Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies, established in New South Wales And Norfolk IslandJohnson, Richard
Religion
Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies, established in New South Wales And Norfolk Island
Johnson, Richard
Prisoners -- Australia; Sermons -- Australia -- 18th century; Speeches, addresses, etc.
My brethren, what shall I, what can I say more. I neither know what to
add, nor how to leave off: once more, I beseech you, for God's sake,
for the sake of Jesus the Saviour, who shed his precious blood to
redeem sinners, and for the sake of your own souls: by the holy
incarnation of the Redeemer, by his agonies, temptations, death and
resurrection, by all the terrors of his frown, and by all the
blessings of his love, by the joys of heaven, by the torments of hell,
and by the solemnities of the approaching day of judgment; by
all these considerations, I most earnestly, affectionately, and
faithfully admonish and intreat you, carefully to weigh what I have now
set before you. And oh! that the holy angels may carry to heaven the
joyful news [Luke xv. 10.] of some sinners being awakened and born to God,
by reading or hearing this little book. O gracious God, do thou, by the
power of thy Holy Spirit, make it thus effectual to the salvation and
happiness of this people!
And now to this gracious Lord, and to his care and blessing, I commend
you. May he enable you to examine your hearts, principles, and
practice, by the standard of his holy word. If you are still ignorant
and careless, it is a proof that you are, as yet, in the state of
nature, which is a state of darkness, guilt, condemnation, and death.
Will you not pray to be delivered from it? You must, at least, allow,
that perhaps what you have read, MAY BE the truth. And even, of
a possibility of these things being true, they deserve your earnest
attention. For should they be found so at last, what will become of
you, if you live and die impenitent? Therefore, read this plain,
affectionate Address seriously. Read it a second, a third, and a
fourth time, till your hearts are affected by it. Remember, this is the
advice of a friend, of one who sincerely seeks, wishes, and longs for
your happiness. It is the advice of your minister, expressly appointed
to watch over your souls, and who must shortly give an account of his
mission to the Great judge of all. Whether I shall die amongst you, or
be separated from you while living, we shall, at last, meet before him.
Then I must answer for my preaching, and you for your hearing. Oh that
this awful day of judgment may be often, yea, always, present to your
thoughts, and to mine! that we may live in constant expectation of its
approach! So that when the last loud trumpet shall sound, we may
stand with acceptance and boldness in his presence, and be admitted as
believers in the great Saviour, into his heavenly kingdom, with a
'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord.'[Matt. xxv. 23.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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