Homilist Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand on my watch, and set me on the tower, and will watch to see what he will say to me… Wherefore are we in this world? We are not here by choice, nor by chance. Man's moral mission — I. CONSISTS IN RECEIVING COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE ETERNAL MIND. This will appear — 1. From man's nature as a spiritual being. (1) Man has a native instinct for it. (2) A native capacity for it. (3) A native necessity for it. 2. From man's condition as a fallen being. As a sinner, man has a deeper and a more special need than angels can have. Communications from God are of infinite moment to man. 3. From the purposes of Christ's mediation. Christ came to bring men to God. His Cross is the meeting-place between man and his Maker. 4. From the special manifestations of God for the purpose. These we have in the Bible. 5. From the general teaching of the Bible. In the Book men are called to audience with God. II. HOW ARE DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS TO BE RECEIVED I Two things are necessary — 1. That we resort to the right scene. The prophet to his "tower." 2. That we resort to the right scene in the right spirit. III. MAN'S MORAL MISSION CONSISTS IN IMPARTING COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE ETERNAL MIND. That we have to impart as well as to receive is evident — 1. From the tendency of Divine thoughts to express themselves. Ideas of a religious kind always struggle for utterance. 2. From the universal adaptation of Divine thoughts. 3. From the spiritual dependence of man upon man. 4. From the general teaching of the Bible. IV. MAN'S MORAL MISSION CONSISTS IN THE PRACTICAL REALISATION OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE ETERNAL MIND. In the Divine purpose there is a period fixed for the realisation of every Divine promise. However distant it may seem, our duty is to wait in earnest practical faith for it. Learn who it is that fulfils his moral missions in the world. The man who practically carries out God's revelation in the spirit and habits of his life. Notice — (1) The reasonableness of religion. (2) The grandeur of a religious life. (3) The function of Christianity.What is the special design of the Gospel? To qualify man to fulfil his mission on earth. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. |
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