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SERIOUS HINTS

TO

LOUD AND ALARMING PREACHERS, &c.

Ir was the command of our blessed Saviour to his disciples, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark xvi. 15, 16. From this and other passages of the sacred scriptures, we infer, that all mankind by nature, are in a ruined estate children of wrath and heirs of perdition. Second, We infer that the preaching of the gospel, being the ordinance of God, and the grand mean appointed by infinite wisdom for the salvation and recovery of lost sinners, it is of the greatest importance that those who are called to this office should faithfully discharge the duties of their high vocation. Third, That the scriptures represent, and experience and observation abundantly testify, that whatever men may assent to in theory, the great mass of mankind do not believe the declarations of God's word, in reference to their own case as individuals. Mankind are generally, as to their spiritual concerns, asleep, blind, deaf, nay, dead that multitudes under the blaze of gospel light, with which we are favoured, remain as insensible of their danger, as if they believed the gospel to be a cunningly devised fable. Under these circumstances, what is the duty of a faithful and wise minister of Christ? can it be to look on with indifference and see the thoughtless, careless multitude crowding with rapid pace the downward road! Is

so

it possible for him who has been taught by experience the absolute necessity of a change of heart and of disposition, and the value of an immortal soul, to remain unaffected and unmoved while he views the wretched and calamitous estate of multitudes whom he is called to address-can he do less than " cry aloud, and spare not ?"-can he do less than warn such as he is unable to persuade?—can he do less than draw the bow at a venture, while his earnest prayer is, that God will direct the arrow of conviction to the sinner's heart? For doing less than this, a minister could offer no excuse-for doing more, he needs no apology.

First. We inquire, is it the duty of the preachers of the gospel to cry aloud and sound the alarm? Consider the following passages:

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah viii. 20.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy iii. 16, 17.

"O son of man I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and warn them from mê. Whèn I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand -nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel xxiii. 7, 8, 9.

"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.". Isaiah lviii. 1.

"Therefore watch and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Acts xx. 31.

"I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy iv. 1, 2.

Contrast with the foregoing, the following scriptures:-

"And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die." Genesis iii. 4.

"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying peace, peace, when there is no peace." Jeremiah vi. 14.

“Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying peace and there was no peace, and one built up a wall, and lo! others daubed it with untempered mortar." Ezekiel xiii. 10.

"Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him life." ibid. xiii. 22.

What important considerations may not that saying of the apostle lead to? 2.Cor. iv. 7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." What treasure does the apostle here refer to? Doubtless the unsearchable riches of Christ in the free offers of the gospel. O ye servants of the most high God, who shew unto us the way of salvation, remember that divine injunction, "freely ye have received, freely give." What would be our sentiments of a person who possessed an inexhaustible treasure, commited to him for gratuitous distribution, if he were to fold it up in a napkin; or hide it in the earth. Would he not, if possessed of the smallest

portion of benevolence, rather "search out the cause which he knew not," and save the starving millions from utter ruin. And may we not with propriety, and with an assurance of success, say to every pious minister, "go thou and do likewise."

Second. We next enquire, does the state of the hearers of the gospel require that ministers should endeavour to alarm their fears?

We know of no principle in fallen man, in his carnal and unregenerate state, by which he can be actuated in the concerns of his soul, but fear, or á sense of the danger of his present condition. If the carnal mind be enmity against God, as is evident both from scripture and experience, then surely none will pretend that love to God can possibly exist where such a contrary principle predominates. Two cannot walk together except they are agreed-" "since God or man must alter, ere they meet, 'tis evident Lorenzo who must change." We find throughout the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, this sentiment is recognized. Even Noah, moved with fear, built an ark to the saving of his house. The whole need not a physician, but those that are sick-that is, none will apply to the Lord Jesus Christ for pardoning and sanctifying grace, but those who are convinced that they are infected with the dangerous malady of sin. The law was our schoolmaster, saith the apostle to bring us to Christ and in what manner but by threats of punishment for every non-compliance with its precepts, representing the necessity of another, a better righteousness? But we pass on to the conduct and language of Him who spake as never man spake. In what severe language does he address the Pharisees? "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matt. xxiii. 33.