806. JER 31:7. THE SALVATION OF THE CHURCH.

Jer_31:7. The Salvation Of The Church.

"O Lord, save thy people."’97Jer_31:7.

Our text is found in the midst of a cluster of precious declarations and gracious promises respecting God’s ancient Israel. It is quite clear, in looking over this series of predictions and promises, that their accomplishment has not yet been realized. The whole passage, of which our text is a brief sentence, refers to a glory which yet awaits that interesting, and, originally, devoted people of God.

It is impossible for the Christian to feel indifferent to the best interests of the Jewish nation. Who does not desire that they may be brought to acknowledge Him whom they have despised; to believe in Him whom they have rejected; and to be saved in Him who, to the present period, has been a stumbling-block to them? We ought to desire this for their sakes, and for our sakes; for the interests of the Gentile world are interwoven with their restoration.

In the eleventh chapter of Romans, where the apostle is speaking of the casting off of the Jews and their final restoration, he states, "I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles is come in." Therefore on their own account, and because of the happy influences which their restoration shall exert on the rest of mankind, we ought earnestly to supplicate God’s gracious throne, that he would "save his people." Such is the natural interpretation of the text; but we have not selected it that we may dwell on the restoration of the Jews to their native land; but rather that we may refer it to the Church of God, and especially to the churches of our times. We wish the text to be considered in its appropriateness to the state of the Church; and that, while we are anxious for the salvation of the world’97that transgressors should be turned from unbelief and disobedience’97that while we are deeply concerned for the miserable condition of the heathen’97while we are devoutly praying that the crescent should wane and the cross be erected in all lands, idolatry perish and Antichrist be overthrown, and the knowledge of the gospel spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth’97we should also be deeply solicitous for the welfare of God’s people, and that in reference to them we should offer up the prayer of our text. No person doubts the propriety of praying for the conversion of the world: I beg to submit the propriety of a re-conversion of the Church. I believe, better and richer influences would descend upon the world, conversions be more frequent, revivals be more extensive, and that there would be a greater in-gathering into the fold of Christ, if a salvation of a higher, holier, deeper, and more spiritual character, distinguished the Church. I therefore deem the prayer of the prophet as peculiarly appropriate to the churches of Christ at the present time, and I would wish, therefore, that every person present should exclaim with fervor, and with burning and glowing zeal, "O Lord, save thy people!" We inquire,

I. What does the prayer of the text involve?

It obviously includes the idea of peril. If the Church is in no danger, then the prayer of the text would not be appropriate; but if, on the contrary, she is in the midst of perils, then it is directly and distinctly appropriate, and should be the language of every sincere believer.

The history of the Church is the history of her perils and deliverances. She has always been in circumstances of peril. Her enemies have ever labored to destroy her; and against these, there have been the providence and promises of God. God has been the support and the bulwark of his people. He has been in the midst of his Church to preserve it; to extend its interests, and increase its glory. But the greatest peril of the Church of Christ arises from within. She has been assailed by powerful earthly adversaries; but she is impregnable and invulnerable, so long as she continues faithful to God. Her real danger lies in her own moral weakness and spiritual unfaithfulness. What injured Israel in the wilderness? Not her numerous adversaries, but her sins. Her sins weakened her, and brought upon her the Divine displeasure, causing tens of thousands of that professing Church to perish, whose remains lay scattered in the desert as monuments of God’s righteous anger. Her own sins were also her weakness in the times of the Judges and the Kings. The public enemies of the Church have never been really injurious to her interests, for the opposition and persecution of foes have often been blessed to the furtherance of the Divine glory.

The interests of Dissenters, Wesleyan Methodists, and Evangelical Churchmen in this country, have never been more depressed, or more deeply involved in a state of apathy, than at the present time. We in quire, then, is not the prayer of the text singularly appropriate to the Churches of Christ at this crisis? Is it not desirable that our God should interfere for us’97that we should be delivered from that sterile condition in which we are placed’97that religion should be revived, and our churches increased?

Some persons consider the Church in peril from the spread of Popery and Puseyism; but Popery was never more rampant than at the commencement of the last century, and Popery was what it is now in the time of Wesley and Whitefield, and yet the Church was never more prosperous than it was then. No: the chief perils of the Church are from within, and these should constrain us to pray, "O Lord, save thy people." Allow me to refer to several things fraught with peculiar danger to the Church’s best interests, and which are within the Church itself.

1. The peril of worldly conformity.

The Church is to be distinct from the world. If we would understand the nature of this distinctness, the Redeemer explains it clearly. He says, his people are not of the world, even as he is not of the world. Jesus then, is the model of our separation from the world, and he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. And is there not fearful danger arising from attachment to worldly honors and riches’97to worldly maxims, luxuries, customs, and conversation? Do you not believe that a grand line of demarcation between the Church of God and the world ought to exist? And if so, how can we expect the Church to be in a healthy condition’97how can we expect the divine influences to rest upon it’97if we maintain not our adherence to God, and spiritual religion?

2. The peril of spiritual apathy.

Are there those spiritual traits of life among professors which ought to distinguish the followers of the Lamb? Is it not clear, that in many instances there is the presence of spiritual death, and the abounding of nominal Christianity, where there was once glowing zeal and devotedness to God? Alas! alas! in many cases it is quite evident, that we have lost our first love. There is lukewarmness and a mere attention to the routine of religious services; but life, pathos, and spirituality are wanting. I ask you, if this condition is not to be deprecated and lamented? Ought we not to mourn over the formality which prevails in our churches? Surely the cause of Jesus and the interests of the cross ought not to sink down into mere formalism and nominalism; and on account of the prevalence of these we should pray, "O Lord, save thy people."

3. The peril of sordid selfishness.

Even the apostle, during his time, had to lament, that "all men sought their own, and not the things of Jesus Christ." And is not that exclamation peculiarly applicable to the times in which we live? ‘a353,000,000 are annually laid upon the altar of Bacchus, the idol of Britain; and places of amusement and pleasure are everywhere well supported. Is it not then melancholy to reflect upon the money expended in the pleasures and vanities of this dying world, and the attention bestowed on the expenses of life and family concerns, while the interests of religion are so poorly supported, and that too by men who are ever ready to confess, that they owe to God "their hearts, their souls, their all?" What a niggardly spirit is oftentimes displayed in supporting our great benevolent institutions, which are designed to bless the world! While this continues, the Church will always be weak: it is only when she becomes liberal that she shall also become fertile, and beautiful, and prosperous. And remember, when the Jews withheld from God those tithes which he demanded for the support of the interests of his own cause, he said, "Prove me now, and see if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." While then it is right to be careful about those things which pertain to the body, and which have respect to our families and friends, it is of the highest moment that we be delivered from a spirit of avarice and selfishness, and neglect not those great concerns which brought the Saviour from his throne to die upon the cross.

4. The Church is in peril from her sectarian divisions.

There is in many instances a great amount of activity and zeal manifested by the various branches of the Church; but we must take care to discriminate between that which is mere sectarian zeal, and fire, and that which is pure glowing zeal for the gospel. A man may be a very devoted and zealous friend of the Wesleyan or Baptist connection, and not be a very ardent and spiritual Christian. A man may be deeply concerned for the perpetuity of his own denomination, and yet absolutely indifferent to the world’s conversion and the Church’s true prosperity. There is plenty of zeal and devotedness to our particular section, just because it is our own, and this principle of sectarian seclusiveness tends greatly to impede the promotion of piety, to provoke the displeasure of God, and to prevent his blessing resting upon us. I am not supposing that we ought not to feel a greater interest in our own churches than in the churches of other denominations’97that we ought not to devote our chief energies, and prayers, and contributions to the support of our own body of Christians, respecting whom we have said, "This people shall be my people, and their God shall be my God!" But let us not be influenced by zeal for party, when we should be zealous for the glory of God and the conversion of the world. Believe me, our zeal, however high, our energies however active, our influence, however important and extensive, will not be rightly directed, and will not bear the immediate stamp of the Redeemer’s approbation, unless’97however ardently attached we may be to our particular churches’97we can spread out our arms and open our extended bosoms to embrace with sincere and unfeigned love the whole family of Jesus, and say, "Grace and peace be multiplied to all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth." All true Christians are anxious that a revival of religion should take place, not only in their own connection, but in all the connections of the catholic Church. Who would restrict the blessings of heaven to their own small section? Oh, let us see that we cherish charity, which is the bond of perfectness. The prayer of the Redeemer is peculiarly expressive of the unity of his visible Church. He prays that "his people may be one, even as the Father and He are one." Oh! think of the intimacy, the sweetness, the purity, and the blessedness of that union. And Jesus adds, "that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." As though he had said, "A divided Church will prevent the conversion of the world’97will prove a stumbling-block to the world’97will prevent consideration and reflection, and shut out conviction. Oh, may my people therefore be one, that the world may be constrained, by the traits of love and affection it shall behold in them, to believe that thou hast sent me."

Never forget, then, that the union of the Church and the conversion of the world hang or fall together; and therefore in reference to the spirit of sectarianism, we may devoutly pray, "O Lord, save thy people." Let us ascertain,

II. What the text includes.

1. A conviction of our perilous state.

If we are satisfied with the Church’s low state;’97if we are crying "Peace! Peace!" if we say, "Zion prospers as much as we expect, and almost as much as we can desire!" if we can look upon the Church’s sterility without alarm, and entertain the strange fancy that all is well’97then the prayer of the text cannot be the prayer of our hearts; for if it be the prayer of our hearts, then it is evident that we do not possess a self-complacent spirit, and that we are not among those who say they are rich and increased in goods and stand in Deed of nothing. Is it not desirable that we should know the worst of the Church’s condition? Some persons, although they suspect something is wrong in their affairs, will not look the matter fairly in the face till ruin overtakes them. Often when individuals are suffering under the disease of consumption, they will delay applying the proper remedies until suddenly they are surprised by the stroke of mortality. This is not the way we ought to judge of the Church’s condition. We should inquire, are our conversations as numerous as they ought to be? Are souls saved in such abundance as God would have them? God is anxious to make the Church as a beautiful and fertile garden, abounding in plants of righteousness to the honor of his name. Our God wants his Church to rejoice, and to increase in the number of those who are saved by the power of his truth; and if her condition were such as God desires, it would be as prosperous as now it is adverse, as fertile as now it is barren, and as glorious and interesting as now it is beclouded and darkened. Let us then have a deep and thorough conviction of this truth; and our prayer will be proportionately earnest and intense, "O Lord, save thy people!"

2. An earnest longing for the Church’s revival and prosperity.

A wish to know the worst and desire the best. I am inclined to think, a spiritual man would not give utterance to the text in a formal manner. He would not in the public congregation, or at the family altar, or in his closet, utter in feeble and apathetic accents, "O Lord, save thy people." No! he would drink of the well of which the prophet drank, and would utter it with earnest and intense solicitude. Preferring Jerusalem above his chief good, he would not be ashamed to say, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her cunning." In this spirit, and greatly concerned for the prosperity of the truth, the Christian exclaims, with ardor of soul, "O Lord, save thy people!"

3. A confident persuasion that God will hear us.

You remember that astonishing and interesting saying of Jesus to the man who asked that his child might be freed from Satan’s agency’97"All things are possible to him that believeth." The prayer of our text is of God’s own inspiring; it is written by the finger of the Almighty, and though contained within a sentence, is so comprehensive that it includes the highest destinies of the Church and of unnumbered myriads of mankind. Can we present it then without having confidence in God? Has it not an intimate connection with prophecies and promises? And has he spoken, and will he not do it? Has he not predicted the prosperity of his cause, and will he not realize it? Will he disappoint the hopes of those who trust in him? Will he refuse to hear the prayers of his people? Our God, thanks to his eternal name, is a prayer hearing God, and he delights to answer. It is the glory of God to give; it is his glory to bless. He is far readier to give than we are to receive. There is nothing contracted with him, and can you imagine that he is indifferent about the interests of his own glory, the concerns of his Son, and the destinies of millions of those for whom the Redeemer died? Oh, no! Let then this thought of God’s willingness to hear and to answer inspire us with confidence to approach his throne, and with the most intense earnestness to exclaim, "O Lord, save thy people." III. The grounds on which we should earnestly present this prayer.

1. From a deep concern for the glory of Christ.

Jesus says in reference to his people, "I am glorified in them." "What the Church is, I am; what it endures, I endure’97I am glorified in it." But, beloved, is God glorified in a formal church? Is the Redeemer glorified in a selfish and apathetic church?’97in a sectarian church? These interrogations answer themselves. The Redeemer cannot be glorified where there are formality, apathy, and selfishness, and where men are more anxious in diffusing their own peculiarities than they are in seeking to diffuse the great evangelical truths of saving religion. Do I then desire the glory of Christ? Do I wish his fame to be celebrated all over the world? Do I wish the Saviour to be exalted above all the gods of the heathen? Do I wish the Redeemer’s name to be sung from the rising to the setting of the sun? If so, then must I pray for the prosperity of the Church, by which alone Christ can be glorified. "O Lord, save thy people."

2. From a deep concern for the well-being of mankind.

Not only will a low condition of the Church affect itself, but other important interests will suffer. If the Church has lost her spiritual power, she has lost her influence of doing good; and if she loses her influence, what is to become of the myriads who are perishing in the world? If the Church does not enlighten this country, what shall? If the Church does not save this country from Puseyism, Popery, and Infidelity, what shall? What is it can preserve our beloved nation in her elevated position in the scale of nations if the Church sink?’97become dispossessed of her spiritual power and celestial purify? That very low state of the Church is then the death and the ruin of thousands of immortal souls. For the sake of our families and friends, for the sake of our rural villages, and for the sake of our densely populated towns where iniquity is awfully prevalent, for the sake of our country and the world at large, may we present this prayer, "O Lord, save thy people."

3. Our own spiritual prosperity is intimately and inseparably connected with it.

Our own interests are inseparably connected with those of the Church, our happiness with hers; our prosperity with hers. We have identified ourselves with her, and thus consecrated ourselves, body and soul and spirit, to the service of God. How can we rejoice when Zion languishes? Are not her interests engraven on our hearts? If rich blessings descend upon her shall we not share them? Were our expressions of attachment to her the result of mere enthusiasm? Was it not rather godly sympathy, the influence of divine truth, and therefore came immediately from the throne of God? And are we not anxious for our own souls’ prosperity? Are we not desirous of growing in grace? If God arises and shines upon the Church, how will our holiness be increased, and our bliss enlarged! Should we not therefore pray, "O Lord, save thy people?"

In Conclusion

1. Let the prayer be the true and fervent breathing of each soul present.

O Lord, thy people need saving; they are exposed to adverse influences. They are not what thou wouldst have them to be, nor are they so holy as thy grace might make them. O God, save thy people into closer conformity with thy own blessed likeness, that thou mayest see thy face and character in thy people. Oh, save thy people, that they may witness for thee everywhere: that all who look upon them may be interested and say, "Surely God is with them of a truth." Oh, save thy people, that even ungodly men may be constrained like the false prophet of old to say, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." "O Lord, save thy people," that they may be a kind of magnet, drawing souls to thee. Oh, save thy people, that thy Church may no longer be a word of reproach and derision to worldly men, but that even they may be compelled to admire her. Oh, save thy people, that they may propagate. thy truth, extend thy cause, further thy gospel, until the earth itself shall be full of the knowledge of the glory of God. Oh, may this prayer be the prayer of those who minister in holy things, and of those who hear. May it be our prayer in the house of God’97our prayer at the family altar, and our prayer in the closet. May this short sentence, this comprehensive text, this important passage, have a constant place in all our supplications’97"O Lord, save thy people."

2. Let the means be employed corresponding with the prayer offered.

We need prayer, but we want prayer and exertion together. We want prayer to be associated with holy activity’97with burning unquenchable zeal’97with self-denial, generosity, and liberality. Let our prayers be identified with these, and then the Church will prosper and religion be revived, and God himself will honor those who honor him.

3. There may be some persons here who are not yet saved at all; who are yet in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; who have rejected the counsel of God against themselves; and who have never yet believed to the saving of their souls. To such we say, you may have caught some of the spirit of excitement; you may desire religion to flourish and Zion to prosper, and in this we rejoice. But this should succeed and not precede the conversion of your own souls to God. Give your adherence to the truth, no longer rebel against Christ, throw down your weapons and humbly confess in the language of the poet,

"I yield’97I yield, I can hold out no more,

I sink by dying love compelled,

And own thee conqueror."

I now leave this subject to your anxious and devout consideration. If we honor God by humble prayer, by believing his word, by seeking his glory’97by desiring spiritually and faithfully to live in his service, the windows of heaven will be opened and abundant blessings showered down upon us. May then the text be sealed upon our hearts, may it impregnate our spirits, burn within our bosoms, and be the utterance’97the daily, constant utterance, of our souls, "O Lord, Save Thy People."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS