SERMON II.

"Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found, that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."-ST. LUKE Xvii. 17, 18.

THAT man is a sinner, guilty of ingratitude to his Maker, every individual conversant with human nature must acknowledge. It forms a principle that admits of no contradiction, a principle proven by daily experience.

If the reception of benefits, of which we are undeserving, always excited our gratitude to God, there would not be in existence a single transgressor; because there is no man who does not stand indebted to heaven for mercies received. But we find, from multiplied observation, that the goodness of God, instead of attaching man to his Creator, and exciting in his mind a sense of his dependence upon heaven, too frequently renders himself-confident, and gives rise to practices, at variance with every principle of duty and obedience.

That this is the case, will appear evident by taking into view the conduct of men in general. Is the possession of riches always productive of a life-devotedness to God? Are the dwellings of men of wealth always found to be the seat of piety and religion? Is it there that the voice of prayer and praise is most frequently heard? Does the health that we enjoy produce that return of gratitude to the Almighty, which the blessing so richly merits? Is it productive of that animated devotion, which we might rea

sonably expect? On the contrary, is it not in the hour of distress that man is most disposed to bow at the throne of Jehovah, and to invoke the mercy and favour of his God? Yes, brethren, and we often find that the moment the cloud of affliction is removed, and man is relieved from the pressure of calamity, he relapses into sin, his bosom becomes inflated with pride, and he tramples upon the goodness of his Almighty Deliverer.

The history connected with the text is a confirmation of the sentiments just expressed. Let the advocates of the dignity of human nature read it, and be astonished! It affords us a specimen of the depravity of man which no sophistry can explain away. It stamps the character of ingratitude upon the human race, and, were angels the spectators of the scene, they must have blushed at the vileness of mortals, and been amazed at the extent of that mercy which spared the guilty wretches from immediate destruction. Jesus had relieved ten lepers from a loathsome and infectious disease: nine of them proved insensible to his goodness, and in one only was a disposition of gratitude manifested. The view was too affecting to escape the observation of the Redeemer. "Were there not ten cleansed," said the Emmanuel, "but where are the nine? there are not found to give glory to God, save this stranger." In the explanation of our subject we will consider, First, the circumstances connected with the history. Secondly, take into view the particular features of the text: and then conclude with an application.

First. We will consider the circumstances connected with the history. The leprosy was a disease, brethren, of the most afflicting description. It was viewed as a peculiar evidence of divine displeasure. It was a reproach to the unhappy individual who laboured under its influence; separated him from his business; cut him off from all conversation with his friends and nearest relatives; shut him out from the privileges of the sanctuary, and condemned him to banishment until his cure was effected.

Were he at any time to see others approaching him, he

was obliged to sound an alarm, and to proclaim the evil under which he laboured, by crying out, unclean! unclean! It was this disease with which king Uzziah was seized, for invading the priest's office, and presuming to burn incense upon the altar, in the temple of the Lord. Though a sovereign, he was secluded from all society; exchanged his throne and the splendours attached to it for a servile-house, and died with the complaint.

Thus distressed, and separated from all society, were the lepers mentioned in the text, when Jesus, the precious Jesus, passed by. By the precepts of the Levitical law, they were enjoined to stand afar off; but as they had heard of those evidences of power manifested by the Redeemer, and were apprised of his disposition to listen to the plaintive entreaties of the distressed, they united their voices in supplicating his aid: "Jesus, master! have mercy upon us!" A sense of their need made them importunate in their requests. It was an auspicious moment, and they were determined to improve it. The physician who possessed the ability to relieve them was at hand-the benevolent Saviour was passing by; and his character inspired them with confidence. They therefore lifted up their voices, and implored help: "Jesus, master, have mercy upon us!"

It is a consolatory truth, that in every application to Jesus for relief, the sufferers were always heard. The petition, the united petition of these distressed lepers, was, therefore, benevolently considered. Their cry was such as to pierce the heavens; the ear of the blessed Redeemer was open to their wants, and their request was granted. Upon viewing their situation, he immediately discovered his disposition to help them: "Go," said he, "and show yourselves to the priests! And it came to pass, as they went, they were healed."

The ceremonial Law, it is to be remembered, was at that time in operation. The Saviour, therefore, in sending them to the priests, provided for its observance-as to them it exclusively belonged to judge of leprous cases. In addition, also, to that respect which he paid to the rites of

the Jewish Church, the Redeemer, perhaps, might have taken into view the awakening effects which so sudden a cure was calculated to have produced in the minds of the priests themselves. Upon examining the afflicted lepers, and discovering the perfect relief which they had received, it was reasonable to presume, that their minds would have been impressed with the greatest respect for the character of the Saviour-that Being at whose word the most inveterate diseases were removed, and sufferings the most afflictive brought to an immediate termination. It also served as a trial of the obedience of the lepers. The Saviour could have healed them at the moment, but in order to try their faith, he enjoined them to "go to the priests,' attend upon the instituted means; and though they will not heal of themselves, God will render them efficient; he will bless his own appointments, and will heal you in their diligent use. In obedience to the commands of the Redeemer, they went in pursuit of those to whom they were directed to apply; and "it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed." The power of the Lord Jesus was exerted in their behalf; the disease under which they laboured, was effectually removed; and they were restored to perfect health. If an occasion of gratitude was ever afforded to men, the cure which the lepers had experienced, could not be ranked among the least. Of the ten, however, who had been relieved, the mind of one alone appears to have been alive to the expression of thanksgiving; the nine were insensible to the obligations they had experienced, and mindful of their own comfort, forgot their benevolent benefactor. One, however, returned to give glory to God; his heart overflowed with love; he felt the warm glowings of health pervade his frame, and burned with impatience to acknowledge the mercy he had received. Behold him, forcing his way into the presence of the Redeemer. See him falling upon his face, at the feet of his great Physician, and worshipping the God of his salvation. In his distress, in a loud voice, a voice expressive of his misery, he had implored relief; and when relieved from the pressure of

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his calamity, with the same voice, with the same vehemence of expression, he acknowledged his obligations. His declarations of gratitude were as fervent as had been his prayers for mercy; he glorified God, giving him thanks. To afford you a fuller view of the beauties of the subject, we will, secondly, take into consideration the particular features of the text.

The ingratitude of the human heart exceeds the limits of description. Of the truth of this observation, the nine lepers furnish a conclusive testimony. It was reasonable to suppose, that under the first impressions of returning health, their hearts would have vibrated with a sense of their obligations, and that they would have encountered a thousand difficulties, in order to have made some acknowledgment for the favours they had received. But, beloved, before we are led to censure those ingrates with too much severity, let us for a moment consider whether, in their conduct, we do not discover a true representation of ourselves. Have not we received mercies at the hand of God, equal in importance to that with which they had been favoured? Cannot we call to recollection some moment in which we were labouring under the influence of disease, involved in the extremest distress, when the lamp of life was glimmering in the socket; when we expected the hour of our departare was at hand, and that a few moments or hours would launch us into eternity? At that solemn period, did not we entreat for a suspension of the sentence of death; did not we supplicate for a continuance of life, and with the lepers, cry aloud," Jesus, master, have mercy upon us?" When we looked around us, at such a solemn moment, and reflected upon the distressed situation in which our wives and children would have been plunged by our removal, did not we sincerely pray for our restoration to health, and promise that our future lives should be devoted to the God of our salvation? Yes, beloved, such, precisely such, were our declarations at that hour! Yet how little have many of us thought of our gracious benefactor from that time to the present! Our