you are "walking in the broad road," think whither it leads: and begin to serve your God in this world, that you may be honoured by him in the world to comet.] t John xii. 26. XI. ENOCH'S WALKING WITH GOD. Gen. v. 24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. THE cares of a family are by no means incompatible with a life of devotedness to God. The man distinguished for his piety above all others in the antediluvian world, had a very numerous offspring, to whom doubtless he paid every attention in his power: yet he was not impeded in his spiritual course; but found time to serve his God, as much as if he had been free from all concern about this present world. We shall consider, I. His conduct— We are told, he "walked with God." Now walking with God" implies, 1. Agreement [Enoch, as a fallen creature, was once alienated from God, like others, and, during his unconverted state, was full of enmity against him both in heart and life; "walking after the flesh," according to the course of this world, and altogether contrary to God. But now he was reconciled to God through faith in Christ e And was brought by this means to an agreement with him both in mind and will. age a His eldest son, Methuselah, was born to him at the five; after which he continued for the space of three hundred years to beget sons and daughters. b Eph. iv. 18. d Rom. viii. 1. Eph. . 2. ver. 21-23. c Rom. viii. 7. Col. i. 21. Lev. xxvi. 27, 2 e It is said in Heb. xi. 5. that Enoch was "translated by faith :" and though that faith might have more immediate respect to some promise given him relative to ceive but that it had a f this idea is greatly str nslation, yet we can scarcely con the promised Messiah. A count St. Jude gives must commune with him not by constraint, but willingly and of a ready mind". We must delight ourselves in him. His loving-kindness must be better to us than life itself3: and it must be as marrow and fatness to us to serve and honour him.] How acceptable to God this conduct was, we may learn from, II. The reward with which God honoured him— The manifestations of God's presence and favour which he continually enjoyed, were a rich recompence for any self-denial which he exercised, or any exertions which he used, to please his God. But, besides all these, God, 1. Exempted him from death, the common lot of all men [All, the righteous as well as the wicked, must pay the penalty of death, which has been entailed on them by the sin of Adam, and been richly merited by their own personal transgressions. But God has been pleased to exempt from it one in the old world, and one in the new1. This testimony of his approbation God vouchsafed to Enoch. He was a bold and faithful witness for God, and doubtless incensed many against him s And God took him from a persecuting and ungodly world, who probably enough were seeking to destroy him on account of his pungent admonitions'. He took him in the prime of life, without any previous pain or sickness. To some indeed it might appear a calamity to be taken away, in the midst of his useful labours, and while his family were still looking up to him for instruction and support: but he thought it "far better to depart and to be with Christ," than to prolong his days in the midst of a tempting and ungodly world: and God gave him the desire of his heart. We, however diligent in walking with God, cannot hope to participate in such a reward as this. But death shall be disarmed of its sting, so that it shall be to us rather an object of desire, than of fear and terror" and while the most stouthearted sinner in the universe trembles at its approach, we n 1 John i. 3. q Ps. lxiii. 5. s Jude 14, 15. o Ps. xxxvii. 4. t In Heb. xi. 5. before cited, it is said "he was not found." This may refer to some search made by his friends (see 2 Kings ii.16.) or rather by his enemies, (see 1 Kings xviii. 10.) u 2 Cor. v. 4. shall be enabled not only to meet it with serenity and composure, but to triumph over it as a vanquished enemy. *] 2. Exalted him both in body and in soul to a more immediate enjoyment of his presence [While Enoch was in the body, he could not endure the full splendour of the divine glory: he could only behold his God through the dark medium of faith", or, at most, be permitted to 66 see his back parts a." But God translated him, both in body and soul, to the highest heavens; making him thereby not only an eminent type of Christ's ascension, but an earnest and pledge to us, that our bodies shall hereafter be raised to a participation of the happiness, which our glorified souls shall enjoy at the instant of their departure from the body. To what extent the blessedness of every individual will be advanced by the re-union of the soul and body, it is not possible to say: but it is reasonable to suppose, that that which consummates our reward, will greatly enhance our felicity. This, however, Enoch had not to wait for; he received his full reward at once; and was thereby distinguished from all those disembodied spirits, which, though perfected in glory, waited for their complete happiness till the day of judgment. The happiness of Enoch in communing with God on earth was doubtless exceeding great: but when he arrived at the full fruition of the divine glory, his blessedness as far exceeded all that he had before experienced, as the early dawn is surpassed by the meridian light. It need not, however, be any matter of regret to us, that we are not to expect this reward; since, on our dismission from the body, we shall instantly be in Paradise; and at the day of resurrection, we shall have our bodies raised to a participation of our bliss.] 3. Made him a most distinguished monument to the whole world, of the love he bears to those who seek communion with him [We know but little of the state of those who are gone into the invisible world, though we believe, from the word of God, that they are completely happy. But here is an evidence to our very senses, that none shall be suffered to "seek God's face in vain." Who, after beholding such an interposition of the Deity, such an honour conferred on a "man of like passions with ourselves," can doubt one moment of the acceptance which all shall find, who serve their God in sincerity and truth b? x 1 Cor. xv. 55. y 1 Tim. vi. 16. z 1 Cor. xiii. 12. In this view then we may consider his reward as an earnest of ours. We shall not be left without many expressions of God's love even in this world, if we endeavour to walk closely with him. But, whether our present state be more or less joyous, we are sure that in the eternal world we shall not lose our reward. We need only to consider the exalted condition of this distinguished saint and we may see in him the blessedness reserved for us.] INFER, 1. What an honourable character is the Christian! [We consider those as honourable who associate with great men on earth: but the Christian has higher company than earthly monarchs; he walks with God himself; and God is not ashamed to call him his friend. In some sense, the Christian is already translated into God's kingdoma, and admitted into the heavenly Zion, and joined to the society of glorified saints and angels. Let every one then walk worthy of this high calling; and, in a dignified contempt of all inferior objects, endeavour to attain this sublime privilege in its highest perfection.] 2. What a happy character is the Christian! [His singularity may bring upon him much odium and persecution. But what need he to regard the frowns of men, who enjoys fellowship with God? One smile from his almighty Friend is sufficient to counterbalance all the indignities that can possibly be cast upon him. Yet, after all, his happiness in this world is but as the drop before the shower. When he has filled up the measure of his obedience, God takes him to himself; a band of angels are sent to bear his spirit to the regions of the blest. It must not be said of the Christian, "He dies;" but merely, that "God translates him" from a world of sin and misery, to a world of blessedness and glory. "Such honour have all his saints;" God grant it may be ours for ever and ever! Amen.] c Heb. xi. 16. James ii. 23. John xv. 15. e Heb. xii. 22, 23. XII. STRIVINGS OF THE SPIRIT. Gen. vi. 3. And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man. MAN, at first, was created in the image of his God: but when he fell, he begat children in his own |