Sermons Translated from the Original French of the Late REV. James Saurin, Pastor of the French Church at the Hague (Volume 7); On Important Subjects - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1813. Excerpt: ... SERMON IV. On Perseverance. HEBREWS xii. 1. Wherefore, seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set bc fore us. JjiY brethren, the Holy Spirit proposes to us in the words we have read, distinguished duties, excellent models, and wise precautions. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. These are the distinguished duties. We are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. These are the excellent models. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. These are the wise precautions. I frankly acknowledge, my brethren, that on comparing the design of my text with the character of some among my hearers, I ought to suspend for a moment the thread of my discourse; lest the difficulty of success should deter me from attempting the execution. We are going to preach perseverance to men, of whom so great a number live in supineness and indolence, and to whom it is much more proper to say, Return unto the testimonies of the Lord, and continue to follow them. We are going to propose the most excellent models, the example of the Abrahams, the Moseses, the Davids, of whom so great a number hitherto propose to themselves, if I may so express myself, only negative models; I would say, who make it all their glory in not being altogether so bad as the worst of the human kind; they consider themselves in some sort as saints, when they can allege some one who surpasses them in wickedness. In short, we are going to prescribe the best precautions to people, who expose both their flanks to the enemy of their salvation; and who in the midst of beings, leagued for our everlasting ru...