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Read Ebook: A Sermon preached at Christ Church Kensington on May 1 1859 being the day appointed for a general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the success granted to our arms in suppressing the rebellion and restoring tranquillity in Her Majesty's Indian Dominions. by Wright William
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Ebook has 17 lines and 7565 words, and 1 pages
Transcribed from the 1859 Rivingtons edition by David Price.
A SERMON
PREACHED AT
CHRIST CHURCH, KENSINGTON,
On May 1, 1859,
BEING THE DAY APPOINTED FOR A GENERAL THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD,
FOR THE SUCCESS GRANTED TO OUR ARMS IN SUPPRESSING THE REBELLION AND RESTORING TRANQUILLITY IN HER MAJESTY'S INDIAN DOMINIONS.
BY THE
LONDON: RIVINGTONS, WATERLOO PLACE. WINTER, HIGH STREET TERRACE, KENSINGTON. 1859.
"AND HE PUT GARRISONS IN EDOM; THROUGHOUT ALL EDOM PUT HE GARRISONS, AND ALL THEY OF EDOM BECAME DAVID'S SERVANTS, AND THE LORD PRESERVED DAVID WHITHERSOEVER HE WENT.
"AND DAVID REIGNED OVER ALL ISRAEL: AND DAVID EXECUTED JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE UNTO ALL HIS PEOPLE."
A SERMON, ETC.
Such being the case, or since we believe such to be the case, we most naturally, and, I may add most consistently, pray for the "High Court of Parliament" which assembles from time to time "under our most religious and gracious Queen." Our prayer in this matter is as simple as it is beautiful. A prayer is it which none who are in the habit of praying at all for others can possibly object to. It simply asks of God that He would "be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of his glory, the good of his church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and her dominions."
Inseparably connected with the glory of God, which has in a measure been worked out, as we maintain, by the events to which we refer, is the "good of his Church"--a result we ever pray may attend all our political consultations and movements. Who can doubt that the spectacle presented to the Indian mind in all our transactions of war--our wisdom, our mercy, our justice--is doing its silent work in many a thoughtful bosom, and adding some new soul to the Church of Christ even whilst we are speaking? Many and many a man, depend upon it, has been made to think for himself, in these troublous times, of the real value and working of his ancestral creed. He has often, may be, had doubts as to the superstitions of his nation, and the doctrines of his overseers. He has for years, perhaps, held in secret and deep admiration the aspirations and longings of his natural conscience, and felt that they ran counter to the senseless commandments and idle traditions of the world with which he and his race have been overburdened. He has longed for a creed which should not suppress and smother, but fan into a living flame of sterling piety, those smouldering elements of natural religion which he has treasured amidst the follies of heathenism on the hearth of a not yet abandoned conscience. His wish is gratified. He has at length found, or rather, we should say, seen at work, such a creed--seen it in the warrior of the Cross, seen it in one who can fight and yet be merciful, who can have within his power a cruel relentless enemy, yet find room for compassion; who can show at all times and in all places that he has a heart which beats true to the instincts of our nature, when not lost and sensualized. He has rejoiced with exceeding great joy to have fallen in with a religion which is far from contradicting conscience or nature, but which, contrariwise, advocates and enforces "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;" things which even in his childhood's superstitions and the ignorance of his more advanced years have never altogether forsaken him. He has pondered over these things in his heart, and contrasting the plain, true, useful life of the Cross, with the wicked follies and fancies of the Crescent, has yielded himself up to the former, and added himself to the Church of Christ. May it have been so in many, many instances!
And now, my brethren, what is the most appropriate thank-offering that we, Sovereign and people, can make to Almighty God for his mercies vouchsafed to us? Undoubtedly that which follows up our advantages and shows that we are worthy, or labouring to be thought worthy, of the great position with which God has entrusted us, even the thank-offering which David made after his preservation, and which is unpretendingly recorded in the words, "And David executed judgment and justice to all his people." This it is ours to see carried out, so far as in us lies, and this we trust is being carried out fully and conscientiously by our representatives.
But something more have we to offer up to God than judgment and justice toward the people subject to our rule, though this offering be great and to be had in highest esteem. We have heard and seen what kings and prophets desired of old to hear and see. Our knowledge is increased, and so is our responsibility. All type, all figure, all mystery, are removed from us, and "God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son"--spoken a word of salvation in the Gospel which exceeds, in point of moral beauty and spiritual comfort, all that we can imagine or desire. This word we dare not enjoy to ourselves. On we must pass it, together with judgment and justice, to our people. It has made us great, and caused us to "shine like lights in the world." Why should it not make them so, and cause them so to shine? On we must pass it, not only as a matter of ordinary and evident duty, but as a matter of feeling. Each true believer is, by his very impulse of faith, a soul-seeking power amongst men. In his heart is deeply sown the missionary germ--only requiring the light and heat of a living faith to raise and mature it to its appointed height and grandeur--when its branches are sure to spread themselves forth in sheltering love over all living within their reach.
Once more--accept, my beloved brethren, whilst it is to-day, this, this for all we know last, last challenge to visit, gospel in hand, the degraded millions of India. Plant amongst them a church. Erect for them a school. Provide them with a minister. Give them freely the means which have made you under Providence what you are. Let them know that these means are to be the implements of your new spiritual warfare amidst them. "Fight," before them and their children, "the good fight of faith." Tell them you seek, and wish them to seek, that "peace which the world cannot give," and "which passeth all understanding." Show them that you delight not in brandishing over their heads the cold and deadly steel, nor take pleasure in witnessing the fire-flash which heralds a creature's death, but that you would rather wield the sword of the Spirit over their immortal souls, by means of the preached word, and rejoice for ever and ever in heaven that they were preserved with you and yours unto everlasting life.
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