Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/59

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

[ 51 ]

true statement of such a state or place? If this is a wonder to the people, how is it possible that men can preach Christ and never have received him? Remember that the devil can come in the light of an angel, and can show great wonders, but he betrays himself by having no love, for when on the mount speaking unto our Lord, he thought that he was about to do wonders; the third time he spake he did his best by telling Christ if he would fall down and worship him he would give him all the kingdoms of the earth; in this he did his best, and it was a lie at last, for he has not got the hell where he dwells, for hell has him. Here is the effects of having no love and truth; in like manner, by others we fear that God has never called them, for when I see a minister preaching one thing to his hearers and do another, I am lost in wonder what will be the consequence to this man, if so living and so dying, he must be lost to all eternity; he may read his sentence in the 23d chapter of Jeremiah.

The life of a christian minister is always to hold fast unto union with love and fidelity; to love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his might and strength, his neighbor as himself, When one of these men stand in a place to preach, God attends the word with power and energy; like Peter in the day of Pentecost, and three thousand souls were pricked to the heart and the commencement of the speed of the everlasting gospel; the fire that was kindled at the death of our Lord on the cross, it burnt with love and great zeal; that is the reason the devil and Tom Payne, with the combined powers of hell have never been able to quench it, it is defended by God's power, for the Lord said the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all the world and to all nations, and then shall come the end: the end of all our sorrows and troubles, and death. What a glorious day this will be to his officers? Then with joy when they hear the great rumor of that dreadful war and commotion, the cries of the wicked when seeing the hatches of hell snatched away, to let them down: the righteous will say amen, to their damnation: no more gospel for them to hear.

Now, sinners, I warn you, as from the mouth of God, come and go with us, that you may escape the wrath of