“He fierce on the Philistines flies, _Compels_ the captives to come in; Spoils Satan of his lawful prize, And tears them from the toils of sin.”
♦ “tuly” replaced with “truly”
His courage and resolution in this, were such as are rarely to be found. He judged, that there was nothing more likely to pull down the strong holds of Satan, than to lay the axe to the root of sin; and in all his sermons, he ever used to discover its detestable nature, pressing upon the conscience, an entire purgation from dead works. And he did it in such a manner as often pierced the very joints and marrow of his hearers.
It was easy to discover in him likewise, the utmost impartiality. Knowing that he was to deliver his Lord’s message, he spared no man from any human regards: but boldly detecting their sin, commended himself to every man’s conscience in the _sight of God_.
And yet, his zeal was tempered with wisdom and discretion for notwithstanding his pressing vehemently upon the conscience of his hearers, in all his sermons, yet (although some were sometimes offended) they were never able to resist the authority by which he spake.
But it was not as a _Boanerges_, a son of thunder only, that he excelled. His own happy experience, of the forgiving, healing, and comforting virtue of the blood of Jesus; together with his mighty acquaintance with the promises of life in him, fitted him for administring comfort, and much encouragement to the weary, and the heavy-laden with sin; To such, he was in truth, a _son of consolation_; his lips dropped sweetness to them, as the honey-comb.
*O God, how many a bleeding wound hast thou made him an instrument of healing, by pouring into the hearts of the disconsolate, _the wine and oil_ of the gospel, in a rich profusion of those precious, golden promises, which being ratified to us by the holy blood of thy dear Son, are all yea, and amen in him, to thine eternal glory! Yes,
“Refreshing, soft, as vernal showers, His word, on weary sinners falls, Or, like the rapid torrent pours, While souls to Jesu’s blood he calls!”
*It was scarcely possible for the most icy, and rocky heart, to remain long so under his moving and authoritative discourse, laid home to the conscience, by the sword of the Spirit, which, like the flaming sword in paradise, turned every way, to every heart. And accordingly, it was a very rare thing for him ever to preach a sermon, without sending some away, either broken-hearted, rejoicing in God, or increased more or less, in the knowledge of the Crucified.
*Towards the latter part of his progress, the two last years of his life especially, the whole bent of his soul, his reading, meditations, prayer, conversation and preaching, tended altogether, to the _deep things of God_, (1 Corinthians ii. 10.) the so perfectly loving him, with _all_ the capacity of the soul and body, as the state of humanity can admit. The entire salvation of God, from all sin, to all the mind that was in Christ Jesus, was now his constant, and most beloved theme, both in public and private. And he omitted nothing which might either inform his judgment, or affect his own, or the hearts of others, in reference to this most interesting concern of the children of God.
*His thoughts on the head became therefore thoroughly digested; so that there was hardly an objection which either Satan, men, or the heart of unbelief could bring against it, for which he had not a convincing answer. His _own_ heart-acquaintance therewith, will be seen from a subsequent account of his experience. The light which he had into the nature, and his fervent manner of enforcing the worth, and necessity of Christian holiness, was one great means of enkindling, in the hearts of many, that _fire_ of pure love, to God and man, which has since his death likewise, increased more abundantly, and still burns (O may it ever burn!) amongst us, to the greater glory of God. Only such as were experimental witnesses of it, having a true relish for things of so high a nature, can rightly conceive of the abilities, with which God endowed him, for this part of his work; of the manner in which, he,
With strength and utterance from above Urg’d on the saints thro’ grace forgiven, To scale the mount of holiest love, To seize the brightest throne in heaven!
In all his discourses on the subject, he as much as may be, carefully avoided _his own_ words, both in explaining, and enforcing its nature, extent, and the means of attaining thereto. He did it in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, explaining those spiritual things, with spiritual words: (1 Corinthians ii. 13.) while in the mean time, his fervent and affecting manner of urging them, and indeed every other part of the doctrine of salvation, commanded,
―――“Audience and attention, still as night Or summers noon-tide air.”