"To meet the great day of account with confidence and joy": A Hackney Phalanx sermon for Stir-up Sunday
Today's final extract is from the sermon for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity, the Sunday next before Advent. Based on the reading for the epistle, from Jeremiah 23, Pott emphasises how the righteousness of Christ is both the ground of our justification and is to bear the fruit of righteousness in the Christian life. This reflects an enduring Old High theme, echoed many times in Pott's sermons, on the necessity of good works.
This, of course, echoed the collect of the Sunday: "plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works". In doing so, it was also a preparation for the Advent season and "the great day of account". Once again, this demonstrates how the liturgical year could meaningfully shape pre-1833 Old High preaching.
As this year-long series of extracts from Holden's sermons comes to an end, I trust that it has suggested something of the depth of preaching in the Old High tradition and the pre-1833 Church of England.
The Prophet had just made this declaration concerning the long-expected Saviour of mankind, "I will raise up unto David a righteous branch: and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute justice and judgment upon earth". All this was to be fulfilled when Christ, the righteous branch of the royal stock of David, and the king over a new kingdom, should begin to exercise the part of judge by publishing that word of truth which has power to save, and which also has authority to judge; to condemn those who oppose its testimony, or who slight its salutary dictates. The Prophet then goes on to supply a further word of comfort and encouragement to such as I would give ear to his predictions concerning one who should be manifested of the royal house of David. "In his days", saith the Prophet, "Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely"; and, he adds the reason for their safety and salvation; "for this", saith he, "is his name whereby he shall be called, the Lord our righteousness" ...
Let us then apply our best pains to mark the purport of that name, and to consider how fully it becomes a name of trust and consolation; enabling those who take it for their sure reliance, to meet the great day of account with confidence and joy ...
The text, then, will now enable us to see with joy and comfort what their plea shall be who tread in those good ways to which Christ and his faithful witnesses have invited men. Walk they must in those ways, if they hope to reach the happy end to which they lead, and from which all unrighteous persons shall forever be excluded. The main ground, then, of access to the state of grace, of acceptance before God, of peace and reconciliation, and the main title to the glories of an everlasting kingdom, are the same from first to last. Whatever be the terms of duty, without which there could be no improvement in the day of trial, and no future recompense proportioned to those alternatives of choice and reasonable service, still the sole plea which shall endure in judgment, and prevail in that day, is that which the text displays, "the Lord our righteousness".
... let us fix the clear results of these considerations in our minds; and remember that the Redeemer's righteousness, his infinitely precious blood and merits are laid as the sole ground of acceptance before God; that they only shall be accepted of the Ļord, and shall share the recompense of glory who lead holy lives, and are righteous in their measure and proportion in this season of proficiency: and that such fruits of holiness will thrive only through the quickening influences, and supplies, the guidance and direction of God's ever-blessed Spirit.
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