Sermons, on the Public Means of Grace (Volume 1); The Fasts and Festivals of the Church on Scripture Characters and Various Practical Subjects (Paperback)

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. 1821. Excerpt: ... SERMON XXXI. ON THE TEMPTATION. Matthew, br. 1. Then Mm Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the deviL The Church, from her earliest days, has set apart the season in which the Saviour was tempted, as a time of special thoughtfulness, humiliation, and prayer. In happier times than the present, in point of religious regularity, it wrought abundantly the peaceable fruits of repentance, and obtained a pious observance. A revival of the anqient zeal, without its superstition, ox its intolerance, is devoutly to be wished, but is hardly to be hoped. If Christians at the present age, are induced in the Lent season, to present themselves, frequently, before the Lord, and to turn their thoughts upon such subjects a.s my promote contrition far the past, and future rectitude, it is as much as can be expected. This easy observance of holy time is reasonable; and its tendency is, to produce good fruits. Among the subjects which are meet for attention, at this season, that which it commemorates is a principal one. The temptation of the Saviour, has been esteemed a very instructive, yet mysterious part of the gospel economy. Very many different opinions have been adopted concerning it. Some, have objected to it; some, have thought it attended with inexplicable difficulties. But all that it concerns us to consider, may, I apprehend, be reduced to these two general heads; the end of the Saviour's temptation, and the eircumstances of it. To these, let me now invite your attention. They are serious, and instructive points, and deserve to be well understood. Why, first, was the Saviour exposed to the assaults of Satan; why did he endure the abasement in the wilderness? We may justly view it as one end of this surprising occurrence, in the Saviour's...