A Sermon and Delivered by JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY, at the North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.
Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938
This is The Quaker Homiletics Online Anthology, Section Three: The 19th Century.
Seeing, beloved friends, that all our hope of true peace in this world, and of
eternal happiness in the World to come, depends upon our being sons and
daughters of God, in the sense in which the expression is here used by the
apostle, it may surely be worth our while to enquire somewhat particularly, what
it is, to be led by the Spirit of God. We are all of us sons and daughters of God
by creation, in common with all our fellow-men the world over. But here there
is a still nearer relation alluded to, which is described in Scripture as adoption.
And those only who are sons and daughters of God by adoption, are heirs of that
glory which is laid up in the world to come, for all them who are kept by the
power of God, through faith unto salvation. And here the apostle marks and
selects one general characteristic, by which the sons of God by adoption, may be
distinguished. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God."
These words arose with me, since we have been sitting together in silence. I
have brought them not hither; for I can truly say that it was only under an
impression of duty, and under a feeling of gospel love, that I was led to invite
our neighbors on this occasion; not knowing what word or work would here be
required of me.
Now I would address this question to the inquiring mind, for it lies at the very
threshold of our subject; What does the apostle here mean by the Spirit of God ?
Does he mean the influence of the natural mind? Does he mean the conclusions
of human reason? Does he mean the dictates of the conscience, that faculty
whereby we judge of right and wrong? No: he means an influence by which that
faculty is directed; the influence of the Holy Ghost, which is God. God with the
Father, and God with the Son. A supernatural influence, an influence which
forms no part whatever of the constitution of the human mind; an influence
which is as distinct from the soul, as the wind which meets us when we are
walking or riding, is distinct from the body. A sober, plain, unquestionable
reality, Although not subjected to the natural sense of man, and although utterly
despised by the wise men after the flesh, by the philosopher and speculator who
know not God, by those who delight themselves in fine--spun theories in
religion, without coming home to the practical and vital truth; but an influence
known by the babes in Christ, an influence perceptible to the rational mind, an
influence felt beyond expression, by all who are awakened to a real solicitude
for their eternal welfare.
The mind or soul of man is a spirit, an immaterial, immortal spirit, which dwells
for a season in these tabernacles of clay, the two being united together by
mysterious bands which human philosophy cannot scrutinize; and the Holy
Spirit of God exerts its power on this immortal spirit of man, penetrates into its
deepest recesses, examines and scrutinizes its dark holes and corners, insinuates
itself into its motives and springs of thought and of action, and pervades by
degrees the whole being, and subordinates it, if indeed the work goes on as it
ought to do, -to the will of that infinite and incomprehensible Being, who is the
Author both of nature and of grace, Yes, friends, the Author and Maker of that
boundless universe which gives, from its unspeakable magnitude, the sublimest
conception of which the mind of man is capable, is the God of Israel, the God of
his believing and obedient followers, the God who made the immortal mind of
man, and communicates to the creature of his holy hand, the influence of which I
speak----the supernatural influence of the Holy Ghost. And this is the influence
which the apostle evidently means by the Spirit of God; and that in his view it
had no connexion with the depraved nature of man, is evident from his saying,
"For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,") my carnal mind, "there dwelleth no
good thing." Whereas all the while, the very best of all things was dwelling
richly in him, so that he was indeed fruitful in the field of offering, and joyful in
the house of prayer.
And I have thought of another question. Through what channel is this
supernatural influence bestowed upon the children of men? The answer of Holy
Scripture to this question is equally clear. It is bestowed upon the children of
men, through the channel of Jesus Christ, and him crucified. O, friends, can any
person in the present day dare to insinuate, that we as a religious people, and
that our forefathers in the truth, ever denied or doubted the doctrine of Jesus
Christ, and him crucified; when we are in possession of abundant evidence, that
in this Society from its first rise to the present day, the gift of the Holy Ghost was
always ascribed to the free mercy of God our Father through Jesus Christ, and
him crucified, and was always held to be in consequence of the propitiatory
death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ without the gates of Jerusalem? You
know, friends, that this principle of our faith is as clear as the day. For we do
believe, not only that Christ died on the cross for the sins of all man- kind that
we, poor guilty, wretched, lost sinners might have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, and that he was thus wounded for our transgressions, and
bruised for our iniquities,--but this people have always held that it was in virtue
of this propitiatory death and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we obtained
the blessed gift of the influence of the Holy Spirit; that our Lord Jesus Christ led
captivity captive, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the
word God might dwell among them. And therefore, friends, the testimony of
Scripture is abundantly clear, both as to the origin of this influence, as flowing
from God himself, the fountain of all good, and as to the appointed channel
through which it flows, as well as respecting the nature and character of the
influence itself.
And now, my beloved friends, the great point lies here; to come under this
influence, and to know its power; to experience its cleansing efficacy; and to be
ourselves guided thereby in all our life and conversation in the world. Then we
shall "be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
And I apprehend that the minds of christians, of every name, are increasingly
alive and awake to the importance of this vital subject. I think it is increasingly
known and acknowledged, that unless we come under this influence, and are
guided and led thereby, all our profession of religion is less than nothing, yea,
less than nothing and vanity. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Now, beloved friends, the professing church of Christ stands in need of greater
purification than it has yet attained to; there are many blots on her escutcheon,
even in this land; there are many spots on her garments; she is defiled by the
dust of the earth; and her garments are very much tattered. But when the
professing church of Christ under every name, comes under the baptizing
influence of the Holy Ghost, and comes to be led and guided in all things, by the
uncompromising principle of life and light, then she will arise and shake her
garments from the dust, then she will appear in her beauty, and there shall no
more pass through her borders, the uncircumcised and the unclean.
It is plainly the doctrine of Scripture, that the Holy Spirit has been given through
Christ to be our guide in life, our guide in duty, our guide to heaven. And why
will ye not follow that guide? For it is not in man that walketh to direct his own
steps; the Spirit must lead us, if we would live forever. But I apprehend there are
those who sit down to reason and speculate on the subject, and who are prone to
perplex themselves with the question, How am I to distinguish the voice of the
Spirit of God, from my own imagination, or from the delusion of my soul's
enemy? But, dear friends, the believer in Christ who is brought into a humble
dependence upon the Lord of life and glory, and who walks by faith and not by
sight, is enabled to distinguish the voice of the Shepherd, from the voice of a
stranger. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck
them out of my hand." There is a spiritual eye, and a spiritual ear, opened by the
Lord's Spirit, so that with the intellectual ear of the soul, the voice of the true
Shepherd is clearly heard and distinguished, by the watchful believer, from the
voice of a stranger. But there are tests by which we may try these things; there
are certain proofs which are very clear and very Scriptural; and it is well for us
to examine ourselves, to prove ourselves, whether we be in the faith. "Know ye
not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?"
Now, friends, the guidance of the Spirit of truth, which leads into all truth and
into all virtue, will never lead any man, either in opinion or practice to any thing
which is Contrary to Holy Scripture. And it was a noble testimony of our early
Friends, that if any man pretended to be led by the Spirit into any practice
contrary to Holy Scripture, it was to be accounted a delusion of the devil. And
the Spirit of truth will always lead us to exalt and accept those blessed truths
which are plainly declared to mankind in the Holy Scriptures of truth; for those
Scriptures did emanate from that very Spirit, and the Spirit of truth can never by
any possibility contradict itself. Therefore here is a very merciful provision for
you and me; and may we all be diligent in the fear of the Lord, in the perusal of
the Holy Scriptures, always remembering, that we cannot savingly understand
their contents, unless they are brought home to the understanding and to the
heart, by the very same influence that gave them forth. And blessed be the Lord,
the testimony of this religious body has always been abundantly clear, to the
great truth, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
Then, to advance another step in this subject; it is certain that the true guidance
and influence of the Spirit can never, by any possibility, lead any man living, to
deny the Lord who bought him. That is impossible; for the words of our Saviour
are clear; "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proeeedeth from the Father, he shall testify
of me. And ye shall also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the
beginning." And when the Jews came to our Saviour and said, "What shall we do
that we might work -the works of God?" he said, "This is the work of God, that
ye believe on him whom he hath sent." And, friends, when the true Spirit of
grace and of supplication, is poured into the mind of unregenerate man, it breaks
him down into tenderness and contrition, and he looks upon him whom he hath
pierced; even the crucified Jesus, who was nailed to the cross by the wicked
hands of his enemies, and who died for the sins of all mankind; whom therefore
we all have pierced by our sins, and should mourn for him as a man mourneth
for his only son, and should be in bitterness for him, as a man who is in
bitterness for his first--born.
And it was the doctrine and the preaching of the early members of this religious
Society, "Mind the light;"----mind the light of the Spirit of God which shines in
the heart, that it may show you your sins, and bring you to the Saviour who died
for them. And, friends, if you will mind the light, it win make manifest your
degraded and lost condition by nature; it will make you sensible of your need of
a Saviour; it will bring you to the feet of Jesus, that you may behold the Lamb of
God, that taketh away the sin of the world.
Then, my friends, there is another test to which we may bring this matter, of no
small practical importance. There is according to the doctrine of Scripture, a
conflict, a warfare between the flesh and the Spirit. And the Spirit of God, when
truly felt and known, will ever be found to counteract the corrupt passions of our
fallen nature, and to lead the believer in Jesus in the way of the cross; and those
who come under that guidance and under that influence, shall be taught of the
Lord to say, as Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the
world." And here is the true reason, I believe, why so many who profess the
name of Christ, are unwilling to be guided by the unflattering and
uncompromising voice of the Spirit of God, which dictates a straight-forward
course of unbending holiness, without turning to the right hand or to the left;
they are displeased at the cross; they cannot bear the mortification of their heart's
lusts; the world, the world is their God; self is their idol; and they will not
renounce the world; they will not renounce self, and walk in the narrow way.
Light has come into the world, verily; but men love darkness rather than light
because their deeds are evil. But O, friends, the folly, the madness, the desperate
danger of such a course! Permit a stranger, and yet a brother, to implore you, as
you value your eternal happiness, not to trample upon the cross or Christ, but to
give up to it, and bear your cross, that you may be followers of a crucified Lord.
For except you take up his cross, you cannot be his disciples. professing
christians must come to a higher standard of action; they must discard the notion
of expediency, and cast it as to the winds; and with straight and steady step, they
must follow on to know and serve the Lord in obedience to the unflattering
witness for God in their own bosoms. And then they will be led to a higher
degree of virtue, and a more complete emancipation from the spirit of the world.
For if the Son of God make you free, you shall be free indeed. And though it is a
narrow way, it is a way of peace. Although it is a way in which the mind of man
is kept down, and all its passions subjected to the cross of Christ, it is
nevertheless, a way of freedom; it is the law of liberty; "Whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but
a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
And it will not do for any of us to cry peace, peace, to our souls, when we have
no peace. There must be an- unconditional surrender, an unqualified obedience,
There must be a faithful following of the blessed Lord and Saviour, who endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is now sitting down at the right hand of the
throne of God. We must follow him in the path of self-denial; we must follow
him in his walk of holiness; we must follow him in his course of ever
-abounding charity; we must, though at an immeasurable distance, imitate his
patience, his meekness, his forbearance, his subjection to his Father's will, his
love for his enemies; and in all the blessed and glorious traits of his character, if
we would follow him and partake of his glory in the world of spirits. "For if we
be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign
with him." And would to God that every one of us could say with Paul; "I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me."
And, friends, if we come to know the matchless working of the Spirit of God on
the mind of man, even to will and to do of his own good pleasure, then when we
say, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," it will not be a mere
unmeaning tribute of the lips, but a deep, heart-felt prayer, corresponding with
our practice. O, how very often does this prayer glide from the lips of christian
professors, who are not brought to an adequate sense of the depth of its meaning.
May it be your heart-felt prayer indeed, and may you prove the sincerity of the
petition, by your obedience to all his commandments. "For ye are my friends,"
said Jesus, "if ye do whatsoever I command you." "He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto
him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Blessed and glorious
privilege of the believer who proves the reality of his faith by his works! For as
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Now, my dear friends, if we come to experience the guidance of this influence,
in bringing us to suffer, and subjecting us to his holy will as obedient children,
then is there another evidence of the influence and guidance of the Spirit; and
that is, that it speaks peace to the troubled soul. Yes, it is to the troubled soul,
what the personal presence of Jesus was to the poor tempesttossed disciples;
when the deep seemed about to swallow them up, when the boisterous winds
and waves were about to overwhelm them, Jesus rose, and rebuked the winds
and the waves, and them was a great calm. Now I have always observed that the
working of man's fancy and imagination, in the things of religion, leads to storm,
tempest, disturbance and confusion, to a tumult of notions and feelings; but the
influence of the Spirit, when truly felt, and carefully followed, leads into
quietness, into stillness; yea, there are times under that immediate influence,
when the language seems to be proclaimed with power; "Be silent, O all flesh,
before the Lord, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation." "Keep silence
before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength." O how precious is
this quietness, friends! It is a wholesome, sober frame of mind. "God hath not
given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Cultivate this quietness, seek after this retirement of spirit. "In returning and rest
shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
Surely, my friends, there are evidences enough by which we may satisfy our
minds. But remember that the light of the Spirit of Christ speaks for itself. It
emanates from him who is the fountain of light, and it comes with its own native
force, power, dignity, and authority, to the rational mind of man. It is the work of
God, and it stands on his own authority, and ye need not doubt, ye need not
question, but come to the light, that your deeds may be reproved. For whoever
cannot bear the light of the Spirit of Christ as it shines in the heart, will be
condemned by the awful light of the terrible countenance of God in the day of
judgment, when he- shall finally declare, Depart from me all ye that work
iniquity, depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels.
Therefore, beloved friends, now is your time; now is the day of salvation; now is the hour of tender mercy. Now let the light shine without obstruction; now bring all your deeds to it; now let it lead you to Christ the crucified One, that your past sins may be washed away in the fountain of his blood, and that you may be prepared, under the immediate guidance and government of God's Holy Spirit, to grow from strength to strength, and from grace to grace, even unto the perfect day. That you may enter and pass through the pearl gates of the city of God, there to enjoy the repose of victory; there to join the count-less company gathered out of every kindred, tongue and people, who have palms in their hands, and are clothed in white robes; who have come "out of great tribulation," and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the, throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.