How damnable must sin appear, If we reflect how dear It cost the Saviour to atone For all our weight of guilt, For sin his precious blood was spilt.
This scripture was also divinely fulfilled, when our Lord rode in triumph to Jerusalem, as related by the evangelist. Having sent two of his disciples to fetch him an ass and a colt, he sat thereon. While vast multitudes were collected, and attended him in the way to the city, some laid their cloaths on the beast, others cast them on the ground for him to ride over, and many cut down branches of palm trees to adorn his entrance into the city, the children in the temple sung their hosannas to the Redeemer, in harmony with the loud shouts and acclamations of the populace. The Pharisees, those most inveterate enemies of Christ, who had been a little mortified just before, by the display of the power and Godhead of Christ, in raising Lazarus from the dead, were still more so, on beholding the triumphant entrance of Jesus, the approbation of the people, and the anthem of the children. They had the daring effrontery to ask him, hearest thou what those children say? The Saviour said, And did you never read, that out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Here was the real literal fulfilment of this text, for the Redeemer on this occasion, stilled and silenced those enemies and avengers. This triumphant entrance was indeed an emblem of his future exaltation. The animal which bore Him perhaps intended to shew the characters he would make use of to bear his name in the Jewish and Gentile worlds, and amongst all persons, high and low, rich and poor, learned and illiterate. The conduct of the people in casting their cloaths from them, to shew the effect that grace has upon the heart, in causing the soul to renounce its own righteousness, as more fit for the feet of an ass, than to recommend it to God; while the branches of palms which they bore were ensigns of the future victories which the all-conquering captain of our salvation would gain over all his enemies. And the very songs of the children, the prayers, and the praises which would ascend from his redeemed in the temple of his church, in all future generations. Their hosannas were a prayer for salvation in all its branches—save Lord, I beseech thee! and it was a wishing success, and prosperity to his kingdom. These two are found together in the souls of the called children of God. Where there is prayer for our own souls, there is an earnest desire for the increase of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and a hearty welcoming his visits: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. This is the soul’s echo to the pleasing tidings: Behold the king cometh unto thee. May not this group of children, singing the praises of the adorable Messiah, though perhaps unconscious of the meaning, be a beautiful figure of that vast body of children who are saved by his grace, and shout his fame, his love, and his victories, in the temple of heaven for ever.
Babes, thither caught from womb and breast, Claim’d right to sing above the rest, Because they found that happy shore They never saw nor sought before.
And surely God has ordained the praise of his own grace in the salvation of children, and this will be confessed for ever by them, to the eternal confusion of those who live and die despisers of salvation by grace. Here, such enemies will be confounded in beholding the freeness, the sovereignty, riches, and victories of electing, redeeming, calling, and glorifying grace: for Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength, because of thine enemies.
I humbly conceive this beautiful passage may, with propriety, be applied to the apostles, and first ministers of our Lord. This was a name he was pleased to them. The great head of the church having chosen his twelve apostles, it pleased him to call and appoint seventy disciples besides, in allusion to Moses choosing twelve princes and seventy elders in the wilderness. The Lord Jesus sent them out two by two, and giving them power to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick, they went forth and did as Jesus commanded them. Upon their return, and laying their labours at his feet, astonished at their success, that it exceeded their expectations, even to the casting out of devils. At that time Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes—even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. These ministers of Christ are called babes, weak, ignorant, and foolish, when compared with what they should be after the day of Pentecost, or when compared with the wise ones of this world, men of great natural gifts, wisdom, sagacity, penetration, and skill, in natural things; but these were babes in comparison to such knowing ones, and they were babes in their own esteem, weak, defenceless, impotent, dependent, and knowing little or nothing in their own opinion, yet humble, docile, and teachable, sitting at their master’s feet, and looking to him for divine teaching. It was out of the mouths of these persons God had ordained the gospel to be preached, and this is called the rod of his strength—the power of God to salvation in every one that believeth. Their testimony was plain and simple, but it did wonders in the world. Nor can there be a greater proof of the divine authenticity of the word of God, than the work it has accomplished, for in the hands of the holy Spirit, and by the preaching of it, proud, profane, prejudiced, and carnal persons, have been humbled, subdued, quickened, illuminated, made holy, saved. The wolf has been brought to lay down at the feet of the Lamb of God, the cow and the bear. The ministers of Christ, and a raging tyrant by nature, have walked together! yea, a little child has led those fierce characters into all truth! (Isaiah xi.) Instrumentally, such enemies have been subdued, changed, and become distinguished monuments of sovereign, converting grace. The New Testament is full of those instances, and millions in heaven, and thousands upon earth, have felt the power of a gospel ministry. This is most strikingly remarked by the apostle: But if all prophecy, or preach, and there came in one that believeth not, or unlearned, he is convinced of all, judged of all, and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship, and report that God is in you of a truth, because the same Almighty power is put forth in the word, that called light out of darkness at the creation, and that called Lazarus from the tomb. Nothing short of this, can produce any good effect upon the understanding, the will, the affections, the mind, and conscience of a sinner. What powerful reproofs, cutting convictions, consoling influences, supporting and delivering power, have been felt by the Lord’s people, in hearing and reading the gospel of Jesus, whether in the Old or the New Testament. And this has cast out Satan, and sin’s dominion, tyranny, power guilt, and distress, from the soul; has answered many an accusation, freed from many a doubt, and overcome the enemy and the avenger. This is no small mortification to that implacable foe, to see the astonishing power and success of the gospel, and himself, at times, put to flight, by a simple act of faith in God’s truth.
Oh! I have seen the day, When with a single word, God helping me to say My trust is in the Lord; My soul has slain a thousand foes, Fearless of all that could oppose.
For so the promise runs, and so the victorious believer has found it. One of you shall chase a thousand (by the word,) and two of you (by faith and prayer), shall put ten thousand to flight.
Blessed be God for the gospel, and for its power and influence upon our hearts. This is the sweet evidence of our eternal election of God, for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power; in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. It is in this way, even a babe in Christ has stilled the enemy and the avenger. The people of the Most High are called babes; and little children, being born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God—created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. This new birth is produced by the almighty power of God, the holy making Spirit. It is an evidence of everlasting love, and of the soul’s interest in the blood and righteousness of Christ; and none have any right to consider themselves in Christ, who are strangers to the new birth. It is the gracious indwelling of the holy Spirit in his divine influences—forming a new man of grace—a new heart—a right spirit, infusing every holy principle, in conformity to the image, of Christ. When this work is begun in most of God’s children, it is hard to tell, but some blessed effects of it may be clearly seen. Such souls, may be long under the terror of the law, the bondage of their spirit, the fears of death, the dread of judgment, eternity and hell, yet the Lord hears their groans, sees their oppressions, tears, and fears, and will in due time, bring them out of prison. Some, indeed, are led on more smoothly, but none are left ignorant of their lost state by nature, their condemnation by the law, and the value of Christ, as the atonement and righteousness of his people. Such babes are humble, simple, sincere, and teachable; they desire the breast of consolation, from heart-felt misery; they desire the sincere milk of the word, not only the word, but the milk of it, that they may grow thereby into a deeper knowledge of Christ, till their faith is grown up to full assurance, and their hope big with expectations; till a sense of divine love casts out all doubts and fears, which sadly torment their minds, and till they know the whole armour of God; and surely there can be no actual enjoyment with Christ, or entering into truth, or the privileges of the gospel, or into eternal glory, till this new birth takes place. There can be neither seeing nor entering the kingdom; there may be a superficial knowledge, and plenty of talk about truth; but it is a cordial reception of it in the heart, and digesting it in the mind, that will ever produce any good effect, either in the soul, or in the conversation. And except we become as little children, we can in no wise enter the kingdom; but having been blessed with this divine change in the heart, confession is to be made to the glory of God. This is the ordinance of Heaven: there is to be an acknowledgement of the truth, a declaration of what God has done for us to the church, to one another; and when prudent opportunity offers, before the world, by words, and by facts, open and visible, sincere and hearty, likewise in prayer; and praise, when the Lord is pleased to give us strength so to do, that others may be led to see that there is a reality in religion, and may be blessed with the strength of grace to seek the Lord, and glorify God in the day of their visitation: in so doing, you still the enemy, and by a God-glorifying conduct, put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, the enemies of God and truth. And where the conscience is made tender, every thing that is contrary to this, is a source of inconceivable grief. These babes are at times, also enabled to silence Satan himself, with all the accusations of a distressed and burdened conscience, when the atonement, obedience, love, person, offices and promises, invitations and faithfulness of the dear Redeemer is powerfully brought into the mind, by the holy Spirit, and strength given to baffle the enemy, with his satanic suggestions, as a young man did lately, upon his death bed, depending upon, and pleading the great work of Christ, for his acceptance with God, just going into eternity. The enemy plagued him with this question continually: ’Tis true Christ died for sinners! but how do you know he died for you? The young man had strength given him to answer the enemy as fast as he plagued him! But, Satan, how do you know he did not? Thus he gained the victory over the enemy, and died in sweet confidence. Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, for out of the mouths of such babes he has ordained his own glory. It is also evident, that God is glorified by the displays of the riches, power, and freeness of grace, in the salvation of children. This must be favor indeed, as such can perform no act of demotion to recommend them to God! nor can their innocence do it, as they are conceived in sin, born, or shapen in iniquity, under the imputation of the guilt of Adam, and with the seeds of every sin in them that can be committed in this world, though guilty of no actual transgression, yet by nature they are sinners, destitute of the image of God, and under guilt. How great that grace which chose them—how infinitely dear that blood which redeemed them—and how condescending that holy Spirit that takes possession of them before their little souls leave their bodies: they are to be considered, passively, the capable subjects of converting grace—and who can tell what passes on the soul of a departing infant, under the operations of the spirit of God? Millions of infants are, doubtless, before the throne of God, and the Lamb, praising, adoring, and blessing that mercy that saved them so early, not on account of their natural purity, nor their religious descent—not because their parents were pious persons, for this can make no difference—nor because they were superstitiously baptized, as it is erroneously called, but because God has set his love upon them—because they are interested in the covenant of grace—because the Redeemer has died for them—his righteousness is imputed to them—and because the holy Spirit takes possession of their hearts—sanctifies them in a moment—and because God has ordained the glory of himself, in the everlasting salvation and happiness of those who are not able to save themselves. I acknowledge the salvation of all infants has been a subject of dispute, amongst many, and Satan has taken the advantage to distress many a parent upon the subject. But secret things belong to the Lord, our God, the things that are revealed belong to us. Here we want grace to rest, yet I am bold to affirm, that we have no one solid proof of the everlasting destruction of an infant. It is no where positively asserted nor yet implied. I am now speaking of babes. Millions have been destroyed in public calamities, and died a corporeal death, but not punished with an everlasting death; nor can we find any infants amongst those of whom it is affirmed, that they suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. It was David’s consolation that his child was saved, though born under adulterous circumstances. I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. This does not refer to the grave, for there could be but little pleasure in that thought, but to eternal rest. The pious Shunamite woman said of the death of her son, It is well. And the Lord promised that that son of Jereboam should go to his grave, because in that child there was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel. Thousands of dear children were massacred by order of Herod, with an intent to murder the Redeemer. These dear children were the first martyrs for Christ, and the Lord assures us of their salvation, (Jeremiah xxxi, 15, 16, 17.) to which I refer you. The border there spoken of, is most undoubtedly the millennium, the heavenly country, where these precious stones would adorn the crown of the Redeemer, and be everlasting monuments of the wonders of his grace. These dear children will to eternity, acknowledge how infinitely indebted they are to the adorable trinity in unity, for so great a salvation.
And now they range the heavenly plains, And sing his love in melting strains; Or, overwhelm’d with rapture sweet, Sink down adoring at his feet.
I come now to speak of the closing scene of my much-loved son. On this subject I want much fortitude and power from on high, to sustain my deeply affected heart. None but God knows the strange mixture of my feelings, grief and gratitude, sorrow and wonder. I have not room here to enlarge on the subject of nature and affection, and the feelings these ties inspire in the loss of one so dear to my heart. Cruel memory recals to mind a thousand endearments, in such departed worth, but I fall at the footstool of divine mercy, and bless the God of all grace, that I am not sorrowing as one without hope. Many whom I am now addressing, knew him well, and all who knew him loved him. He was beloved of his God—blest from infancy with peculiar powers, which no doubt would have shown brightly in life, had he been spared. But though the subject of deep affliction, yet grace shone in his mind, and its radiance was sweetly emitted to an eminent manner, as his afflictions abounded. He was the last son of his dear mother, who is in glory; and being favored at his birth with a peculiar answer to prayer, I adopted the method of ancient believers, on extraordinary occasions, and called him Samuel, heard of God! and so he proved to be. About six years ago, he broke his leg, which afterwards produced great weakness through the fright; the pain, and long confinement. This had a serious effect upon his whole mass of blood, which afterwards shewed itself in several abscesses. These baffled all the skill of medicine, and though well attended by medical persons, and most tenderly and carefully nursed, and watched by day and by night, yet God had determined to bring him to glory, at nearly twelve years of age, nor can I wish him back again.