.'V. A 7 % r% / /-l SERMON, 1 1 (® AT ^©OTBH* * (•!. IN TIIE BAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE, MAY 17, 1820. BEFORE THE FEMALE CHARITABLE SOCIETIES. AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ANNIVERSARIES. BY GEORGE PHIPPEN, A. B. Faster of the Baptist Church in Woburn. BOSTON : PRINTED BY TRUE AND WESTON. WOBURN, MAY 24, 1820. Dear Sir, BEING appointed by the Female Missionary and Benevolent Societies, to wait on you — In their names, we present you our sincere thanks for the judicious and interesting Discourse delivered before them, on the 17tli inst. — Likewise, in their names, we solicit a copy for the press — Hoping that while you stand to plead the cause of God and the poor, you will abundant- ly share in the blessings of Heaven, and experience the truth of the senti- ment expressed by the wise man — He that waiteth upon his master, shall be honoured. Signed in behalf of the Societies , PHEBE CONVERS, ; LOIS FOWLE, Rev. George Phippeit. Committee. To the Committee of the Female Missionary Benevolent Societies. Ladies, THE Sermon delivered before your respective Societies, on the 17th inst. at your request, is, with diffidence, submitted for publication. Ac- cept my thanks for the expressions of approbation you have bestowed upon it, and ray sincere desires for your prosperity in those works of charity which are the professed objects of your respective Associations. GEORGE PHIPPEN. To Mrs. Phebe Convers, ) and % Committee , Ac. Mrs. Lois Fowle, Woburic, May 24, 1820. SERMON. MATTHEW x. 8. “FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED; FREELY GIVE.” The Christian religion is a religion of love and peace. It was not established by civil power, nor has it ever depended on that power for success. The history of the Church, from the Apostolic age, to the present, confirms the important truth, that religion has flourish- ed most, when left free to prove and establish her own divine glory and authenticity. When the whole world was in arms against the Prince of peace, to establish his heavenly mission, his subjects were forbidden the use of the sword. On one memorable occasion, when Peter, to revenge the insults thrown upon his Lord, resorted to that weapon ; his Lord rebuked him — “put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” But although denied the use of car- nal weapons, the disciples were not defenceless. Their “weapons” were “spiritual and mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” A dispensation of the Gospel was committed to them, and they had power given them to work miracles. You will find their commission in this chapter. “ And as ye go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils ; freely ye have received, freely give.” As the Apostles had freely received from God all their extraordinary gifts, so they were commanded freely to exercise those gifts upon the bodies and souls of others — that is, when they healed the sick, when they cleansed the leper, when they raised the dead, when they cast out devils, they were to do it cheerful- ly and gratuitously. Those extraordinary gifts which were freely bestow- ed upon the Apostles, have not been received by us ; 4 yet we largely share in the blessings of Heaven. Free- ly have we received, let us then freely give. Charity, enforced from a consideration of the free gifts of God bestowed upon his creatures, is the senti- ment we shall deduce from the text. In illustrating which, it is proposed First, To enumerate some of the gifts of God. Secondly, To shew that the gifts of God are freely bestowed. Thirdly, We shall urge these considerations as mo- tives to charity. First, as proposed, we shall enumerate some of the gifts of God. 1. The creatures of God are his gift. He made them, and claims them as his own. This sentiment is expressed in the 50th Psalm — “ Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. — I know all the fowls of the mountains ; and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” And yet all these creatures are given us richly to enjoy. They supply us with food and rai- ment. They nourish our blood, invigorate our system, and defend our bodies. These, together with the pro- ducts of the field and forest, preserve us from the fa- tal effects of the damps of night, and the scorching beams of the meridian sun ; from the heat of summer, and the cold blasts of winter. Covered from the storm and tempest, with the conveniences of life around him, man goes out to his labour, and returns ; he takes of the provisions of his table, and lies down to rest; he is happy in the society of his friends, and still happier in the embraces of his family ; he may engage in the ac- tive pursuits of life, or live retired from the world. — The gifts of God are abundant, and while they are properly used, they render us eminently happy amidst the miseries of life. 2. Social intercourse is not among the least of our blessings. Man is formed for society. This is e^ i- dent, no less from the gifts which he possesses, than from the great objects of his existence. Immediately after he was created, God saw that it was not good that man should be alone ; he therefore made an ‘‘help meet for him.” As -families increased on the earth, and intercourse with each other became necessary and convenient, in order to render that intercourse sale and interesting, they voluntarily entered into certain agree- ments — a breach of any of which was punished accor- ding to the magnitude of the offence, Probably Patri- archal governments were the first established among men. These consisted of one or more families entering into a solemn compact to preserve inviolate their indi- vidual and family rights, and to promote love Ac friend- ship among themselves. The blessings resulting from suen associations were of the happiest kind. In part they were a compensation for the labours and dangers and disappointments of life. It is evident, then, that in the early ages of the world, a high value was at- tached to social intercourse ; nor has its value dimin- ished by the lapse of some thousands of years. No circumstances more fully' prove the truth of these re- marks, than the many and different forms of govern- ment, which have been instituted — the fixed statutes of those governments, and the awful penalties annexed in cases of violation. Why can we consent to see a fellow creature chain- ed in a dungeon? condemned to labour for life in a prison? suspended by the neck on a gallows ? Is it be- cause we are destitute of feeling? Is it because the sym- pathies of nature are smothered in the ruins of the fall, and our hearts are callous to the miseries of others ?. No — We yet have feeling — we yet have sympathy — we commiserate the wretched — we pity them — we pray for them. But these offenders have disregarded the majesty of the laws : they have disturbed the C e of society : they have burst asunder the sacred , which binds man to his fellow : they have threat- ened our ruin, in sanctioning crimes, which, when once tolerated bv law, would keep us in constant jeopardy of life, and destroy r the richest blessings of social inter- course ; and we rise superior to the strong and conflic- ting impulses of our nature, and are willing to see the guilty rather than the innocent suffer. We arc willing 6 to see the criminal doomed to the prison, or to the dun- geon, or even to the gallows, rather than sacrifice the dearest interests of society. 3. The blessings of health and strength are among the gifts of God. A vigorous athletic constitution is the greatest temporal blessing we enjoy. On this sub- ject, there is but one opinion. The poor man attach- es to it an invaluable price, as on it depends his own support, and perhaps the support of a numerous fami- ly. Nor is its value less in the estimation of the rich; for what are riches, without health ? A man may look upon them, but he cannot enjoy them. He may do good with them, by giving to the poor, and assisting charita- ble and other important institutions, but otherwise he can reap no benefit. To the voluptuary, health is his life. Only in health can he feast his appetites, and in- dulge his passions. Laid upon a sick bed, every avenue to pleasure is closed, and his upbraiding conscience fills him with keen remorse. Nor are we to conclude that the abstemious are indifferent to health, because they go not with the voluptuous in their excesses. Temper- ance and sobriety are the best guardians to preserve and perpetuate health. Without bodily health, what are riches and honours and grandeur ! How exceed- ingly diminished in value, are the best enjoyments the world can bestow ! The healthy man attends to his labour, engages in the duties of his profession, eats his food, takes his rest, visits his friends, and enjoys the presence and conversation of his family, with a relish unknown to the weakly and sick. Would you know how rich a blessing is the blessing of health ? Go, my friends, to those habitations, where poverty and vice have diseased the incumbents, or where sickness rag- es, and death threatens to enter the door. If need be, administer to the relief of these distressed objects. — Do it freely, for freely have you received. 4. Our intellectual capacities are the gift of God. — Among the works of God, we hold a distinguished rank. Our rational powers raise us in the scale of being a- bove all animal creation. We were made but little lower than the Angels, and were crowned with glorv 7 and honour ; and had man remained the creature he was, when he came from the hands of his Maker, he would be as happy as the Angels in Heaven. The effects of the fall are indeed lamentable. The essential glory of man has fled — a death-like inactivity has siezed all his moral faculties. Still the powers of his soul are the same. We are capable of contemplating the infinite per- fections of Jenovah, and loving the Being who made us, with all our hearts. In the house of prayer, at the family altar, and in places of retirement, consecrated to secret devotion, we realize a present Deity, we admire, we praise, we adore. Our hearts are sometimes filled with gratitude in view of the mercy of God, while we deeply deplore the sins which have pierced the son of his love. It is our privilege through nature to look up to nature’s God. We contemplate the sun, the moon, the stars ; we traverse the vast re- gions of space, and assisted by the experience of others, we learn the relative situations, the magnitudes, the orbits and motions of the heavenly bodies. But above these visible heavens, we contemplate systems on sys- tems, worlds on worlds, till the mind lost in wonder, rests on him who created all things. Improving his capacities by application to study, man has been able perfectly to understand the laws of na- ture in a variety of useful and important particulars. He can fix the time of the conjunction and opposition of the planets. He can calculate with minute exact- ness an eclipse, a century before it shall take place. — He can collect that deadly fluid which forms the light- ning of Heaven. He knows its causes, its nature, and its effects. Man by his reason, his ingenuity and in- dustry, has penetrated into the bowels of the earth. — He has found out the secret places where the silver and gold are hid, and where the precious stones are treasured up. The useful minerals and fossils, with which the earth is abundantly supplied, by the labour of his hands, have become sources of immense wealth. In relation to this subject it is said of man, Job 28, He putteth forth his hand upon the rocks ; he overturneth 8 the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. These, my friends, are some of the gifts of God to man. The sum of them ! who can tell ? But there is a gift which in point of value, transcends the whole. I mean the gift of Jesus Christ. O precious, invaluable gift to a ruined world ! without a Saviour, though rich in earthly blessings, we had been “ poor, and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked.” Secondly. The gifts of God are freely bestowed upon his creatures. 1. This appears, when we consider his infinite per- fections. God is supremely happy and glorious, aside from the relations which created beings sustain towards him. “ O ! the depth of the riches both of the wdsdom and knowledge of God.” “ He only hath immortality, dwelling 4 in the light w'hich no man can approach unto. Canst thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection ? It is as high as Heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know ? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.” Such were the views of Zophar the Naamathite, respecting the perfections of the Supreme Being. It is not to add to his essential glory, that God be- stows blessing upon his creatures, for his glory is above the heavens. Nor is it to add to his happiness, for he is happy in himself, and ever would have been happy had man never been formed, or the globe he inhabits never created. To advance his declarative glory, and exercise his purely benevolent feelings, God made man, bestowed upon him rational, contemplative, and immortal powers, gave him a vigorious and healthy constitution, and for his happiness, committed to his care the animal and vegetable creations. Are we possessed of rational, contemplative, immor- tal powers ? let us remember that we nave freely re- ceived them from God. We might have been differ- 9 ently formed — formed with minds less capacious, or re- stricted in improvement, exclusively to the objects of sense. Is it absolutely necessary that man should be able to measure the earth 7 to pierce the clouds ? to scan the heavens ? to understand the laws of nature 7 to have the assurance of immortality and foretastes of the the glories of the upper world 7 Is it said that by steady perseverance in mental im- provement, man holds his present elevated rank in the scale of being 7 This we deny ; man may improve his capacities, but he cannot create them. They are the gift of God. It is not believed, however, that all minds are equally capacious, though all which are perfect in their nature, are rational, contemplative, and immortal. But there are thousands who have the foundation — the stamina in nature, who for want of the advantages of improvement, live and die in ignorance. This cir- cumstance presents to view the superiority of our bless- ings when compared with the blessings of others, and it affords ample reason for gratitude to the giver of every good and perfect gift. In view of the benevolence of our heavenly Father, in making us wiser than the beasts of the field, and bet- ter than the fowls of heaven, may the language of our hearts be — bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy name. 2. Are we blessed with health and strength 7 these are the gift of God. Temperance is the best preservative of health. This fact is derived from observation, and is corroborated by universal experience. The temperate usually are the most healthy, and live to the most advanced age. But temperance certainly will not preserve our strength, or secure us from the arrests of sickness and death. — He w r ho holds us in his hand, by the blast of his breath can cause our beauty to fade, and our skin to cleave to our bones.Engaged in our usual& lawful avocations, while unconscious of danger, w r e may receive a shock which will deprive us of an arm, or a leg, or so essentially affect the seat of life, as to bring on debilitv and sickness & death. B 10 Infectious disease may rage around us, and seizing upon our constitutions, may bring us to the borders of the grave, and there leaving us, may leave us for years to drag out a weakly existence. The air we breathe may be so strongly impregnat- ed with poisonous particles, as gradually to consume the blood and dry up the fluids of our bodies ; or na- ture from ordinary causes, refusing to perform her func- tions, may bring on disease which shall terminate in dissolution. While the most temperate are thus ex- posed to the loss of health and strength, how much more exposed to the same losses are the licentious and the voluptuary. No human foresight, no precautions on our part, can effectually secure us. Behold that cripple ! pitiable object ! engaged in his lawful em- ployment, he was erecting a scaffold, he fell, he re- ceived an essential injury ; the muscles of his leg are contracted, his strength is gone ; when he goes abroad he is supported only by a crutch. In yonder dwelling lies an emaciated creature, who for years has been confin- ed to her bed. She was attacked with a violent fever, her disorder at last left her, but left her in so fee- ble a state as to exclude all hope of a perfect recove- ry. Wearisome days and nights are appointed her. When it is night, she is saying “ when will it be morning, and when it is morning, O when will it be night.” I point you to no fictions. These characters live, and shall I say they live to remind us that health and strength are blessings which we freely receive from God, and of which he can deprive us at pleasure. 3. We live in society, we are surrounded by our friends. Their houses are open to us, and when they meet on ordinary or extraordinary occasions, we meet with them ; we arc bound together by a similarity of feeling, views and conduct, in matters civil, social and religious. We leave the place of our nativity, and set- tle in a new country. There we soon form a circle ol friends, and enjoy the blessings of social intercourse. We leave our native land and traverse the ocean tor foreign climes. Strangers in a strange land, we feel almost alone, though surrounded by thousands. In a 11 short time here also we find friends, we form select so- cieties, and enjoy the blessings which were peculiar to the land of our birth. These are blessings freely be- stowed upon us by God. It might have been other- wise. Such might have been the laws of nations, or the dispensations of divine providence, as to confine us to our native country ; to the state, the town, or even the village in which we were born. How many are there who roam at large in barbarous countries, who are ignorant of the securities of our civil compacts, and of the comforts which flow from friendly intercourse, and a mutual interchange of kindnesses. 4. Our Heavenly Father freely bestows upon us all the good things we enjoy in life, and these good things are enjoyed in abundance by the inhabitants of this highly favoured country. Have we enough to live up- on, without being dependant on our friends ? Let us therewith be content. Had we only what we deserve, our condition would be far below what it is. If, in ad- dition to the necessaries of life, we are favoured Avith its conveniences, and have a surplus after our wants are extracted ; this is the free gift of God. Have you added house to house, and barn to barn, and field to field ? Are you numbered among the rich ? Think not to say within yourselves, By our persever- ance, industry and economy, our hands have gotten us this. This would offend your God. Let me assure you, that without His blessing, perseverance, industry, and economy, will effect nothing. Admitting you have paid the strictest attention to your agricultural pur- suits ; you have ploughed and sowed and planted ; still have you been dependant on God for a harvest. If He “ who holds the Avaters in the holloAV of his hand,” had shut up the AvindoAVs of heaven, your labours Avould have been in vain — your best hopes Avould have been blasted. Or if, in your mechanical business, you had rose early, and sat up late, and studiously improved your time in application to labour; this would not have made you rich, Avithout the blessing of the Lord. Or if, in your merchandize, you had made the nicest calcu- lations, and had entered extensively into business ; still, 43 without His blessing, who maketh rich, you had been poor. Though the imprudent, the idle, and unsteady, have no reason to expect great riches, yet those rich per- sons whose peculiar characteristics are the opposite of these, ought not to conclude that their perseverance, industry and economy have been the sole procuring causes of their wealth. Had He saw fit, who has the elements at command, who makes the clouds his char- iot, and in whose hands are all the diseases which af- flict mortals, He would have stopped their progress, deranged their plans, and closed at once both their la- bours and expectations. Freely ye have received ; free- ly give. “ Let not the wise man then, glory in his wis- dom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might ; let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth & know- eth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Thirdly, We shall urge the considerations to which we have already attended, as motives to charity. But before we enter upon this part of the subject, it will not be improper to consider who are suitable objects of charity. The virtuous poor are the first class of charitable objects, to which we shall call your attention. There are many in the lower grades of life, who either, for the want of capacity, or in consequence of repeated attacks of sickness, are in really necessit- ous circumstances. Nor are they ever able to rise a- bove their present situation. Some of these were born in poverty, others were once the heirs of a comforta- ble inheritance, and perhaps a few once possessed rich- es ; but of these they have been bereft by Providences, which could not have been foreseen or prevented. — They are now equally wretched, or if there is any dif- ference in their situations, those who have seen better days are the most miserable. My friends, you will have but one mind relative to their wants; and I trust but one heart — a heart to relieve them to your utmost ability. The second class are the wretched who have IB made themselves so by their own imprudence. This group of miserable objects is much larger than the former, and their condition is much more deplorable. Among them are found the idle, the filthy, the licen- tious and the intemperate. They are not strangers to want, to hunger, cold and nakedness, and more than this, many of them have all the horrors of a guilty con- science, and a dreadful sense of the wrath of Almighty God ! These are often their feelings, when they are not drowned in sensual indulgences, it is acknowledg- ed that characters of this description are proper sub- jects of reproof and admonition ; but they are also ob- jects of pity, and I hesitate not to say, they are objects of charity. Yes; they need your charity in two ways — they are cold, hungry and naked ! warm them, feed them, clothe them : But they are rushing to eternal ruin — Warn them by the terrors of the Loud; tell them of the awful realities of Heaven and Hell ; urge them to fly to Christ, who only can save them ! Do you enquire whether characters of the above de- scription live around you ? We answer, they do. Bu^ is there not provision made by the town to which they may resort, and be warmed, and clothed, and fed ? There is, and many of them repair to it, and receive its comforts. All, however, cannot here be accommo- dated, or if they could, many would be unwilling to make application. They would rather eat their scanty mor- sel alone, and enjoy the quiet of retirement, than have an abundance in a public house. Besides, there are ma- ny, who with a little help, can be comfortable, without throwing themselves upon the town for support. But to return — let me urge you to charity, from the consideration that all you have, you have freely receiv- ed from God. You have the use of your reason. Pity and relieve the idiot and insane. Are they in want ? Shut not up your bowels of mercy. How wretched are they compared with yourselves ! You might have been as they are. What you have, you have freely received. While many are sick around you, you have your health. How r many w’eakly and sick among the poor are occasionally filled with distressing apprehensions for a future supply of their wants. They are desti- tute of food, fuel and clothing, and some of them per- haps, are destitute of a roof to shelter them. But tney need more than a habitation ; they need more than common food ; they are sick : they have no money : they need a faithful nurse : they need something to eat and drink, which will support their debilitated stomachs. You are well. Go and administer to the sick. Freely have you received ; freely give. 1 Again. We are made for society. We enjoy its blessings. We can meet in the social circle : we can visit our friends ; we can worship in the sanctuary. — And can we* forget the poor, who are destitute of clothing, and the sick who are confined to their cham- bers ? Go, visit them ; converse with them : instruct, admonish and comfort them, as their circumstances may require. Open your hand wide, and give them. He who seeth in secret, will reward you openly. Remem- ber God made us social beings. Once more. We have freely received all our tem- poral blessings from God. My hearers, will not the considerations, that you are entirely dependant on God for every gift, and that from him you have gratuitous- ly received all your temporal comforts, open your hearts and hands ? I trust they will. Indeed your presence here to day, is a pledge that you are benev- olently disposed. You pity the poor, and you pity them no less, I trust, from a desire to gratify the finest feelings of your hearts, than from a regard to the high command of Heaven. Will you relieve them? Will you engage to lend from time to time a portion of your property to the Lord, and take his promises for security ? Freely have you received ; freely give. “Say not that all the poor are an idle, worthless class of community, and that to relieve them by our chari- ty, is to countenance them in their laziness and vice. It is not true. Many of those who are destitute of the comforts of life, arc so for the want of a talent to acquire property, or by what we call misfortune. And allowing that some are criminally idle and vicious ; — 15 What then ? Shall we refuse to administer to them in absolute distress ? Must they perish in our sight, because they are unworthy of favour ? And is this the law of love ? Ah! my brethren,' and what if our Heavenly Father should make this the rule of his proceeding towards us, who are in his sight all miser- able offenders, and criminally guilty of misimproving the talents committed to us ? What would be our awful doom for eternity? And if He waited to bestow his or- dinary blessings, till we were good enough to deserve them, who would be clothed? who fed? And who would ever have a roof to shelter him from the stormy blast ?” In connexion with the Female Benevolent Society, we this day celebrate the first Anniversary of the Fe- male Cent Society. It is sufficient to say of this So- ciety, that its object is highly commendable, and de- serves extensive patronage : they wish to contribute their mite toward supplying the destitute with the gos- pel of Jesus Christ. Around us, and especially in the back settlements of our country, there are many indi- viduals and families, who deservedly claim our atten- tion and assistance. As a people, we are highly favoured of God ; per- haps more so than any other nation on earth : and yet there are thousands on our frontiers, and in different sections of the union, who, as it respects religion, are in a state of deplorable ignorance. Our missionaries have given us affecting accounts of the situation of the people in the destitute places where they have trav- elled. In some towns and villages, the gospel has not been preached at all. Here are to be found persons, who have never seen a bible, or heard of the name of Jesus. In other places, the people rarely hear a gos- pel sermon. Macedonian cries are heard from all quarters of our country. In general the people feel their need of religious instruction, and are hailing the ser- vants of Jesus as the messengers of peace. “ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings, that puhlisheth peace ; that saith unto Zion, Behold, thy God reigneth.” Many families now scattered abroad in the wilder- 16 ness, once possessed gospel privileges. They were situated where they could attend to the ministry of the "word, and enjoy the communion of saints, and on each returning Sabbath, they could say to their friends, “Let us go unto the house of the Lord ; our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.” The silent tear often steals down thtir cheeks, in recollecting these precious seasons — but they are gone. Theirs are the sensations which arise from the remembrance of joys which are past. Frequently are they called to pass through se- vere trials, w ithout friends to sympathize with them, or a minister -of Jesus to give them counsel. Can we in any degree diminish their sufferings ? We can. — The means are in our hands; for which we have rea- son to bless God, and I trust a disposition is not want- ing to do for them to the extent of our ability. I close, by observing — I stand in this place, to plead the cause of God and the poor. I plead in behalf of the Benevolent Societies, whose Anniversaries we cel- ebrate. Shall l plead in vain ? It remains for you to say. Cast in of your competency. Cast in of your a- bundance. You shall not lose your reward. These So- cieties reach forth their hands to receive your bounty. The objects of their institutions are praise worthy; they deserve public assistance. May the blessing of ma- ny ready to perish come upon their members. They ask not for themselves, but for the poor and needy. In their cause they have volunteered themselves, and whatever is at any time given to them, will doubtless be faithfully distributed. “ Blessed is he that consid- ered the poor. His barns shall be filled with plenty, and his presses shall burst out with new wine.” In adversity he shall be comforted. With eyes raised to heaven, under a conscious sense of his integrity, he shall be able to say — “ If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the w ill ow to fail ; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof ; If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor w ithout covering ; If I have lifted up ray hand against the fa- therless when I saw my help in the gate : Then let my arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be brok- en from my bone.”