A
SERMON,
UPON
THE WORD AMEN.
REVELATION, XXII. 21.
DELIVERED IN ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH,
Charleston, Feb. 7th, 1813.
BY ANDREW~FOWLER, "A. M.
RECTOR OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
EDTSTO ISLAND.
®ijarItstott:
PRINTED BY D. J. DOWLIN&,
N. W. CORNER CHURCH AND QUEEN-STREETS.
1835.
I
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Author of this Discourse, at the time of
writing it, was living upon Edisto Island, and
had come to the city upon business, expecting to
return on the Saturday following. The day be¬
fore/ Dr. Dehon invited him to preach in St. Mi¬
chael's Church the next Sunday; but he excused
himself, by observing that he was under the ne¬
cessity of returning home, if the weather would
permit. It so happened, however, that a heavy
rain commenced early on Saturday morning, and
Dr. Dehon wrote him a note, saying, "you must
preach for me to-morrow, since you cannot leave
the city to-day, and if you have no Sermon with
you, you will have time sufficient to throw togeth¬
er a few thoughts for the occasion." His re¬
quest was accordingly complied with, and this
Discourse was the result of the writer's reflec¬
tions.
The author does not publish this Sermon, be¬
cause he supposes it to possess any peculiar ex¬
cellence, either in the style or manner of it; but
because several of his old friends, who heard him
deliver it, have lately solicited a copy of it, and
he wishes to comply with their request.
A SERMON.
Let the v)ords of my mouth, and the meditation of
my heart, be always acceptable in thy sight, O
Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."—Our
Father, Sfc.
REV. XXtl. 22—AMEN.
In the beginning, God created the Heavens and
the Earth. He laid the foundations of this lower
world, and built the vast fabric. He spake the
word, and it came to pass. He created the beasts
of the field, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of
the sea. He also formed man out of the dust—
created him after his own image—placed him in
Paradise, and made him ruler over all things here
below; even over the beasts of the field, the fowls
of the air, the fishes of the sea, and all creeping
things. But man being in honor, abode not; but
rebelled against God his Creator, by eating of the
forbidden fruit. Thus he, who was created but a
little lower than the aifgels, by his disobedience,
became but a little superior to the beasts of the
field. So far did the fall debase human nature.
Man, by his rebellion, lost communion with
God, and rendered himself obnoxious to the wrath
6
of his Creator. By his transgression of the
Divine Law, he forfeited all right and title to his
favor, and became subject to pain, sickness, and
death. A dreadful alteration now took place.
Instead of the pleasures and sweets of Paradise,
he is doomed to the gloom and melancholy of a
howling wilderness. Instead of enjoying the
light of God's countenance, he was fell under
the power of sin ; that spiritual sickness, which
destroyeth the soul; and which rendered him
wretched and miserable indeed. No hand could
now help him—no created arm could save him:
the gate of Paradise was barred against htm with
a flaming 3word, and the way to life rendered im¬
possible, even to the sorrowful and penitent heart.
Now, Christ beholding the condition wherein
man had brought himself by his disobedience,
steps forth as a saviour; presents himself as a medi¬
ator between God and man, and offers to pay the
debt due for sin. God the Father, being pleased
with the mediation of Christ,as one mighty and able
to save, says, Amen: so let it be:—let Christ die for
man:—let him suffer to pay the debt due for sin:—
let him satisfy the divine justice : Through him,
my wrath shall he appeased, and man shall again
be re-admitted into a state of favor, and reconcil¬
iation with his maker : His death shall cancel
the demands of the law, and this proverb shall no
more be used, the parents have eaten sour grapes,
Qnd the children's teeth are set on edge.
Accordingly, Christ left the bosom of the Fa-
7
tVier, the superlative excellence, the prerogatives
of the Godhead, and came into this our world, and
took our nature upon him. For us, he descended
from far above all principalities and powers : For
us, he became a helpless infant, and was content
to be born in the meanest circumstances of pover¬
ty and degradation : For us, and for our salva¬
tions, he was reviled and afflicted; yea, he hum¬
bled himself unto death, even the death of the
cross. How did the haughty Scribes and Phari¬
sees persecute him', even the King's of Glory, the
holy one of Israel, the Lord of light and life. As
a Father pities his children, so did Christ pity us.
He bore our infirmities, and our stripes were laid
upon him. He was judged by men, and the vi¬
lest of men; and condemned to die the death of a
malefactor, by the very breath which he himself
inspired. He was scourged by Pilate, stripped
by the soldiers of his garments, and a crown of
thorns, as a mock ensign of royalty, was set upon
his head, and a reed put into his hand. They
spit in his face, and buffetted him. They bowed
their heads before him, and cried, hail King of
the Jews, in derision. Away to Calvary they
dragged him, and placed him upon the cross, as
the worst of evil doers. See your Jesus lying
down upon that bed of sorrows; and his mother*
with the women, and the beloved Disciples, weep¬
ing around him ! Behold the nails and the ham¬
mer! The appointed soldier fastens him to the
wood! It is erected! Jesus is lifted up between
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the Heavens and the Earth! He hangs suspen¬
ded upon his wounds, a spectacle to man, and to
angels! How, he cries in the bitterness of his soul,
Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabacthane? My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me ? What, O Heavenly
Father, hast thou forsaken thy son, thine only be¬
gotten son? Whence these direful groans! those
heart-rending agonies ! Jesus dies! Horrid spec¬
tacle! Dies between two thieves ! My very flesh
trembles at the thought! The Earth quakes—
the veil of the temple is rent asunder—the graves
are opened—the dead arise, and the Sun, as if
ashamed to behold the cruel deed, hides his face in
darkness ! Yet how do the Priests, and Scribes,
and Elders of the people, mock his dying pangs!
O ye Angels, how could ye bear the sight! ye ce¬
lestial spirits, to see the King of glory upon the
accursed tree. Be astonished, O ye Heavens,
and tremble thou earth at the ingratitude of sinful
man!
But hark! Methinks I hear yet a voice! Jesus
cries! But what does he cry? He cries Amen !
It is finished. I have paid the debt due for sin—
reconciled God and man, and made an atonement
for the whole human race! Here ends the scene
of his sufferings. Christ gives up the ghost! He
hangs a. pale, ghastly corpse! See his withering
limbs! His once sparkling eyes, and blooming
cheeks! Behold his snow white skin! his throb¬
bing breast—his pierced side! his hands and feet!
All these speak with a still small voice, come unto
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me, ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will re¬
fresh you:—1 will give rest unto your souls ! Rest
ilnto our souls? O blessed Jesus, it is all we
need; we ask no more. Grant us gracious Lord
to be truly thankful to thee, and to follow the
path thou hast marked out, ever led by the gui¬
dance of thy holy spirit, and at last receive us to
the blissful mansions above, where thou forever
reignest; where all tears shall be wiped from our
eyes, and where all sorrow shall be taken from
our hearts.
Thus did Christ die! It is certain also that he
rose from the dead, being "the first fruits of those
who slept." " For since by man came death,
by man also came the resurrection from the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all
be made alive." And he hath also ascended
into heaven, and taken a seat at the right hand of
God the Father, where he is surrounded with my¬
riads of Angels, and an innumerable company of
ministring spirits, who continually cry, "Holy,
Holy, Holy, Lord God of Host; Heaven and
earth are full of the majesty of thy Glory." And
it also is evident that he will come again at the
last day, in great power and awful dignity, to
judge both the quick and the dead. For he saith,
surely I come quickly—Amen. And the echo, or
expectation of the Apostle, or Church, is, even so
come Lord Jesus. And again, "behold he cometh
with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also
ivho pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall
10
wail because of him. Even so—Amen." "What
scenes of terror, shall then sieze upon the souls
of those, who refused to obey their rightful Lord
and Sovereign—rejected his offers of mercy and
reconciliation, set light by the gospel, and all the
invitations of his love and compassion? How will
they tremble to meet the righteous Judge, the
man whom their sins, and their iniquities have
pierced, even the Redeemer of the world, the
Lamb of God! Their souls will then shudder
at the very sight of him, whom they crucified;
when he shall come to take vengeance on those,
who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ; at whose second coming, the King's of the
earth, and the great men, and the Chief Captains, and
the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free
man, shall hide themselves in the dens, and in the rocks
of the mountains, and shall say to the mountains and
rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and Jrom the wrath of the Lamb•
But what will all this avail? Shall the mountains
and rocks hide them, that the Almighty, the
searcher of hearts, and discerner of thoughts,
should not bring them to Judgment ? No, alas!
to Judgment they must come, there to give an
account of all the deeds done in the body; and not
only these, but all the world must appear before
the Judgment seat of God, where they that have
done good, shall receive this enravishing sentence
pronounced upon them, by their reconciled God
and Judge; come ye blessed of my Father, inheriteth
11
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world! But to the wicked, those who have done
evil, set light by the gospel, disobeyed the truth,
and refused to be governed by the laws of Christ,
he shall say, in awful accent, as the just recom¬
pense of their iniquities—depart from me ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his an-
gels.
This concludes! Now is the great Amen pro*
nounced! The end is come! The Angel swear
eth by him that liveth for ever and ever, that time
shall he no more! Thus, this world, with all its
pomp and glory is done away! a long eternity
succeeds; and a never ending Sabbathism of rest
brings up the rear.
J2
A PRAYER.
Grant us thy blessing, O Lord, and help us to
meditate upon thy word. Pardon whatever thy
pure eyes have seen amiss in us this day, while
assembled together in thy house of prayer; and
let thy truth live in our hearts. Though we are
guilty, sinful, and polluted, thou art just and holy.
Wash and sanctify us, and all our works in the
blood of Jesus. Give freedom to every captive
soul, and bid us all depart in thy peace, and with
thy blessing, for Christ's sake.—Amen.