by John Witherspoon
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy Glory - EXODUS 33:18
THESE are the words of an Old Testament Saint; of that Moses, who, as a servant, was faithful over all the house of God. True piety is the same in substance in all ages, and points at one thing as its centre and its rest, the knowledge and enjoyment of God. In the preceding verses, Moses had been employed in earnest prayer and intercession for the people of Israel. He had met with success and acceptance in these requests; for it is said, in the 14th verse, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." And in the 17th, "And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." The condescension of a gracious God, though it satisfies, does not extinguish the desires of his saints, but rather makes them more ardent and importunate; for he immediately adds, in the words of the text, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. It is highly probable, from what follows, that this desire included more than was proper for the present state; yet such a discovery as was possible, or could be useful to him, is graciously promised, "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee; and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy."
My dear brethren, it is our distinguished privilege, that we have daily unmolested access to the house and ordinances of God. We ought to rejoice, that we have so many clear and express promises of the divine presence, in New Testament worship. But what cause have we to be ashamed, that we are so exceeding prone to stop short in the thereshold, to content ourselves with the mere form, instead of earnestly breathing after real, inward, and sensible communion with God? I have therefore chosen this subject, in the view of that solemn ordinance, The Lord's Supper, where we have a sensible representation of Christ crucified, the great mean of our access to God, that we may serve him on that occasion particularly, and the remaining part of our lives habitually, in spirit and in truth. And, Oh, that we may have daily more experience of the sweetness and benefit of his service on earth! and may daily long more for that time, when we shall serve him in a manner infinitely more perfect and joyful in his temple above!
In discoursing on this subject, I propose, in dependance on divine strength.
I. To explain what is the object of a saint's desire, when he faith in the words of Moses, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
II. To improve the subject—particularly by pointing out what is the most proper preparation for such a discovery.
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Table of Contents
SERMON I: The object of a Christian's desire in Religious Worship - Exodus 33:18.
SERMON II: The Glory of Christ in his Humiliation - Isaiah 63:1
SERMON III: The Deceitfulness of Sin - Hebrews 3:13
SERMON IV: The Believer going to God as his Exceeding Joy - Psalm 43:4
SERMON V: The Christian's disposition under a sense of mercies received - Psalm 116:7
SERMON VI: A view of the Glory of God humbling to the Soul - Job 42:5, 6
SERMON VII: Man in his Natural State - Rev. 3:17
SERMON VIII: An Inducement to come to Christ - Rev. 3:17
SERMON IX: Trust in God - Isaiah 50:10
SERMON X: Trust in God - Isaiah 50:10
SERMON XI: On the Purity of the Heart - Proverbs 30:7, 8, 9
SERMON XII: Seeking a Competency in the wisdom of Providence - Proverbs 30:8
SERMON XIII: The Danger of Prosperity - Proverbs 30:9
SERMON XIV The Danger of Adversity - Proverbs 30:9
SERMON XV: On the Religious Education of Children - Mark 10:13, 14, 15, 16
SERMON XVI: Devotedness to God - Psalm 116:16
SERMON XVII: The Righteous scarcely Saved, and the Wicked certainly Destroyed - 1 Peter 4:18
SERMON XVIII: The Yoke of Christ - Matthew 11:30
SERMON XIX: The Glory of the Redeemer in the Perpetuity of his Work - Psalm 72:17
SERMON XX: The Petitions of the Insincere unavailing - Psalm 66:18
SERMON XXI: The absolute necessity of Salvation through Christ - Acts 4:12.
SERMON XXII: The Trial of Religious Truth by its Moral Influence - Matthew 7:20
SERMON XXIII: The Charge of Sedition and Faction against good Men, especially faithful Ministers - Acts 17:6.
SERMON XXIV: Prayer for National Prosperity and for the Revival of Religion inseparably connected - Isaiah 51:9
SERMON XXV: Seasonable Advice to Young Persons - Psalm 1:1
SERMON XVI: Ministerial Fidelity in declaring the whole Counsel of God - Acts 20:26, 27
SERMON XXVII: Ministerial character and duty - 2 Cor. 4:13
SERMON XXVIII: The Success of the Gospel entirely of God - 1 Cor. 3:5, 6, 7