Transcribed from the 1822 R. Thomas edition ,
THE
GLORY OF GRACE
Effected by weak Means:
BEING THESUBSTANCE OF
A SERMON,
PREACHED ONTHE
DEATH OFSAMUEL CHURCH,
Aged Twelve Years.
On Sunday Evening, April 14, 1822,
BY J. CHURCH,
At the SurreyTabernacle.
And Eli perceived that the Lord had called theChild.—1 Sam. iii, 8.
And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy Children shall come
again to their own Border.—Jeremiah xxxi, 17.
SOUTHWARK,
PRINTED BY R. THOMAS, RED LION STREET,BOROUGH.
1822.
p. 3ASERMON, &c.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thouordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mighteststill the enemy and the avenger. Psalm viii, 2.
When David had his mind mostdivinely elevated and filled with holy thoughts of the person,work, and glory of the dear Redeemer, he burst forth in holyadmiration, joy, and praise, in this adoring language: I willextol thee, my God, O king! I will bless thy name for everand ever! One generation shall praise thy works untoanother, and shall declare thy mighty acts: and surely the mostwonderful and astonishing act, is the everlasting salvation oflost, ruined, guilty man. This is a greater act than theformation of worlds, either heaven or earth. The salvationof one poor sinner is a more marvellous display of God, than thecreation, with all its wonders. This salvation we are tospeak of to others, both ministers and people; and in proportionas we see our interest in it, so are we to declare its greatness,because it is the highest act of God, as the God of all grace,and
Why should the wonders he has wrought
Be lost in silence and forgot?
But babes, men, and children, let them praise the name of theLord.
I could wish this task, on this solemn, and to me, painfuloccasion, had devolved on one suitable, but supported by theLord’s presence, upheld by his power, and p. 4cheered withhis approbation in my mind, I humbly attempt to rehearse thewonders of his love, the riches of his grace, and the displays ofhis mercy to me, and mine, and attempt, in my poor way, to provethe glorious truth in the text: Out of the mouths of babes Godhas ordained his own glory, the glory of his love, hisgrace, his mercy, his truth, hispower, his faithfulness, and infinitecondescension. It is true that I can do no justiceto the important words, by way of a Sermon. They contain a