Cofiant y diweddar Barch Robert Everett/The Gospel Net

Cofiant y diweddar Barch Robert Everett

gan David Davies (Dewi Emlyn)

THE GOSPEL NET.

WINFIELD, April 4, 1835.

Luke 5: 5.—"Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net."

The history of our Savior is characterized by amazing condescension. Though he was one who thought it not robbery to be equal with God; and all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily; yet generally we see him, while tabernacled in the flesh, in a low state, having nowhere to lay his head, despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Still, though this was the general character of the condition in which our Savior appeared, we sometimes see him appear in the majesty of God, commanding the elements to be still, and they obey; casting out devils with the word of his mouth; giving eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, feet to the lame and life to the dead. In this paragraph, we have an account of a miracle wrought by our Lord and Savior.

"And Simon, answering, said unto him: Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing. As if Simon Peter had said, "We can never cast the net under more discouraging circumstances; for we have toiled, labored hard, and labored thus for a long time-toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word—nothing else could persuade me; but since it is thy word, I will let down the net."

The sentiment to which your attention is invited is this: that our rule of duty, under all circumstances, is not our own feelings, or the evidence we may have of certain and immediate success; but the commandment, or the revealed will of God in his word. In discussing this subject, I design:

I. To show that men sometimes act with reference to religion as if their own feelings were the rule of duty.

1. Sinners act as if their feelings were the rule of duty, when they make a want of feeling a reason why they do not attend immediately to the subject of their soul's salvation. Now, this is no reason why they should not attend to religion. They ought to have feeling—it is a great sin to be without feeling on such a subject as this. God blames the sinner, in his word, for being thus without feeling. "But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath." This is what a want of feeling leads the sinner to; he treasures up for himself "wrath against the day of wrath."

2. The people of God act as if their feelings were the rule of duty, when they neglect to put forth suitable efforts to promote the cause of religion, assigning as a reason, that the state of feeling in the church is low. This is frequently made an objection to do anything of a special nature; "it is a stupid time, and there is no special feeling," &c. Now let me ask, is this a suitable reason? Is it not the very reason why something ought to be done? And again, what does God require? Does he not say, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead?" Here, then, is the rule of duty-the requirement of God.

3. A destitution of feeling in the ungodly is made a reason why no direct effort is put forth to promote their conversion and salvation. This we know, if we reflect at all upon ourselves, has an influence. If there is any special excitement, if sinners feel deeply, we will direct them to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world; and it is delightful to do it. But if there is no such feeling, we are apt to neglect this duty and do nothing. Now, is this right? Do we not stand condemned for this neglect? Let me ask, when is the sinner in the greatest danger-when he is awake to the concerns of his soul in some measure, or when he is stupid? Is it not in the latter case? When would you consider that man in the greatest danger, when his house was enveloped in flames over his head and he was fast asleep in one corner of it; or when, in the same circumstances, he was wide awake? And again, when are efforts to awaken sinners to a sense of their condition the most needed? What is the commandment with reference to this matter? "When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand." This is the commandment of God; this is his word; this, then, is the rule of our duty; not our feeling, nor the sinner's feeling, but the word of God, "At thy word I will let down the net."

4. Feeling is made the ground of duty when Christians allow themselves to be discouraged in view of the forbidding aspect of things as the disciples, in the case before us, might have been discouraged; they had toiled hard all night, &c. It is true there are discouragements, when we reflect upon ourselves, and look around us at the stupid state of the church and the daring rebellion of sinners.

But I have thought lately, that from God's word, if we would only listen to that, we have no discouragement. Here we see that the cause in which we are engaged is a good cause—it is the cause of God, a cause which will bring to him a revenue of glory, and eternal salvation to the souls of men. Here we see that greater is he that is with us than they which can be against us. We have all truth on our side; all wisdom; all virtue; all the power of omnipotence; all the strength and influence of the hosts of heaven. And what is against us? All falsehood, all vice, all folly and moral impotency. Look at God's word, and we have every encouragement. Let us say, then, with Peter, "Nevertheless at thy word, we will let down the net."

II. I come to show, that the revealed will of Christ, or of God in his word, is a sufficient reason why we should labor to promote the cause of religion, however forbidding the aspect of things may be. Or in other words, I design to show why the disciples of Christ should let down the gospel net, simply at Christ's bidding.

1. We should let down the net at Christ's bidding, because otherwise we disregard the authority of Christ, and impeach the wisdom of his government. The authority of Christ is supreme. Christ is the head of the church-he is the King of saints, the King and God of angels and of men; all authority is given him on earth and in heaven. The authority of Christ is the authority of the mighty God, for he is one with the Father. Now, let me say a word to the impenitent hearer. Does God require you to turn from your evil ways and to be reconciled to your Maker through the gospel? Is this true? Then you can not get around the commandment of God. "We are ambassadors for Christ," says the apostle, "as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Now, if this be the commandment of God, it matters not whether you are an awakened sinner, or a stupid sinner, whether you are convicted or not, you are accountable to God, and you must submit, or you perish.

And, let me say a word to my brethren in Christ. Does God require us to be active in religion, and to do all we can to promote his cause. This is the question that should be settled-is this a requirement of God? Does he say, "Awake, thou that sleepest?" does Christ say, "If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me?"

Again, we should let down the net at Christ's bidding, because:

2. That about which we should be chiefly concerned is our present and immediate duty, and leave the result to God. This is what is required of the disciples here. Christ says, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets." They might have objected, from the fact that they had been toiling all night, but they wisely referred the event to Christ-at thy word, we will do it.

3. Christ's command is itself an intimation that he designs to accompany the effort that is made in his name with a divine blessing. I suppose the disciples understood the Lord Jesus Christ as giving such an intimation. The prophet Ezekiel was brought by the Spirit of God, and placed in a valley of dry bones. The prospect was forbidding, he could take no encouragement from what he saw; but he knew the power and grace of God, and he took the command, "Go and prophesy," to be an intimation that God would bless the effort,

Whatever we find to be the will of Christ, we may rest assured that there is a design to accompany with a blessing what is done in accordance with his mind. and will; that is, what is done faithfully and prayerfully. We need no more certain evidence that God designs to add his blessing, than to know that he requires his people to be actively engaged in his work. If he says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse," we may rest assured that what follows is true—"will I not open unto you the windows of heaven," &c. Does he say, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your net?" there is a gracious design to exert his mighty power, accompanying the very injunction.

4. We should let down the net at Christ's bidding, because, whenever faithful efforts are put forth to promote the cause of Christ, in obedience to him, and with humble reliance upon his grace, such efforts are invariably accompanied with a divine blessing. No effort thus made has ever failed. Read the history of the church; when were the people of God ever found wakeful and devoted and prayerful, and the Lord still hiding his face from them, and forsaking them? Never! never! When did any man seek God honestly, and fail to obtain a blessing? Never! When did the people of God do it collectively? Never, brethren, never! We challenge all the sagacity of the bottomless pit to point to an instance of such a failure.

1. From this subject we see how great the responsibility of the people of God! Are they assured that if an effort is made faithfully and prayerfully, God will pour out a blessing, and will they refuse to obey his commandment? Apply the subject to our own case-does Christ say, "Launch out into the deep and cast your nets?" May we rest assured that this will not be in vain, if done in obedience to Christ? Shall we refuse, and say the time is not come? or, we are unprepared, we want to attend more to our secular concerns? &c.

2. We see where Zion's strength lies; it is in rendering obedience to Christ, and thus securing the cooperation of his power. "We can do all things," says the apostle, "through Christ strengthening us."

3. We see the reason why there are no more revivals of religion in our midst.