[God's word, if faithfully declared, is " quick and power- ful, and sharper than a two-edged sword". " Let any one, that has ever noticed its effects, say, whether it is not " like fire," which dissolves the hardest metal ; and " like a hammer, which breaks in pieces" even adamant itself. Go to the populous city of Nineveh, and see all orders of men, from the greatest to the least, dissolved in tears at the preaching of one single prophet x: or look back to the day of Pentecost, when, by the preaching of Peter, three thousand persons, with their hands yet reeking with the Saviour's blood, were converted to the Lord. Are not these instances sufficient to shew what wonders the word of God is able to effect? Verily, "it is mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the strong-holds of sin and Satan, and to the bringing of even the very thoughts of men into captivity to the obedience of Christ y."
Say, then, whether these be not cogent arguments for fidelity in the exercise of the ministerial functions ? The exhibition of false doctrines saves no man, benefits no man: but a simple preaching of " Christ crucified is the power of God unto salvation" to millions of the human race z. To this, many of you, I trust, can bear testimony ; yea, and I hope are living witnesses of its truth ; in that " ye have turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, even Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come'."]
And now,
1. Let me discharge, as I am able, my duty to you—
[" To me is committed the word of God for you ; and woe is unto me, if I preach it not with all fidelity13!" If so much as one of you should perish through a want of faithful- ness on my part, his blood would be required at my hands0. You must not expect me, therefore, to " prophesy unto you smooth things," or to " speak peace to you when there is no peace." No: I must, at the peril of my soul, "speak God's word unto you faithfully." Now, there are three things which I do, and must, require at your hands. The first of these is,
repentance And I must declare unto you, that
" except ye repent," truly, deeply, and from your inmost souls repent, " ye shall all, all without exception, perish." The next thing which I must call for, is faith, even faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour of the world And I
must warn you, that without this there is no hope : for " there
u Heb. iv. 12. * Jonah iii. 4—10. y 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.
z 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. Rom. i. 16. a 1 Thess.i.5, 9, 10.
b 1 Cor. ix. 16, 17. c Ezek. xxxiii. 6—8.