Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

SERMON I.

IT IS NOT IN MAN TO DIRECT HIS STEPS.

JEREMIAH X. 23.

It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

To walk, is one of the actions of the body, that denotes motion from one place to another. It is often figuratively employed in Scripture to mark the conversation and manner of life. "To walk in "darkness," is to live in a course of ignorance, error, and sin; " and to walk in "the light," is to live in the ways of truth and holiness. "To walk with "God," denotes a life of sweet communion with him, a lively sense of his presence, and endeavours, above all things, to please him and obtain his approbation. And, in like manner, " to walk af

"ter the Spirit," is to be led and guided by his counsels, to regulate and order the whole of our conversation according to the rule and direction of the word and spirit of God. When the prophet thus says, that "it is not in man that "walketh to direct his steps," he thereby intimates, that though man seems at perfect liberty in choosing his own way, yet of himself he can do nothing, either for his own relief, or in the discharge of his duty, without the divine conduct and direction.

In the preceding verses, he threatens, in God's name, the approaching ruin of the cities of Judah and Jerusalem. And finding it to little purpose to remonstrate with the people, he here addresses himself to God, acknowledges the absolute sovereignty of the Divine Providence, and that by it, and not by their own power, will, and wisdom, the affairs both of nations and of individuals

are determined. "O Lord," says he, "I know that the way of man is not "in himself: it is not in man that walk"eth to direct his steps." As we may all apply these words to ourselves, and

ought to mix faith with the prophet's declaration; so, in farther discoursing from this subject, all that I propose, through the help of God, is, first, To illustrate the truth of the proposition in the text ; and, second, To mention some important lessons of instruction which it is calculated to teach us.

First, I am to attempt an illustration of the proposition in the text, "It is not "in man that walketh to direct his "steps."

To enumerate the various proofs and arguments that might be adduced in confirmation of this, were to mention a very considerable part of the experience and observation of mankind in all ages of the world, and in every condition of being. It seems, indeed, to be one of those selfevident truths, which requires only to be proposed in order to gain our assent. Adam, though originally formed after the image of his Creator, which consisted in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness; yet those farther measures of divine grace, which were necessary to secure him in that holy and happy state,

E

were no sooner withheld, than he became a striking and melancholy instance of the truth which is here exhibited. Being left to the freedom of his own will, without which his integrity could not have been proved, nor his obedience acceptable, he suddenly fell into the snares of the devil, and lost his purity, innocence, and happiness. And if man, in that state of primeval purity, with all his powers and motives to obedience, found it impossible to direct his steps, what was to be expected in his frail and degenerate offspring? Adam no doubt might have stood; but, since he fell, his posterity, from that fatal moment, have walked upon slippery ground. And we have only to review the history of past ages, and consult our own experience, to be sensible what human nature is, in our present degenerate state ;-how weak the reason, how depraved the affections, and how dark the understandings of men! The Old Testament presents us with numberless instances of those who fell from the belief of the existence of the Divine Nature into heathen idolatry and. pagan superstition. And since the es

tablishment of Christianity, what numbers do we read of in ecclesiastical history, of all countries, ranks, and stations, who have forsaken the true faith, joined the various heresies of the times, and wandered far from the paths of virtue and religion! Even those who persevered in the belief and worship of the true God, men noted for their piety, and dignified with the appellation of saints, yet in the course of their journey through life, were guilty of occasional backslidings and heinous sins. Thus, we read of the unbelief of Abraham, the drunkenness of Noah, the adultery of David, the pride of Hezekiah; of Moses" speaking "unadvisedly with his lips ;" of Job cursing the day he was born, and of Peter, at the challenge of a maid-servant, denying his Master. These things are written for our admonition. The cases which I have mentioned, out of many more that might have been adduced, are so many beacons set up to warn us, that the most eminent saints stand not in their own strength; that "it is not in man that "walketh to direct his steps."

There are two particular states or con

« PoprzedniaDalej »