IX. Our Lord a Pattern of Private Prayer X. Moral benefits of Private Prayer XI. Christian fear of Relapse into Sin XII. Christian Hope of Improvement XIII. All our distresses known to God XIV. The Danger of Self-confidence XVI. Danger of presuming on God's Mercy XVII. Benefits of Meditation on God's Saints XVIII. Benefits of Meditation on the holy Angels XIX. Christ's Lamentation over Jerusalem XX. God's Judgments on his Church . XXI. Fearlessness under God's Judgments XXIII. The Church an unwelcome Prophet SERMON I CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY. LENT. JEREMIAH Xiii. 20. "Where is the flock that was given thee THE holy season of Lent, as it was intended from the first to give occasion and encouragement to all persons who had any spark of seriousness still alive in their hearts, to cherish generally thoughts of their real condition, of their need of deeper repentance and more energetic faith, so may it with reason also suggest to all reflecting minds particular recollections of the solemn responsibilities pressing on them, and of the degree (greater or less) in which we have neglected them, alas! must I not say, even the best of us. To the authorized minister of Christ's church in this country, at this time, when looking back on the irre- # mediable past, and forward on the dim future, the thought must naturally arise-How much have we to answer for, and what answer shall we make? How did we promise at our ordination, that we would never cease our labor, our care and diligence to bring all such as should be committed to our charge to that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among us for error in religion, or for viciousness of life! And then, whatever our labor, care, and diligence, may have been-too scanty, alas! and too mean at the most and best-how humiliating is the view of the Christian church among us at this moment, VOL. I.-1 how distracted with error in religion, how stained with viciousness of life! Again, how did we pledge ourselves to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his chosen that are in the midst of this evil world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever! And after all these pledges and promises, "Where is the flock that was given us, the beautiful flock?" These, I say, are painful humiliating thoughts; yet salutary and even necessary to be cherished, if we would not delude ourselves with false confidences, and see visions of peace for Jerusalem, when there is no peace, saith the Lord God." But what I would now especially call your attention to, let all seriously-minded Christians consider how great our responsibility is the responsibility of us all, with respect to children and young persons, that they be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ-taught as well by the example as the precept of their elders, to know the God of their fathers, and to serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind, that so they may walk worthy of their heavenly vocation, and adorn the doctrine of God their Savior in all things. It is matter for fearful reflection, to call to mind the case of parents and elder persons, too frequently, alas! to be met with in this Christian land, who, as they live on themselves from day to day, "Having no hope, and without God in the world," so they are content to see their children and other young persons around them pursuing the same ruinous and fatal course. The case is nothing rare, as all persons well know, for parents to set their children very evil examples-swearing, drunkenness, falsehood, and every kind and degree of profligacy and irreligion; these things are no matters of strange occurrence, nor limited to the thoughtlessness of youth, as people sometimes talk, but are openly practised, and even avowed by those of elder years, and even to old age and the bed of death. Now, to set aside other considerations, how tremen dous must be the account which parents and other elder persons must render on the last judgment-day, for thus taking part with satan, as one may say, against Almighty God, to bring their own children to everlasting torment! Every one knows that example is more forcible than precept, and especially evil example than good precept. When grown-up persons then, whether parents or others, use themselves to violent and intemperate language, swearing, for example, or indecent expressions, or slander, it is as if they took pains to instruct chil dren in the language of lost spirits; it is, I say, to all intents and purposes, taking pains to teach children to blaspheme their Father and Redeemer, to pollute their tongues, formed especially for his glories, with what most of all dishonors and provokes him to curse others or themselves, with those youthful lips which might so easily have been taught the language of prayer, gratitude, and divine charity. Or, to glance at another case not less common, nor perhaps in the sight of God less cruel and unfeeling, though in man's opinion less gross and startling; many parents there are and elderly persons, who, while they preserve a decent exterior of conduct, yet leave their children, or other young persons for whom they are in any manner responsible, to shift for themselves; I mean in religious matters, take no personal care or trouble to give them an education substantially Christian. Thus one sometimes hears persons called "religious,' expressing themselves to this effect-that they entertain such and such opinions themselves, but do not pretend to bias their children in such matters, but leave them to form their own judgments as they grow up. The evil consequences of this miserable, unfeeling mode of proceeding are evident in all ranks of society. Among persons of higher station it often produces a skeptical, unsettled state of mind, often amounting to practical infidelity. And in other cases we see its effects exemplified in the disunion of families on that, the point of all others where union and harmony are sought and cherished; and then the father perhaps goes to one place of worship, and the mother to another; one child to one sunday-school, and one to another, and perhaps one still to another. All this is considered of no consequence, a mere matter of indifference, and to represent it otherwise is accounted bigotry. But I ask, is there not one rule for all? Is not that which is true and good for the parent, true and good for the child? Must not fathers and mothers be answerable for the bringing up of their little flock, the children whom God has given them, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? And can this be true Christian nurture and admonition, to habituate them to those unfixed and (strictly speaking) unprincipled notions and ways in the great matter of divine worship, and communion with Christ's church here militant, but in heaven triumphant? If these things are mere matter of fancy and opinion, invented for men's amusement or recreation, then something might be said for the customs now alluded to; but if there be any reality at all in church communion-if it be not, as I said, a mere name and fancy, then they are no slight matters, but symptoms of extreme levity and want of serious reflection. Far greater is the Christian wisdom and compassion of those, whether parents or others, who consider themselves distinctly responsible for the spiritual and éternal welfare of the children and young persons over whom they have influence. I mean, who consider that the inquiry will be made of them by the great Judge and Father of all: "Where is the flock that was given thee?" Didst thou by precept much, and example more, endeavor to lead on those whom I entrusted to thee in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth? This responsibility lies on us all-all grown-up persons-all have an influence either for good or evil on the younger; and happy, I say, will they be, who shall be found to have exerted this influence to the honor of our Almighty Lord and Master, and the edification |