If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Sermons I. THE INFLUENCE WHICH ONE MAN MAY EXERCISE FOR GOOD. Many who would like to do good are sometimes disposed to say, "What use can I be in the world? What influence can my life have upon others? What good can I do to others? I am too young. I am too humble. I have no intellectual gifts. I have no opportunities such as some people have of exercising influence upon others." This is to underestimate the influence of the individual life. Whether we are conscious of it or not, the life of each of us, whether we are rich or poor, learned or unlearned, young or old, is exercising some influence upon others. It is not necessary that we should know another in order to exercise an influence upon him. Thousands of men are influenced by persons whom they never saw. The Reformation began at Cambridge University very early in the sixteenth century by Bilney, a solitary student, reading a Greek Testament with Latin translation and notes, which Erasmus had published. Bilney had never seen Erasmus, but the quiet work of Erasmus was the means of bringing Bilney to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Bilney, again, influenced Latimer, who was one of the fathers of the English Reformation, and who suffered martyrdom for the truth. Thus the Reformation in England may be largely traced to the quiet work of Erasmus as he sat at his desk, and used his vast learning and intellect to make the Word of God more familiar to the people of his time. A young American student, more than seventy years ago, happened to read a printed sermon which had fallen into his hands. The sermon was entitled "The Star in the East," by Dr. Claudius Buchanan, and described the progress of the gospel in India, and the evidence there afforded of its Divine power. That sermon, by a man whom he had never seen, fell into the young student's soul like a spark into tinder, and in six months Adoniram Judson resolved to become a missionary to the heathen. That little printed sermon, preached in England, perhaps, with no apparent fruit, became, through God's blessing, the beginning of the great work of American foreign missions. You may not be an Erasmus or a Claudius Buchanan. But God may have as great a work for you to do as he had for them. What an influence for good Christian parents may exercise upon their children, with far-reaching results to the world! The faithful sabbath-school teacher may leaven with gospel truth young minds that may yet control the destinies of a nation. Young women, by the power of their own Christian character, may change for the better the muddy current of many a godless life. The great matter is for every one of us to live near to God, to cultivate a Christ-like character, and then our life is sure to be a blessing. You must walk with God if you would have weight with men. Personal holiness is the key to personal influence for good. II. THE INFLUENCE WHICH ONE MAN MAY EXERCISE FOR EVIL, The wise man says, "One sinner destroyeth much good." Everyday experience will supply many illustrations of this truth. One bad man, one bad woman, will be a centre of corruption to the whole circle in which they move. One bad boy often corrupts a whole school. How terrible is the power of evil to propagate itself! How terrible is the guilt of those who have become the corrupters of others! The evil that we do has consequences far beyond the injury that we may do to ourselves. Unto a loving mother oft "So, in our daily walk and life, 1. In the Christian idea the whole of those marvellous activities that rise from our will are to be one scene of dedication to God. This seems visionary and impossible. I believe it is practicable and attainable. To illustrate this. Our voluntary actions are most powerfully influenced by silent currents of emotion which only now and then flash into sight. Just as in the ocean, underneath the constant motion of its waves, there are deep currents setting in one fixed direction, undisturbed by the roar of the storm, and moving on still when calmness rests on the sea — so in the life of the soul. You see this in great transgressors. The silent progress towards crime culminates suddenly in outward action, and the unseen smouldering fire leaps out in flame. You see it in great discoverers. They had long been seeking for a truth; in a moment it revealed itself, and the silent train of inquiry flashed then to its result. We see it in ourselves. We have found temptation suddenly assume a gigantic and almost irresistible strength after periods of carelessness or unwatchfulness over our inner life. Or we have often found, after long fear and foreboding of some trial, a strength of soul arise which enables us to bear it. Now, if these silent, secret tendencies of thought and feeling control so much of our voluntary life, may not that life be wholly consecrated, if a great silent consecration be the strong impulse of our being? Have we not met with men whose lives were silent prayers, who have made us feel — even by passing words and trifling things — that Christ was being "formed within them"? Such men apparently forget the future in their work, but really, never. Present a temptation to them, and their strength of resistance manifests itself. If, then we are dedicated, we "live unto the Lord." 2. But there are the inevitable occurrences in life. Against them our wills are powerless. Constantly do we feel the truth of the proverb, "Man proposes, but God disposes." Now the question arises, How can such things be consecrated; can we consecrate the unknown and inevitable? We cannot, but we can dedicate ourselves by accepting the inevitable as coming from the hand of our Father. Not in mechanical submission, like slaves broken into discipline by the lash; not in hard stoicism, like the creatures of an inscrutable and remorseless fate; but in patient, trustful resignation, as children who, though they cannot trace the Father's plan, can yet repose on the knowledge of His love. To the man who can thus see God's glory through the windows of life, all adverse circumstances become consecrations. Disappointments bear on their bitter winds the sounds of songs. Great sorrows may rend the temple of life, but they will reveal within an altar and a sacrifice kindled by a Divine fire. Therefore, "whether we die, we may die unto the Lord." II. THE MOTIVE BY WHICH THIS CONSECRATION MAY BE REALISED (ver. 9). There are two aspects of this — 1. By the power of His love Christ is Lord over our voluntary life. Christ must possess us, and we must yield up our hearts daily as living sacrifices to God through Him. It may be said, "But this is ideal and impossible, and would generate a morbid pietism." I do not say we can always be consciously acting under the power of Christ's love. But a deep communion with Him may so penetrate us with His Spirit as to hallow and glorify all our life, and thus "we may live unto the Lord." 2. Christ is Lord over the inevitable events of life. All things are given into His hands. He is King over our whole histories. Our disappointments, failures, sorrows, "death's agonies and fears," are known to and sympathised with by Him. (E. L. Hull, B.A.) 1. Complete submission to Christ's authority. 2. Devotion to Him as our highest aim. 3. Subserviency to His designs. II. SECURES — 1. Happiness. 2. Honour. 3. Blessing. 4. Success. 5. Final salvation. (J. Lyth, D.D.) 1. Intellectual. To think for Him, study Him, understand His will, read His Word. 2. Emotional. To make Him the object of our love, joy, hope. 3. Practical. To use the mouth to speak for Him, the hands to work for Him, the feet to carry His messages. 4. Spiritual. To be one with Him. II. HOW THIS IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. 1. By His living unto us. This He has done and still does. 2. By His drawing us to Himself. This He does by the allurements of His love. 3. By our willing surrender to His attraction. 4. By definite acts and a permanent spirit of self-consecration. III. FOR WHAT PURPOSE THIS IS DONE. 1. Supremely — for Christ's glory. 2. Mediately — for the benefit of the world. 3. Subordinately — for our own perfection. IV. To WHAT ISSUE DOES THIS TEND? 1. Christ's universal supremacy in fact as well as by right. 2. A regenerated universe. 3. Endless personal reward. (J. W. Burn.) 1. That we make His will the rule, the only rule, of our conduct. 2. That we make His approbation our governing aim, and to study to please Him in all that we do. 3. That we make His glory our end in everything we do. 4. That we be wholly resigned to His disposal; blessing Him at all times, in adversity as well as in prosperity, making Him as welcome to take from us as to give unto us. 5. That we be so thoroughly devoted to Him as to account that we live not at all, but in so far as we serve Him and show forth His praise. II. Apply this description of genuine Christianity as A MEASURE OR STANDARD FOR HELPING US TO JUDGE OF OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION. 1. Of what weight is the authority of God in your hearts ? 2. Whom do you seek to please, and whose approbation do you principally covet? 3. What regard do you feel for the honour of your Lord? 4. What is it that gives the highest value to everything in your esteem?Conclusion — 1. Unless we live unto the Lord we shall counteract the very design of that marvellous love He hath manifested towards us in giving Himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 2. We are therefore obliged to live unto the Lord, as we regard the honour of our Master, and the credit of that saving religion which He taught. 3. We are bound to live in the manner I described by the strictest ties of justice and equity (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). (R. Walker.) 2. He is the sustainer of our life. 3. He has redeemed our life. 4. He should therefore have the devotion of our life. 5. Then He will be the rewarder of our life. (R. Walker.) (W. Lockhart.) 1. In the state of our views and feelings in the prospect of death. It is not to be wondered at that the ungodly should fear death. But when God's people are alarmed it is a disparagement to Christ. When, however, they look forward to death with holy calmness and no longer regard it as the king of terrors, trusting in the sufficiency of Christ to bear up, God is glorified. Such count not their lives dear to them. 2. In the frame of our mind, and the tenor of our actions, during the various preparatory exercises which may precede death.(I) A deathbed brings around you affectionate friends, and places you in a situation to speak with effect and with power on Christ's behalf. Many good men and women are found on their death. beds to be eminent and successful preachers of righteousness.(2) You may glorify God also in the meditations of your own hearts by the resignation with which you endure the chastenings of your Father. 3. Amidst the struggle and pain with which death is attended. Some only of God's saints are privileged thus to give glory to God. Times of trial and persecution are the seasons in which God has been most signally glorified amidst the last sufferings of His saints. II. WHAT MEANS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED THAT WE MAY BE PREPARED TO DIE UNTO THE LORD? 1. Enrich your minds with the stores of Divine truth. A deathbed needs these supports, and they are then very precious. 2. Do not entangle yourself needlessly with the concerns and cares of the world. Many Christians, by erring in this respect, greatly disturb the peace of their dying hours, and impair the force and value of their testimony. 3. Mortify all the evil tempers and corrupt feelings of the natural heart. Fretfulness and impatience, excessive concern about personal indulgences, and discomposure at apparent neglect sit ill on a dying Christian. These can only be obviated by attending when you are in health to the right ordering of every feeling and temper, and by self-denial. 4. Accustom yourselves to just and scriptural notions of death. Considering — (1) (2) (3) 5. Learn to lean with a simple, childlike trust on Christ. The nearness of Christ to the dying man is the great concern, and then all helps and accessories may be withdrawn. (S. Smith.) (J. Whitson.) (J. Foster.) (G. S. F. Savage.) 1. By election. 2. By redemption. 3. By sanctification. 4. By adoption. He has received them into His holy family, and entitled them to all the privileges and blessings of it. II. THEY ARE WILLING BOTH TO LIVE AND TO DIE TO THE LORD. There is no medium between men's living and dying to God, and their living and dying to themselves (ver. 7). They are willing — 1. To live to Him, by — (1) (2) (3) (4) 2. To die unto the Lord. (1) (2) (3) 1. The life of a real Christian is a life of self-denial. 2. They live much happier than those who live to themselves. 3. Their life is an exemplary life. 4. Their death, though a gain to them, is a loss to the world. 5. They are willing to bury their friends who die to the Lord, whenever they are called to the trial. (N. Emmons, D.D.) 1. Consecrated to Him. 2. At His disposal. 3. Under His protection. 4. Acknowledged and blessed by Him. II. DYING. 1. When and where He pleases. 2. Glorifying Him. 3. Delivered by Him. 4. Claimed as His property for ever. (J. Lyth, D.D.) 1. We live to Him. 2. We die to Him. II. BY INALIENABLE RIGHT. 1. In life. 2. In death. (J. Lyth, D.D.) 8402 claims 2224 Christ, the Lord Twenty-First Day. Holiness and Happiness. December the Fifteenth what is My Tendency? The Limits of Liberty The Necessity of Actual Grace Joy in the Holy Ghost. Of the Three Woe Trumpets. Thus Much Will Suffice to have Treated on Behalf of True Continence against The... Letter xxxi (A. D. 1132) to the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York, from which the Prior had Departed, Taking Several Religious with Him. September 29. "Call not Thou Common" (Acts x. 15). Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Treasure Christians have in the Gospel. A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial. Further Journeying About Galilee. Perseverance Proved. The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem: Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's and Mr. Paul's Books against My Confession of Faith, and Differences in Judgment About Baptism no Bar to Communion. Journey to Jerusalem. Ten Lepers. Concerning the Kingdom. Of a Private Fast. The Torments of Giant Bad Feelings Letter xxi (Circa A. D. 1128) to the Abbot of S. John at Chartres Epistle Lii. To Natalis, Bishop . Li. Dining with a Pharisee, Jesus Denounces that Sect. The Death of the Righteous |