SERMON XIII.

THE PROGRESS OF NATIONS, AND OF THE CHURCH.

ISAIAH, LX. 22.-A little one shall become a thousand; and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time.

THE results produced by divine providence are wonderful.— This is true of every event. The regular changes of day and night; the succession, and variety of the seasons; the zephyr, and the storm; each blade of grass, and every leaf, and every flower are objects of admiration, and instruction to intelligent observers. The visible instrumentality by which providential events are brought about often leads us to disregard the agency, and direction of God. But they are no less, on that account, the operations of his hand. That our fields are clothed with an abundant harvest, and the pastures occupied by numerous flocks, is no less providential kindness than if they descended upon us miraculously, as the manna and quails upon Israel in the wilderness. This visible instrumentality, which is so generally employed, often, also, proves an occasion of unbelief, and distrust; we look only at the instruments, and indulge hope according to their apparent supposed fitness, and potency:-we do not consider that the efficiency is from God. Hence, also, it happens that we are disposed to find fault with the means by which they are to be accomplished, and become impatient because of apparent delay. It is true, notwithstanding, that "known unto God are all his works from the beginning," and that his purposes cannot fail. By the feeblest instrumentalities, he can fulfil his pleasure, and the times and the seasons are according to his unerring wisdom. No end which he designs is unwise; no means are ill chosen; nor does he ever execute his purposes out of due time. He is wise in counsel, and mighty in working"-what

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worldly wisdom considers impracticable; what unbelief regards with doubtfulness or fear; or blames as slackness or delay;—of each and of all these Jehovah declares-"I the Lord will hasten it in his time."—"Is any thing too hard for the Lord?"—"a little one shall become a thousand; and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time."

Let us consider this prophetic declaration, in some instances of its actual fulfillment: and also in some instances in which it is an object of reasonable anticipation.

It has often been verified and illustrated in the origin, progress, and extensive enlargement of nations. From small beginnings they have become exceedingly populous, powerful, and prosperous. The Assyrian, Roman, and Grecian, and other empires are pertinent examples. Their rise, extent, continuance, and destruction all were foretold by God; expressly recognised by his purpose, and managed by his wise and powerful providence. "The Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will." Look at the origin of the Jewish nation. Contemplate Abraham and Sarah childless, and now nearly one hundred years old. No human probability warranted the expectation that they should have a posterity:-" yet, sprang there from them, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable." Consider a case which is presented in his posterity, in following years. Who would have anticipated any great results from the fact of Joseph, a poor hapless youth, being sold for a servant into Egypt; or even from the removal to that land of his fathers family, of "three score and ten souls ?" Yet, God was thereby preparing for all those wondrous things which befel the house of Israel there; and for all the increase, dominion, and glory which make up the details of their eventful history. When ransomed from Egypt they formed a mighty host of above two millions; after their long and toilsome marches through the wilderness, they gained possession of Canaan, and there increased mightily in numbers, wealth, and national eminence. Their fame was wide as the world; their memorial lives through all generations.

Their annals, in interest, and in lessons of practical wisdom, exceed, incomparably, those of all other nations. And now, in their wide dispersion, and deep depression, they command our sympathy, and by the recollection of what they were, by their signal vicissitudes, and no less by our anticipations of what they are to be and to do, they call forth emotions awful, sublime, and eminently interesting.

The Jewish Church affords another illustration of the text.In its formal commencement with Abraham, how small! In its future condition how numerous, and how interesting! Its whole organization was by divine prescription. Its temple and its worship were characterised by grandeur, dignity, purity, and the most sacred solemnity. The visible church comprehended the whole nation. As a religious community they stood unrivalled for the soundness of their Theology, the distinctness, comprehensiveness, and certainty of their system of truth and duty.They were the only fountain of light amidst profound, and widely spread darkness; the only hope of the world for its deliverance from idolatry, polytheism, and impiety with all their follies and abominations—"a little one became a thousand; and a small one a strong nation"-and from them, in due time, deliverance came; and by their means "they who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death saw a great light."—"Salvation was of the Jews."

It was a national institution; and for wise reasons, designed by God, specially for Israel as his peculiar people. To the territory assigned to them it was limited. But, into that special community others, besides native-born Israelites were admitted. Servants bought from the heathen were incorporated, by circumcision, with the members of the Jewish Church; and this may have been one of the chief reasons for the permission of such purchases, and servitude. Besides there were proselytes of dif ferent names admitted, at least, to a partial participation in the religious privileges of the chosen people of God. Nor were its light and healthful influence confined by the limits of the Holy Land. Indirectly and variously the divine truth, which they had,

became known, in some measure, to other nations: and it is more than probable, that heathen sages were, in no small meassure, indebted for what they had of sound Theology, or pure morals, to knowledge derived from the oracles of the God of Israel. But to confine our views to the Jewish nation and country-were not their number, power, ecclesiastical distinction, and glory eminently great? The visible Church, as I have said, comprehended the whole nation. The number of individual members was very great. If in character their church relation was not well sustained, this is true, also, of the nominal visible christian world. In either case the fault was not, and is not in the system of truth, or means of holiness: but in the faithlessness of those who enjoyed them. The Jewish church constituted “ a

great nation."

But the more ample fulfilment and illustration of the text is found in the origin, progress, and destined prevalence of the Christian Church, which is to occupy the whole earth, and “fill it with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters fill the seas;" "when the Son of God will have the heathen as his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession;" when "all nations will be blessed in him, and all nations call him blessed." The Christian Church, we are aware, is the developement of the same Church which had its special and formal beginning with Abraham, but this is its last and most perfect dispensation. The measure and amount of divine revelation are now complete. The system of means, and ordinances is also complete. It is designed for, and is in all respects adapted to the whole world, and to man individually, and in all his social relations. During its past existence it has become widely extended, its progress is still onward, and it is destined to be universal; yet, as the Christian Church, it was at first, as "the grain of mustard seed" small, or as "the little leaven" which is to pervade and modify the whole mass. In its origin how small! By John the Baptist it was announced. He was the herald of the coming, and of the approaching reign of the Son of God. "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the

Lord," "the kingdom, or reign, of heaven is at hand." The ministry and miracles of Christ produced great excitement, and made deep impression; yet, even after his death, and resurrection, the number of his avowed disciples was small. The day of Pentecost was a season of increase, and glory to his church, and thenceforward multitudes were added, and the gospel was manifested to be the power and wisdom of God in the conversion of sinners.

The means of its propagation how few and feeble! It was, we know, sustained by the purpose and power of God; but the visible instrumentalities were weak, unpromising, and inadequate in themselves. Nothing, to human view, could be more improbable than the success of such a cause by the means which were employed. There were none of those potencies on which worldly wisdom and hope rely. Had it been concerted, and managed by a combination of men of distinction, wealth, and worldly influence, it might have seemed to promise success: but what could be accomplished by a few obscure individuals, without rank, notoriety, or authority? The world regarded it as a fanatical experiment, and that its failure would expose its folly. Had it been favored and sustained by the Jewish authority and hierarchy, it might have been expected to prevail; but how could it succeed, not only unaided, but reviled, and determinately opposed by all their combined purpose and efforts? Only, because it was the special work of God. Had the advocates of the christian cause possessed the learning and eloquence of Demosthenes or Cicero, the wisdom of the world would have anticipated conviction, and effectual persuasion; but what could it expect from the artless announcement of truth, in its spirit and import offensive and absurd, by a few unlearned men. In matter and manner their preaching was "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness." Had the followers of Christ been able to employ victorious armies, as Mahomed and his followers, and present the choice of conversion to their faith, or death, or heavy tribute, we might expect numerous converts; but what could they be expected to achieve who had no physical force to