Sermons for the Church's Year, Original and Selected, Ed. by W. Benham (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ...servants contrary things; two masters, therefore, whom no man can serve. The persons who use this language, in fact, by using it, confess as much; while, by breaking God's command, whenever it happens to cross their worldly interest, they clearly show what master they serve. They clearly show, whatever they may say to the contrary, or however on some thing they may seem to do otherwise, that they are devoted to the service, not of God, but of Mammon. Let us remember, that if God be our master, we must follow Him fully. He demands the heart. He will allow of no reserves. He will not permit us to choose which of His laws we shall break, and which obey; to keep one of His precepts, and to break another. He requires us to have respect unto all His commandments. He will not admit of a rival in our affections, nor suffer any idol to share with Him that love which is due to Him alone. He has expressly said that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; that 'the friendship of the world is enmity with God; and that, therefore, whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.' This may be called a hard saying. Some at least may be ready to ask, 'What then are we to do? Are we to be idle and slothful? Are we to neglect our business, and to let our families come to ruin? Are we to bring ourselves to poverty, till we become a burden to others? Does religion require these things of us?' No, my brethren. Religion requires of you none of these things. On the contrary, it forbids you to be idle; it commands you to be industrious, to follow your worldly business with diligence and activity. It expressly declares that, 'if any will not work, neither should he eat;' that ' if any provide not for his own and, especially for...