Hence, no doubt, it is, that as the angels are sent forth to be ministring spirits, to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, that there is said to be “joy in heaven over every sinner that repenteth.” And as there is joy in heaven, so in proportion as men rise into the nature of angels, will there be joy also upon the same account amongst good men on earth. Accordingly, the lively oracles inform us, that “when the Apostles and Brethren which were in _Judea_ heard that the _Gentiles_ also had received the word of GOD, they glorified him, saying, then hath GOD also to the _Gentiles_ granted repentance unto life.”
And conformably to this, we are told, that “when _Barnabas_ came to _Antioch_, and saw the grace of GOD, he was glad.” And why? Because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And as the same cause will always be productive of the same effect, persons endued with the same benign and godlike disposition with this good man, will always be glad when they see or hear of any scriptural marks, or practical evidences of true and undefiled religion, wrought in, or appearing upon any subject of divine grace whatsoever. And this joy must necessarily rise, in proportion as such subjects, either by their abilities, or circumstances, and situation in life, promise more important and extensive usefulness in the world and church of GOD.
No wonder therefore, reverend Sir, that it hath gladdened the hearts of many, and afforded matter of uncommon joy and thanksgiving to the Father of mercies and GOD of all consolation, to hear, that for some time past there hath been a more than common religious concern and zeal for promoting their own and others salvation, among some of the _sons of the Prophets_. What a pleasing prospect hath hereby been opened of a future blessing to the rising generation! A blessing, which we well hoped, would be not less salutary and beneficial to the moral, than the new cruse of salt was to part of the natural world, which the Prophet _Elisha_, when complaint was made that the water was naught and the ground barren, cast into the spring of waters, with a “thus saith the LORD, there shall not be from thence, any more dearth or barren land: so the waters were healed unto this day.”
But alas! how is this general joy damped, and the pleasing prospect almost totally eclipsed, by a late melancholy scene exhibited in that very place, from whence, as from a fountain, many of their preachers frequently and expresly pray, that pure streams may for ever flow, to water the city of the living GOD? You need not be told, reverend Sir, what place I mean: it was the famous university of _Oxford_. Nor need I mention the scene exhibited; it was a tribunal, a visitatorial tribunal, erected in _Edmund-Hall_; six pious students, who promised to be the salt of the earth, and lights of the world, entire friends to the doctrines and liturgy of our church, by a citation previously fixed upon the college door, were summoned to appear before this tribunal. They did appear; and, as some were pleased to term it, were tried, convicted, and to close the scene, in the chapel of the same hall, consecrated and set apart for nobler purposes, had the sentence of expulsion publicly read and pronounced against them.
So severe a sentence, in an age when almost every kind of proper discipline is held with so lax a rein, hath naturally excited a curiosity in all that have heard of it, to inquire, of what notable crime these delinquents may have been guilty, to deserve such uncommonly rigorous treatment. But how will their curiosity be turned into indignation, when they are told, that they were thus rigorously handled for doing no evil at all, and that “no fault could be found in them, save in the law of their GOD?”
It is true indeed, one article of impeachment was, “that some of them were of trades before they entered into the university.” But what evil or crime worthy of expulsion can there be in that? To be called from any, though the meanest mechanic employ, to the study of the liberal arts, where a natural genius hath been given, was never yet looked upon as a reproach to, or diminution of, any great and public character whatsoever. _Profane history_ affords us a variety of examples of the greatest heroes, who have been fetched even from the plough, to command armies, and who performed the greatest exploits for their country’s good. And if we examine _sacred history_, we shall find, that even _David_, after he was anointed king, looked back with sweet complacence to the rock from whence he was hewn, and is not ashamed to leave it upon record, that “GOD took him away from the sheep-folds, as he was following the ewes great with young ones;” and as though he loved to repeat it, “he took him, (says he) that he might feed _Jacob_ his people, and _Israel_ his inheritance.”