Transcribed from the 1838 John Heaton edition by DavidPrice.
OCCASIONEDBY THE DEATH OF
The Rev.William Thistlethwaite, m.a.,
late incumbent of that church, and
published at the request of
the congregation,
BY THE REV. J. SLADE,M.A.
VICAR OFBOLTON.
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BOLTON:
PRINTED BY JOHN HEATON,DEANSGATE.
And Sold by all Booksellers.
Rom. xiv. 8.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord;and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:whether we live therefore, or die, we are theLord’s.
The text refers to the foregoingverse: “None of us liveth unto himself; and no man dieth tohimself.” We are very apt to feel and act, as if wewere independent creatures. Perhaps if examined, as to ourparticular creed, we should readily confess ourselves to beplaced under the sovereignty of the Almighty; and to beaccountable, as Christians, at the bar of Him, who will“judge both quick and dead.” But few are dailyconscious, as they ought to be, either of their dependence ortheir responsibility. Their creed is not in their heart;they live chiefly and practically under a system ofself-government; grievously forgetting the dominion of the Lordwho created and redeemed them. A proud spirit is, as it hasbeen from the beginning, the bane of man: he fell throughimpatience of his Maker’s mild yoke, and an intolerance ofhis Maker’s superiority: and the poison, thus whisperedinto his ear by the evil one, still lurks within him; corruptinghis feeling and principle, and rendering him greatly insensibleto the divine superintendence and blessing.
p. 4Thispride and selfishness however the gospel is designed to humbleand correct; and it does produce the mighty change in the heartof every sincere believer; of all who feel its vital power,“the power of God unto salvation.” Of all suchit must be said, in the utmost latitude, in the most unqualifiedsense, “none of us liveth unto himself.” Thereis no true disciple of the Lord Jesus, who makes earthlyinterest, gain or pleasure, ambition or lust, his ruling andabsorbing object. Such is the character of the degenerateand lost world: there is no fitter description of a worldly manthan this, that he lives to gratify his own humour, and carry outthe schemes of his own wilfulness, and promote his own prosperityduring his little career: earth is his sphere of action, and allcentres in self. But every follower of Christ is called outof the world, effectually called and chosen and delivered: he hasanother mind, another spirit, another view. He cannot livefor himself: it is not merely against his conviction, his senseof propriety, his profes