the happiness which we ourselves shall one day enjoy, when our warfare has been accomplished, our labours finished, our sorrows ended, and our released spirits have entered into the joy of our Lord.' "I beheld,' says the Apostle (admitted, for the consolation of the church, to witness and record the happiness of the saints in heaven); I beheld, and, lo! a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.'---O what a different scene, what a different world, separated only by a slight veil from that which we inhabit, is here exhibited to our view a world into which we may enter by a single step, and in a moment of time! Here we see a busy world, eager in vain pursuits, agitated by mere trifles, contending about objects of no moment, and immersed in things which perish with the using. All is noise, and confusion, and vanity, and sorrow, and evil. Bat behold another world, nigh at hand, composed of different beings, governed by different principles; where all things are as substantial, as here they are vain; where all things are as momentous, as bere they are frivolous; where all things are as great, as here they are little; where all things are as durable, as here they are transitory; where all things are as fixed, as here they are mutable! That world has also its inhabitants--so Bumerous, that the population of this world is but as a petty tribe compared to them. It has its employments; but they are of the noblest kind and weighti. ést import; and compared with them, the whole sum of the concerns of this life is but as a particle of dust. It has its pleasures; but they are pure and spotless, holy and divine. There, perfect happiness, and uninterrupted harmony and righteousness and peace, ever prevail. What a contrast to our present Rate! And is this blessed scene near ? Is there but, as it were, a step between? May we be called into it in a moment? With what anxious solicitude, then, should we endeavour to realize it! And how ardently should we desire to prepared for an admission into it!" Vol. i. pp. 83---86. be The happiness arising from "numbers," is described in a manBer at once novel, moral, and in "It will be sufficient to state, that religion is but another word for happiness. I do not mean this merely in the sense in which, without guarding them, the words may be understood-viz. that the effect produced by religion is happiness. I use the words literally; and design to state, that religion itself, the act and exercise of it, is the purest and highest happiness.---It may here be necessary to rectify the general definition of religion. Religion is not merely the worship of God, or the exercise of obedience: it is the union of the soul with God; the conformity of the will with his will; the enjoyment of communion with him; and the transformation of every faculty of the soul to his image and like. ness. Religion, here, is but the faint outline of this more sublime image of its nature; the outward expression of what it ought to be, and of what it is above. Now happiness arises from a frame of mind harmonizing with the objects which surround us. When the soul, therefore, is moulded into the perfect frame of religion in its most exalted state; when every affection and every faculty are put into perfect tune, and all are in unison with the Divine Source of all good; there must be happiness, arising from such a constitution, the most pure and perfect which a creature can enjoy. It is the happiness of God himself---of God, the Source of all happiness. It is a state of mind in which that necessarily gives pleasure which gives Him pleasure; in which there is a par ticipation of His feelings; in which the soul drinks at the Fountain Head of all enjoyment; in which the bliss of the Almighty becomes the bliss of his creatures. Thus religion and happiness are convertible terms. They are, in fact, one and the same thing: and it is not more impossible that God should be unhappy, than that his devout servants, dwelling near his throne, and serving him day and night in his temple,' should taste of misery." Vol. i. pp. 93---95. In the Second Volume, we find two sermons nearly on the same subject; one on " the Happiness of Heaven," from Rev. xxi. 3-5.; the other, on "the proper Effects of the Hope of Heaven," 2 Pet. iii. 12. We give the following specimen, from the former sermon, of the eloquence and general command of thought, and language possessed by our author. "There will the mind be continually astonished, delighted, and elevated by proofs of wisdom, not obscure, or sparing, or finite, but clear, and manifest, and boundless. There, too, the holiness and purity of the Divine Nature will beam forth in rays of lustre; not suck, indeed, as will dazzle the beholder, but rather such as will illuminate him with their splendour, and transform him into the same celestial image from glory to glory. There will be exhibited the most stupendous acts of Divine power. There also will be poured forth, in the richest profusion and variety, and the most exquisite perfection, the treasures of Divine goodness. And there will the love of the Father and of Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, shine in its fullest effulgence. "Thus God dwells' in heaven by the boundless manifestation of every thing great, and glorious, and good. Upon this earth, indeed, we see on every side some proofs of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness; the rich variety of plants, adorned with all the vividness of colour and elegance of form; the magnitude of the heavenly bodies, the skill of their arrangement, and the swiftness of their motions; the exquisite conformation of the body, and the admirable and diversified powers of the mind;-all these proclaim the presence and the hand of a Master, whose wisdom must be infinite and power uncontrollable. But these no otherwise apprize us of the skill of the great Architect than the broken columns, the disjointed arches, and the mouldering capitals of some fine ruined edifice convey to us an adequate idea of the beauty and grandeur of the original building. We live here in the ruins of a world, once indeed fair and glorious, but now forsaken by its great Master, and suffered to fall into decay; and the traces which we meet with of greatness and splendour are comparatively few and mean. Here every thing is mingled with imperfection. Light is obscured by darkness; truth is intermingled with error, good with evil; pleasure is alloyed by pain; health is interrupted by sickness; and every enjoyment is and power are here displayed upon obtransitory and uncertain. His wisdom jects of comparatively little worth. The leaf of a weed may discover wonderful skill; the shell of a contemptible fish may display the richest colouring; the body of the vilest of men may shew astonishing contrivance; yet all these things are, as it were, the rough sketches of Infinite Wisdom: they are intended only for a moment: they will soon be burnt up as things of no value. We have yet to learn what is the fulness of the Divine wisdom and goodness." Vol. ii. pp. 50-52. Two Sermons, the XI. and XII. in the First Volume, one on "the Communion of Saints," the other on our Communion with the Angels," much struck us. They imply a familiarity with the spiritual world both present and to come, which we deem a rare and most blessed attainment. "The family of God" is thus rapidly and graphically sketched in the first sermion: "It is necessary that we consider that family in its whole extent. It is not confined to the small circle of holy persons worshipping together upon earth. These comprise but a very small part. The whole who are thus united in Christ form an assembly, whose worth no tongue can describe, and whose number no man can compute. They are a vast body, composed not only of private Christians, and of mi, nisters now dwelling together upon earth, but of all those faithful disciples of Christ who have ever lived upon it. Confessors and martyrs, prophets and apostles, priests and patriarchs, saints militant below, and spirits triumphant and made perfect above. All these make but one family. They are distinct branches of it, severed, for a little while, by time and space; but not separated by nature. "The family is to be considered as still more ample than this. The angels of heaven, who are subject to Christ, and employed by him as ministring spirits to the heirs of salvation, may be justly considered as comprising a part of it; for they worship the same Lord, they are engaged in the same pursuits, and therefore the Apostle speaks of them as branches of the same family living under the same Head. "Such is the family of God; into which Christ has introduced us, giving to all who are in him, access by one spirit unto the Father. Over this family the Father, the Son, and the Spirit preside; each of them in their several offices holding communion with the members, and the members with them." Vol. i. pp, 179–181. Our communion with these several branches of "the family" is then most fully and ably described. "Happy, indeed, art thou," he feelingly concludes, and we have no doubt it was a happiness which he warmly felt himself at the moment; can "Happy, indeed, art thou, if thou canst Jay, My delight is with the saints that are upon the earth, and with such as excel in virtue' my communion is with the Father of Spirits, and with his Son Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and with the angels above. I am also joined with the whole church of the faithful below; I am occupied in the same work, I possess the same comforts, I am warmed with the same love. I feel a brother's sympathy with the members of Christ. My soul unites itself to them when I approach the Throne of Grace, and my heart burns within me while I converse with them upon the things of God. My brethren in Christ,' such will be our feelings if we are actuated by the Spirit of God." Vol. i. pp. 189, 190. our The following sermon, on Communion with Angels," we think still more ingenious and exquisitely fraught with angelic sentiments. He considers the "innumerable company of angels" as become, through grace, our friends, our ministering spirits, our examples, our eternal associates. Under these heads he beautifully classes almost all the appearances and, indeed, nearly every mention of the angelic bost in Scripture, as instruments of mercy or patterns of purity to man. An awful thought concludes the sermon. "God and Satan divide the world. Each has his angels CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 157. subordinate to him." The application to the conscience of the wicked is at once obvious and ap palling. "Thou who endeavourest to subvert the government of God, and to loosen the grasp which the obligations of his truth have upon the mind; thou who tramplest upon his laws; thou who slightest the ordinances of his grace, the worship of God, and the word of God; is it not evident to whom thou art united? Art thou not doing the work of devils? Art thou not already associated with them? Art thou not 'treasuring up for thyself wrath against the day of wrath? Oh, let me conjure you to pause, to consider, to repent! Even for you there is hope. Behold the glorious company of angels. They desire to receive you: they stretch forth their hands to you. In their holy zeal to reclaim the wicked and to en large their blessed society, they carry the everlasting Gospel to all nations. Will you renounce them, to have fellowship with devils? Oh! turn to God, that you may be added to this innumerable com pany." Vol. i. p. 208,.. our extracts. The very next ser light of the sun; but the Lord God him "Here we are illuminated by the self will be the Sun of that place, and his rays will fill every part with glory, as he originally did the temple, when the priests could not stand before its dazzling lustre. We shall, therefore, see and feel, that in him, we live, shall rejoice in his presence, and in his and move, and have our being.' We light we shall see light. But th spicuous revelation of the presence and this conglory of God, will particularly be dis played in Jesus Christ, In him the perfection and glory of the invisible God are embodied and rendered visible to inan. He is his beloved Son, the brightness of his glory, and the express perfect is his identity with the Father, image of his person; and so full and that, according to his own representation, he that hath seen the Son hat G seen the Father also. The Son was the visible display of the Father's glory, even in this world." Vol. i. pp. 220, 221. And again: The analogy of the present state of existence demonstrates, that in all example, whether good or evil, there is an assimilating efficacy; and there can be no doubt, if we extend the analogy still further, if we were condemned to dwell in the regions of outer darkness with Satan and the infernal spirits, exposed to the view of perpetual malig nity and deceit, we too should become malignant and deceitful. Assailed with rage and execration, our passions too would be kindled; and where we were hated, we should soon learn to hate in our turn. But not to pursue further this awful contrast, let us suppose ourselves placed in those blessed regions, where the mercy and love of God shall surround us on every side with inexhaustible profusion. In those regions of eternal tranquillity, should not our souls possess an unruffled calm? Seeing nothing on every side but happiness, could we fail to be happy? Or could we behold the triumph of eternal love, without loving also in return? Where all were endeavouring to increase our happiness, would not our hearts surely burn with a general glow of gratitude? Where all were wise, should we not learn wisdom? Where the beauty of holiness was every where diffused, could we be otherwise than holy? Thus there will necessarily be a general tendency in heaven towards a continual increase of peace, happiness, love, wisdom, and holiness. Christ will communicate to all his servants, and they to each other, every good. Out of his fulness shall we receive even grace for grace imparted to us. And, in reference to this assimilating influence, we are told, that even our bodies shall be made to resemble the glorified body of Christ. "We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things into himself, or to assimilate all things to himself. Thus we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.'" Vol. i. pp. 223-225. tracts; though we fear it may be otherwise with the time, not the patience, of our readers. We shall conclude, therefore, this series by one more quotation from a sermon in the Second Volume, on 66 Peace arising from Trust in God," that our readers may realize the same God below who has been described in the regions above; may behold him beaming with a softer radiance on the yet frail, imperfect, militant saint on earth; and may understand something of that peace which, in our author's view, may even here Be the lot of the mind Which seeks it in meekness and love; Whilst rapture and bliss are confined To the glorified spirits above. "It is plain the man who trusts in God will be kept in perfect peace; for what can disturb him? Can any troubles assail him, which the Lord has not appointed, or under which he cannot support him? It may be justly observed, that the contemplation of God's greatness tends to level the inequalities of all finite things. The distinction of great and little vanishes, when the immensity of his nature and attributes is before us. And thus, while we contemplate him, and stay our souls upon him for support, the trials to which we may be exposed appear, in this view, to be all on au exact equality. There is not one which we can select and say, it will be too hard for us in his strength. Nor, on the other hand, is there one blessing which he has allowed us to hope for, of which' we can even imagine that it is too much to expect from him. Any thing is too much to be expected, while we look at ourselves: nothing, while we look to God through Christ. The faith, there fore, of a Christian may overlook all distinctions, and rest its dependance on almighty power,' on inexhaustible boun ty, on infinite goodness, on immeasureable love. What peace must not this convey to the soul! What a contrast to that fretting anxiety of the mind, when, it is ever in dread of approaching evils; when it shrinks in vain from them, and looks round in vain to escape them; when it builds what hope it has upon the sand, and finds the edifice conti It will easily be seen, by a re-nually tottering to its base; when it has ference to the table of contents, that our resources are by no means exhausted by this multitude of ex nothing stable, nothing unchangeable, nothing out of the reach of storms and tempests on which it can repose; ng delightful acquiescence in the dispen- cussed. Much on practical subsations of a wise and gracious Provi- jects, and many valuable deve dence; no cheering views of the good- lopements of church principles, ness and mercy that surround us; no must have occurred in the course resting place upon the bosom of a Father's love. Wretched, indeed, is the of so long and judicious a ministate of such a mind! It is, like the stry as that of Mr. Venn, which on bark which has lost its anchors and its the authority of such a name will helm, the sport of changing winds and command a more than ordinary dewaves; tossed here and there on a vast gree of respect and of usefulness". and trackless ocean, yet never ap- We quit a solemn duty in making preaching the haven it desires-while these observations, which we canhe who firmly trusts in God, is like one be justified by the reception we annot help feeling a conviction will ticipate for the present volumes. siting securely on the summit of a rock, of the billows and the fury of the tempest which rages at his feet in vain." Vol. ii. pp. 374-376. where he beholds unmoved the swelling We conclude with a very few general remarks, first addressed to the Editors of these sermons, and then respecting their lamented Au thor. The Editors we sincerely thank for the task which they have so kindly undertaken and so well fulfilled, of gratifying and instruct ing the public with these sermons; and we cannot but indulge a wish that this publication might only be the earnest of some plan even larger and more comprehensive. Some inequalities and inaccuracies of style doubtless appear in the present work, sufficient to convince s that much labour and care may be necessary to prepare for the press sermons never written for publication, and perhaps more inaccurate than those which have been now corrected. But we think much should be undertaken, even as a duty, where the profit of mankind is at stake: and sermons like the present, so well calculated for general perusal; so strictly according to the unearthly spirit of Christ's religion, and yet so measured and judicious; in a word, so instructive, yet so taking; we think should by no means, on any principle, "be hid from the great congregation." It is obvious that a large void is still left in the present publication. Many of the most important doctrines of Christianity remain to be dis But we cannot conclude also without erecting some feeble monument of respect to the Author of these excellent sermons, and " discharging" a pleasing though "empty office," whilst we trace for a few moments the lineaments apparent in them of a mind we are sure not now lost to existence, but only removed from a lower stage of it to another more suited to its feelings and devout aspirations. We observe, then, in these sermons, the traces, 1. of an amiable mind.-Feeling for the wants and frailties of his fellow-men, the Author never seems to lose sight of that happiness to which he is inviting them when calling them to religion: he strives to make them holy, that he may make them happy; and appears to "long after them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." We do not know whether this feeling towards his flock may in any degree have deprived his ordinary style of preaching of that closeness and pointedness of application which tend to alarm rather than console, and even to harrow up the soil which it is intended to Sow. If so, his lenience would doubtless be fault: for the most affectionate should also be occasionally the most severe. Often, however, it is the property of minds so finely constructed as Mr. Venn's, and we may add nursed in the lap of religious parentage, and early * We understand that Mr. Venn has left twelve hundred sermons behind him. ́ |