James Hervey

“ We see our neighbours fall: we turn pale at the shock; and feel, perhaps, a trembling dread. No sooner are they removed from our fight, but driven in the whirl of business, or lulled in the langours of pleasure, we forget the providence, and neglect its errand. The impression made on our unstable minds, is like the trace of an arrow through the penetrated air, or the path of a keel in the furrowed wave. Strange stupidity!———
How thin is the partition between this world and another. How short the transition from time to eternity! ”

“ They also must awake, must arise; must appear at the bar, and meet the Judge, a Judge before whom the pillars of heaven tremble, and the earth melt away; a Judge once long-suffering and very compassionate, but now unalterably determined, to each stubborn offenders what it is, to provoke the Omnipotent Godhead, what it is to trample on the blood of his Son, and offer despite to all the gracious overtures of his holy Spirit, to whom be glory, honour, and immortal praise, now, and for evermore. ”

“ He hath made all his glory to pass before the astonished eyes of angels, and of men. ———Here justice has set her most awful terrors in array: even while goodness appears, with inexpressible loveliness, and the most attractive beauty. Here, truth, more unshaken than a rock, takes her immoveable stand; and mercy, tenderer than the mother's tear, yearns with bowels of everlasting pity.———In a word; the cross of Christ is a conspicuous theatre, on which all the divine perfections unite, and harmonize, and shine forth with transcendent lustre. ”

“ But with how much greater demonstrations of kindness, are they both received by their compassionate Redeemer! The Ancient of days, who comes in the clouds of heaven, is their friend, their father, their bridegroom. He comes with irresistible power, and infinite glory. But they have nothing to fear from his majestic appearance. Those tremendous solemnities, which spread desolation and astonishment through the universe, serve only to inflame their love, and heighten their hopes. ”

“ She dies not by the disappointment, but by the accomplishment of her desire. If children are, to parents, like a flowery chaplet, whose beauties blossom with ornament, and whose dours breathe delight; death or some fell misfortune, may find means to entwine themselves with the lovely wreath. Whenever our souls are poured out, with passionate importunity, after any inferior acquisition; it may be truly said, in the words of our divine Mafter. Ye know not what ye ask—Does Providence with hold the thing that we long for? ”

“ True morality is the image of the blessed God: it is most charmingly delineated throughout the whole Bible: it is the beginning of heaven in the human soul; and its proper origin is from the Cross of our divine Master. For, through the merits of his death, sinners are made partakers of the holy Spirit; who writes upon their hearts, and makes legible in their conversation, what was anciently written upon the mitre mitre of the high-priest, Holiness to the Lord.———And oh! what a motive is the Cross of Christ to the exercise of every virtue! ”

“ Art has done its all. The raging disease mocks the power of medicine. It hastens with resitsless impetousity, to execute its dreadful errand; to rend asunder the silver cord of life, and the more delicate tie of social attachment, and conjugal affection.
Those poor innocents, the children croud around the bed; drowned in tears, and almost frantic with grief, they sob out their little souls, and passionately cry, "Will he leave us? leave us in a helpless condition! leave us to an injurious world!" ”

“ The righteous are all "prisoners of hope." There is an hour (an awful secret that, and known only to all-foreseeing wisdom) an appointed hour there is, when an act of grace will pass the great seal above, and give them an universal discharge, a general delivery from the abodes of corruption.—Then shall the Lord Jesus descend from heaven, with the shout of the archangel, and the trump of God. Destruction itself shall hear his call, and the obedient grave give up her dead. ”

“ O death where is thy sting ? O grave where is thy victory? 1Cor.xv.55. When that great, tremendous day shall come, which puts an end to time and terrestrial things: when that awful, that majestic voice, is heard, which commands all the race of Adam to appear at the bar; then, my dear brethren in Christ, then also shall you glory in the cross. When others, in an agony of terror, call upon the rocks to fall on them, and mountains to overwhelm them: This shall be your sedate appeal: rather this shall be your heroic challenge: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? ”

“ The poor indigent lay as softly, and slept as soundly, as the most oppulent professor; all the distinction that subsisted was a grassy hillock, bound with osiers; or a sepulchral stand ornamented with imagery.
Why then, said my working thoughts, Oh, why should we raise such a mighty stir about superiority and precedence, when the next remove will reduce us all to a state of equal meanness? why should we exalt ourselves, or debase others, since we must all one day be upon a common level, and blended together in the same undistinguished dust? ”

“ When their flesh and their heart failed, how reviving was the remembrance of an all sufficient Redeemer; once dying for their sins, now risen again for their justification: How chearing the well grounded hope of pardon for their transgressions, and peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord! ”

“ What suitable returns of inflamed and adoring devotion, can we make to the Holy One of God, thus dying that we might live? dying in ignominy and anguish, that we might live for ever in the heights of joy, and sit for ever on thrones of glory. ”

“ God’s own Son transfixed with the arrows of justice: we may bid them consider, if judgment begins with the immaculate Mediator, where shall the irreclaimable sinner appear? how will he escape the stroke? how bear the weight of God’s everlasting vengeance?— Would we comfort the distressed? we may point them to an atonement, whose merits are infinite, and able to save to the very uttermost: we may lead them to a righteousness, whose efficacy is unbounded, and sufficient to justify the ungodly. ”

“ When the last sickness seized their frame, and the inevitable change advanced; when they saw the fatal arrow fitting to the strings; saw the deadly archer aiming at their heart; and felt the envenomed shaft fastened in their vitals—Good God! what fearfulness came upon them! what horrible dread overwhelmed them! How did they stand shuddering and aghast upon the tremendous precipice; excessively afraid to plunge into the abyss of eternity, yet utterly unable to maintain their standing on the verge of life. ”

“ When,—Oh! trust not in youth or strength, or in any thing mortal; for there is nothing certain, nothing to be depended on, beneath the unchangeable God;—Death, relentless death, is making him another kind of bed in the dust of the earth. ”

“ It becomes the tree of life; it bears the divinest fruit; its clusters are all spiritual and heavenly blessings. Two or three of those clusters you will permit me to select; and may the God of all mercy make them better than a feast to every humble soul.
One blessing is the pardon of sin; the pardon of all in, original and actual: sin that is remembered, and sin that is forgotten; sin, however circumstanced, or however aggravated. The pardon of all was purchased by the death of Christ;———completely purchased:—so that, against the true believer, sin shall never rise up in judgment ”

“ Among these confused relicks of humanity, there are without doubt, persons of contrary interests and contradicting sentiments, but death like an able days-man, has laid his hand on the contending parties, and brought all their differences to an amicable conclusion. Here enemies, sworn enemies, dwell together in unity. They drop every imbittered thought, and forget that they once were foes. ”

“ Better, for the tender stranger, to be stopped in the porch, than to enter only to converse with affliction. Better to find a grave in the womb, than to be exposed to a hazardous world, without the guardian of its infantile years, without the faithful guide of its youth.
This monument is distinguished by its finer materials, and more delicate appendages. It seems to have taken its model from an affluent hand, directed by a generous heart, which thought it could never do enough for the deceased. It seems, also, to exhibit an emblematical picture of Sophronia's person and accomplishments. ”

“ Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
“By the birth of this wonderful Child, and the death he shall sustain, peace is made between heaven and earth: and not peace only, but a divine friendship commences. God regards the poor apostate race of men, not only without indignation, but with complacency and delight. He rejoices over them to do them good.”
Another benefit is holiness; or, if you please, the true, the Christian morality. Let none think, the believer in Jesus disparages true morality. ”

“ Where are all the vain pomps of a deluded world? Can they inspire such comfort, can they administer any support, in this last extremity? Can they compose the affrighted thoughts, or buoy up the departing soul, amidst all the pangs of dissolution?——The followers of the Lamb seem pleased and triumphant even at their last gasp. "God's everlasting arms are underneath" their fainting heads. His Spirit whispers peace and consolation to their consciences. In the strength of these heavenly succours they quit the field, not captives but conquerors ”

“ At the same time, let survivors, doomed to bear the heat and burden of the day, for their encouragement, reflect,—that it is more honourable to have entered the lists, and to have fought the good fight, before they come off conquerors. They who have born the cross, and submitted to afflictive providences, with a cheerful resignation, have girded up the loins of their mind, and performed their Master's will, with an honest and persevering fidelity;—these, having glorified their Redeemer on earth, will probably be as stars of the first magnitude in heaven. ”

“ Can I conclude, without adding a word of admonition to the wicked? those, I mean, who are enemies to the Cross of Christ; who mind earthly things, but neither hunger nor thirst after righteousness.— My soul remembers the wormwood and the gall of such a state, and cannot but tenderly pity these unhappy people.— Alas! my friends, what have you to glory in? The devil and his angels expect ere long to glory in your destruction. Those malignant fiends are eyeing you as their prey, and are impatient to begin your torment. ”

“ So that what we term casualty, is really providence, accomplishing deliberate designs, but concealing its own interposition.—How comforting this reflection! Admirably adapted to soothe the throbbing anguish of the mourners, and compose their spirits into a quiet submission! Excellently suited to dissipate the fears of godly survivors and create a calm intrepidity even amidst innumerable perils!
The marble, which graces yonder pillar, informs me, that near it are deposited the remains of Sophronia; the much lamented Sophronia, who died in child-bed.—How often does this calamity happen? ”

“ Legions, legions of disasters, such as no prudence can foresee, and no care prevent, lie in wait to accomplish our doom. A starting horse may throw his rider; may at once dash his body against the stones, and fling his soul into the invisible world. ”

“ And is there a topic in the whole compass of oratory, is there an argument amidst all the stores of reason, so admirably calculated to touch the finest movements of the soul? to strike all the inmost springs of action, with the most persuasive, the most commanding energy?— Would we alarm the supine, or intimidate the presumptuous? we may call them to behold God’s own Son weltering in blood. ”

“ With a sickly appetite, we often loath what is wholesome, and hanker after our bane. Where imagination dreams of unmingled sweets, there experience frequently finds the bitterness of wo.
Here a small and plain stone is placed upon the ground; purchased, one would imagine, from the little fund, and formed by the hand of frugality itself.
I perceive, upon a closer inspection, that it covers the remains of a father; A religious father: snatched from his growing offspring, before they were settled in the world, or so much as their principles fixed by a thorough education. ”

“ Here danger never threatens them with her terrifying alarms; but tranquillity softens their couch, and safety guards their repose.—Rest then, ye precious relics, within this hospitable gloom; rest in gentle slumbers till the last trumpet shall give the welcome signal, and sound aloud, through all your silent mansions. "Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." ”

“ Go to dying beds there you will learn its true worth. Ask some agonizing friend; he, and he alone, can tell you, what a blessing it is to have the king of terrors converted into a messenger of peace.
One blessing more I would mention, and earnestly with it, in due time, to all my hearers; An entrance into heaven. This too is the produce of our Redeemer's cross. ”

“ Sins unrepented of, mercy slighted, and the day of grace ending.—They look forward, and nothing presents itself but the righteous Judge, the dreadful tribunal, and a most solemn reckoning.———They roll around their arighted eyes on attending friends. If accomplices in debauchery, it sharpens their anguish, to consider this further aggravation of their guilt that they have not finned alone, but drawn others into the snare. ”

“ I thank you, ye relics of founding titles, and magnificent names: ye have taught me more of the littleness of the world, than all the volumes of my library. Your nobility, arrayed in a winding sheet; your grandeur, mouldering in an urn: are the most indisputable proofs of the nothingness of created things. Never, surely, did Providence write this important point, in such legible characters, as in the ashes of My Lord, or on the corpse of His Grace.—Let others, if they please, pay their obfequious court to your wealthy sons ”

“ As Christians, we have, in the cross of Christ, the richest provision for our spiritual wants. This is a foundation of the sublimest hope, and a fountain of the most exuberant joy. This affords matter for the deepest humility, and yields fuel for the most flaming love. Faith in our crucified Jesus, is an ever-active principle of the most cheerful and exact obedience: is an ample and inexhaustible magazine, from which we may fetch arms to conquer ”

“ The most common occurrences, those from which we suspect not the least harm, may prove the weapons of our destruction. A grape-stone, a despicable fly, may be more mortal than Goliath, with all his formidable armour. Nay, if God give command, our very comforts become killing. The air we breathe, is our bane! ”

“ The only remains of departed dignity are, the weather-beaten hatchment and the tattered escutcheon. I see no splended retinue surrounding this folitary dwelling. The lordly equipage hovers no longer about the lifeless master. He has no other attendant, than a dusty statue; which, while the regardless world is as gay as ever, the sculptor's hand has taught to weep.
Those who gloried in high born ancestors, and noble pedigree, here drop their lofty pretensions. They acknowledge kindred with creeping things, and quarter arms with the meanest reptiles. ”

“ Beware, I beseech you beware, lest you build for eternity, not on a rock, but on the sand. However you may appear in your own fight, before the adorable majesty of the everlasting God, before the consummate perfection of his holy law, you are less than nothing; you are worse than nothing. ”

“ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died.— Then shall you enter the harbour of eternal rest; not like a shipwrecked mariner, cleaving to some broken plank, and hardly escaping the raging waves ”

“ Another blessing is victory over death.———This also is the fruit of that once detested, but now ever beloved tree. For thus it is written, That, through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage. The devil is said to have the power of death: because, by tempting too successfully our first parents, he brought death into the world; because, by tempting their posterity to sin, and too often prevailing, he arrays death in horror; he arms death with its sling. ”