Sermons Intended Chiefly for the Use of Families

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827. Excerpt: ... SERMON III. RELIGIOUS ANXIETY. Philippians ii. 12. WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. It is deemed very uncharitable to decide upon the religious character of others, and without doubt great caution is here requisite, because we discern but a part of the character which we judge. But while our Saviour has said, Judge not, that ye be not judged, he has likewise said, By their fruits ye shall know them, and that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The inner character of the mind is evidently discernible to God alone, and must be referred to his decision, but that. decision is already recorded as to open acts of irreligion; no uncharitable judgment, for instance, is passed upon lips which profane God's holy name, if the Christianity of such a blasphemer be questioned. It is by the visible fruit that he is judged, nor is it the part of genuine charity to suppose in the face of opposing evidence, that all is necessarily right between a man and his God. There is perhaps no greater practical cruelty than that unholy courtesy which labours to interpret that to be right which God has unequivocally pronounced to be wrong. A habit of exercising such false judgments seduces the understanding, and hardens the conscience. Hence springs the melancholy and fatal security of thousands, whom a habit of fair inquiry would warn of tremendous evils to be averted and of substantial blessings to be gained, but who are now reckless of the future, or buoyed up by its visionary expectations! How different from such a security of mind is the caution urged by the apostle, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Pursue, that is, your inward cure, gain full evidence that God is healing your soul, and preparing you for the possess...