William Douglass

“ Hence it is said to be 'a peace that flows as a river.' As a river flows onward and becomes wider and deeper as it approaches the ocean into which it is ultimately lost; so does the peace which Jesus gives, flow on pleasantly in the soul, increasing in its depth, expanding in its onward course, until it is finally lost in the boundless ocean of never-ending peace. Here then is that precious jewel which can satisfy the soul of man, because it is every way suited to his immortal nature, and fully adequate to meet his wants both in this world and that which is to come. ”

“ He only knows whether or not any one present shall survive the setting sun. We know not what a day may bring forth. Neither youth nor superior strength is the least security against the sudden attack of death. His shafts fly so promiscuously, that none can tell who will be the next victim. Sudden as lightning sometimes his arrows fly, and wound and kill in the twinkling of an eye. Before another day rolls over our heads, for all that we know to the contrary, some one of us may behold that veil removed which now hides from our view, the grand, but awful scenes of the eternal world. ”

“ Thus have we briefly inquired of the pleasures, the profits, the honors of the world, and in each department, a voice is heard saying true peace is not to be found in me. Where then is true and substantial happiness to be found? Surely our heavenly Father has not produced in our bosoms this undying thirst after happiness to be a perpetual source of torment to us. Such a reflection cannot be indulged in for a moment without incurring the guilt of the most horrid blasphemy. "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." ”

“ Every thing around, about, and within us is calculated to prompt us to the important duty; "so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." The setting sun closing his golden eye in the west—the faded leaf falling to the earth—the majestic river flowing on gradually until finally lost in the bosom of the ocean—the daily spectacle of "man going to his long home, and the mourners walking along the streets," all are so many monitors of Providence, reminding us of the solemn change we individually must shortly make. ”

“ A due consideration of any subject, is to give it that practical attention which its importance demands. If our end consisted in the total annihilation of both soul and body; were we destined to be remanded back to nothing; then, the proper consideration of our end would lead us to confine our thoughts chiefly to this world. The dictates of wisdom would be for us to make the best we could of our ephemeral existence—"to eat, drink, and be merry." But annihilation is not our destiny.
"A voice within us speaks the startling word,
Man, thou shalt never die. ”

“ That man, who, before rearing his superstructure, first secures a foundation of sufficient strength to bear its weight, may be considered wise; but how much more so should he be considered, who rears his hopes of heaven and eternal happiness upon the Rock of Ages, the sure and immutable foundation which God himself has laid in Zion. He who provides in spring and summer against the cold and chilling winds of winter is wise: but how much more so is the man who provides for his solid comfort against the cold blasts of death by securing a shelter under the everlasting arm? ”

“ The order and regularity that obtain among men flow from this source. We sometimes see different nations involved in angry disputes, and led to the very point of bringing about all the horrors of a desolating war. Fortunately, however, superior wisdom in due season rises up in her majesty and makes her voice heard above the "sound of many waters:"—the tumultuous murmurs of the people are at once hushed: and the hostile spirit with its menacing array of the weapons of death, gives place to the pleasing spectacle of harmony, fraternity, peace, and their ever-attendant blessings. ”

“ The large circle of those with whom we passed the blithesome hours of youth, have long since shot the awful gulf of a boundless eternity. A few of us stand trembling upon the shore, to admonish you with a silent but impressive voice, how vain it is for you to calculate upon attaining the days of our lengthened years. For long, long before man reaches this, he enters the narrow house appointed for all living. The most of our fellow creatures die like a flower blasted in the morning, or at noon, a fact, that shows how delusive is the hope of a protracted life. ”

“ Where is there an intelligent creature in the wide universe, who can be happy, unless approbated by his Maker, the only source of happiness? And can the great Supreme, approbate a character, that is in direct opposition to his own? No, never. Light and darkness can amalgamate sooner than the Eternal God can look with complacency, either upon man or angel, that does not, in his measure, bear his moral image and likeness. There is a perpetual war between the two. God has no fellowship with the wicked. And the wicked have no communion with him. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." ”

“ He is thus represented, because that "lively hope" which can sustain the soul amidst the various trials of life comes from God, and finally leads us on to the enjoyment of his beatifick presence.
There is a hope which man derives from the constitution of his nature. It shows itself in early childhood. At mature age, he clings to it as a cheerful companion in his multiplied pursuits in life, and too often, never relaxes his grasp upon the airy phantom, until compelled to do so by the irresistible arm of death. What is it that gives the most buoyancy and light-heartedness to the smiling youth? ”

“ Light and darkness cannot amalgamate. 'Two cannot walk together except they agree.' The ungodly may often contrive to hush the voice of conscience and sing a false peace to themselves; but there will be special seasons in their history when they are made to sweat and agonize under its tortures, and the fearful forebodings of the wrath to come. Now as such persons are enemies to God, enemies to themselves, they must also be enemies to the true peace and happiness of their fellow men. For he who is blind to his own best interest, cannot be prepared to consult the true interest of others. ”

“ When our globe shall be dissolved, and all that are therein shall be burned up, the soul, more refined and dignified, shall survive the dissolution of matter, and shall either flourish in immortal youth and beauty on the healthful plains of Paradise, or endure an indescribable burden of anguish in the doleful regions of endless woe. How invaluable then is the soul, and how solemnly, pressing are its claims upon our most serious regard. Consider what the great Eternal has done to promote its everlasting health and vigor. ”

“ Is true peace to be found in the honors of the world—in fame? What is fame? We may have seen its nature illustrated in the history of the great political men of the present day. For a little while we see them puffed by the wind of a multitude; but how soon do we behold them by the same multitude as severely pelted. The conduct of the people toward our blessed Lord, forcibly illustrates the emptiness of fame, and clearly shows how little to be depended on is the applause of men. ”

“ Let those who have been graciously brought into a sacred nearness to God, show their thankfulness for this inestimable privilege, by making nearer approaches to him, by diligent attendance upon all the appointed means of grace—daily cultivating those graces of the Spirit which in the sight of God are of great price. "The path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day." ”

“ Horror-stricken at the sight, we would tremble under the most agonizing apprehensions, lest the earth would not long sustain such a mass of guilt, pollution and crime. Now, we should bear in mind, that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, surveys with one comprehensive glance, not only all the crimes of a single nation, but of the world at large. He has a clear and distinct view of every species of wickedness that is now, or ever has been committed. ”

“ Every one now in Divine presence, who has arrived to the years of maturity, and is found in a state of impenitency, is an enemy to God. You are rebels against His government. You stand in battle array against him, led on by "the Prince of Darkness, he who now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience." And, what do you suppose, will be the issue of this hostility? Canst thou, whose habitation is in the dust, contend with the arm of Omnipotence? Suppose the wrath of every individual in this community was aroused against you, would you stand singly and alone, and contend against it? ”

“ You would escape for your life; you would prefer a lodging in some vast wilderness. But what will you do when the Lord "ariseth to shake terribly the earth?" When the great day of his wrath shall come, whither shall you fly? "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him." Where now will you find shelter from that "fire that shall devour before Him?" Where in the wide universe will you then find an all-availing friend? ”

“ We may clothe ourselves in the garment of self-righteousness, we may felicitate ourselves on the ground of our own goodness, and be esteemed by a short-sighted world as the best of citizens, but this will be found at last to be a poor preparation for an exit from time to eternity. With no other preparation than our own righteousness, we shall be like the man, spoken of in the Gospel, who built his house upon the sand, "When the rains descended and the Hood came and beat upon his house, it fell and great was the fall." ”

“ To perfect obedience to the law, you can lay no claim. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." None can "tell how oft he offendeth." To be justified by the deeds of the law, therefore, is impossible. The great provision made in the gospel, is the only hope of sinful man. If then we would be prepared to meet death in perfect peace, we must be "found in Christ, not having our own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." ”

“ But when the soul is lost, all is lost—the joys of heaven once lost, are lost forever—the soul that descends to the dismal regions of despair, shall never be cheered by the glad sound of salvation. How egregious then, is the folly of ungodly men! If their folly was unavoidable, they would be excusable. For no one can be fairly blamed for unavoidable ignorance. But this is not the case. For their folly, they alone are to blame.
The text says—
"There is a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom." ”

“ Reason debased, for centuries tried, but in vain, to find, the sure, the narrow way, that leads to glory and immortality. But it pleased God in infinite benevolence, to devise the plan by which "He can be just and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, with a heart unto righteousness." "God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ”

“ But suppose, what is very rare, that the breeze of popular favor should be uninterrupted in its course—that fame's trumpet should sound forth their praise without one discordant note. Pleasing as this might be to the distinguished personage, it is certain, that this circumstance can afford no comfort to the soul while the body lay prostrate upon a bed of languishing—no stay and staff to the trembling spirit when the solemn hour of departing life arrives. ”

“ How unspeakably happy is the lot of sincere Christians. The blessed Redeemer, though seated at the right hand of the majesty on high, yet manifests himself unto them as he does not unto the world. He still addresses you by his word and Spirit in the same tones of love, tenderness and compassion, that charmed the hearts of that little band that followed him in the days of his humiliation. ”

“ This is the noble temper with which the apostle designed to inspire his brethren at Corinth—a kind of independence of all temporal things.—Not despising the good things of the world, but putting a due estimate upon them, using them in their proper place—not seeking happiness in them, but in the only living and true God. This is the temper that becomes us as dying men diligently to cultivate. ”