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A MINISTER’S DYING CHARGE TO HIS PEOPLE
THIS song was composed in order “to be a witness for God against the children of Israel” to the remotest ages [Note: Deu_31:19.]. It contains a summary of God’s dealings with them, and of the provocations whereby they constrained him at last to visit them with his heavy displeasure. At the same time, it gives an intimation of his mercies, which he has yet in reserve for them, when they and the Gentiles shall be incorporated into one Church, and become one fold under one Shepherd [Note: ver. 43.]. Having recited this song in the ears of all the Elders of Israel, he entreats them to treasure it up in their hearts, and to impress it on the minds of the rising generation, that so it may answer the end for which it was composed.
From the counsel here given to all Israel, I will take occasion to shew,
I. The regard which we should manifest towards the Gospel of Christ—
The testimony of Moses, though comprised in this song, did, in fact, comprehend “all the words of God’s Law.” In like manner, that which I have testified amongst you, whilst, in fact, it comprehends the entire Gospel, may be comprised in these few words: “This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son: he that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life [Note: 1Jn_5:11-12.].” St. Paul, in still fewer words, sums it up in this significant expression, “Christ crucified [Note: 1Co_2:2.].”
Now the regard which this demands, is,
1. That you receive it cordially yourselves—
[It is not sufficient that you hear it, or approve of it, or form your sentiments in accordance with it: you must “set your hearts unto it:” you must feel towards it as you would towards a boat that was pressing towards you, whilst clinging to a plank in the midst of the ocean. You may form some conception of the eagerness with which you would welcome its arrival, and embrace the salvation which it offered you: and those very emotions should you realize, when a Saviour is set before you to deliver you from the guilt you have contracted, and the condemnation you have merited at the hands of your offended God — — — in this way must you set your hearts “unto ALL the words” which God has testified by my mouth: you must embrace the doctrines, as declaring what you are to believe; and with equal avidity are you to lay hold upon the precepts which God requires you to obey. Neither the one, nor the other, are to be viewed as hard sayings, which you would gladly modify to your own corrupt taste: but both of them are to be viewed as moulds, into which your whole soul is to be poured: so that in every thing you may be conformed to the mind and will of God — — —]
2. That you commend it earnestly to others—
[You are not to be content to go to heaven alone: you must endeavour to draw all you can along with you. Has God imparted to you knowledge? you must labour to communicate it. Has he given you influence? you must exert it to the utmost of your power. Has he invested you with authority? you must employ it for God. Are you as magistrates? you are “not to bear the sword in vain,” but to use it for him, whose representatives and vicegerents you are [Note: Rom_13:1-4.]. Are you parents? you must, like Abraham, “command your children, and your household to keep the way of the Lord [Note: Gen_18:19 with the text.].” Advice is not sufficient. If that prevail, it is well: you have gained your end by gentle means; which should always be resorted to in the first instance: but, if advice will not effect your purpose, you must exert authority, yes, even though your children have arrived at man’s estate. Eli did reprove his sons, saying, “Nay, my sons, this is no good report that I hear of you; you make the Lord’s people to transgress.” But when he saw that they persevered in their iniquities, he should have turned them out of their priestly office: and because he neglected thus to exercise his authority, God visited him and his posterity with the heaviest judgments, even to many generations [Note: 1Sa_2:33-36.]. To every parent, then, I say, The blood of your children will be required at your hands: and, though you cannot impart unto them any saving grace, you must keep a firm hand in restraining them from every thing that will be injurious to their souls; and must labour in every possible way to bring them to Christ, that they may be saved from wrath through him.]
And let me mark,
II. The reasonableness of our duty in relation to this matter—
The service of God altogether is “a reasonable service [Note: Rom_12:1.];” and more especially that duty commended to us in our text.
1. The testimony itself is highly worthy of our regard—
[What is it that we testify? It is, that God has redeemed us by the blood of his dear Son, and will cast out none who come to him in his Son’s name — — — And “is this a vain thing?” is it doubtful, so that we may question it? or unimportant, that we may trifle with it? Let the Apostle Paul determine this: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners [Note: 1Ti_1:15.].” Yes, indeed; it is “no cunningly-devised feeble,’ but the very truth of God, to which the whole Scriptures bear witness: and it is “the very wisdom of God, yea, and the power of God [Note: 1Co_1:24.],” so that, in comparison of it, there is nothing, either in heaven or earth, that gives any just conception of the Deity. In this mystery all the perfections of the Godhead unite, and harmonize, and are glorified.]
2. On our regard to it our eternal happiness depends—
[“It is our life, whether theoretically considered, or practically applied. Our blessed Lord says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me [Note: Joh_14:6.].” There is no way of reconciliation with God but through the sacrifice of Christ. No man can make atonement for his own sins: and every soul that would be saved, must “submit to the righteousness of God,” even to that mode of justification which God has proposed in his Gospel [Note: Rom_10:3.]. It was this that distinguished Abel from Cain: Cain brought an offering of the ground; but Abel, looking forward to the Saviour, brought a living sacrifice from his flock [Note: Gen_4:3-5.]. And this is what we also must do. We must look to Christ, and believe in Christ, and lay our sins on him, as the Jewish offerer did on his sacrifice. If we do this, we shall be saved: for “all who believe in Christ shall be justified from all things [Note: Act_13:39.]:” but, if we do it not, “there remaineth for us no other sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation [Note: Heb_10:26-27.].”]
I will now conclude, with drawing your attention to,
1. The circumstances under which this counsel was given—
[“On the self-same day” that his counsel was given, “was Moses to go up to Mount Abarim and die [Note: ver. 40–50.].” This, then, was the dying testimony of Moses. And I, if I were now on my dying-bed, would give to you precisely the same counsel, and entreat you all to “set your hearts to what I have this day testified amongst you.” “Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, my beloved Brethren, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.” And to every individual I would say, “Teach them unto your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up: and thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thine house, and upon thy gates [Note: Deu_11:18-20.].” Use all possible means of bringing these things to your remembrance [Note: Heb_2:1.]: but rest not satisfied, till they have wrought a thorough work upon your souls, and you are “cast into them as info a mould” that shall assimilate you altogether unto God’s perfect image [Note: Rom_6:17 the Greek.].]
2. The circumstances which must infallibly ere long result from them—
[Of this counsel both you and your adviser must shortly give account at the judgment-seat of Christ. In God’s book of remembrance, every word is already recorded, together with the manner in which it has been both delivered and received. Fain would I, my Brethren, be “free from your blood,” in that awful day. I would, too, that “you also might, every one of you, deliver your own souls [Note: Eze_33:2-9.].” But it is indeed most painful to your minister to reflect, that perhaps at this very moment, whilst labouring to save your souls, he is sinking many of them into yet deeper perdition: for we may be sure, that, “if he who despised Moses’ Law died without mercy, there is a yet sorer punishment” awaiting those who despise the Gospel [Note: Heb_10:28-29.]. I appeal to yourselves, “How shall ye escape, if ye neglect so great salvation [Note: Heb_2:3.]?” Now, then, let me prevail upon you to go unto your God, and to entreat of Him to write these things upon your hearts by his Holy Spirit: for I declare unto you, that “they are your life:” yes, “I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both ye and your seed may live [Note: Deu_30:19.].”]