IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

IN TWO VOLUMES.

BY ALEXANDER MACWHORTER, D. D.

SENIOR PASTOR OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

VOLUME 2.

Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. Paul

1803

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Reprint and digital July 16, 2004.

Alexander MacWhorter, D.D., ( 1734-1807 ) received schooling at the West-Nottingham Academy under Samuel Finley ( later President of Princeton College). Thereafter, MacWhorter at age 22 joined the junior class at the College of New Jersey with Rev. Aaron Burr, which later moved to Princeton, graduating in the first commencement there in 1757. Afterwards, he entered upon the study of Divinity, under the instruction of the Rev. William Tennent, the pious and justly celebrated minister of Freehold, in New Jersey. He was an active Pastor, and in 1772 was elected a Trustee of the College of New Jersey at Princeton. Yale honored him with a Doctorate of Divinity in 1776, which followed with his active involvement in the Revolutionary War, as an advisor to Washington, and as chaplain under General Knox at White Plains, where again he was a frequent guest of Washington's. The Newark Presbyterian Church extended a call to the pastorate to him in 1781, which was accepted.

"He was one of those great and good men, who, in 1788, had principal influence in settling The Confession of Faith, and framing the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; and in transferring the authority, of the highest judicatory from the Synod to a General Assembly, which met first in May, 1789.—Ten years afterwards, when a board of trustees for the General Assembly was incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, at their session in the winter of 1798- 9, he was named in the charter as one, of the board, and continued to hold this trust, until the growing infirmities of age induced him, in 1803, to resign it."

The biographical summary is taken from Edward Dorr Griffin's Funeral Sermon for Dr. Macwhorter ( 1807). This title may be found at The Willison Center http://willisoncenter.com/ on the Princeton Page, Link 13. ---Willison Ed.

Alexander MacWorter published a two volume collection of sermons in 1803, from which the following title was selected.

Page numbers in the original are shown as: ( 474 )

The following begins the original text:

SERMON XLII

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Matt. XXV : 34 Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

AFTER the resurrection, in the close of the general judgement when the grand process shall have been finished, then the final sentence will be pronounced upon all in perfect equity and righteousness, according as their characters shall be found to be. The proceedings of this great day are here in this chapter displayed before us: The glorious appearance of the judge, the splendor of his advent, and the magnificence of his attendants, are described in all the glowing beauties and strength of language. When you read, you seem as if you saw Jesus seated on the throne of his glory and all nations assembled in his presence, You behold him separating this promiscuous throng one from another as the shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. This separation will be as exact as it will be just. The most

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inconsiderable saint will not be lost in the crowd of sinners, nor the most plausible sinner concealed in the throng of saints. Every one will be brought forward, and have a particular, open and fair trial, so that all will be perfectly convinced, on which hand he must be placed. Thus speaks the prophet Ezekiel, "As for you, O my flock, thus faith the Lord God, behold I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats." A perfect scrutiny will be made, so that it will be accurately determined, who are the sheep and who are the goats. The separation being completed, the two grand divisions of the universe will be situated, the one on the right, and the other on the left of the glorious judge. In this tremendous situation, he will first address himself to those fixed in the most honorable place. "Then shall the king say unto them, on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Thus when the process is finished, and the transporting sentence pronounced, all the heavenly arches will ring with joy, in the passing of the righteous to everlasting life. Christ Jesus, when he came in the flesh, made a mean appearance in the eyes of carnal world, was a stumbling block to the Jews, and to the Greeks foolishness, was as a root out of dry ground without form or comeliness, rejected and despised of men ; but now on the seat of judgment, he appears in all the shining splendor of a king, arrayed in all the regalia and effulgence of the celestial state, beaming forth in all the radiancy of him, who was cloathed with the sun, and had the moon under his feet. Earthly kings appearing a the robes of their dignity, shed a splendor around them on the gaping multitudes, but when Jesus the king of kings appears, the trancendant brilliancy of his glory will infinitely more outshine earthly royalty, than royalty excels the rags and mien of the most abject slave. In all the grandeur of heavenly majesty the sentence will be uttered to the joy of all those who have made their peace with God. Their good works will be produced as the evidences of their approbation

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It may be observed, this important sentence contains two principal things.

First, the acknowledging of the saints to be blessed of the Lord. " Come ye blessed of my Father."

First, the acknowledgment of the saints to be the blessed of the Lord. " Come ye blessed of my Father."

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them to be so. They are the blessed of the Father; tho’ cursed and reproached by the world, yet they are blessed of God. The Holy Ghost glorifies the Son, and the Son glorifies the Father, and the Father blesses and glorifies the redeemed and sanctified, and thus the eternal Trinity are all intimately concerned in the accomplishment of the everlasting blessedness of the heirs of felicity. When Christ calls them to come, this is no other than an hearty welcome to the glories prepared for them. He, formerly in this world called upon them by his word and by his spirit to come unto him, that they might be partakers of grace and life; then the call was to self denial, to mortification, to take up their cross and to follow him. The call in the estimation of the world was to shame, contempt, suffering and foolishness; but now it is to glory, immortality, and the full fruition of God and perfect felicity forever. They who formerly obeyed his call and followed him bearing the cross, will now enjoy his beautific presence, wearing a crown. Hearken to the extatic pleasure of the address. "Come ye blessed of my Father, ye beloved of my soul, for whom I have travailed and been in pain, for whom I have endured toil, anxiety, sufferings and oppression to the sweating of great drops of blood; for whom I have trod the wine press of divine wrath, and gone through death and hell; come ye into my tenderest embraces, ye who are highly favored of the Lord and whom the majesty of heaven delighted to honor." O with what raptures of joy will this address fill the hearts of the righteous !—How will it cause them to flag the glorious riches of free grace, the wonders of redeeming love, the praises of God and the Lamb? The saints in this pilgrimage and imperfect state may with humble boldness approach to the throne of grace; but then they shall come boldly to the throne of glory. The word,." Come ye blessed of my father," holds out the golden sceptre, with a full assurance that the desires of their heart shall be satisfied, and the whole of a heavenly kingdom shall be conferred upon them. The king addresses them from the

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throne of his glory, and hereby admits them to be kings and priests in mansions of glory forever. All power in heaven and earth is given unto the Son, and he introduces all the righteous into the heavenly Canaan, for none obtain entrance there but by his approbation; therefore they are such in whom the divine perfections were designed to be glorified from all eternity.— They are the saved according to the eternal purpose, blessed in the father’s design, called in time, sanctified by the spirit, and now they receive all that perfection of blessedness which they heretofore only had in promise and earnest at their first sanctification. Thus they are actually and completely blessed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.—.I proceed to the

Second consideration, to wit, the happiness of that glorious state into which they are admitted. " Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

In regard to the nature of the happiness of heaven, we can know but little in this dark world, after our most careful attention, painful study and diligent researches. The most favoured and the most advanced saints upon earth, see but darkly as through a glass. "We know, says St. Paul, but in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which was in part shall be done away. — "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, .I put away childish things. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to understand, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." The glory and felicity prepared for the blessed, we shall have, a very imperfect idea of, while in this embodied slate. After we have contemplated all the descriptions of it in our bibles, together with all the additions which fanciful imagination can suggest, we may still be assured, that they fall infinitely short of a perfect. But, t as the sacred oracles give us many

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descriptions of the celestial glory to quicken and comfort saints, and to allure and persuade sinners, for the encouragement and consolation of those who hope to enjoy this inheritance, we shall briefly exhibit a few of them.. A leading line in the business is the transcendent felicity expressed in our text, " Inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world." To inherit a kingdom is the fullness of the ambition of the human mind. This is what the proud, the enterprising and the brave wade through seas of blood to obtain; for this hecatombs of mortals have been sacrificed; for this all the exertions of human invention, good and bad, have been praised. A kingdom is reckoned the most valuable acquisition by mortals on earth. In their view it comprehends all honor, wealth and happiness. They, who possess a kingdom, wear the glories of a crown, sway the sceptre of dignity, possess the ensigns of royalty, enjoy the pleasures of a court, and command the treasures of their dominions.. This is a feeble resemblance of the kingdom of heaven. The saints who are here pilgrims, strangers, prisoners, accounted the outcasts and of scourings of the earth, shall then, to the astonishment of all worlds, inherit a kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar divested of birds feathers, and his fingers of eagles claws, with adjusted hair, combed head, and dressed in royal robes, affords only a faint resemblance of an abject hell deserving wretch who is raised to the glory of heaven. " God raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill, that he may set him with him princes even with the princes of his people. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, to him will be given power over the nations." The kingdom which christians will enjoy is a prepared kingdom, prepared at infinite expense of labor, pains and blood. That happiness must surely be indescribably great which is the production of divine counsels, The preparation for the reception of the saints mocks all the powers of description. Love originated the plan, wisdom and

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power executed the greatness of the measure. God the Son purchased the kingdom by his blood, and is ascended to prepare a place; "I go, says he to his disciples, to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, where I am, you will be also." The kingdom is preparing for them, and in this world they are preparing for the kingdom The preparing the kingdom speaks forth the perfect happiness of all those who shall enter into it. Their interest in it is hereby held forth to view, and it is adapted to the nature of the sanctified; it is prepared for them by name, for they are personally and particularly chosen to salvation.—It is a kingdom of early original, for it was prepared for them from the foundation of the world. This is a phrase expressing the same idea as everlasting or eternity. This happiness was designed for the saints, and they for it before time began. Thus speaks St. Paul, "Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places with Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Thus it is a kingdom prepared from eternity, which the saints shall enjoy; hence they shall be invested with royal authority, royal dignity and honor. For when they enter this kingdom, they shall ascend thrones, have sceptres put into their hands, and crowns of gold, not like the changing diadems of this world, but crowns placed upon their heads that never change or fade away. They will be dressed in royal robes more rich and refulgent than ermin, and glittering gold. They will arrayed in immaculate robes, which can never be soiled or stained, white robes made white by the blood the Lamb. When thus adorned, their palace will be the royal city even the new Jerusalem. The building of the wall of which is Jasper, the foundations are garnished with all manner of precious stones, its gates are pearl and its streets of pure gold, as it were transparent glass. It is so widely different from every thing

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royal earth, and from every terrestrial city, that there is no need of the sun or moon there, for the glory of God doth lighten it and the lamb is the light thereof. In this glorious kingdom every thing is in a state of perfection, peace, holiness, knowledge, righteousness, happiness and joy. No errors, ignorance, collision of sentiments, party spirit or private interest, will be there. God and Christ will be there perfectly known, and the saints will be forever lost in admiration of the unrivalled beauties of Godhead, and the emanations of divine love. They will wander with heavenly pleasure, and raptures of delight thro’ all the perfections and attributes of God. They themselves will there be perfect in the beauties of holiness, free from sin and every moral iniquity; from every evil bias, wicked thought and perverse inclination. Nothing that is unclean or defileth enters these. They will no more be troubled with the risings of pride or corrupt passions; here— will be a perfect conformity to the perfect image of God. Universal benevolence, unremitting harmony and perfect love to God angels and one another will reign without the whole kingdom. All peace and joy of which holy beings are capable, will in complete fullness be possessed there. The tabernacle of God is with men, he shall dwell with them, they shall be his people and he will be their God and portion forever. "All tears shall be wiped away from their eyes, and there shall be no more death_, neither sorrow —nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain, for the former things are passed away." There will be no sighing, complaining, nor mortification, shame nor regret, in these happy regions. Every thing tending to enlarge and encrease their felicity they shall enjoy. In this blessed world, the saints shall have sweet fellowship and rapturous communion with God and Jesus Christ. They shall have free intercourse with the angels, and enjoy the uninterrupted friendship and blisful society one of another.-There they shall hold happy converse with- Gabriel, Michael, with seraphim and cherubim, with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

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with Moses, Elias, Paul and John, with their former christian aquaintance, and with all the saints, who as a cloud had gone before them. All this blessedness and felicity shall be eternal; it shall be growing and encreasing forever and ever. These are but a few remarks upon the various representations which the holy scriptures afford us. And these no doubt fall infinitely short of the reality.

First, how should we be here led to admire the condescension love and goodness of God in ever entertaining the merciful thought of advancing any of the apostate race of Adam to such honor and glory! How should we magnify and praise the excceeding greatness of his compassion in giving his only begotten Son to procure this felicity! How should we love and adore the Son who trod the wine press of his Father’s wrath, and yielded up his life on the accursed tree, that we might be introduced into such glory? That we who are clods of earth, should be made to shine as the stars in the firmament? That we who re dust and ashes might become as angels of light? Yea, that we who are sinners and heirs of hell might be formed into saints and constituted heirs of God.? Who can comprehend the length and breadth, the depth and heighth of the love of Christ, which passeth all understanding? Can we hear of all this glory of the blessed, and yet cleave to earth? Can we indulge a carnal temper, and be of a groveling worldly spirit under the view of such celestial blessedness /

Secondly, seeing there is such a glorious kingdom set before us, we ought solemnly to enquire whether we have any title thereto. There will not be a promiscuous admission of all into this happy world. In the great day of the Lord a separation will be made between the goats and the sheep. None will be admitted there but the righteous true believers, and sincere

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penitents.. We must repent of our sins, accept of the gospel by faith, and be working the works of righteousness, or we will never stand in glory on the right hand of our judge. Wherefore let us examine ourselves to day whether we have any scriptural ground to hope that we shall be heirs of this kingdom. Have we ever been effectually convinced of the evil of sin? Have we seen and felt the plague of our own hearts, have we been reduced by the. powerful operations of the Holy Spirit to renounce all dependence upon ourselves, and to lay hold on Christ Jesus by faith, the hope of glory ? Have our souls taken up their everlasting rest in him, and is he above all things precious to us? Have we the laws of the kingdom written upon our hearts Are we holy in heart and life? Is heaven our treasure, and are our hearts placed there? Have we prevailingly a single eye to the glory of God? In a word, are we honestly and sincerely, endeavoring to be holy in all manner of conversation.

Those who from these few remarks entertain a blessed hope that you will be heirs of this kingdom, be ye exhorted to walk answerable to your profession and expectations. See that you by purifying yourselves as Christ is pure. Look constantly at the prize set before you. Let it command your diligence, zeal, activity, and every exertion. So run that you may obtain. O take heed, lest any should seem to come short of this glory.

Those of you, my unhappy hearers, who know you have no lot nor interest in this matter, who have neither faith nor repentance, neither sanctification nor justification, be exhorted to consider your miserable and dangerous situation. What, O what if you were to die in your present condition? The prospect of horror before you is too gloomy to mention. O sinners how long will you love the pleasures of sin, which last only for a season, and despise the pleasures of heaven which will

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last forever? how long will you waste your precious time in vanity and giddy amusements, when

you know not the moment that death will arrest you and bear you to the bar of God ?Awake, O

sinner ,and consider what you are doing, and to what misery you are hastening. Pause, ponder,

consider, turn and flee for your life to the city of refuge. Flee into the-arms of Jesus that you

may be placed on his right hand the great day of his appearance, and may be addressed with

the transporting sentence "Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you

from the foundations of the-world.."

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.