SERMON XVIII.
ON FALSE TRUST.
"But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." — Luke xxiv. 21.
In vain had Jesus Christ, during his mortal life, a thousand times declared to his disciples, that it was flattering themselves to count upon a reward which had not been merited by crosses and toils: this truth so little agreeable to nature, had never been willingly received; and all the times that the Saviour had tried to undeceive them on the opposite error, they heard not that word of the gospel, and it was not seen by them. Such is still at present the disposition of the two disciples to whom Jesus Christ condescends to appear in their way to Emmaus; they expected that their Master should deliver Israel from the yoke of nations, and should cause them to be seated on twelve earthly thrones, without any exertion being necessary on their part in order to mount them, without the1 Saviour himself having occasion to suffer, in order to triumph over his enemies.
Besides the mistake which led them to consider Jesus Christ as a temporal deliverer, I likewise observe another, which appears to me not less dangerous in them, but which at present is more common among us: it is that false trust by which they are persuaded, that, without co-operating toward it themselves, and in leaving to Jesus Christ the whole management of their deliverance, they shall receive the fulfilment of the magnificent promises, which, in his conversations with them upon the earth, he had so often reiterated. Now, my brethren, this false trust, which makes all to be expected by sinners from grace alone, without any co-operation on their part, and the reward of the holy to be hoped, although they labour not toward meriting it; this false trust, which always reckons upon the goodness of God whom it offends, which, without combating, promises itself to be crowned, and which always hopes against probability; this false trust, which is unwilling to purchase heaven, and yet expects it, is the most universal and most established error among Christians; and when Jesus Christ shall once more appear upon the earth, he will find many of his unbelieving disciples, who shall have occasion to say to him, " we trusted."
This, my brethren, is what induces me to occupy your time at present upon so important a matter, persuaded that a false trust is the source of condemnation to almost all sinners; that those who are afraid of perishing, never perish; and that I could not better fulfil my ministry, than by establishing in your hearts those salutary feelings of mistrust which lead to precautions and to remedies, and which, in disturbing the peace of sin, leave, in its place, the peace of Jesus Christ, which surpasseth all feeling. Thus, in order to give a proper extension to so useful a subject, I reduce it to two propositions. There is no disposition more foolish than that of the sinner who presumes, without labouring toward his amendment, is the first: there is none more injurious to God, is the second. The folly of a false trust: the insult of a false trust. Let us explain these two truths.
Part I. — I am not afraid of openly agreeing with you, my brethren, that the mercies of the Lord are always more abundant than our wickednesses, and that his goodness may furnish legitimate motives of trust to all sinners. The doctrine which I go to establish is sufficiently terrible, without adding to it new terrors by concealing part of those truths which may tend to soften it; and if caution be required in this matter, it is rather in not bringing forward all that might alarm the conscience, than in concealing what might tend to console it.
