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SERMONS,
By THE LATE
REV. EDWARD PAYSOX, D. D.
PASTOR OF THE
SECOND CHURCH IN PORTLAND.
PORTLAND:
SHIRLEY AND HYDE, 7, EXCHANGE-STREET.
SOLD BY PEIRCE AND WILLIAMS, BOSTON ! JOHN P. HAVEN,
NEW YORK : AND E. LITTKLL, PHILADELPHIA.
1828.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
R l«iO L
DISTRICT OP MAINE, SS.
DE IT REMEMBERED, That on the first day of August, A. D. 1828, in the United
•*-• States of America, Ann Louisa Payson, of the said District, has deposited in this
oflSce, the title of a book, the right whereof she claims as proprietor,' in the words fol-
lowing, to wit :
" Sermons, By the late Rev. Edward Payson, D. D. pastor of the second Church
in Portland."
In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, " An Act for the
encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the au-
thors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned :" and also to an
act, entitled, " An Act supplementary to an Act for the encouragement of learning, by
secwing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such
copies, during the times therein mentioned •, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts
of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints."
A true Copy as of record :
Attest,
Clerk of the District
Court of Maine.
JOHN MUSSEY,
JOHN MUSSEY, Clerk D. C. Maine
SHIRLEY AND HYDE, PRIN1"ERS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The history of this volume is quickly told. On the death of its lamented
author, an extensive and urgent desire was expressed for the publication of
some of those pulpit addiesses, the delivery of which had been so greatly bless-
ed. This desire, though perfectly natural and reasonable, would have been un-
availing, but for the confident belief, that the publication would subserve the
cause of religion. The thought, that his labors should be lost to the rest of the
world, was so irreconcilable with the feelings of some of Dr. Payson's most
judicious hearers, that, long before his last sickness, they solicited him to pre-
pare a selection of his Sermons for the press ; but his strong and uniform aver-
sion to printing his own productions, prevented his compliance, till a few days
before his decease. He then, from his general recollection of their contents,
directed a number to be separated from the mass, out of which he was willing
a selection should be made, and to which it must be confined. It is not known,
that his restriction has been violated ; though, from causes which need not be
mentioned, it became impossible to identify every one, thus separated, with
absolute certainty.
Should any glance at the volume, and inquire. Are these the Sermons, which
procured for their author such astonishing popularity, and wrought with such
power upon his numerous audience 1 — it must be conceded, that many things ac-
companied their delivery, and contributed to their efl^ect, which do not appear
in print. There was an unaffected earnestness, a glowing intensity of feeling,
a peculiarity of expression and utterance, a manner wholly original and indes-
cribable, which will not attend their perusal, except in the minds of those, who
were accustomed to hear him. The reader will not feel the immediate influ-
ence of those prayers, which disarmed criticism, which awed the most thought-
less, which brought them directly before Infinite Majesty, and made them feel
that they had business of greater importance, than to criticise or cavil.
It should also be stated, that, in several instances, the manuscripts ended in
the midst of a sentence, or near the commencement of a paragraph ; — leaving
the editor this only alternative, either to pause, before coming to the defective
portion, or else to supply the defect himself, — the latter he has rarely had the
presumption to attempt. These absent portions, as supplied by the preacher,
were probably the most impressive parts of these discourses.
It was Dr. Payson's practice to preach, at least, half the time without writing.
IV
His unwritten Sermons were as regularly planned, and as faithfully studi-
ed, as those which he penned ; and his quick perception, ready memory, power
of illustration, and the fervor excited by the very exercise of addressing an as-
sembly of immortals, to whom his message was to be a savor of eternal life, or
death, — gave an impressiveness to his unwritten discourses, perhaps, even be-
yond what attended his written Sermons. His great reason for writing at all,
was, the exhausting effect, upon his physical powers, of preaching constantly
without notes. It appears to have been no part of Dr. Payson's concern, to
write a great Sermon; but the question, which seems to have been uppermost
in his mind, was, how shall I present this subject so as to accomplish the most
good 1 And in answering this question he consulted the capacity of ordinary
hearers. Hence the great simplicity of his language, even in his boldest flights ;
hence the plainness and directness of his address, and a greater diffuseness of
style, than he would otherwise have adopted.
Tn judging of these Sennons as intellectual efforts, it should also be remem-
bered, that, besides the ceaseless calls for pastoral labor by a very numerous
flock, and other demands upon his time, the preparing and preaching of three
such Sermons a week, was the regular employment of Dr. Payson, during the
greater part of his ministry. He seldom failed to meet his pastoral charge on
the Sabbath, and at the weekly lecture; and the powers of his mind appear,
not so much in single discourses, as in the general excellence of all, and that
almost " infinite variety," which they exhibit, in the manner of presenting and
enforcing truth and duty. He never ' nods.' While there is an obvious differ-
ence between his early and late productions, which shows a rapid progress of
mind ; there is a surprising equality in those which belong to the same period
of his ministry, and this circumstance has increased the difficulty of making the
selection.
The preceding suggestions have not arisen from the slightest conviction, that
the following Sermons need any apology. On the contrary, it is believed, they
will fill a place unoccupied in this species of literature, and be found a valuable
accession to its riches.
It was originally contemplated, that the volume should include those Sermons
of Dr. Payson, which have already been published. But on further examina-
tion of the manuscripts, it was thought, that subscribers and the public would
be more obliged and profited by originals, possessing equal excellence ; espe-
cially, as many are necessarily suppressed, which are not less deserving of the
public eye. As an aci of justice to the author, however, one is inserted, which
has already appeared, that the reader, by a comparison of the others with this,
might have an opportunity to judge what would have been their appearance,
had they been revised by the Doctor's own hand. — For the arrangement of the
Sermons, their titles, and some minor things, the editor is responsible.
The volume, it is believed, will fulfil every promise held out in the propos-
als; and contains a miniature likeness of its author, in addition. It is com-
mended to that Spirit, who has already set his seal to its truths.
COI^TEIVTS.
SERMON I.
The Bible above all Price. page 9
SERMON II.
- God^s Ways above Men's. 37
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah Iv. Z, 9.
SERMON III.
All Things created for Christ. 56
All things were created by him and for him.— Oolossians i. 16.
SERMON IV.
The old Way which wicked Men have trodden, 71
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden ? Which were cut
down out of time, whose foundation was overthrown with a flood : which said
unto God, Depart from us •, and what can the Almighty do for them .* — Job xxii.
15, 16, 17.
SERMON V.
Sins estimated by the Light of Heaven. 92
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy counte-
nance. — Psahn xc. 8.
SERMON VI.
Men tried and found defective. 110
Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.— Daniel v. 27.
VI
SERMON VII.
Our Sins infinite in Number and Enormity. 130
Is not thy wickedness great? andtUine iniquities infinite?— Job xxii 5.
SERMOJV vm.
The Wicked, through Pride, refuse to seek God. 151
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God. — Psalm
X. 4.
SERMON IX.
Recollections of God painful to the Wicked. ' 1 70
I remembered God, and was troubled. — Psalm Ixxvii. 3.
SERMON X.
Sinners wilful and perverse. 1 87
And the Lord said, Whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation ? and to what
are they like? They are like unlo children sitting in the market-place, and cal-
ling one to another, and saying. We have piped unto you, and ye have not dan-
ced ; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist
came neither eating bread nor drinking wine ; and ye say. He hath a devil.
The Son of Man is come eating and drinking ; and ye say. Behold a gluttonous
man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners ! But wisdom is jus-
tified of all her children.— Luke vii. 31—33.
SERMON XI.
— Amiable Instincts not Holiness, 205
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God your whole spir-
it and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. — 1 Thessalonians v. 23.
SERMON XII.
The promised Fruit of Chrisfs Sufferings. 226
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. — Isaiah liii. 11.
SERMON XIII.
Messiah'' s Victory predicted and desired. 245
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty ;
and in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righ-
teousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows
are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whoreby the people fall under
«hee.— Psalm xlv. 3, 4, 5.
Vll
SERMON XIV.
Sinners entreated to hear GodPs Voice. 265
The Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will bear his voice, harden not your hearts. —
Hebrews iii. 7, 8.
SEBMON XV.
The Difficulty of escaping the Damnation of
Hell 285
How can ye escape the damnation of hell ? — Matthew xxiii. 33.
SERMON XVI.
The dead in Sin made alive. 308
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins ; wherein, in time
past, ye walked, according^ to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit tliat now worketh in the children of disobedi-
ence; among; whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of
the flesh, fulfilling' the desires of our flesh, and of the mind ; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his
great !ove wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quick-
ened us together with Christ ; (by grace are ye saved ;) and hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus ; that in the
ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness
toward us, through Christ Jesus.— Ephesians ii. 1 — 7.
SERMON XVII.
The universal Law of Forgiveness. 326
If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him ; and if he repent, forgive him. —
And if he trespass against thee seven tunes in a day, and seven times in a day
turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shall forgive him. — Luke xvii. 3, 4.
SERMON XVIII.
Fraud exposed and condemned. 342
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer : but when he is gone his way, then he
boasteth.— Proverbs xx. 14.
SERMON XIX.
The Mark of Deliverance. 357
And the Lord said unto him. Go through the midst of the city, and set a mark up-
on the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done
in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in my hearing. Go ye after him
through the city and smite ; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity •, slay
utterly old and young ■, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark.—
Ezekiel ix. 4, 5, 6.
VUl
SERMON XX.
The Christian Manner of expressing Grati-
tude. 381
The Lord give mercy unto the bouse of Onesipborus ; for he oft refreshed me, and
was not ashamed of my chain. But when he was in Rome, he sought me out ve-
ry dilieentiy, and found me. The Lord grant unto him, that he may find mercy
ef the Lord in that day.— 2 Timothy i. 16, 17, 18.
SERAfON XXI.
The timely Presence and Salutation of Jesus. 401
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst ot tliem, and saitb unto
• them. Peace be unto you. — Luke xxiv. 36.
SERMON XXII.
A Festival kept to the Lord. 416
When ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the
Lord. — Leviticus xxiji. 39.
SERMON XXIII.
The Second Coming of Christ. 444
Behold be cometh with clouds •, and every eye shall see him, and they also which
pierced him ; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him : Even so.
Amen. — Revelation i. 7.
SERMON XXIV.
Equality oj Men with Angels. 462
For they are equal unto the angels.— Luke xx. 36.
SERMON XXV.
The Punishment of the Wicked dreadful and
interminable. 484
Where their worm dietbnot, and the fire is not quenched.— Mark ix. 44.
SERMOX I.
THE BIBLE ABOVE ALL PRICE.
TREACHEI) BEFORE THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF MAI>E, MAY 5, 1814.
There are two objects, which a speaker who
addresses his fellow- beings on an occasion like the
present, ought ever to keep in view. Of these ob-
jects, the first, and, with respect to his hearers, the
most important, is, to induce them to prize as it
deserves, a volume, which, notwithstanding its un-
rivalled claims to attention, is too generally neg-
lected. The second is, to procure their assistance,
in gratuitously distributing this volume among their
destitute fellow-creatures. These objects, though
distinct, are intimately connected; for if we can
be induced suitably to prize the Sacred Scriptures
ourselves, there will be little difficulty in persuad-
ing us to aid, in communicating them to others ;
and there is but too much reason for presuming,
that he, who is not desirous to impart this treasure
to all around him, knows nothing of its real value,
nor of the temper which it is designed to produce.
2
10 THE BIBLE
With respect to a part, and we trust a very con-
siderable part of the present assembly, the objects,
which we have mentioned, may be considered as
already attained. There are, we doubt not, many
before us, who entertain a profound veneration for
the Bible ; and in whose breasts it has an advo-
cate, who pleads its cause, and that of the desti-
tute, far more powerfully and successfully than we
can do. To such persons, nothing need be said in
favor of a book, which not only affords them sup-
port and consolation under the troubles of life, but
enables them to contemplate death with pleasurCy
and, to borrow its own language, makes them
"wise unto salvation." If all present are of this
description, our object is obtained ; and farther
remarks are needless. But it is presumable, that
in every assembly, many are to be found, who,
through inattention to the subject, or from some
other cause, have formed very inadequate concep-
tions of the worth of this volume ; and who, conse-
quently, do not feel the infinite importance of put-
ting it into the hands of others. It is also notorious,
that even among such as profess to venerate the
scriptures, there are not a few, who seem to regard
them as deficient in those qualities, M^hich excite
interest and attention. It may not be improper,
therefore, on an occasion like the present, to make
a few remarks with a design to shew, that while
the scriptures are incalculably valuable and impor-
tant, viewed as a revelation from heaven ; they are
also in a very high degree interesting and deserv-
ABOVE ALL PRICE. 1 1
iHg of attention, considered merely as a human
composition. As the whole volume of scripture
will form the subject of these remarks, it was
thought unnecessary to select any particular part
of it as a text.
Were we permitted to adduce the testimony of
the scriptures in their own favor, as a proof that
their contents are highly interesting, our task
would be short, and easily accomplished. But it
is possible, that to this testimony some might think
it a sufficient reply, to apostrophize the sacred
volume in the language of the captious Jews to
our Saviour ; — " Thou bearest record of thyself;
thy record is not true." No similar objection can
be urged, however, against our availing ourselves
of the testimony, which eminent uninspired men
have borne in favor of the scriptures. From the al-
most innumerable testimonies of this nature, which
might easily be adduced, we shall select only that
of Sir William Jones, a Judge of the supreme court
of judicature in Bengal — a man, says his learned
biographer, who, by the exertion of rare intellect-
ual talents, acquired a knowledge of arts, sciences,
and languages, which has seldom been equalled,
and scarcely, if ever, surpassed. " I have carefully
and regularly perused the scriptures," says this truly
great man, " and am of opinion, that this volume,
independent of its divine origin, contains more sub-
limity, purer morality, more important history, and
finer strains of eloquence, than can be collected
from all other books, in whatever language they
12 THE BIBLE
may have been written." How well he was qualifi-
ed to make this remark, and how much it imphed
in his lips, may be inferred from the fact, that he
was acquainted with twenty-eight different lan-
guages, and with the best works, which had been
published in most of them. That a volume, which,
in the opinion of such a man, is thus superior to
all other books united, cannot be so insipid and
uninteresting a composition, as many seem to im-
agine, it must be needless to remark. That his
praises, though great and unqualified, are in no
respect unmerited, it would be easy, were it neces-
sary, to prove, by appropriate quotations from the
book which he so highly extols. But its morality
will be more properly considered in a subsequent
part of this discourse ; and its unrivalled eloquence
and sublimity are too obvious, and too generally
acknowledged, to require illustration. If any im-
agine that he has estimated too highly, the historical
information which this volume contains, we would
only request them to peruse it with attention ; and
particularly to consider the assistance which it
affords, in accounting for many otherwise inexplica-
ble phenomena, in the natural, political, and moral
world. A person who has never attended to the
subject, will, on recollection, be surprised to find,
for how large a proportion of his knowledge, he is
indebted to this neglected book.* It is the only
book which satisfactorily accounts, or even pro-
* It will be recollected, that we here refer to such information only,
a's uninspired qjen might communicate.
ABOVE ALL PRICE. IS
lesses to account, for the introduction of natural
and moral evil into the world, and for the conse-
quent present situation of mankind. To this book
we are also indebted, for all our knowledge of the
progenitors of our race, and of the early ages of
the world ; — for our acquaintance with the manners
and customs of those ages; — for the origin and
explanation of many remarkable traditions, which
have extensively prevailed, and for almost every
thing which is known, of many once flourishing
nations ; especially of the Jews, the most singular
and interesting people, perhaps, that ever existed.
It is the Bible alone, which, by informing us of the
deluge, enables us to account, satisfactorily, for
many surprising appearances in the internal struc-
ture of the earth, as well as for the existence of
marine exuviae on the summits of mountains, and
in other places far distant from the sea. By the
same volume we are assisted in accounting for the
multiplicity of languages, which exist in the world ;
for the degraded condition of the Africans ; for the
origin and universal prevalence of sacrifices ; and
many other facts, of an equally interesting nature.
We shall only add, that while the scriptures throw
light on the facts here alluded to, the existence of
these facts powerfully tends, on the other hand, to
establish the truth and authenticity of the scriptures.
In addition to these intrinsic excellencies of the
Bible, which give it, considered merely as a human
production, powerful claims to the attention of per-
sons of taste and learning, there are various circum-
14 THE BIBLE
Stances, of an adventitious nature, which render it
peculiarly interesting to a reflecting mind. Among
these circumstances we may, perhaps, not improp-
erly, mention its great antiquity. Whatever may
be said of its inspiration, some of the books, which
compose it, are unquestionably the most ancient
literary compositions extant, and, perhaps, the most
ancient that ever were written ; nor is it very im-
probable, that letters were first employed in record-
ing some parts of them, and that they were written
in the language, first spoken by man. It is also not
only the most ancient book, but the most ancient
monument of human exertion, the eldest offspring
of human intellect, now in existence. Unhke the
other works of man, it inherits not his frailty. All
the cotemporaries of its infancy have long since
perished and are forgotten. Yet this wonderful
volume still survives. Like the fabled pillars of
Seth, which are said to have bid defiance to the
deluge, it has stood, for ages, unmoved in the midst
of that flood, which sweeps away men, with their
labors, into oblivion. That these circumstances
render it an interesting object of contemplation, it
is needless to remark. Were there now in existence
a tree which was planted; an edifice which was
erected; or any monument of human ingenuity
which was formed, at that early period, in which
some parts of the Bible were written, would it not
be contemplated with the keenest interest; care-
fully preserved as a precious relic ; and considered
as something, little less than sacred.^ With what
ABOVE ALL. PRICE. 16
emotions then will a thoughtful mind often open the
Bible ; and what a train of interesting reflections,
is it, in this view, calculated to excite ? While we
contemplate its antiquity, exceeding that of every
object around us, except the works of God, and
view it, in anticipation, as continuing to exist unal-
tered until the end of time, must we not feel almost
irresistibly impelled to venerate it, as proceeding
originally from him, who is yesterday, to-day, and
forever the same ; and whose works, like his years,
fail not.
The interest, which this volume excites by its
antiquity, will be greatly increased, if we consider
the violent and persevering opposition it has en-
countered ; and the almost innumerable enemies it
has resisted and overcome. We contemplate, with
no ordinary degree of interest, a rock, which has
braved for centuries the ocean's rage, practically
saying, "hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther;
and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." With
still greater interest, though of a somewhat different
kind, should we contemplate a fortress, which, dur-
ing thousands of years, had been constantly assault-
ed by successive generations of enemies ; — around
whose walls millions had perished; — and to over-
throw which, the utmost efforts of human force and
ingenuity had been exerted in vain. Such a rock,
such a fortress, we contemplate in the Bible. For
thousands of years, this volume has withstood, not
only the iron tooth of time, which devours men,
and their works together, but all the physical and
16 THE BIBLE
intellectual strength of man. Pretended friends
have endeavored to corrupt and betray it ; kings
and princes have perseveringly sought to banish it
from the world ; the civil and military powers of the
greatest empires have been leagued for its destruc-
tion ; the fires of persecution have often been light-
ed to consume it, and its friends together; and, at
many seasons, death, in some horrid form, has been