SERMON XXVII.

THE SERVANT OF GOD.

ACTS xxvii. 23.

Whose I am, and whom I serve.

THIS is a concise and expressive description of a true Christian.

The man who, in whatever nation, or whatever community he may be found, can humbly and sincerely, in the sight of an heart-searching God, appropriate this character, is a genuine Chris. tian; and he who is destitute of it, however high his attainments, and splendid his profession, is a child of wrath and disobedience, an enemy to God by wicked works.

The apostle Paul, whose are these words, had been long so unreservedly devoted to the service of God, had been enabled to make such sacrifices to his cause, and had so steadily persevered in his attachment, as could leave no room for himself or others to admit a doubt of its sincerity.

Consistency of character is highly valuable in

itself, and a source of solid satisfaction to the mind. Yet let me not be mistaken: Paul was far from grounding his acceptance on his obedience; he shuddered at such an idea; he thought, and felt, and acknowledged himself, to the latest period of his life, "the chief of sinners," and "less than the least of all saints." But Paul had long ago deliberately weighed the cause of God and the interests of his soul, and having found them infinitely preferable to the gains and pleasures of sin and the world, and richly counterbalancing all the hardships and oppositions he had to encounter, he had not now to doubt, and hesitate, and make his choice, or inquire whether or not his choice was made. Let others halt between two opinions, and hesitate whom they should serve; Paul had long ago said, like Joshua, "As for me, I will serve the Lord;" and, like David, "Thou art my portion, O God! I have said that I will take heed to thy word." By the grace of God he was enabled to fulfil his resolution, and abide satisfied with his choice. A prisoner for the cause of Jesus of Nazareth, he was not ashamed of his bonds, for he knew in whom he had believed, and for whom he had suffered the loss of all things. Instead of shrinking back from his profession, he adhered to it as his highest glory, his most valuable privilege, accounting himself infinitely less honoured by being called the citizen of Cilicia, the pupil of Gamaliel, than the servant of God.

It was now, on his voyage to Rome, to stand before the tribunal of Augustus Cæsar, when assailed by a tremendous storm, after days of struggling and nights of distress, when all hope was taken away, and all the ship's company sat in trembling despair, expecting every moment the wave that should overwhelm their shattered bark, and plunge them in a watery grave, that the servant of the living God stood forth arrayed in the majesty of heaven; and though himself an obscure prisoner, yet speaking as one having authority, words of comfort to all the trembling crew, two hundred and seventy-six souls: "I exhort you," said he, "to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Cæsar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me."

The solemn profession made by Paul of his relation to God, suggests Jehovah's right;-his own surrender;-his privilege;—and his engagements.

I. He looks upon God as his rightful owner, << Whose I am:" it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves, therefore we are not our own, but his.

We are his by creation, for he formed us: our bodies are the work of his hands, and our spirits emanations of his breath;-by preservation, for he maintains us:" in him we live, and move," as well as "have our being;"-by redemption, for he bought us at a price, all price beyond. When ruined, helpless, and undone, enslaved by Satan, and condemned to endless woe, then Jehovah appeared, and made himself known as “a just God and a Saviour:" then he said, "Deliver them from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom :" then on the great Surety's head were laid the iniquities of us all, for he "made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." We" were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” Surely then, if Jehovah has bought us with such a price, we are not our own but his.

Again, the servants of God are his by conquest. Ah! once we were "enemies to God by wicked works... Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;" living "without hope and without God in the world;" alienated from him, and opposed to him, living at a distance from him, and liking the distance well. But, oh!" the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power... us hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins," and brought near us that were afar off, "by

the blood of Christ." The enmity of our hearts he has slain by his all-conquering grace, and made us a willing people in the day of his power.

My dear friends, let us pause and ask, is this our character and our experience? Assuredly it is if we are real Christians. Paul was once a bitter enemy against the name and cause of Jesus of Nazareth; but he knew what it was to have the stubborn enmity of his heart conquered and melted down by heavenly mercy.

The softened rebel fell at the feet of the exalted Saviour, asking, "Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?" and from that blessed hour, his he was, and him he served. And we, though we have received ten thousand mercies from the God of providence and grace, and have perhaps felt some emotions of gratitude towards our Benefactor, are still destitute of the character of his friends and servants, still strangers to an interest in his redeeming love, unless that love has constrained us thus to "judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again."

II. The servants of God are his by a willing surrender on their part, and a gracious acceptance on his. David clearly expresses a conscious transaction of this nature in the 27th Psalm: "When thou saidst seek ye my face, my heart