachings, so that we who were by nature enemies to righteousness, can find a delight in his service who is altogether holy. Thus, the fountain of that love from whence all the streams of our affection and obedience flow, centres in our exalted Prince and Saviour. Paul used not the language of our B fair surface of pharasaic decencies. He saw, by that light, the flaming sword of the law, ready to smite the transgressor against its spiritual requirements-he beheld the meek and merciful Lamb of God, subjecting himself to the curse, and enduring the penalty which must otherwise (for the sake of justice, truth, and holiness) have fallen on the sinner:-thus he learned to estimate the debt of gratitude he owed to him "who had washed him from his sins in his own blood"-a sense of mercy, grounded on a deep conviction of sinfulness, had bound him with everlasting cords of love to Christ; as text as a mere theorist, but as one who experienced the resistless power of the motive it presents in every place: he had gone bearing the precious seed of gospel truth he had encountered the most violent opposition. This Epistle was written from Macedonia, where the Apostle found a momentary repose after the dangers and difficulties in which he had been involved by the Ephesian tumult. He knew that "in every city bonds and afflictions awaited him ;" still he felt that the brightness and warmth of his zeal were unabated-his self-devotion to his Lord and Saviour unshaken by all the billows of mortal enmity and super-"bought with a price," his time, his natural craft which threatened to overwhelm him; he rejoiced in the assurance that none of these things could move him from his desire and aim to "fulfil his ministry, which he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God." Now, some had ascribed this zeal and self-devotion to fanaticism or insanity, to which the Apostle adverts in the passage immediately preceding our text, and then, in refutation, traces them to their real source and origin, the love of Christ. Paul remembered the condition in which he was when Christ met him in mercy, and saved him by grace-how, in his pride, and self-dependency, and sanguinary career, Jesus himself had appeared to him in glorious effulgence, to plead for his persecuted people in gentle accents of entreaty and persuasion, saying "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?" and to confer pardon and life on the furious persecutor. The light of the sun of righteousness which then beamed on his darkened soul, had shown him its inward depravity, concealed before beneath the substance, his body and soul, seemed too poor a sacrifice for his sake from whom he had received all; "the banner over him was love," and therefore the language of his heart corresponded with that motto of heaven-" what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,”— "the love of Christ constraineth us." Herein, in truth, consists the great distinguishing mark and evidence of true religion. Every fact, every doctrine of Holy Writ is calculated to improve and sanctify the soul which receives them. So thorougly convinced were the inspired Apostles of this that practical holiness was interwoven with Christian truththat whenever opportunity admitted, before rich or poor, rulers or ruled, they published the same doctrines. The history of their labours, in short, is comprised in these few words, “daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ;" for they had not forgotten their Saviour's I will draw all men unto me." Did they endeavour to persuade to repentance, obedience, brotherly love, or any other duty the same instrument was employed -the love of Christ was the beacon whose bright and unwavering light they held forth with unwearying fidelity, satisfied that it alone could guide the bark of frail humanity through the perils of hidden rock and stormy wave. Nor let it be objected, that this love of Christ is a weak instrument to accomplish so great a work. To many, indeed, it is a motive unintelligible, but real and operative, notwithstanding, in its effects. words, "If I be lifted up from the earth | What nerved the arms of 300 men at Thermopyla to scatter the countless hosts of a victorious foe? Was it mere bodily strength and superior discipline? No-it was an inward but more powerful cause-love of country, love of friends. Is it a cold sense of duty that urges a mother to watch with unwearied patience and unfading affections, the helpless infant with which she is entrusted? The world's pleasures cannot lure her from her little charge; the unloveliness of the object may repel others—it has a charm for her they cannot feel. She trembles lest this loved one should be snatched from her by the rude hand of death; every feeling of selfishness is lost in its dearer interests; the wealth of the Indies could not procure such unbought solicitudeit has its origin in love. Among those whom I address, many doubtless have felt the intense and aching interest which absorbs all other feelings "The kingdom of God," says Jesus, "is like leaven," imperceivable often in its influences, but affecting in reality the whole mass with which it is connected. I can well conceive a person unskilled in the mechanic's art, objecting to the expenditure of time and means in producing and preserving an impalpable | while the parent or friend we dearly love evaporation, which the better instructed artificer knows is the very nerve and energy of the whole machine: thus, external discipline, bodily restraint, the laws of virtue, the interests of society, may form a character amiable and inoffensive in the sight of man, but gospel truths and gospel motives alone can renew the soul to the lost image of its God. The former, like the sculptor's hand, may present to us the cold and inanimate features-it requires the latter to impart vitality to the form. The superior efficacy of this inward motive to every other inducement, may be confirmed and illustrated by a reference to the most common events of life. History tells us of little bands of patriots turning to flight the armies of the aliens. lies on the couch of sickness, wrestling with death, and tortured by pain. In these hours of doubt, of deep, breathless anxiety, when hope is almost withered, and sorrow has bowed us to the earth,— what sustains us thro' the cheerless hours of night, and the tedious watches of the day? What gives the untiring activity to execute their smallest wish, and makes us quick to hear their feeblest demand_ what wrings our heart when they suffer, and fills it with rejoicing when they are restored? Love, in these cases, is the constraining motive; and who is prepared to say, that where it really exists it will not in the most irresistible manner actuate the person to the fulfilment of every wish and command emanating from the objec of that love? The world's temptations |