| English | Manx | |
|---|---|---|
| SERMON I. | SHARMANE I. | |
| The true way of profiting by God’s word read or preached. | Yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn. | |
| Vouchsafe, O God, to direct me in this work, and bless this discourse for the good of my flock; that both I and they may glorify Thee for the Truths they shall hear. Render them tractable and obedient to thy word, and me faithful in delivering it; that I may save myself, and them that hear me, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. | Dy gooidsave lhiat, O Yee, dy leeideil mee ayns yn obbyr vooar shoh, as dy vannaghey yn sharmane shoh son my hioltane; dy voddym’s as adsyn gloyr y choyrt Dhyt’s son ny Firrinnyssyn nee ad clashtyn. Cur dauesyn dy ve beasagh as biallagh da dty ghoo’s, as dooys dy ve jeidjagh ayns livrey yh; dy voddym mee-hene y hauail as adsyn ta clashtyn rhym; er graih Yeesey Creest. Amen. | |
| luke viii. 18. | luke viii. 18. | |
| Take heed how ye hear: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.[1] | Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn: Son quoi-erbee ta echey, dasyn vees er ny choyrt; as quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, veihsyn vees er ny ghoail eer shen hene er-lesh dy vel echey. | |
| GOOD Christian People; I am going to set before you— the great blessing of attending to the Word of God, whether read or preached to you, and the true way of profiting thereby; as also, the very great hazard you run, of living under the light of the Gospel, and the ordinances of God, and not being bettered by them. | Chreesteenyn vie; ta mee goll dy hoiagh rhimbiu —yn bannaght mooar jeh tendeil Goo Yee, edyr yh ve er ny lhaih na er ny phreacheil diu, as yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish; as, myrgeddin yn ard danjere ta shiu roie, jeh beaghey fo soilshey yn Sushtal[2] as oardaghyn Yee, as gyn ve veg share lioroo. | |
| There is nothing more certain, than that many Christians are eternally ruined for want of considering the Truths they hear every Lord’s Day, and by not laying them to heart. | [2] Cha vel nhee erbee ny s’firrinee, na dy vel lane Creesteenyn caillit son dy bragh son laccal smooinaghtyn er ny Firrinyssyn ta’d dy chlashtyn dy chooilley Ghoonaght, as son nagh vel ad dy ghoail ad gys nyn greeaghyn. | |
| They come, indeed, to the church; and they hear the scriptures read to them. They hear what God commands, and what He requires of them. They are put in mind of what must certainly come hereafter; of death, of judgment, of heaven, and of hell. And yet they return home as little affected, as if these things were not true, or as if they did not at all concern them. And what is the consequence of this? Why, they are called Christians, though they do not the things which Christ hath commanded them. They hope for salvation, without being converted; and under this delusion they die, and go into Eternity. | T’ad cheet dy jarroo gys y cheeill; as ta’d clashtyn ny scriptyryn er ny lhaih daue. —T’ad clashtyn ny ta Jee dy harey, as cre ta eshyn dy hirrey jeu. T’ad er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ny hig son firrinys ny lurg shoh: jeh baase, jeh briwnys, jeh niau, as jeh niurin. As foast t’ad goll thie lesh cha beg dy ghreme goit orroo, as nagh row ny reddyn shoh firrinagh, na myr nagh row ad er aght erbee bentyn roo. As cre ta cheet jeh shoh? Camma, t’ad fo ennym Chreesteenyn, ga nagh vel ad jannoo ny reddyn shen ta Creest er harey daue. T’ad jercal nish saualtys fegooish lhiassaghey nyn mea; as fo yn volteyrys shoh t’ad geddyn vaaish as goll dys beayntys trimshagh-treih. | |
| To prevent this destructive consequence, Our Lord has given this following strict charge to all his followers: take heed how ye hear. | Dy haghney yn toyrt-mouys agglagh ta liorish shoh, ta nyn Jiarn er choyrt yn sarey geyre shoh da ooilley e eiyrtyssee: Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn. | |
| Take heed —for your salvation depends upon it— that you remember, and make good use of, what you hear. For whosoever hath, i. e. hath benefited by what [2] he hath already heard, God will increase his knowledge and his graces. But whosoever hath not, i. e. have not minded what they have heard, or have not profited by it; such are unworthy of more favours, and, by a just judgment of God, will be deprived of the knowledge and graces which they seemed to have. | Cur-jee twoaie —son ta’n saualtys eu lhie er— dy gooinee shiu as dy jean shiu ymmyd vie, jeh ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn. Son quoi-erbee ta echey, ta shen, ta er gheddyn foays liorish ny t’eh hanna er chlashtyn, [3] nee Jee yn tushtey as ny grayseyn echey y vishaghey. Agh quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, ta shen, nagh vel er choyrt geill da ny t’ad er chlashtyn, as nagh vel er n’yannoo vondeish erbee liorish; ta nyn lheid neu-feeu jeh bannaghtyn sodjey, as, liorish briwnys cairal Yee, bee goit voue yn tushtey as y ghrayse er-lhieu hene dy row oc. | |
| Take heed, therefore, how you hear, i. e. whether you come prepared to hear with a serious, teachable temper; with a purpose to learn your duty, and to practise what you hear. | Cur-jee twoaie er-y-fa shen, kys ta shiu clashtyn, ta shen, vel shiu cheet kiarit dy chlashtyn lesh aigney sheelt, aggindagh, as arryltagh dy ve ynsit nyn gurrym; as lesh kiarail dy chooilleeney ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn. | |
| Take heed how you hear: —And that you hear those only who, by the order and providence of God, are appointed to instruct you. Never sure was more need of this caution. Many deceivers, saith the Apostle, are entered into the world;[3] many lewd, profane, and antichristian books; many agents of Satan, and seducing spirits; and therefore beware and avoid them as you love your souls. | Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn— as dy jean shiu clashtyn roosyn nyn lomarcan ta, liorish oardagh Yee, pointit dy ynsagh shiu. Shickyr cha row rieau feme smoo son y raue shoh. Ta ymmodee molteyryn, ta’n Ostyl dy ghra, er n’gholl magh fud y theihl; lane lioaryn olk, mee-chrauee, as noi yn chredjue Chreestee; lane fir-obbree fo yn Drogh-spyrryd, as spyrrydyn molteyragh; shen-y-fa cur-jee twoaie as chea-jee voue myr shynney lhieu ny anmeenyn eu hene. | |
| Lastly, take heed how you hear. Remember whose ministers you hear, whose word, whose commands, whose promises, whose threatenings, you hear. They are not the words of man, but the word of God —delivered by his own Son— confirmed by miracles, and reported to you by his own Ministers. | Er-jerrey, cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn. Cooinee-jee quoi ny Shirveishee ta shiu dy chlashtyn, quoi yn ghoo, quoi ny saaraghyn, quoi ny gialdynyn, quoi [4] ny baggyrtyn, ta shiu dy chlashtyn. Cha nee goan ghooinney ad, agh goo Yee —er ny livrey liorish e Vac hene, er ny hickyraghey liorish mirrillyn, as soilshit diu liorish e Haggyrtyn hene. | |
| It may be you may imagine, that you know your duty as well as the preacher who is appointed to instruct you. Be it so. But remember, that whatever his talents and yours may be— he is a minister of God to you for good, if you hear and obey his godly admonitions. And remember too, that the most eloquent, learned man on earth cannot edify you without God’s blessing. And lastly, that God has made, and can make, his word, out of the mouth of the meanest of his ministers, effectual for the conversion of those that hear them with reverence. | Hoiggal dy vel shiu smooinaghtyn, dy vel shiu cha mie ynsit ayns nyn gurrym as yn preachoor ta pointit dy ynsagh shiu. Abbyr-jee dy vel. Agh cooinee-jee cre-erbee ta ny giootyn echeysyn na euish, dy nee eshyn shirveishagh Yee diuish son foays, my ver shiu tastey as biallys da ny coyrleyn crauee echey. As cooinee-jee myrgeddin, nagh vod yn dooinney s’floaoil ta loayrt, as s’ynsit ’sy theihl cur shiu er nyn doshiaght ayns craueeaght fegooish bannaght Yee. As er-jerrey, dy vel Jee er n’yannoo, as dy vod eh jannoo, yn goo echey ass beeal yn fer ’smelley jeh e haggyrtyn, breeoil dy hyndaa adsyn ta geaishtagh roo lesh arrym. | |
| Well then; whoever hopes to benefit by hearing, must come with humility, and a teachable temper of mind; must resolve to receive instruction, reproof, and advice, as coming from God; and must strive to remember what he hears. | Well eisht; sheign da quoi-erbee ta jercal dy gheddyn vondeish liorish clashtyn cheet lesh imlid, as aigney arryltagh dy ghoail ynsagh; sheign da kiarail y ghoail dy yannoo soiagh jeh yn ynsagh, oghsan, as coyrle, myr cheet voish Jee; as sheign da streeu dy chooinaghtyn er ny t’eh dy chlashtyn. | |
| It will startle you, and, I hope, will affect your hearts, to hear the true reason why the generality of people do not profit by Sermons, and by the word of God read to them. It is not I, but Jesus Christ, who tells you, that “the seed is the word of God:” that “those by the way-side are they that hear. Then cometh the Devil,” Observe that, “then cometh the Devil, and taketh the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” | Ver yh aggle ayndiu, as, ta mee treishteil dy gow yh greme er ny creeaghyn eu, dy chlashtyn yn oyr firrinagh cre’n-fa nagh vel yn [5] chooid smoo dy leih geddyn vondeish liorish sharmaneyn, as liorish goo Yee er ny lhaih daue. Cha nee mish, agh Yeesey Creest ta ginsh diu, dy vel yn “rass goo Yee:” dy vel “shen ta rish oirr y raad adsyn ta clashtyn. Eisht ta’n Drogh-spyrryd cheet;” Gow-jee tastey jeh shen, “eisht ta’n Drogh-spyrryd cheet, as goail ersooyl yn goo ass ny creeaghyn oc, nagh jinnagh ad credjal as ve er nyn sauail.”[4] | |
| You see who it is that tempts you to sit down with indifference, when the word of God is read or spoken, —who it is that suggests to your mind other matters when you should be attending to the things which concern your souls. You hear from Christ himself, that it is the devil, —and that the end thereof is damnation. Let this dreadful truth, I beseech you, oblige you, at this time, and at all times, to hearken with attention to the word of God. And remember what our Lord said to those who heard his word, and would not mind it, —“It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment, than for you.” | Ta shiu fakin quoi eh-hene ta miolaghey shiu dy hoie sheese lesh beggan geill, tra ta goo Yee er ny lhaih na er ny loayrt, —quoi eh ta coyrt ayns ny creeaghyn eu cooishyn elley tra lhisagh shiu ve coyrt geill vie da ny reddyn ta bentyn rish ny anmeenyn eu. Ta shiu clashtyn veih Creest hene, dy nee yn Jouyl ta jannoo shoh, —as dy vel yn jerrey echey coayl anmey. Lhig da’n firrinys agglagh shoh, ta mee guee erriu, cur erriu, ec y traa shoh, as ec dy chooilley hraa, dy eaishtagh as geill vie y choyrt da goo Yee. As cooinee-jee cre dooyrt nyn Jiarn roosyn ren clashtyn y goo, as nagh jinnagh geill da, —“Bee yh ny sassey da Sodom as Gomorrah, ec laa ny briwnys, na diuish.”[5] | |
| It behoves you therefore, as ever you hope to escape this dreadful judgment; it concerns you, I say, to come to church with a teachable temper, with a sincere desire, whether to learn, or to be put in mind of your duty. It concerns you to hear with an humble, attentive mind, and with a full purpose of heart to order your life accordingly; and then the word you hear will become indeed, what St. Paul calls it, the word of salvation to every one that believeth. | T’yh lhie erriu er-y-fa shen, my ta shiu dy bragh jercal dy scapail yn vriwnys agglagh shoh; t’yh lhie erriu, ta mee gra, dy heet gys y cheeill lesh aigney beasagh, lesh yeearree creeoil, edyr dy ynsagh, na dy ve er nyn [6] goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym. T’yh lhie erriu dy chlashtyn lesh aigney imlee, kiaralagh, as lesh slane imnea-chree dy oardrail nyn mea cordail rish; as eisht hig yn goo nee shiu clashtyn dy-jarroo dy ve shen ny ta’n Noo Paul dy enmys yh, Yn goo dy haualtys da dy chooilley unnane ta credjal.[6] | |
| And that you may always attend to what is written in the Gospel with the greatest regard, and assurance of being true and certain, —take notice of and remember what was declared by God himself in a voice from Heaven, this is my beloved Son, hear ye him. | As dy vod shiu dy kinjagh geaishtagh rish shen ny ta scruit ayns y Sushtal lesh yn geill smoo, as lesh slane shickyrys dy vel yh yn eer ynrickys, gow-jee tastey as cooinee-jee cre va er ny ockley magh liorish Jee hene ayns coraa veih Niau, Shoh my Vac ennoil, clasht-jee rishyn.[7] | |
| [3] It is not a poor, ignorant, creature, as I am, who tells you what you must do to be saved —what you must do to escape eternal misery; but it is the Son of God himself, sent from Heaven for this very end —to shew unto us the way to life ever-lasting. It is Him you hear, when you hear his word; and it is Him you disregard, when you mind not what is said to you by his ministers. | Cha nee cretoor boght mee-hushtagh my lheid’s, ta ginsh diu, cre sheign diu jannoo dy ve er nyn sauail —cre sheign diu jannoo dy haghney treihys dy bragh farraghtyn; agh she Mac Yee hene eh, currit veih Niau er yn eer oyr shoh hene— dy hoilshaghey dooin yn raad gys yn vea dy bragh beayn. She Eshyn ta shiu clashtyn, tra ta shiu clashtyn e ghoo; as she Eshyn nagh vel shiu coyrt geill da, tra nagh vel shiu coyrt geill da shen ny ta raait riu liorish ny Saggyrtyn echeysyn. | |
| But then; because it is not sufficient for a man to hear the truths of the Gospel, unless through the grace of God he applies them to himself, and considers how much he himself is concerned in them; and that otherwise he will be little the better for hearing the word read or preached; I will, therefore, shew you how the most plain and unlearned Christian may and ought to apply the things he hears, every one to himself and put them in practice. I will also shew you, how the truths you hear may always suggest to your minds suitable petitions, in order to obtain the grace of God, without which all you hear, all you know, will signify nothing towards your salvation. | Agh eisht; er-yn-oyr nagh vel eh dy liooar da dooinney dy chlashtyn firrinyssyn y Sushtal, mannagh vel eh<,> trooid grayse Yee dy ghoail huggey hene ad, as smooinaghtyn [7] cre wheesh ta shoh bentyn rish hene; as nagh bee eh er aght elley agh feer veg share son clashtyn yn goo er ny lhaih na er ny phreacheil; Nee’m er-y-fa shen soilshaghey diu kys oddys as kys lhisagh yn Creestee s’neu-hoiggalagh as s’neu-ynsit, dy chooilley unnane goail huggey hene ny reddyn t’eh dy chlashtyn, as geiyrt daue. Soie-ym rhimbiu myrgeddin, kys oddys yn ynsagh ta shiu dy chlashtyn dy kinjagh gientyn ayns ny aignaghyn eu aghinyn cooie, reih grayse Yee y chosney, ny egooish ooilley nyn dushtey, ooilley ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn, cha neeagh ad monney cour nyn saualtys. | |
| For example: —Suppose the sermon you heard was concerning the danger of inconsideration, —or the sad effect of that little care and concern which the generality of Christians have for their salvation. | Son mac-soyley: —Abbyr dy row yn Sharmane ren shiu clashtyn mychione yn danjere t’ayns meerioose, na yn eiyrtys treih ta liorish yn veggan geill as kiarail ta ec Creesteenyn, son yn ayrn smoo, jeh nyn saualtys. | |
| —Such-a serious subject, if you minded it, must needs affect you; and you will be apt to say within yourself —I see plainly, that if I pass my days in a wretched, negligent manner, without taking care of my soul, without considering what will come hereafter, whether I think of it or not, I can expect nothing when I die but misery everlasting. I see plainly, that I must not satisfy myself with the bare name of being a Christian, without considering what the Christian Religion requires of me. If I do so, I shall be dealt with worse than an Heathen. —God himself has declared, that great will be the punishment of wicked men; and great the reward, the happiness, of such as fear to offend him, of such as are careful to obey his commands. —And shall not this awaken me? —Shall I go on, and live as if no harm would follow? —Will not inconsideration ruin me, as well as if I were guilty of the greatest crimes? —I take all possible care of my worldly concerns, and to avoid temporal evils; and shall I not be concerned for evils that will last for ever? —It is true, I see others as little concerned as I am myself; but will this be any comfort to me, if we are all miserable at the last? | Sheign da’n chooish shoh ta wheesh lhie er, my hug shiu geill da, greme y ghoaill erriu; as bee shiu licklee dy ghra cheu-sthie jiu hene, —“Ta mee fakin dy baghtal, my nee’m my laghyn y cheau er aght neu-chooie, neu-friuysagh, fegooish goaill kiarail jeh my annym, fegooish smooinaght cre hig ny lurg shoh, edyr mee dy ghoail aym pene yh na gyn, cha voddym jercal rish veg tra yioym baase agh treihys dy bragh farraghtyn. Ta mee fakin dy plain nagh nheign dou mee-[8]hene y phleasal lesh yn eer ennym Chreestee, fegooish goaill hym-pene cre ta yn Credjue Creestee dy hirrey orrym. My nee’m myr shoh, yioym dellal smessey na An-chreestee. Ta Jee hene er hickyraghey, dy nee trome vees kerraghey ny mee-chrauee, as dy nee mooar ta yn leagh, mooar yn vaynrys ocsyn ta goail aggle dy chur jummoose er, jeh nyn lheid as ta kiaralagh dy choyrt biallys da ny saraghyn echeysyn. —As nagh jean shoh mish y ghoostey? Jem’s er my hoshiaght, as leeideil my vea myr nagh beagh assee erbee liorish? Nagh jean meerioose mish y chriu, yn un chooid as dy be’in oolee jeh ny peccaghyn smessey? Ta mee goaill ooilley yn chiarail t’ayns my phooar jeh my chooid-heihlt, as dy haghney seaghyn seihltagh; as nagh bee’m fo imnea roish yn coayl-anmey shen nee farraghtyn son dy bragh? Spheer yh, ta mee fakin feallagh elley lesh cha beg dy chiarail rhym pene; agh bee shoh gys gerjagh erbee dooys, my vees mayd ooilley caillit fey-yerrey? | |
| I should be astonished to hear a man say, that he does not believe one word of the gospel: and yet, it is plain, it will be the same thing in the end —with those that have not believed one word of the Gospel, and with those that have not laid the truths of the Gospel to heart. —I am resolved, therefore, what I will do; I will go home, and beg of God to touch my heart with a lasting sense of the danger I am in; that he will give me great concern for my soul; and that he will not suffer me to lead a careless life any longer. | Ve’in atchimagh dy chlashtyn dooinney gra, nagh vel eh credjal un ockle jeh’n Sushtal: as foast t’yh plain, dy bee yh yn un red ec y jerrey —dauesyn nagh vel er chredjal un ockle jeh’n Sushtal, as dauesyn nagh vel er ghoaill gys nyn gree ynsaghyn yn Sushtal. Ta mee kiarit, er-y-fa shen, cre nee’m; h’em thie, as guee-ym gys Jee dy choyrt ayns my [9] chree ennaghtyn breeoil jeh’n danjere ta mee ayn; dy der eh dou slane imnea son my annym; as nagh sur’ eh dou dy leeideil bea lhiastey almoragh veg sodjey. | |
| And you will be confirmed in these good purposes, if you shall be so happy (for so the providence of God often orders matters for our good) if you shall be so happy, as in some other Sermon to be put in mind of the wretched condition of one who leads a careless and a sinful life; and this, both with respect to himself and to God. | As bee shiu er nyn shickyraghey ayns ny kiarailyn shoh, my vees shiu cha bannit (son shen myr ta ard-chiaralys Yee gordrail nheeghyn son y foays ain) my vees shiu cha bannit, as dy ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn ayns sharmane ennagh elley jeh’n stayd treih ta eshyn ayn, ta leeideil bea neu-chiaralagh as peccoil; as shoh chammah bentyn rish hene as rish Jee. | |
| If, for example, you have been plainly told, what you cannot but know to be true, That a person who leads a careless and a sinful life can never be truly easy, or pleased with himself. That he is always doing that which he inwardly condemns. That he is afraid of that light which would let him see the danger he is in. And that though he has often purposed to lead a new life, yet he has as often neglected to do so. | My t’yh, son mac-soyley, er ve inshit diu son shickyrys, cooid sheign fys ve eu er dy ve firrinagh; Nagh vod persoon ta leeideil bea neu-chiaralagh as peccoil ve dy bragh dy firrinagh maynrey na ec shee rish hene. Dy vel eh dy kinjagh jannoo shen ta e chree hene dy gheyrey. Dy vel aggle er roish yn soilshey shen yinnagh er fakin yn danjere t’eh ayn: —as ga dy vel eh dy mennick er chiarail dy leeideil bea noa, ny-yeih t’eh chiart cha mennic er lhiggey shaghey dy yannoo shen. | |
| If you have been told, what is as true as the Gospel, That while you live in wilful sin, there is not the filthiest creature so odious in your eyes, as you are in the eyes of God. [4] That you are governed by the Devil, and are in his service, and doing his work. That every moment you put off your Repentance, you are despising the goodness and long-suffering of God, who continues your Life for no other end, but that you may not be damned. If you hear, and are not startled at this, it is because you are given over to a reprobate mind. | My t’yh er ve inshit diu, cooid ta cha firrinagh as yn Sushtal, choud as ta shiu beaghey ayns pecca jeh nyn yoin, nagh vel yn cretoor s’feohdee cha dwoaiagh ayns y chilley euish, as ta shiuish ayns shilley Yee; —dy vel shiu leeidit liorish yn Jouyl, as ayns y chir[10]veish echeysyn, as jannoo yn obbyr echey; —dy vel shiu dy chooilley hallid ta shiu dy chur shaghey nyn arrys, soiaghey beg jeh mieys as surranse-foddey Yee, ta coyrt seihl sodjey diu son yn eer oyr shoh, nagh bee shiu er nyn gheyrey gys coayl-anmey. My ta shiu clashtyn, as nagh vel shoh coyrt aggle ayndiu, t’yh er-yn-oyr dy vel shiu livreit harrish gys creoghys cree. | |
| Every man who is not so given over will certainly be afraid for himself; and if he hears a sermon concerning repentance, and a sinner’s return to God, he will probably come to some such resolutions as these: | Dy chooilley unnane nagh vel myr shoh livreit harrish, bee eh son firrinys agglagh er e hon hene; as my t’eh clashtyn sharmane mychione Arrys, as chyndaa drogh-yantee gys Jee, hig eh, t’yh licklee, gys lheid ny kiarailyn ennagh as shoh: | |
| —I am convinced, from God’s own word, that a sinner has no other choice but either Repentance or Damnation. As long, therefore, as I have no hopes of pardon I can have no comfort in life: And as long as I defer my Repentance I can have no hopes of pardon. And I see plainly, from what I have heard this day, that my Repentance will signify very little, if I do not bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life. Is it not a great mercy, that God will accept of a sinner’s repentance, after he has done so many ill things? Is it not great condescension in the Son of God to give us even his oath that all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men; and that none ought to despair of mercy, but such only as will not be persuaded to forsake their evil ways? What a mercy is it that I have time to repent, and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. And what a foolish, what a wretched creature should I be, if I should neglect such a mercy, and go on in my sins, and to my destruction? I will therefore, through the Grace of God, not defer my repentance for one moment, lest I be overtaken in sin, and be for ever undone. | “Ta shickyrys aym, veih goo Yee hene, nagh vel reih arragh ec drogh-yantagh agh edyr Arrys na Coayl Anmey. Choud as nagh vel aym er-y-fa shen, treishteil rish pardoon, cha vod veg y gherjagh y ve aym ’sy theihl shoh: as choud as ta mee lhiggey shaghey my arrys, cha vod jercal erbee ’ve aym rish pardoon. As ta mee fakin dy plain, voish ny ta mee er chlashtyn jiu, nagh n’ieu[8] my arrys monney, mannagh jean-ym mess y ymmyrkey cooie gys lhiassaghey bea. Nagh nee myghin vooar yh, dy jean Jee soiagh y yannoo jeh arrys y pheccagh, erreish da v’er n’yannoo wheesh dy olk? Nagh nee ard erreeish yh ayns Mac Yee dy vel eh er vreearrey dy bee dy chooilley phecca er [11] ny leih da mec gheiney;[9] as nagh lhisagh unnane erbee ve ayns mee-hreishteil jeh myghin, agh nyn lheid ny lomarcan as nagh gow coyrle dy hreigeil nyn ghrogh raaidyn? Nagh mooar y vyghin yh dy vel traa aym dy ghoail arrys, as dy ymmyrkey magh messyn cooie dy arrys? As cre’n cretoor mee-cheeaylagh, cre’n cretoor treih beign dou ve, my lhig’yn[10] shagh-ym lheid y vyghin, as goll er my hoshiaght ayns my pheccaghyn gys my hoyrt-mouys? Cha jean-ym er-y-fa shen, trooid grayse Yee, lhiggey shaghey my arrys un shallid, er-aggle dy bee’m goit giare ayns pecca, as ve callit son dy bragh.” | |
| Some such (one would hope) would be the thoughts, and the resolutions, of any one who with attention had heard a sermon concerning the necessity of repentance and a new life. | Lheid shoh (hellagh peiagh) veagh smooinaghtyn as kiarailyn dagh unnane ta lesh geill vie er chlashtyn sharmane mychione yn feme ta rish arrys as bea noa. | |
| A Christian that reasons thus, and thus revolves, and acts accordingly, is in the way of Salvation. But that he may continue in that way, he will want to be often put in mind— of the danger of back-sliding; —of the duties required of him, of every man, in that state of life in which the providence of God has placed him; — of the sins he is chiefly to watch against; — and of the means of grace which God has appointed to bring us to Heaven. | Creestee ta resooney myr shoh, as kiarail er yn aght shoh, as jannoo cordail rish, t’eh ayns raad y taualtys. Agh dy vod eh tannaghtyn ayns y raad shen, bee feme rish eh dy ve dy mennic er ny choyrt ayns cooinaghtyn —jeh’n danjere t’ayns chyndaa reesht gys pecca; —jeh ny cur’myn ta er nyn shirrey ersyn, er dy chooilley ghooinney, ayns y stayd shen dy vea ayn ta ard-chiaralys Yee er choyrt eh; —jeh ny peccaghyn smoo t’eh dy ve er e arrey nyn ’oi; as jeh ny saaseyn dy ghrayse ta Jee er phointeil dy chur lhieu shin gys niau. | |
| For instance: —You will hear the duty of prayer pressed upon all Christians, as necessary to their salvation as their daily bread is to preserve their lives. | [12] Son mac-soyley: —nee shiu clashtyn yn currym jeh goail padjer er ny hionney er dy chooilley Chreestee, cooid ta cha ymmyrchagh gys yn saualtys[11] oc, as ta nyn arran gagh-laa dy chummal seose nyn mioys. | |
| Will you return home without laying this to heart? You may, indeed, do so; but if you have any concern for your own soul, you will think better of it, and reason with yourself after some such manner as this: —I now see the great sin of neglecting so necessary a duty as is this of Prayer. I see plainly, that I must renounce all pretence to religion, all hopes of salvation, if I neglect it any longer. I am convinced, that all the sins I ever committed, and which I have not confessed and begged pardon for, do stand in judgment against me. And what will become of me if I die in this condition? —And I have all the reason in the world to believe, that God will withhold his blessings from me, if I do not give him thanks for those I have already received. I have no reason to hope for God’s protection and blessing upon myself, upon my children, or upon my labours, when I never pray for them. I am as subject to afflictions, to troubles, to calamities, as other people: How shall I bear them with patience without the assistance of God’s grace? How shall I escape the many temptations to wickedness which I meet with daily, without praying for God’s help and direction? In short, if I neglect this duty, how shall I escape eternal misery? —I am resolved what to do. —I will, by the grace of Almighty God, omit this duty of prayer no longer, lest I come short of Heaven, and be for ever undone. [5] I will, as I have been instructed, take all occasions of praying to God. When I set about any business of moment, I will pray him to prosper my honest endeavours. Whenever I shall perceive that I have done any thing amiss, I will forthwith pray God to forgive me, and to give me grace to do so no more. If I am in trouble, or in distress, I will apply to the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort. If I am in any danger, I will pray him to deliver me: if I am tempted to any sin, I will beseech him to succour me. And I will not fail to give him thanks, whenever he bestows any blessing upon me. | Jed shiu thie fegooish goaill shoh gys nyn gree? Foddee shiu, dy jarroo[,] shen y yannoo; agh my ta veg y gheill eu da nyn anmeenyn hene, nee shiu smooinaghtyn ny share er, as resooney riu hene er aght ennagh myr shoh: “Ta mee nish fakin yn pecca trome t’ayns lhiggey shaghey currym cha ymmyrchagh as shoh jeh padjer. Ta mee fakin son firrinys, nagh jean y mie dou gra dy vel mee ’sy chredjue, na hopes aym dy haualtys, my lhig-ym shaghey veg sodjey. Ta my haie fys aym,[12] dy vel dy chooilley phecca ren mee rieau, as nagh vel mee er-ghoail-roo, as er yeearree pardoon er nyn son, shassoo ayns briwnys m’oi. As cre s’erree dou my yioym baase ’sy stayd shoh? As ta dy chooilley oyr ’sy theihl aym dy chredjal, dy gum Jee e vannaghtyn voym, mannagh der-ym booise da son ny ta mee hannah er gheddyn. Cha vel oyr erbee aym dy yercal rish coadey Yee as e vannaght orrym pene, er my chloan, na er my laboraght, tra nagh vel mee dy bragh goail padjer er nyn son. Ta mee cha foshlit roish seaghyn, roish boiraghyn, as roish croshyn, as sleih elley: Kys oddym ad y ymmyrkey lesh meenid fegooish cooney grayse Yee? [13] Kys oddym scapail ny ymmodee miolaghyn gys mee-chraueeaght ta cheet my raad gagh laa, fegooish guee son cooney as leeideilys Yee? Ayns fockle, my lhig-ym shaghey yn currym shoh, kys oddym treihys dy bragh farraghtyn y scapail? Ta mee kiarit cre dy yannoo. —Liorish grayse Yee ooilley-niartal, cha jean-ym lhiggey shaghey yn currym shoh jeh goail padjer veg sodjey, er-aggle dy jig-ym giare jeh flaunys, as dy bee’m callit son dy bragh. Goym, myr t’yh ve ynsit dou, dy chooilley chaa dy yannoo padjer gys Jee. Tra h’em mysh cooish erbee dy scansh, nee’m guee er dy choyrt e vannaght er my yannoo onneragh. Tra erbee dy der-ym tastey dy vel mee er n’yannoo red erbee ass y raad, nee’m chelleeragh guee gys Jee eh dy leih dou, as dy choyrt grayse dou nagh jean-ym y lheid arragh. My ta mee ayns seaghyn, na ayns chennid, nee’m my accan gys yn Ayr dy vyghinyn, as y Jee jeh dy chooilley gherjagh. My ta mee ayns gaue erbee, nee’m guee huggey dy livrey mee: my ta mee miolit gys peccah erbee, nee’m my phadjer huggey dy my niartagh n’oi. As cha jean-ym failleil dy choyrt booise da, tra erbee dy vel eh stowal e vannaghtyn orrym. | |
| By doing this I shall be entitled to the favour and protection of God, and be always afraid of offending him. | Liorish jannoo shoh yioym foayr as coadey Yee as bee’m fo aggle dy choyrt corree er. | |
| But this is not all; for I am resolved, by the grace of God, to pray with my family, and for my family, every day, as ever I expect God’s blessing to be with them, and myself. By this means, I shall put them under God’s protection every morning and evening. I shall set them a good example of piety; and this is the only way to make my children and servants serious, holy, honest, and diligent. And I will, by God’s help, do this faithfully, though I should be so unlearned as to be able to say no other prayer but the Lord’s prayer: —I will hope God will hear me according to the full meaning of that prayer, if I say it devoutly upon my knees, with my family. | Agh cha nee shoh ooilley; son ta mee kiarit liorish grayse Yee, dy ghoail padjer ma[14]rish my lught-thie, as son my lught-thie, dy chooilley laa, myr ta mee dy bragh jercal rish bannaght Yee dy ve maroosyn, as marym pene. Liorish yn saase shoh, ver-ym ad fo coadey Yee dy chooilley voghrey as fastyr. Soie-ym roue samplere mie dy chraueeaght; as shoh yn ynrycan aght dy chur er my chloan as mooinjer dy ve sheelt, crauee, onneragh, as tarroogh. As shoh, liorish cooney Yee, nee’m dy jeidjagh, ga dy be’in lesh cha beg dy ynsagh as nagh vod’in gra padjer erbee elley agh Padjer y Chiarn: —Nee’m treishteil dy der Jee clashtyn dou cordail rish slane bree yn phadjer shen, my ta mee dy ghoail ee dy crauee er my ghlioonyn, as marish lught my hie. | |
| This will not hinder my worldly business; and I will trust in God, that he will doubly pay for the loss of any time I spend in his service. | Cha der shoh lhea-chiartys erbee er my chooishyn-seihltagh; as ver-ym my hreisht gys Jee, dy der eh slane cooilleen dou son y traa ta mee er vaarail ayns y chirveish echeysyn. | |
| Every serious Christian, who wishes well to his own soul, will, when he has heard a sermon concerning the duty of prayer, will, I say, think, and resolve after some such manner as this we have been speaking of. | Nee dy chooilley Chreestee firrinagh, ta bwooishal dy mie da yn annym echey hene, tra t’eh er chlashtyn sharmane mychione yn Currym jeh goaill Padjer, nee eh, ta mee gra, smooinaght as kiarail er aght ennagh myr shoh ta shin er ve loayrt jeh. | |
| Let us again suppose, that the sermon which you have heard has been concerning the meaning, and benefit, and duty, of receiving the lord’s supper. A serious person can hardly choose but make some such observations and resolutions as these: —I have this day been invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper;— an ordinance appointed by Christ himself, and for this reason: —That Christians being often called upon to remember the love of their dying Saviour, and the occasion of his death, which was to make their peace with God, they might love him with all their soul, and remember to observe the commands he has given them, in order to fit them for Heaven. I am assured, that this is the only way to render our persons and our prayers acceptable to God; of obtaining the pardon of our sins, the grace of God, and everlasting life after death. I understand what duties are required to make me a worthy guest at that holy table. I must resolve to forsake those sins which cost Jesus Christ his life: And I must forgive, and love, and do good to others, since he has been so good and so kind to me, as to lay down his very life for me. I dare not, therefore, I will not, turn my back upon an ordinance upon which my salvation depends. If I am not fit to go to this sacrament, I am sure that I am not in the way of life; I must be under God’s displeasure. I have nothing, therefore, to do, but what through God’s grace I will endeavour to do: And this is —to prepare myself as well as I am able; and for the rest, to trust in the mercy and goodness of my Saviour, to supply, by his grace, what is wanting on my part. And I shall easily know whether I have been a worthy communicant or not, by the life I lead afterwards. | Abbyr-jee reesht, dy vel yn sharmane ta shiu er chlashtyn er ve mychione yn meanal as y vondeish, as y currym jeh goail y chreesh[15]teeaght. Scoan oddys Creestee mie agh goail smooinaghtyn as kiarailyn ennagh lheid roo shoh: “Ta mee er my chuirrey jiu dy ve my ghoaldagh ec Shibber y Chiarn; —oardagh pointit liorish Creest eh-hene, as er yn oyr shoh: —Dy voddagh Creesteenyn dy mennic er nyn eam dy chooinaghtyn er graih nyn Saualtagh hug e vioys er nyn son, as er oyr e vaaish, va dy yannoo yn shee ocsyn rish Jee, dy voddagh ad graih y choyrt da lesh ooilley nyn annym, as cooinaghtyn dy reayl ny saraghyn t’eh er choyrt daue, cour jannoo ad cooie son niau. Ta mee shickyr, dy nee shoh yn ynrycan aght dy chur orrin hene as nyn badjeryn dy ve pleasal da Jee; dy gheddyn pardoon son nyn beccaghyn, grayse Yee, as yn vea dy bragh farraghtyn lurg baase. —Ta mee toiggal cre ny cur’myn ta lhie orrym dy yannoo mee my ghoaldagh feeu ec y voayrd casherick shen. Sheign dou ve slane kiarit dy hreigeil ny pecaghyn shen, chost da Yeesey Creest e vioys: as sheign dou leih, as graih y choyrt, as jannoo mie da feallagh elley, neayr as dy vel eshyn er ve cha mie as dooie dooys, as dy chur sheese eer e vioys er my hon’s. Cha lhoys dou, er-y-fa shen, cha jean-ym chyndaa my chooyl rish oardagh er ta my haualtys lhie. Mannagh vel mee cooie dy gholl gys y Sacrament shoh, ta mee shickyr nagh vel mee ayns raad y vea; sheign dou ve fo jymmoose Yee. Cha vel veg aym, er-y-fa shen, dy yannoo, agh ny nee’m my [16] phaart, trooid grayse Yee, dy chooilleeney: As ta shen, —dy yannoo mee-hene aarloo cha mie as oddym; as son y chooid elley, dy hreishteil gys myghin as mieys my Haualtagh, dy yannoo mie, lesh e ghrayse, shen ny ta laccal er y phaart ayms. As ver-ym dy aashagh tastey vel mee er ghoail yn Chreeshteeaght dy feeu mannagh vel, liorish my leeideil bea maghey shen. | |
| If at any time the minister of God is pressing upon you the necessity of an holy life, of walking worthy of your christian name and calling, do not forget it as soon as you go out of the church, but think thus with yourself: —My punishment will surely be very great, if I, who call myself a christian, do lead a careless, and an unchristian life. I see how blind those people are, who hope to go to Heaven with[6]out endeavouring to please God and to keep his commandments. I hope I shall never forget a truth I have heard this day— that Religion, and the way to please God, does not consist so much in observing the outward duties of Christianity, as in leading an holy life. I see plainly, that a man may go to the church, and to the sacrament, without being just, or humble, or devout, or temperate or charitable. And that the reason why we go to church, and pray to God, and hear his word, is this— that we may obtain his grace to enable us to lead a sober, a righteous, and a godly life. This, therefore, through the grace of God, shall be my great endeavour for the time to come, —to walk worthy of the religion I profess, and of the hopes I have of being happy when I die. | My ta Saggyrt Yee ec traa erbee dy jeean dy nyn goyrlagh’ dy vel yh ymmyrchagh dy leeideil bea chrauee, as dy ymmyrkey shiu-hene ayns aght cooie gys nyn ennym Creestee as y stayd huggey ta shiu er nyn eam, nagh jarrood-jee yh cha leah as hed shiu magh ass y Cheeill, agh smooinee-jee riu-hene er yn aght shoh: —“Bee yn kerraghey aym’s son shickyrys feer trome, my ta mish, ta genmys mee-hene my Chreestee, leeideil bea almoragh, as neu-chreestee. Ta mee fakin cre cha doal as t’adsyn, ta treishteil dy gholl gys niau fegooish jannoo nyn baart dy vooiys Jee as dy reayl e annaghyn. Ta mee treishteil nagh jarrood-ym dy bragh yn firrinys ta mee er chlashtyn jiu —nagh vel yn Credjue, as yn aght dy vooiys Jee, lhie wheesh ayns geiyrt er cur’myn cadjin-cliaghtit Chreestiaght as t’yh ayns leeideil bea chrauee. Ta mee fakin dy plain, dy vod dooinney goll gys y Cheeill, as gys y Chreeshteeaght, fegooish cairys, na imlid, na craueeaght, na sheeltys, na [17] giastyllys. As yn oyr t’ain dy gholl gys y Cheeill, as dy ghoail padjer gys Jee, as dy chlashtyn e Ghoo, dy nee shoh yh —dy vod mayd geddyn yn ghrayse echeysyn dy niartaghey lhien dy leeideil bea sheelt, bea chairal, as bea chrauee. Shoh vees, er-y-fa shen, trooid grayse Yee, yn obbyr vooar aym’s son y traa ta ry-heet, —dy immeeaght feeu jeh’n chredjue ta mee er ghoaill orrym, as jeh’n treishteil t’aym jeh maynrys tra yioym baase.” | |
| I have this day, saith another, been put in mind of a truth which is too little considered by Christians; and this is —that this life is a state of trial: And that we shall be happy or miserable when we die, just as we have behaved ourselves well or ill in this world. I see then that I may be happy, if it is not my own fault: And I see too, that I shall certainly be miserable, if I am not careful to lead such a life as may recommend me to the mercy and favour of God. In short, I see plainly, that now is the time in which I am to chuse what I am to be, for ever and ever. I will, therefore, beg of God, to keep this thought ever in heart, and to enable me to make such a choice as that I may be happy for ever. | “Ta mish, as fer elley, jiu er ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh firrinys, nagh vel mooarane Creesteenyn dy ghoaill huc hene; as shoh yh —nagh vel yn vea shoh agh stayd dy phrowal: as dy bee mayd maynrey na treih tra yiow mayd baase, rere myr ta shin er n’ymmyrkey shin hene edyr dy mie na dy sie ayns y theihl shoh. Ta mee fakin eisht dy vod-ym ve maynrey, mannagh nee yn oill aym-pene yh: as ta mee fakin neesht, dy bee’m son shickyrys mee-vaynrey, mannagh vel mee kiaralagh dy leeideil lheid y vea as nee mee cooie cour myghin as foayr Yee. Ayns fockle, ta mee fakin dy plain, dy nee nish y traa, ayn ta mee dy reih cre ta mee dy ve son dy bragh as dy bragh. Nee’m, er-y-fa shen, guee gys Jee, eh dy reayl yn smooinaght shoh dy kinjagh ayns my chree, as dy chooney lhiam dy yannoo lheid y reih shen as dy vod-ym ve maynrey son dy bragh.” | |
| And you will be better disposed to make such a choice, if you have at any time attended to a sermon of the great advantage of being religious. —For then you will be convinced, that a firm resolution to be governed, at all times, by the laws of God, is the only sure way to have peace of mind here, and happiness hereafter; for as much as all the commands of God are good, and intended to keep us from ruining ourselves, which we should certainly do, if we were left to our own choices: And that the ordinances of the Gospel are necessary to restore us to the favour of God, and serve —either to cure us of some sad disorder we labour under; or to communicate the divine graces; or to seal to us God’s gracious pardon; to direct us in the way we should go; or to keep us from backsliding. | [18] As bee aigney share eu dy yannoo lheid y reih shoh, my ta shiu ec traa erbee er choyrt geill vie da sharmane mychione yn vondeish mooar ta liorish ve crauee. —Son eisht bee shickyrys eu, dy vel kiarail jeidjagh dy ve er nyn reill ec dy chooilley hraa liorish leighyn Yee, yn ynrycan aght shickyr dy chosney shee-aigney ’sy theihl shoh, as maynrys ’sy theihl ta ry-heet; fakin dy vel ooilley saraghyn Yee mie, as kiarit dy reayl shin veih criu shin hene, red yinnagh son firrinys, dy beagh shin fagit dy reih dooin hene: as dy vel oardaghyn yn Sushtal ymmyrchagh dy choyrt shin reesht ayns foayr rish Jee; as shirveish —edyr dy scughey doghan-anmey treih ennagh ta shin fo, na dy choyrt dooin cummeeys jeh ny grayseyn flaunyssagh; na dy sealal dooin pardoon graysoil Yee; dy leeideil shin er y raad lhisagh shin goll; na dy reayl shin veih cooyl-skyrraghtyn. | |
| And if to this you add what you can remember to have heard concerning the reward of sin and God’s Judgment upon sinners, you will have motives sufficient to determine you what to do. That is, you will conclude, I have but one great business in this world, and that is, to save my soul. This is that one thing needful which our Saviour speaks of. —If I do not mind this, it is no matter what else I mind; for he that loses his soul, loses more than the whole world. This, by the grace of God, I will charge my memory and my heart with, as long I live. | As my ver shiu gys shoh shen na[13] ta shiu er chlashtyn mychione leagh pecca as briwnyssyn Yee er drogh yantee, bee oyryn fondagh eu dy chiarail cre dy yannoo. Ta shen, nee shiu goail-rish, “Cha vel aym agh un obbyr vooar dy yannoo ’sy theihl shoh, as ta shen, my haualtys anmey. Shoh yn un red ymmyrchagh shen[14] ta nyn Saualtagh loayrt jeh. —Mannagh der-ym geill da shoh, cha vel madyr mooar cre elley ver-ym geill da; son eshyn ta coayl e annym, t’eh coayl ny smoo na’n slane seihl. Shoh, [19] liorish grayse Yee, freill-ym ayns my chooinaghtyn as my chree choud as vee’m bio.[”] | |
| Now, as ever you hope to do so, you must attend to another duty, which you will very often hear pressed upon christians both in the holy scripture and in sermons. And this is —the duty of being always watchful, and upon your guard. “Because our adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," [I Pet. v. 8.] finding them careless, or from under God’s protection. | Nish myr ta shiu dy bragh treishteil dy yannoo shoh, sheign diu tastey vie y choyrt gys currym elley nee shiu dy mennick clashtyn dy jeean coyrlit er Creesteenyn, chamma ayns y Scriptyr casheric as eayns Sharmaneyn: as ta shen, yn currym jeh ve dy kinjagh dooishtagh, as er nyn arrey; “er-yn-oyr dy vel yn noid ain y Drogh-spyrryd, myr lion buirroogh, rouail mygeayrt shirrrey quoi oddys eh y stroie," [1 Ped. v. 8.][15] feddin ad neu-chiaralagh, na veih fo coadey Yee. | |
| Upon hearing this, you will do well to make such reflections as these: | Er shoh y chlashtyn, nee shiu dy mie dy smooinaghtyn er aght ennagh lheid as shoh: | |
| —I see that we are beset on all sides with dangers and temptations to sin. We are in danger from the corruption of our own nature, which is prone to evil continually. We are in danger of setting our hearts upon this world, and of forgetting that this is not the world we were made for. | “Ta mee fakin dy vel shin foshlit er dy chooilley heu gys danjereyn as miolaghyn gys pecca. Ta shin ayns danjere voish stayd peccoil yn dooghys ain hene, shen ta dy·kinjagh cleayney gys olk. Ta shin ayns danjere jeh soiaghey nyn greeaghyn er y theihl shoh, as dy jarrood mayd nagh nee shoh yn seihl va shin jeant er y hon. | |
| Besides these, Satan has his agents in every place, tempting us to sin of one kind or other. Some to whoredom; some to drunkenness; some to swearing, cursing, lying, or slandering; others to fraud, injustice, or oppression. Any one of which will [7] shut me out of Heaven, and send me to hell, if I am not careful to avoid them. | Marish shoh, ta fir-obbree ec y Jouyl ayns dy chooilley voayl miolaghey shin gys pecca na pecca ennagh. Paart gys maarderys; paart gys meshtallys; paart gys loo, gweeaghyn, breagerys, as scammyltys; feallagh elley gys molteyrys, mee-chairys, na tranlaase; Nee unnane erbee jeu shoh mish y [20] ghooney magh veih niau, as my ’gheyrey gys niurin, mannagh vel mee kiaralagh dy hea voue. | |
| —What have I then to do? Why, as I hope for Heaven and happiness, I must be serious, and watch against all temptations to evil, and pray to God daily to keep me from sin and wickedness of every kind. And this, by the grace of God, shall be the great business of my life. | Cre t’aym eisht dy yannoo? Camma, myr ta mee treishteil son niau as maynrys, sheign dou ve smooinaghtagh, as er my arrey noi dy chooilley violagh gys olk, as guee gys Jee gagh-laa dy my reayl veih pecca as olk jeh dy chooilley cheint. As shoh, liorish grayse Yee, ard-chiarail my vea.” | |
| Whoever knows any thing of the Christian Religion must know, that self-denial is a means of grace without which no man must hope to be saved. If any man will come after me, saith our Lord and Saviour, let him deny himself. [Matt. xvi. 24]. If thy right hand offend thee cut it off; i.e. part with any thing, though as dear to you as a right hand, or a right eye, rather than offend God. | Sheign da fys ve ec dy chooiIley unnane ta veg y toiggal echey jeh’n Chredjue Chreestee, dy vel yh saase dy ghrayse dy reayl yn challin fo smaght, ny egooish cha nheign da peiagh erbee treishteil dy ve er ny hauail. My ta dooinney erbee aggindagh geiyrt orrym’s, lhig da e hene y obbal, ta nyn Saualtagh gra. [Mian xvi. 24.]. My ta dty laue yesh dy dty hayrn gys pecca, giare jeed ee;[16] ta shen, scarr rish nhee erbee, ga dy beagh yh cha deyr dhyt as dty laue-yesh, na dty hooill-yesh, na sleaie na dy huittym fo jymmoose Yee. | |
| It was not the preacher only that said this, but they are the words of Jesus himself; who said besides, “That it is better to go into life, with one hand or one eye than with two hands or eyes to be cast into hell, where the worm dieth not, and where the fire is not quenched.” | Cha nee yn preachoor ny lomarcan dooyrt shoh, agh t’ad goan Yeesey Creest eh-hene; ren myrgeddin gra, “Dy vel yh ny share dy gholl stiagh gys bea lesh un laue na un sooill, na lesh daa laue na daa hooill dy ve ceauit ayns niurin, raad nagh vel yn veishteig geddyn vaaish,[17] as raad nagh vel yn aile er ny vooghey.”[18] | |
| It is hardly possible for any serious Christian to hear this duty explained, and not think of it even after he leaves the church, and to think thus with himself: | [21] Scoan oddys Creestee tastagh erbee clashtyn yn currym shoh currit roish, as gyn dy smooinaghtyn er, lurg da fagail y Cheeill, as dy resooney myr shoh rish hene: | |
| —I see plainly, that I must resolve to deny myself, to stand against all my inclinations, or be content to perish eternally. Whatever evil ways or customs I have hitherto been fond of, I must renounce and forsake them, or I see what must follow. If an idle or a careless life has been my great sin, though the world sees no great harm in such a life, yet I see I must reform, let it cost me never so much pain and trouble, or I shall infallibly, one day or other, hear that dreadful sentence —“Bind the unprofitable servant hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness.” | —“Ta mee fakin son shickyrys, dy nheign dou kiarail dy obbal mee-hene, dy hassoo magh noi ooilley my ghrogh-yeearreeyn, er-nonney goail-seose lesh coayl-anmey dy bragh farraghtyn. Cre-erbee ny drogh raaidyn na cliaghtaghyn ta mee derrey nish er n’eiyrt daue, sheign dou treigeil ad as jiooldey roo, er-nonney ta mee fakin cre s’erree dou. My ta bea lhiastey na almoragh er ve my ard phecca, ga nagh vel yn seihl fakin cooid vooar dy loght ayns lheid y vea, ny-yeih ta mee fakin dy nheign dou my vea y lhiassaghey, lhig da’n pian as tooilleil ve myr sailloo, er-nonney nee’m son shickyrys clashtyn, laa ennagh, yn vriwnys agglagh shen: —Kiangle-jee laue as cass yn charvaant neu-frioosagh, as ceau-jee eh ayns y dorraghys sodjey mooie.[19] | |
| If riches and the love of the world have hitherto possessed my heart, renounce them I must, let it be never so uneasy to me, or my interest in Heaven —for God and Mammon I cannot serve. If any sinful lust or pleasure has got the power over me, and though it is become a second nature, yet I see plainly it must be renounced and forsaken, or I must never hope for Heaven. If profane talk, if swearing, lying, or slandering, be the sins that become habitual to me, and that I cannot without great pains leave them off; yet this pains I must take, or suffer the pains of eternal death. If tipling, if squandering away my time or estate, if gluttony or drunkenness, have been the sins I have lived in, these must be repented of and utterly forsaken, let it be never so uneasy to flesh and blood, or I shall have no part in the kingdom of Heaven. | “My ta berchys as graih heihltagh gys nish er ghoail seose my chree, sheign dou treigeil ad, cre-erbee cha neu-aashagh as oddys yh ve dou, er-nonney coayl my eiraght ayns niau —son Jee as Mammon cha vod-ym shirveish.[20] My ta saynt peccoil erbee na eunys seihltagh er gheddyn barriaght har’ym, as ga dy vel ad er jeet dy ve aa-ghooghys dou, foast ta mee fakin dy plain dy nheign dou treigeil as jiooldey roo, er-nonney cha voddym [22] dy bragh jerkal rish flaunys. My ta taggloo mee-chreestee, my ta loo, breageraght, na scammyltys, ny peccaghyn ta reill har’ym, as nagh vod-ym fagail jeu fegooish lane dullidys, ny yeih yn dullidys shoh sheign dou goll fo, er-nonney surranse pianyn yn vaafe dy bragh farraghtyn. My ta tipleragh, my ta jummal my hraa na my chooid, my ta glutteraght, na meshtallys, er ve ny peccaghyn ta mee er neiyrt daue, sheign dou arrys y ghoail jeu as treigeil ad dy bollagh, lhig da ve cha neu-aashagh as saillish da feill as fuill, er-nonney cha voym ayrn erbee ayns reeriaght niau. | |
| In short, I have been plainly told, and I plainly see, that men need not take pains to be ruined, since our own corrupt nature, if not denied, refrained, and kept under, will ruin us without remedy. I see too, that all the commands of God, all the duties which he has prescribed us, are all intended in mercy to keep us from ruining ourselves. And that if we had been suffered to follow our own wills, or the evil customs we contract, or the bad examples we meet with, we could not escape bringing upon ourselves destruction. I am left, therefore, without excuse, and I shall dearly pay for if I do not deny myself every thing which God has forbidden me; and if I do not look upon his commands as the only way to life and happiness everlasting. | “Ayns fockle, t’yh er ve inshit dou dy foshlit, as ta mee dy baghtal cur-my-ner, nagh lhiass da sleih tooilleil y ghoail orroo dy ve caillit, neayr as dy jean nyn ghooghys peccoil hene, mannagh bee yh er ny obbal, smaghtit, as freilt fo, cur lesh shin gys toyrt-mouys gyn cour. Ta mee cur tastey neesht, dy vel ooilley saaraghyn Yee, ooilley ny currymyn t’eh er phointeil dooin, ooilley kiarit ayns myghin dy reayl shin veih coyrt-mou shin hene. As dy beagh shin fagit dy eiyrt er nyn yeearreeyn hene, na ny cliaghtaghyn mee-chrauee ta shin dy haaghey, na ny drogh sampleyryn ta cheet nyn raad, cha voddagh shin scapail tayrn orrin hene coayl-anmey. Ta mee faagit, er-y-fa shen, gyn leshtal, as smerg vees yh dou, mannagh nob-ym dou-hene dy chooilley nhee ta Jee lhiettal dou; as [23] mannagh jeeagh-ym er ny saraghyn echeysyn myr yn ynrycan raad gys bea as maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn.” | |
| Thus every serious Christian will argue with himself whenever he hears any other duty of Christianity explained or recommended to his practice. | Er yn aght shoh nee dy chooilley Chreestee tastagh resooney rish hene, traa erbee dy glyn eh currym Creestee erbee elley er ny choyrt roish, na coyrlit er dy eiyrt da. | |
| If time would permit, I would shew you how this might be done, to your great advantage, in many other instances of duty and religion. | Dy beagh traa aym, hoilshin diu kys oddagh shoh ve jeant, gys yn vondeish mooar eu, ayns ymmodee banglaneyn elley jeh nyn gurrym as nyn gredjue-Creestee. | |
| All that I shall now add is, to put you in mind of what a blessing it is, that you have churches to go to, and that you can hear the word of God, and know his will, and what you must do to be saved. | Ooilley ny t’aym nish sodjey dy ghra riu, she shoh yh, dy choyrt shiu ayns cooinaghtyn cre’n bannaght t’yh dy vel Kialteenyn eu dy haaghey huc, as dy vod shiu clashtyn goo Yee, as fys y gheddyn er e aigney, as cre sheign diu jannoo dy ve er nyn sauail. | |
| [8] You see the great blessing of a standing ministry, and how happy it is that there are persons appointed by the Holy Ghost, who, at the peril of their own souls, are to read, and faithfully to explain, the truths of the Gospel to you. | Ta shiu fakin cre’n bannaght mooar t’eu liorish saggyrtys lowal-oardit, as cre’n bannaght t’yh, dy vel persoonyn pointit liorish y Spyrryd Noo, quoi ta, ec gaue ny anmeenyn oc hene, dy lhaih diu, as dy jeidjagh dy choyrt bun diu er firrinyssyn yn Sushtal. | |
| You may indeed shut your ears, or carelessly think of other matters. You may refuse to hear with attention your duty, and the dangers you are liable to. You may return home without laying these things to heart; but then be assured of it, you return home without God’s blessing. You may refuse to come to church, (as the manner of some is) and think yourselves too good to be taught, reproved, or put in mind of your duty; but what will this end in? Why, you will in time forget God, his commands, and all that is good. You will come at last to say, with those wicked people whom Job speaks of, [Job xxi. 14.] who said unto God, “depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” | Foddee shiu dy jarroo cleaysh vour[21] y choyrt daue, na dy almoragh smooinaghtyn er cooishyn fardalagh elley. Foddee shiu dy meerioosagh geaishtagh rish nyn gurrym, as ny danjereyn ta shiu foshlit huc. Foddee shiu goll thie fegooish ny reddyn shoh goail greme er nyn greeaghyn; agh eisht bee-[24]jee shickyr jeh, dy vel shiu goll thie fegooish bannaght Yee. Foddee shiu nyn gooyl y hyndaa er y Cheeill (myr t’yh cliaghtey paart) as smooinaghtyn shiu-hene ro vie dy ve ynsit, oghsan dy ve currit diu, na er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym; agh cre s’erree da shoh? Camma, nee shiu ayns traa jarrood Jee, e haaraghyn, as ooilley ny ta mie. Hig shiu fei-yerrey dy ghra, myr dooyrt ny mee-chrauee my nyn gione ta Job gimraa [Job xxi. 14.] dooyrt rish Jee, “faag void shin, son cha vel shin shirrey tushtey jeh dty raaidyn.”[22] | |
| I need not tell you, that such people are in the way of damnation. | Cha lhiass dou ginsh diu, dy vel lheid y sleih shoh ayns y raad-mooar lhean gys coayl-anmey. | |
| I pray God keep all you from following their steps. And give us his grace, that we may hear, understand, remember, consider, love, and practise, what is read and preached to us according to God’s holy word and will, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father, &c. | Ta mee guee gys Jee eh dy reayl shiu ooilley veih geiyrt da ny raaidyn ocsyn. As dy choyrt grayse dooin ooilley dy chlashtyn, dy hoiggal, dy chooinaghtyn, dy ghoail gys nyn gree, graih y choyrt da, as dy eiyrt er shen ta er ny lhaih as er ny phreacheil dooin cordail rish goo casherick Yee as e aigney, trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn; huggeysyn marish yn Ayr, &c. | |
| [25] | ||
| SERMON II. | SHARMANE II. | |
| THE TRUE WAY OF PROFITING BY SERMONS. | Yn Aght firrinagh dy gheddyn Vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn. | |
| LUKE viii. 18. | LUKE viii. 18. | |
| Take heed how ye hear: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken, even that which he seemeth to have.[23] | Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn: Son quoi-erbee ta echey, dasyn vees er ny choyrt; as quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, veihsyn vees er ny ghoail eer shen hene er-lesh dy vel echey. | |
| When our Lord bids us take heed, we may be very sure it is concerning something of great moment, and therefore to be seriously attended to. And we find it is so here. Take heed, saith he, how ye hear. —Your salvation depends upon your understanding and believing what you hear. —For whosoever hath, —that is, whosoever hath benefited by what he has already heard, God will increase his knowledge and his graces. But whosoever hath not, —have not minded what they have heard, or have not profited by it, such careless people, by a just judgment of God, shall lose that knowledge and those graces which he had given them. | Tra ta nyn Jiarn cur sarey dooin dy chur twoaie, foddee mayd ve feer shickyr dy vel yh bentyn rish ard chooish ennagh, as er-y-fa shen geill vooar dy ve currit da. As shoh myr t’yh ’sy chooish shoh: —Cur-jee twoaie, as eshyn, kys ta shiu clashtyn: Ta’n saualtys eu lhie er toiggal as credjal shen ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn. Son quoi-erbee ta echey; ta shen, quoi-erbee ta er gheddyn vondeish-anmey liorish ny t’eh hanna er chlashtyn, nee Jee bishaghey e hushtey as e ghrayseyn; agh quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, —nagh vel er chur geill da ny t’ad er chlashtyn, as nagh vel er gheddyn vondeish erbee liorish, nee lheid y sleih mee-chiaralagh, [26] liorish briwnys cairal Yee, coayl yn tushtey as ny grayseyn shen va eshyn er choyrt daue. | |
| Take heed, therefore, that you hear the word of God with a serious mind— with a purpose and desire to learn your duty, and with a resolution to practise what you hear. | Cur-jee twoaie, er-y-fa shen, dy jean shiu geaishtagh rish Goo Yee lesh aigney ammyssagh —lesh kiarail as yeearree dy ynsagh nyn gurrym, as lesh slane kiarail dy eiyrt da shen ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn. | |
| Lastly, take heed whom you hear. —Remember whose Ministers you hear, whose word, whose commands, whose threatenings, whose promises, you hear. They are the [9] Ministers of God that watch for your souls. They read and preach to you the word of God, delivered by his own Son. They explain to you the commands of God, which are designed to make you happy for ever. And they put you in remembrance of the promises of God, if you be obedient; and of his severe threatenings, if you despise his goodness. Remember, therefore, what the Son of God said to those that heard this word, and would not mind it: “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for such careless people.” | Er-jerrey, Cur-jee twoaie quoi ta shiu clashtyn: —Cooinee-jee quoi ny Shirveishee ta shiu dy chlashtyn, quoi veih ta’n goo, ny saraghyn, ny baggyrtyn, ny gialdynyn, ta shiu dy chlashtyn. T’ad Saggyrtyn Yee ta freayl arrey son ny anmeenyn eu. T’ad lhaih as preacheil diu goo Yee, er ny livrey liorish e Vac hene. T’ad soiaghey rhimbiu saraghyn Yee, ta kiarit dy yannoo shiu maynrey son dy bragh. As t’ad cur shiu ayns cooinaghtyn jeh gialdynyn Yee, my vees shiu biallagh; as jeh e vaggyrtyn trome, my ta shiu soiaghey beg jeh e vieys. Cooinee-jee, er-y-fa shen, er ny dooyrt Mac Yee roosyn ren clashtyn yn goo shoh, as nagh jinnagh geill da: “Bee kerraghey s’eddrymee er Sodom as Gomorrah ayns laa ny briwnys, na vees er yn pobble neu-chiaralagh shoh.” | |
| But having, in a former discourse upon these words, explained these things very particularly, I now proceed to shew you the true way of profiting by Sermons, many instances of which I gave you in my former discourse. | Agh myr ta mee, ayns sharmane ren mee roie er ny goan shoh, er hoiagh magh diu ny reddyn shoh dy feer vaghtal, h’em nish er my hoshiaght dy hoilshaghey diu yn aght [27] firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn, jeh shoh hug mee ymmodee samplereyn rhimbiu ayns sharmane ren mee roie. | |
| Let us suppose, then, that the Minister of God has at any time been explaining to you the nature of a true Christian Faith; the necessity of believing whatever God has made known to men; as also the danger of not living as becomes people, who profess to believe such things. | Abbyr-jee eisht, dy vel Saggyrt Yee ec traa erbee er ve soiaghey rhimbiu dooghys yn Chredjue Creestee firrinagh; cre cha ymmyrchagh as t’yh dy chredjal cre-erbee ta Jee er hoilshaghey da deiney; as myrgeddin yn danjere t’ayns leeideil bea an-chooie da sleih ta goail-rish dy vel ad credjal ny reddyn shoh. | |
| If you have seriously attended to such a discourse, you will think thus with yourself: —I am now convinced, That without faith it is impossible to please God. I see plainly, that it is not a matter of indifference, whether we believe or not, since Jesus Christ himself has declared, “That he that believeth not, shall be damned.” And that it is as absolutely necessary to salvation that we believe—not what we please, but— “according to the faith once delivered to the Saints.” | My ta shiu er choyrt geill vie da lheid y sharmane shen, nee shiu smooinaght myr shoh riu hene: —“Ta mee nish shickyr, dy vel yh neu-phossible fegooish credjue dy wooiys Jee. Ta mee fakin dy plain, nagh vel yh cooish dy veggan faunnoo, vel shin credjal mannagh vel, fakin dy vel Yeesey Creest eh-hene er hoilshaghey, dy bee eshyn nagh jean credjal er ny gheyrey; as dy vel yh ooilley-dy-lhearagh cha ymmyrchagh gys saualtys dy jean mayd credjal—cha nee myr saill rnayd hene, agh—cordail rish y chredjue va keayrt dy row er ny livrey da ny nooghyn. | |
| Our Lord himself has told us, “That if we believe not in him, we shall die in our sins.” John viii. 24. And again; “He that sinneth against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven.” So dreadful a thing it is, not to know, or wilfully to mistake, the truth. | Ta nyn Jiarn hene er n’insh dooin, “mannagh jean mayd credjal aynsyn, dy vow mayd baase ayns nyn beccaghyn. [Ean viii. 24.] As reesht, “Eshyn ta jannoo peccah noi yn Spyrryd Noo, cha bee yh dy bragh er ny leih da.” Red cha atchimagh shen t’yh, gyn dy hoiggal, na dy roonagh dy hassoo magh noi yn ynrickys! | |
| Whatever, therefore, God has revealed, must be true and certain, though I cannot comprehend it. It is not necessary that we should always know the reasons of God’s will and pleasure; it is enough that we know it to be his will. It is sufficient to me to know and believe, that God would have all men to be saved. That Jesus Christ his Son has shewed unto us the way of salvation. That he has reconciled us to God. That he will be our advocate with God for our pardon, if we truly repent us of our sins. That God will afford us all manner of assistance by his Spirit, to overcome all the corruptions of our nature, and all the difficulties we shall meet with. That he will make us happy for ever, if we strive to please him during this short life: And that we shall be most miserable when we die, if we die in our sins unrepented of. | [28] Shen-y-fa, cre-erbee ta Jee er hoilshaghey, sheign da ve shickyr as firrinagh, ga nagh voddym’s slane baght y ghoaill jeh. Cha vel yh dy kinjagh ymmyrchagh dy beagh slane toiggal ain jeh ny oyryn t’ec Jee son jannoo ny saillish hene; sliore t’yh dooin dy vel fys ain dy nee shoh yn aigney echeysyn. Sliore t’yh dooys dy vel fys aym, as dy vel mee credjal, dy naillish Jee dy chooilley ghooinney ve er ny hauail. Dy vel Yeesey Creest e Vac er hoilshaghey dooin raad y taualtys. Dy vel eh er choardail shin rish Jee. Dy jean eh stiagh rish Jee son pardoon dooin, my ta shin goaill arrys firrinagh son nyn beccaghyn. Dy der Jee dooin dy chooilley vonney dy chooney liorish e Spyrryd, dy gheddyn barriaght harrish ooiley [sic: ooilley] lheh-chiartys y dooghys ain, as dy chooilley lhiettal-anmey nee cheet nyn raad. Dy jean eh shin maynrey son dy bragh, my nee mayd streeu dy wooiys eh ’sy vea ghiare shoh: As dy bee mayd erskyn towse treih tra yiow mayd baase, my ta shin paartail ayns nyn beccaghyn gyn arrys. | |
| In order to prevent this sad doom, he has made known to us what are the things which we must do to be saved, and what we must avoid as ever we hope to escape the bitter pains of eternal death. He has also made known to us, that all things are naked and open unto his eyes, that we may live as having him the constant witness of Our words and actions. I must not therefore, deceive myself, nor fancy, that if I should be so unhappy as not to believe, or not to mind these things, that therefore I have no reason to fear what will follow: For God’s word will come to pass, though all the world should not mind it. | Dy haghney yn vriwnys agglagh shoh, t’eh er hoilshagh’ dooin cre t’orrin dy yannoo cour saualtys, as cre sheign dooin chea veih, myr ta ta shin dy bragh jercal dy scapail pianyn sharroo yn baase dy bragh farraghtyn. T’eh er hoilshaghey dooin myrgeddin, dy vel dy chooilley nhee feayn foshlit [29] roish ny sooillyn echeysyn, dy vod mayd leeideil nyn mea myr kiongoyrt rishyn ta dy kinjagh ny eanish gys nyn ghoan as obbraghyn. Cha nheign dou, er-y-fa shen, mee-hene y volley, na smooinaght dy be’in cha mee-vaynrey as gyn credjal, na coyrt geill da ny reddyn shoh, nagh vel oyr erbee aym, er-y-fa shen, dy ve ayns aggle erbee roish yn eiyrtys: Son bee Goo Yee er ny chooilleeney, ga nagh jinnagh yn seihl ooilley geill y choyrt da. | |
| I see, therefore, how necessary it is to have the articles of my Christian Faith in my memory, and before my eyes continually; and to beg of God daily to increase my faith. I will read or hear God’s word with reverence, and endeavour to lay up in my heart what I hear and understand. | Ta mee fakin, er-y-fa shen, cre cha ymmyrchagh as t’yh banglaneyn y Chredjue Creestee dy ve aym ayns my chooinaghtyn, as roish my hooillyn dy kinjagh; as dy ghoail padjer gys Jee gagh-laa eh dy vishaghey my chredjue. Nee’m clashtyn rish, na lhaih goo Yee dy arrymagh, as myr share oddym dy hashtey ayns my chree ny ta mee clashtyn as toiggal. | |
| And, knowing that faith is the gift of God, I will not fail to ask it of God with all the earnestness of my soul; for I have been told, and do believe, that the most learned man on earth cannot convince or convert me, unless I attend to the word spoken, and ponder it in my heart, and beg of God to enlighten my mind. | As myr ta fys aym dy vel credjue gioot Yee, cha jean-ym er chor erbee lhiggey shaghey dy yeearree shen er Jee lesh slane jeeanid my annym; son t’yh er ve inshit dou, as ta mee credjal, nagh vod yn fer-ynsee syrjey er eaghter ny hooirey, shickyrys y choyrt dou, ny mee y hyndaa veih my ghrogh raaidyn, mannagh n’eaisht-ym rish y ghoo t’er ny loayrt, as goail yh dy dowin gys my chree, as guee gys Jee dy hoilshaghey my aigney. | |
| I will not be afraid to ask myself this short question, Do I live by faith? i. e. Does the fear of God hinder me from doing what I know will displease him? Do the promises [10] of God affect my heart, and make me desirous to be made worthy to obtain them? Do the judgments of God upon wicked people, which are recorded in the Holy Scriptures, make me take warning, and fear to draw down the like judgments upon myself? Have I a just value for the Christian Religion, and its ordinances and Ministers, and for whatever has any relation to God? Have I a love for the Gospel, and for the truths contained in it; and do I resolve to govern myself according to them? Do I consider what a dreadful thing it is for a Christian so to live as if not one word of the Gospel were true? Do I hate sin as most displeasing to God, and hurtful to my own salvation? Do I distrust myself and my own strength, and put my whole trust and confidence in God? Do I constantly pray for his grace to increase my faith, and that I may be able to live as becomes my profession? —If I do this in the sincerity of my heart, then I may be assured that I live by faith; and that I have a principle of a new life, which, if I do not stifle it, will in the end bring me to everlasting life and happiness. | [30] Cha bee aggle orrym dy eannagh jee’m pene yn queshtion giare shoh, Vel mee leeideil my vea liorish credjue? ta shen, Vel aggle Yee dy my lhiettal veih jannoo shen ta fys aym ver jymmoose er? Vel gialdynyn Yee goail greme er my chree, as cur orrym geearree dy ve feeu dy chosney ad? Vel briwnyssyn Yee er ny mee-chrauee, ta soit rhimbi’n ayns ny Scriptyryn Casheric, cur orrym raue as aggle y ghoail nagh dayrn-ym neose orrym-pene lheid ny briwnyssyn cheddin? Vel scansh cooie aym son y Chredjue Chreestee, ny Oardaghyn, as Shirveishee, as son cre-erbee ta bentyn gys Jee? Vel graih aym er y Sushtal, as yn irriney t’ayn; as vel mee slane kiarit dy reill mee hene cordail rish? Vel mee goaill aym-pene cre’n red agglagh yh da Creestee dy veaghey myr nagh row un ockle jeh’n Sushtal firrinagh? Vel mee cur feoh da pecca, myr red smoo feohdagh da Jee, as danjereagh da my haualtys hene? Vel mee anhreishteilagh jeem-pene, as my niart hene, as coyrt my slane barrant as shickyrys er Jee? Vel mee dy kinjagh guee son e ghrayse dy vishaghey my chredjue, as dy vod-ym leeideil my vea cordail rish? My ta mee jannoo shoh ayns ynrickys my chree, eisht fod-ym ve shickyr dy vel mee leeideil my vea liorish credjue; as dy vel ayn-ym bun dy vea noa, cooid, mannagh jean-ym y phlooghey, ver lesh mee ec y jerrey gys bea as maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| These, I say, will (through the blessing of God) be the fruits; these, or such like, will be the observations and resolutions which a serious Christian will make, who has carefully minded what has at any time been said upon the subject of Faith. | [31] Bee ad shoh, ta mee gra, (trooid bannaght Yee) ny messyn; ad shoh, na nyn lheid vees ny smooinaghtyn, as ny gialdynyn nee Creestee mie y yannoo, ta dy imneagh er choyrt geill da shen ny t’eh rieau er chlashtyn mychione y Chredjue. | |
| Let us, in the next place suppose, that you have heard a sermon concerning the love of God. The Love of God being the first and great command; it would be unpardonable for a Christian to hear a Sermon upon that subject without minding it, and without being bettered by it. | Abbyr ny sodjey, dy vel shiu er chlashtyn sharmane mychione Graih Yee. Myr ta Graih Yee yn chied as yn ard anney; veagh Creestee dy bollagh gyn leshtal my chlinnagh eh sharmane er y chooish shoh fegooish geill y choyrt da, as fegooish ve ny share liorish. | |
| I will endeavour to shew you how you may be truly edified by such a discourse, if you have seriously attended to it. You will, in the first place, have been put in mind, that God is worthy of your greatest Love, and that he may justly require it of you, that you love him above all things; because he made you, and it is he who by his providence preserves you every day of your life, and who is the giver of all the blessings you either enjoy or hope for. Besides this, he intends, out of his infinite goodness, to make you happy for ever, if it is not your own fault. And though you know, in your conscience, that you have grievously offended God, yet he is ready to pardon you upon your sincere repentance. And to convince you of this, after the most kind and gracious manner, he sent his beloved Son from Heaven to assure us thereof, and of his good will to men. By Him proposing terms of pardon and mercy upon most reasonable conditions, and eternal happiness upon performing them. | Neem’s my phaart dy hoilshaghey diu kys oddys shiu dy firrinagh ve er nyn niartaghey ’sy chredjue liorish lheid y sharmane shen, my ta shiu er choyrt geill vie da. Bee shiu ’sy chied ynnyd currit ayns cooinaghtyn, dy vel Jee feeu jeh nyn ghraih s’jeeaney, as dy vod eh dy feer cairal jeeaghyn son shoh veue, dy der shiu graih dasyn erskyn dy chooilley nhee; er-yn-oyr dy ren eh shiu y chroo, as dy nee eshyn ta liorish e ard-chiaralys dy nyn goadey dy chooilley laa jeh nyn mea, as ta fer-toyrt dy chooilley vannaght seihltagh as flaunyssagh. Marish shoh, t’eh kiarail trooid e vieys erskyn earroo, dy yannoo shiu maynrey son dy bragh, mannagh nee yn oill eu-hene yh. As ga dy vel fys eu ayns nyn gooinsheanse hene, dy vel shiu dy mooar er vrasnaghey Jee, ny-yeih, t’eh arryltagh dy [32] phardooney shiu er nyn arrys firrinagh. As dy chur shickyrys diu jeh shoh, ayns aght smoo graysoil as dooie, hug eh e Vac ennoil veih niau dy choyrt shickyrys diu jeh shoh, as jeh e aigney mie gys deiney: Liorishyn coyrt rhymbi’n ny saaseyn dy phardoon as myghin er conaantyn smoo resoonagh, as maynrys braa er cooilleeney ad. | |
| His Son also procured for us this great favour, that we might apply to God, as to a father, in all our necessities; for whatever we want in all our troubles; and this with confidence that he would hear us with the tenderness of a father. | Ta e Vac myrgeddin er chosney dooin yn foayr mooar bannee shoh, dy vod mayd shirrey gys Jee myr gys Ayr ayns ooilley nyn eagin, son cre-erbee ta shin dy laccal ayns ooilley nyn seaghyn; as shoh ayns shickyrys dy n’eaisht eh rooin lesh meenid ayroil. | |
| Besides this, you will have been instructed what it is to love god with all your heart. That it is, to desire and to strive to please God in all your actions. To have a great regard to his laws; to what he has commanded, and to what he has forbidden. To love his word, in which his will is made known to us; and his Ministers, who are by him appointed to instruct you, and to watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. It is to speak of God after the most respectful manner, that others may learn by your example to love and reverence him. It is to be pleased and rejoice when God is honoured; when things go as God would have them; when justice, piety, and charity, do thrive and are encouraged; and to be grieved when God’s laws are transgressed, neglected, or despised. Lastly, it is to submit to God’s will, and what he orders for you; and to suffer any thing rather than knowingly and wilfully to offend God; and to deny yourself every thing which you have reason to believe will displease him. | Marish shoh, bee shiu er nyn ynsagh cre t’yh dy choyrt graih da Jee lesh ooilley nyn gree. Dy vel shoh dy streeu as dy yeearree dy vooiys Jee ayns ooilley nyn yannoo. Dy ve slane arrymagh gys e leighyn; da shen ny t’eh er harey, as da shen ny t’eh lhiettal. Dy ve graihagh er e Ghoo, ayn ta’n aigney echey er ny hoilshaghey dooin; as er e Haggyrtyn, ta liorishyn er nyn goyrt dy ynsaghey shiu, as dy ve er nyn arrey son nyn anmeenyn myr adsyn sheign coontey y choyrt. T’yh dy loayrt jeh Jee ayns aght smoo arrymagh, dy vod feallagh elley gynsagh liorish yn samplere euish, dy choyrt graih as arrym da. T’yh dy ve ayns gien-anmey as boggoil tra ta ooashley er ny choyrt da Jee; tra ta’n seihl goll myr saillish [33] Jee; tra ta cairys, craueeaght, as giastyllys, bishaghey as currit er nyn doshiaght; as dy ve seaghnit as trimshagh tra ta leighyn Yee er nyn mrishey, lhiggit-shaghey, na beg soit jeu. Er-jerrey, t’yh dy choyrt biallys da aigney Yee, as cre-erbee t’eh gordrail er nyn son; as dy hurranse nhee erbee ny sleaie na dy vrasnaghey Jee jeh nyn yoin as dy roonagh; as dy obbal diu hene dy chooilley nhee ta oyr eu dy chredjal nee jymmoose y choyrt ersyn. | |
| [11] Having heard all this with seriousness and attention, you cannot but come to some such resolutions as these following: | Lurg diu ve er chlashtyn ooilley shoh lesh tastey as geill vie, cha vod shiu agh goaill erriu myr shoh: | |
| —I see plainly, that I can have no security, no real satisfaction in life, until I can bring my heart to love God sincerely. In order to this, I will often call to mind the many blessings which I have received from God, that I may give him thanks for them, the surest way to increase my love for him who has been so good and kind to me. I will read or hear his Holy Word with care, that I may know his will, his promises, and the great reward he has proposed to his faithful servants. I will abhor and avoid all such persons, principles, company, and conversation, as may lessen my esteem for and love of God. I will not let the love of the world possess my heart, lest I forget God, and forget that he is my only good. And because love amongst friends is soon lost for want of conversing with one another, I will go to God daily, and lay my wants and my desires before him: particularly, I will beg of God to pour into my heart such love towards him, that I may love him above all things, and that his love may be the commanding principle of my life. | “Ta mee fakin dy baghtal, nagh vod veg y sauchys ve aym, veg y gherjagh firrinagh, derrey oddym my chree y hayrn dy choyrt graih firrinagh da Jee. Cour shoh, nee’m dy mennic geam gys cooinaghtyn ny ymmodee bannaghtyn ta mee er gheddyn veih Jee, dy vod-ym booise y choyrt da er nyn son, yn ynrycan aght by-hickyr dy vishaghey my ghraih er y hon’syn ta er ve cha mie as cha dooie dou hene. Nee’m lhaih na clashtyn e Ghoo Casheric dy tastagh, dy vod-ym fys y gheddyn er e aigney, e ghialdynyn, as yn leagh mooar t’eh er hoiaghey magh da e harvaantyn jeidjagh. Ver-ym feoh da, as shaghn’ym ooilley lheid ny persoonyn, ynsagh, sheshaght, as glare, oddys leodaghey my aigney mie as my ghraih gys Jee. Cha lhig-ym da [34] graih-heihltagh goail greme er my chree, er-aggle dy jean-ym Jee y yarrood, as dy nee eshyn my ynrycan maynrys. As er-yn-oyr dy vel aigney-mie mastey caarjyn dy leah callit mannagh vel ad dy mennic jannoo sheshaght ry-chielley, H’em gys Jee gagh-laa, as lhie-ym my ’eme as my yeearreeyn kiongoyrt rish: erskyn-ooilley, guee-ym gys Jee dy gheayrtey ayns my chree lheid y ghraih shen er-hene, dy vod-ym graih y choyrt dasyn erskyn dy chooilley nhee, as dy vod yn ghraih echeysyn ve ard-leeideilagh my vea.” | |
| These, I say, or some such, will be the thoughts and resolutions of every sober Christian, who has attended to a sermon concerning the Love of God. And he will be more careful to put these resolutions in practice, when he considers —that such as do not love God, do really hate God, (as monstrous a sin as that is;) that is, they wish that there were no such a being to call them to an account for their wicked deeds. And they are pleased with such men, and such arguments, as tend to lessen their belief of a future state, and a future account. So dreadful is the sin of hating i. e. of not loving God. | Ad shoh, ta mee gra, na nyn lheid shoh, vees smooinaghtyn as kiarailyn dy chooilley Chreestee smooinaghtagh, ta er chur geill vie da sharmane mychione Graih Yee. As bee eh ny s’kiaraalee dy eiyrt da ny kiarailyn shoh, tra t’eh goail gys e chree —dy vel nyn lheid as nagh vel cur graih da Jee, dy jarroo cur dwoaie da, (eajee as ta’n pecca shen;) ta shen, wishagh ad nagh row y lheid ayn dy eamagh orroo gys coontey son y drogh-yannoo oc. As t’ad goail taitnys ayns lheid y sleih, as lheid y ghlare, as ta leodaghey nyn gredjue mychione y stayd, as y choontey ry-heet ayns seihl elley. Cha eajee shen ta’n pecca jeh coyrt dwoaie, ta shen, gyn ve graihagh er Jee! | |
| We will suppose again, that you had been instructed in the meaning and importance of the second great command, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. It is probable you will have been put in mind of the great stress that is laid upon this command; by Christ himself; [I John iv. 21.] “This commandment have we from Him; that he who loveth God, love his brother also.” From which you will conclude, that nothing can more effectually recommend you to the favour of God, than a love for your neighbour, since God has placed this duty the very next to the love we owe to himself. You will be careful, therefore, to remember what you have learned from Christ himself, as well as from his Ministers; i. e. whom you are to account your neighbour, and how you are to shew your love to him. | Abbyr-jee reesht, dy vel shiu er ve ynsit ayns bun as bree yn nah ard anney, Ver oo graih da dty naboo myr dhyt hene. [35] T’yh licklee dy vel shiu er ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh’n strash mooar ta currit er yn anney shoh liorish Creest eh-hene; [I Ean iv. 21.] “Shoh yn sarey t’ain veihsyn, Eshyn ta graihagh er Jee, dy der eh graih da e vraar myrgeddin.” Veih shoh nee shiu goail eu-hene, nagh vod nhee erbee ve ny s’breeoil dy chur shiu ayns foayr rish Jee, na graih y hoilshaghey da nyn naboo, fakin dy vel Jee er hoiagh yn currym shoh chelleeragh lurg yn ghraih ta shin lhiastyn da hene. Bee shiu imneagh, er-y-fa shen, dy reayl ayns cooinaghtyn shen ta shiu er n’ynsagh veih Creest hene, chamma as veih e Haggyrtyn; ta shen, quoi ta shiu dy yeeaghyn er dy ve nyn naboo, as kys ta shiu dy hoilshaghey nyn aigney-mie da. | |
| You will remember, That every man is your neighbour and your brother, who may be benefited by your love. That God is our common father, and that all we are brethren. That we are all members of the same body, of which Jesus Christ is the head. That God has so ordered matters, that the members of this body should depend one upon another. That the poor shall depend upon the rich for their subsistence; and the rich, whatever they think of it, shall receive a greater advantage from the prayers of the poor. You will then call to mind how you are to express your love to your neighbour. The command says, you are to love him as yourself. You know, without a teacher, how you love yourself. That you wish and take satisfaction in your own welfare and prosperity. That you are sorry when any evil or mischief befals yourself. You do not love to have your own faults aggravated, or your good name abused; and how ready you are to find excuses for your own mistakes. In short, you know very well how you would have others to shew their love for you. And that it is no small comfort for the ignorant and unlearned, that their duty is contained in so few words, and that they can easily understand it, by considering how they love, how they would be dealt with, themselves. | Nee shiu freayl ayns cooinaghtyn, Dy vel dy chooilley ghooinney nyn naboo as nyn mraar, oddys ve vondeishit lorish [sic: liorish] yn aigney-mie eu. Dy vel Jee yn Ayr ain ooilley, as dy vel shin ooilley braaraghyn. Dy vel shin ooilley oltyn jeh’n un chorp, jeh ta Yeesey Creest yn kione. Dy nee shoh myr ta Jee er n’oardrail, dy bee oltyn yn chorp shoh son cooney yn derrey-yeh da’n jeh-elley. Dy jean yn boght treishteil gys y verchagh son cooney-beaghee; as dy jean ny berchee, cha beg as t’ad coontey jeh, cosney vondeish foddey smoo liorish padjeryn ny boghtyn. Nee shiu eisht toiggal kys ta shiu dy hoilshaghey [36] nyn aigney-mie gys nyn naboo. Ta’n anney gra, Ver oo graih da myr dhyt hene. Ta fys eu, fegooish fer-ynsee, kys shynney lhieu shiu hene. Dy vel shiu goail boggey as taitnys ayns nyn voays as maynrys hene. Dy vel shiu seaghnit tra ta olk na lheh-chiartys erbee cheet erriu hene. Cha vel shiu booiagh ny foiljyn eu hene dy ve jeant ny smessey na t’ad, na nyn ennym mie goit ersooyl; as cre cha aarloo as ta shiu dy yannoo leshtalyn son ny foiljyn eu hene. Ayns fockle, ta nyn saie fys eu kys bailliuish feallagh elley dy hoilshaghey yn aigney-mie ocsyn diu hene: As nagh nee beggan gerjagh yh da ny mee-hushtee as neu-ynsit, dy vel nyn gurrym soit rhymboo ayns cha beg dy ocklyn, as dy vod ad dy aashagh toiggal yh, liorish smooinaghtyn cre’n ghraih t’oc orroo hene, as kys bailloo feallagh elley dy ghellal roo. | |
| [12] These things considered, you will, if you have any grace in your heart, come to some such resolutions as these following: | Lurg diu ve er smooinaghtyn er ny reddyn shoh, nee shiu, my ta veg y ghrayse eu ayns nyn gree, goail erriu dy yannoo myr shoh: | |
| —I see that I am bound as a Christian, and at the peril of my soul, to be just to, to forgive, and give to, and love, and pray for, my neighbour, as becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will therefore do no wrong to any man, though I could hope to be never so great a gainer by it. I will not oppress, over-reach, vex, or harrass others, though it should be in my power. I will not envy my neighbour’s prosperity, nor bear malice in my heart, though I could never so well conceal it. I will despise no man living for the meanness of his condition, or for the misfortunes that may have befallen him; knowing very well, that we are all subject to misfortunes, to failings, to every thing that may make a man contemptible. I will be ready to do good with what God has blessed me, and even glad to communicate, knowing that with such sacrifices God is pleased. I will not render evil for evil, though revenge is sweet to flesh and blood. If any man is my enemy without cause, I will pray that God would convert him; that he will restrain and keep him from evil and mischief, which otherwise will be the greatest injury to himself. I will not say, that my neighbour does not deserve my love; for if God should deal with me according to my deserts, I should be the most miserable creature alive. I will not dare to say, such a man has injured me, and I will not forgive him; because God himself has declared, that just so he will deal with me. I will bear with the infirmities of others, hoping that others, and especially God himself, will bear with mine. I will thus endeavour to express my love to my neighbour out of love to God, who has commanded me so to do; and because I believe it will be most acceptable to the Divine Majesty. And I will beg of God to give me the spirit of love; and that the love of God, and of my neighbour, may be the commanding principle of my life. And, that every night of my life I may lie down to sleep with the same charitable dispositions with which I desire and hope to die. | “Ta mee fakin dy vel mee kainlt myr Creestee, as ec gaue-anmey, dy ve cairal, dy leih, dy choyrt da, dy ve graihagh er, as dy ghoail padjer son my naboo, myr ta cooie da eiyrtyssagh Yeesey Creest. Cha jean-ym, er-y-fa shen, aggair da peiagh erbee, lhig da my chosney liorish ve wheesh as saillish. Cha jean-ym tranlaase, molteyrys er, na [37] boirey feallagh elley, ga dy beagh yh ayns my phooar. Cha jean-ym troo mysh aigh-vie my naboo, na gymmyrkey goanlys ayns my chree, ga dy vod’in dy aashagh y cheiltyn yh. Cha jean-ym soiagh’ beg jeh peiagh bio son e voghtynid, na son ny lhag-haghyrtyn oddys v’er duittym er; myr ta my haie fys aym, dy vel shin ooilley aarloo dy huittym fo lheh-chiartyssyn, failleilyn, as dy chooilley nhee oddys cur er peiagh ve beg soit jeh. Bee’m aarloo dy yannoo mie lesh shen ta Jee er my vannaghey, as eer arryltagh dy rhein er ny boghtyn, myr ta fys aym dy vel Jee er ny vooiys lesh lheid ny ourallyn. Cha jean-ym olk son olk, ga dy yel drogh-chooilleen pleasal da dooghys ny foalley. My ta peiagh erbee my noid gyn oyr, nee’m guee gys Jee dy hyndaa e chree, dy jean eh y lhiettal as y chastey eh veih olk as aggair, cooid vees, er aght elley, yn assee smoo da hene. Cha jir-ym nagh vel my naboo toilloo[24] my aigney-mie; son my yinnagh Jee dellal rhym’s cordail rish my hoilchinys, ve’ins yn cretoor s’mee-vaynrey bio. Cha lhoys dou gra, ta lheid y dooinney shen er n’yannoo aggair dou, as cha leih-ym da; er-yn-oyr dy vel Jee hene er ghra, dy jean eshyn dellal rhym’s kiart er yn aght cheddin. Nee’m gymmyrkey lesh annoonidyn feallagh elley, treishteil dy jean feallagh elley, agh Jee erskyn ooilley, gymmyrkey lesh ny annoonidyn ayms. Nee’m myr shoh my phaart dy [38] hoilshaghey my ghraih gys my naboo, trooid yn ghraih t’aym er Jee, ta er harey mee dy yannoo myr shen; as er-yn-oyr dy vel mee credjal dy bee shoh smoo booisal da’n Ard-ooashley Flaunyssagh. As goym padjer gys Jee dy choyrt dou yn spyrryd dy ghraih; as dy vod graih gys Jee, as my naboo, ve ard-leeideilagh my vea: As dy chooilley oie jeh my heihl, dy vod-ym lhie sheese dy chadley ayns yn un aigney-mie cheddin, ayn ta mee treishteil dy gheddyn baase.” | |
| This will be the true way of profiting by sermons, and you will return home from God’s house: with a blessing. | Bee shoh yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish clashtyn sharmaneyn, as hed shiu dy-valley veih thie Yee lesh bannaght. | |
| We will suppose, in the next place, that you had been instructed by God’s Minister, concerning the necessity, the indispensible necessity, of an holy life. You would not sure go home, and think no more upon a subject which it so much concerns you to remember. For you will have been assured by the spirit of God, as well as by the Minister of God, that without holiness no man must see the Lord. That the design of all the laws and ordinances of God is, to make you partaker of a divine nature; i. e. To make you holy that you may be capable of being happy. And, that we are heirs of salvation on no other terms but these: That we study to please God in the whole course of our lives; and that we must not satisfy ourselves with the outward duties of religion, which are of no value in the sight of God, if they do not help to free us from the slavery of sin, and restore us to the image of God. | Abbyr dy vel shiu, ’sy nah ynnyd, er ve ynsit liorish Shirveishagh Yee, mychione yn feme, yn ymmodee feme mooar, jeh bea crauee casheric. Shickyr cha ragh shiu thie fegooish smooinaghtyn arragh mychione cooish va[25] wheesh lhie erriu dy chooinaghtyn er. Son bee shiu er nyn shickyragh’ liorish Spyrryd Yee, chamma as liorish Shirveishagh Yee, nagh vod dooinney erbee fegooish craueeaght yn Chiarn y akin. Dy vel ooilley ny ta kiarit liorish leighyn as oardaghyn Yee, dy yannoo shiu ayrnee jeh’n dooghys flaunyssagh; ta shen, dy yannoo shiu casheric dy vod shiu ve cooie dy ve maynrey. As dy vel shin eiraghyn dy haualtys er ny eer conaantyn shoh hene ny lomarcan: —Dy jean [39] mayd streeu dy vooiys Jee trooid slane coorse nyn mea; as nagh jean mie shin hene y chur jeh lesh cooilleeney ny cur’myn cadjin-foshlit dy chraueeaght, cooid nagh veeu monney ayns shilley Yee, mannagh vel ad cooney dy heyrey shin veih bondiaght phecca, as dy chouraghey shin reesht lesh tooarastyl Yee. | |
| And to oblige you not to be indifferent in a matter of so great concern, you will remember, that you have been often told, how very different the portion of good and bad men is sure to be in the next world. And that if you make God your enemy by an unholy life, you are for ever undone. | As dy eignagh shiu gyn ve meerioosagh ayns cooish ta wheesh lhie er, nee shiu cooinaghtyn, dy vel yh dy mennic er ve inshit diu, cre’n lhiettrimys mooar vees son shickyrys eddyr cronney ny crauee as ny mee-chrauee ayns y theihl ta ry-heet. As my nee shiu Jee yn noid eu liorish bea mee-chrauee, ta shiu caillit son dy bragh. | |
| You will then begin to think it worth your while to call to mind, in what, as you have been often told, this holiness consists. That it is not confined to the time you are at church, or at your prayers, but that it must be the work of your whole life. That you must be holy in your conversation, i. e. inoffensive and exemplary. Holy in your dealings, i. e. just and conscientious. Holy with regard to God, reverencing every thing that belongs to him, hearing his word, resolving to be governed by his [13] commands; praying to him for what you want, and praising him for his mercies. That you must be holy with respect to your neighbour, i. e. you must do him no mischief; you must relieve him in his necessities; you must pray for him; and forgive him, if he has injured you. Lastly, That you must be holy in what relates to yourself; holy in your devotions, i. e. sincere and without hypocrisy. Holy in repenting when you have done amiss, and returning to your duty without delay. Holy in moderating your affections for this world, that you may love the lord with all your heart. You must be holy in prosperity, i. e. not high-minded. Holy in adversity, i. e. patient and resigned to the will of God. That you must be holy in your apparel, i. e. modest and free from pride and vanity. Holy in your diet, i. e. not given to intemperance, to gluttony, or drunkenness. Holy in your diversions, not making them the great business of your life. | Nee shiu eisht toshiaght y ghoail dy smooinaghtyn yh feeu dy eam gys cooinaghtyn, cre ayns, myr t’yh er ve dy mennic inshit diu, ta’n chraueeaght shoh lhie. Nagh vel yh kainlt gys y traa ta shiu ’sy cheeill, na ec nyn badjeryn, agh dy nheign da ve obbyr nyn slane mea [sic]. Dy nheign diu ve crauee ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea, ta shen, gyn-loght as lesh samplere mie. Crauee ayns nyn ghellal, ta shen, jeeragh as cooinsheanseagh. Casheric gys Jee, coyrt graih ennoil da dy chooilley nhee ta bentyn dasyn; clashtyn rish e ghoo, kiarail dy ve er nyn reill liorish e haaraghyn; goail padjer huggey son ny ta shiu feme, as moylley eh son e vyghinyn. Dy nheign diu ve crauee ayns nyn [40] ymmyrkey gys nyn naboo; ta shen, cha jean shiu veg yn aggair da; sheign diu cooney lesh ayns e eme; sheign diu goail padjer er e hon; as leih da, my t’eh er n’yannoo assee erbee diu. Er-jerrey, Dy nheign diu ve crauee ayns shen ny ta bentyn riu-hene; crauee ayns coyrt ooashley, ta shen, ynric as fegooish foalsaght; crauee ayns goail-arrys tra ta shiu er n’yannoo ass y raad, as chyndaa gys nyn gurrym fegooish lhiggey-shaghey; crauee ayns leodaghey nyn yeearreeyn son y theihl shoh, dy vod shiu graih y choyrt da’n Chiarn lesh ooilley nyn gree. Sheign diu ve crauee tra smoo ta’n seihl cheet lhieu, ta shen, cha nheign diu ve ard-aignagh. Crauee tra ta’n seihl goll nyn ’oi, ta shen, surransagh fo as booiagh lesh aigney Yee. Sheign diu ve crauee ayns nyn goamrey, ta shen, fudagh as fegooish moyrn as fardaalys. Crauee ayns nyn meaghey, ta shen, gyn geiyrt da neu-heeltys, da glutteraght, na meshtallys; crauee ayns ny spoartyn eu, cha nee geiyrt daue myr ard-obbyr nyn mea. | |
| If you are a parent, you must express your holiness in bringing up your children in the fear of God; if a master, you must be holy, i. e. just to your servants, remembering that you yourself have a master in heaven. | My t’ou dty Ayr na Moir, sheign dhyt soilshaghey dty chraueeaght liorish troggal dty chloan ayns aggle Yee; my she Mainshtyr oo, sheign dhyt ve crauee, ta shen, cairal rish dty harvaantyn, cooinaghtyn dy vel ayds oo-hene mainshtyr ayns niau. | |
| In short, you will have been told, that nothing ought to discourage you from being as holy as possibly you can be; because God, who requires you to be holy, has obliged himself to assist you with sufficient grace and power; and because the more holy you are, the more happy you are sure to be when you die. | Ayns fockle, T’yh er ve inshit diu nagh lhisagh nhee erbee shiu y lhiettal veih ve [41] cha crauee as ta pooar diu; er-yn-oyr dy vel Jee, ta cur’magh shiu dy ve crauee, er ghoail er hene dy chooney lhieu lesh grayse as pooar ymmyrchagh er nyn son; as er-yn-oyr myr s’crauee ta shiu, shen myr s’maynrey ta shiu shickyr dy ve tra yiow shiu baase. | |
| Now, if you have pondered these things in your heart, you cannot but come to some such resolutions as these following: | Nish my ta shiu er ghoail ny reddyn shoh dy dowin gys nyn gree, cha vod shiu agh goail erriu dy yannoo myr shoh; ta shen dy ghra: | |
| —I am now convinced, that the manner of my life is the only proof of my being in the favour or under the displeasure of God. That to lead a careless, thoughtless, or a useless life, will certainly bring upon me the sentence of the fruitless tree; “cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground.” I will therefore endeavour to please God, by being as careful of my ways, and as obedient, to his commands, as his grace shall enable me to be. And since he is so good as to allow me to call him my father, I will endeavour to lead such a life as becomes the child of so holy a father. To this end, I will endeavour to understand what the will of God is, and will compare my life with those rules he has given me to walk by, that I may be satisfied whether I am, in truth, in the way of holiness or not. I will not delude myself with saying, that every man has his faults, and that God is merciful: For I understand he is just as well as merciful; that he hates sin in every body; and that if my faults are such as he hates, and has forbidden, and I continue in them, I shall provoke him to deny me the benefit of his mercy, and shall feel the severity of his justice. I will not therefore, as I love my own soul, live in any known sin, but will keep a strict watch over my heart and actions, and deny myself, and part with, any pleasure rather than displease God. Nor will I flatter myself with vain hopes, that I may get habits of holiness hereafter, and before I die; for if I think it too soon to please God now, he may be provoked to deny me his grace, and then I shall never be holy, never happy. | “Ta nish slane shickyrys aym, dy vel my ymmyrkey-bea yn ynrycan prowal dy vel mee ayns foayr rish, na fo jymmoose Yee. Dy der bea neu-chiaralagh, neu-friusagh as gyn ymmyd, lesh orrym son shickyrys briwnys yn villey neu-vessoil; lhieg sheese yh, cre’n-fa t’yh goail seose room hallooin gyn ymmyd? Nee’m er-y-fa shen Jee y wooiys gys rere my phooar, liorish ve cha tastagh jeh my raaidyn, as cha biallagh da e haraghyn, as nee yn ghrayse echeysyn niartaghey lhiam dy ve. As fakin dy vel eh cha mie, as dy lowal dou dy enmys eh-hene yn Ayr ayms, nee’m my phaart share dy leeideil lheid y vea as ta cooie son lhiannoo da ayr cha casheric. Cour shoh, Nee’m ny oddym dy hoiggal cre ta aigney Yee, as nee’m my vea y phrowal liorish ny saraghyn shen t’eh er choyrt dou dy immeeaght lioroo, dy vod shickyrys y ve aym vel mee, son firrinys, ayns y raad dy chraueeaght mannagh vel. [42] Cha jean-ym mee-hene y volley lesh gra, dy vel e oiljyn hene bentyn rish dy chooilley ghooinney, as dy vel Jee myghinagh: son ta mee toiggal dy vel eh cairagh chammah as myghinagh; dy vel dwoaie echey er pecca ayns dy chooilley pheiagh; as my ta my oiljyn lheid as ta feohdagh dasyn, as t’eh er lhiettal, as mish dy hannaghtyn ayndoo, nee’m eshyn y vrasnaghey dy obbal dou vondeish e vyghin, as ennee-ym trimmid e chairys. Cha jean-ym er-y-fa shen, myr shynney lhiam my annym hene, beaghey ayns pecca erbee lesh my yoin, agh freill-ym arrey geyre er my chree as my obbraghyn, as obb-ym mee-hene, as nee’m scarrey rish dy chooilley eunys seihltagh, ny s’leaie na jymmoose y choyrt er Jee. Chamoo nee’m mee-hene y volley lesh treishteil fardalagh, dy vod-ym geddyn cliaghtaghyn dy chraueeaght ny lurg shoh, as roish my vo’ym baase; son my ta mee smooinaghtyn yh ro-leah dy vooiys Jee nish, foddee eh ve brasnit dy obbal dou e ghrayse, as eisht cha bee’m dy bragh casheric, dy bragh maynrey. | |
| And because good purposes, without a change of life, will signify nothing but to condemn me, I will therefore beg of God to touch my heart most powerfully from above, that I may not only resolve, but do what he would have me. | As er-yn-oyr nagh n’eeu kiarailyn mie fegooish caghlaa bea monney agh dy my gheyrey, nee’m er-y-fa shen, guee gys Jee dy ghreinnagh my chree dy breeoil veih’n yrjey, dy voddym, cha nee ynrycan kiarail, agh cooilleeney shen ny baillish mee dy yannoo.” | |
| Such resolutions as these, every Christian should make when he hears the word of God read or preached. And indeed, it is plainly for want of minding the things they hear, and for want of pondering them in their hearts, that Christians are so careless, so ignorant, and so wicked. And those very people, who would not for the world deny their religion, or give up their hopes of Heaven, are yet in danger of never going to Heaven, because they would not hear with attention their duty nor their danger, nor ponder them in their hearts. | Lheid ny kiarailyn shoh lhisagh dy chooilley [43] Chreestee goail er-hene, tra t’eh clashtyn Goo Yee er ny lhaih, na er ny phreacheil. As, dy jarroo, t’yh plain, dy nee son laccal geill vie y choyrt da ny t’ad dy chlashtyn, as son nagh vel ad goail ad gys nyn gree, dy vel Creesteenyn cha mee-chiaralagh, cha mee-hushtagh, as cha mee-chrauee. As yn eer sleih shen hene, nagh jinnagh son y seihl gobbal nyn gredjue, na lhiggey voue nyn dreishteil jeh goll gys flaunys, foast, t’ad shoh, ta mee gra, ayns danjere nagh jed ad dy bragh gys flaunys, er-yn-oyr nagh neaishtagh ad dy tastagh rish nyn gurrym na nyn danjere, na smooinaghtyn orroo dy dowin ayns nyn gree. | |
| [14] People do not consider, that want of learning will be no excuse, in a christian country, for their being ignorant of their duty. Such as will attend the church, and pray for God’s grace, and hear his word with a serious and devout temper, and practise what they know, are in as sure a way of happiness as the most learned. Take heed therefore how ye hear: And if you would indeed profit by hearing, and carry a blessing home with you, imprint upon your heart some such truths as these: | Cha vel sleih goail oc hene, nagh jean laccal ynsagh leshtal erbee daue, ayns cheer Chreestee, son ve mee-hushtagh jeh nyn gurrym. Lheid as nee thaaghey yn cheeill, as goaill padjer son grayse Yee, as clashtyn e ghoo lesh aigney sheelt as crauee, as geiyrt da shen ta toiggal oc jeh, t’ad shoh ayns raad cha shickyr dy haualtys as ny fir-ynsee syrjey. Bee-jee er nyn dwoaie, er-y-fa shen, kys ta shiu clashtyn: As my bailliu dy jarroo vondeish y gheddyn liorish clashtyn Goo Yee, as bannaght y chur lhieu thie meriu, screeu-jee er nyn greeaghyn lheid ny raaghyn firrinagh as ad shoh: | |
| This is God’s Minister; what he delivers is God’s word. I mind attentively my betters when they speak to me, and I lay it up in my heart: And shall I forget what my Maker has said as soon as I am got from his presence? God forbid. I will rather go home, and consider with myself what use I ought to make of what I have heard, and will order my life accordingly. | “Saggyrt Yee shoh; shen t’eh dy hoiagh roym she Goo Yee yh. Ta mee geaishtagh dy tastagh roosyn ta er my skyn tra t’ad loayrt [44] rhym, as goail yh gys my chree: as jean-ym jarrood shen ny ta my Er-chroo er ghra rhym, cha leah as ta mee goll ass e enish? Na lhig y Jee. Share dou goll thie, as smooinaghtyn rhym pene cre’n ymmyd lhisin jannoo jeh shen ny ta mee er chlashtyn, as nee’m my yea y leeideil cordail rish.” | |
| Do so; —and God will increase your knowledge and your graces. And the word which you hear will become indeed the word of salvation (as St. Paul calls it) to everyone that believeth, and so receives it. | Jean shen; —as nee Jee dty hushtey as dty ghrayseyn y vishaghey. As hig yn goo t’ou dy chlashtyn dy ve dy jarroo yn goo dy haualtys (myr ta’n Noo Paul dy enmys yh) da dy chooilley unnane ta credjal, as goail yh er yn aght shen. | |
| And may our blessed Lord, who has caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of his holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which he has given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. | As dy jean y Chiarn bannee, ta er n’oardaghey ooilley ny Scriptyryn casheric dy ve scruit son yn ynsagh ainyn, gialdyn dy vod mayd ayns lheid yn aght ad y chlashtyn, ad y lhaih, tastey y choyrt daue, ad y ynsaghey, as ayns nyn greeaghyn goail baght jeu, liorish meenid as gerjagh e Ghoo casheric, dy vod mayd lesh gennallys goail, as dy bragh cummal shickyr yn treishteil bannit jeh’n vea dy bragh farraghtyn, ta eshyn er choyrt dooin ayns nyn Saualtagh Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom, &c. | Huggeysyn, &c. | |
| [45] | ||
| SERMON III. | SHARMANE III. | |
| THE TRUE WAY OF PROFITING BY SERMONS. | Yn Aght firrinagh dy gheddyn Vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn. | |
| VOUCHSAFE, O Lord. to direct me, and bless this discourse for the good of my flock; that they may glorify Thee for the Truths they shall hear, and for the Blessing they shall receive, by the ministry of the most unworthy of thy servants, O sovereign Pastor! | Dy gooidsave lhiats, O Hiarn, dy leeideil mee, as dy vannaghey yn Sharmane shoh son foays my Hioltane; dy vod ad Uss y ghloyraghey son yn Ynsagh nee ad clashtyn, as son y Bannaght yiow ad liorish Shirveish yn er sloo jeh dty harvaantyn, O Ard-vochilley dty Hioltane! Amen. | |
| luke viii. 18. | luke viii. 18. | |
| Take heed how ye hear: For whosoever hath, to him shall he given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall he taken, even that which he seemeth to have.[26] | Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn: Son quoi-erbee ta echey, dasyn vees er ny choyrt; as quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, veihsyn vees er ny ghoail eer shen hene er-lesh dy vel echey. | |
| I HAVE already, in a former discourse, explained to you what our Lord means by this earnest caution, viz. To assure us that according to the measure of our love for God's word, our attention in hearing it, and our care to profit by it, shall be the measure of grace which God will give us. | TA mee hanna, ayns Sharmane ren mee roie, er hoilshaghey diu cre ta nyn Jiarn cheet er liorish yn raue jeean shoh; ta shen, Dy hickyraghey dooin, dy nee rere myr ta nyn dowse dy ghraih er Goo Yee, nyn gheill ayns geaishtagh rish, as nyn imnea dy chosney vondeish liorish, vees yn towse dy ghrayse nee Jee y choyrt dooin. | |
| I have already shewed you the danger of living under the light of the Gospel, and not being bettered by it: Our Saviour says expressly, “That it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for such people.” Because the word which you hear is not the word of men, but in truth the word of God.” [1 Thess. ii. 13.] | [46] Ta mee hanna er hoilshaghey diu yn danjere jeh beaghey fo soilshey yn Sushtal, as gyn ve ny share liorish: Ta nyn Saualtagh dy feer ginsh dooin, “Dy bee kerraghey s’eddrym er ny choyrt er Sodom as Gomorrah ec laa ny briwnys, na er lheid y sleih:” Er-yn-oyr nagh vel yn goo ta shin dy chlashtyn “goo gheiney, agh ayns firrinys goo Yee.” [1 Thess. ii. 13.] | |
| [15] This is my beloved son, saith God, hear ye him. And it is his Gospel we preach, we explain, we press upon you. It is him you despise, when you mind not what is said to you by his Ministers. | Shoh my Vac ennoil, as Jee, clasht-jee rishyn. As she yn Sushtal echeysyn ta shin preacheil, coyrt bun er, as chionney erriu. As she eshyn ta shiu coontey beg jeh, tra nagh vel shiu cur geill da shen ny ta er ny choyrt rhymbiu liorish ny Shirveishee echeysyn. | |
| And, on the other hand, when you come to church with a serious, teachable temper, and hear his word with reverence and submission, you do most certainly engage him to enlighten your minds with saving truth. | As, er aght elley, tra ta shiu cheet gys y cheeill lesh aigney sheelt son ynsagh, as clashtyn e ghoo lesh arrym as ammys, ta shiu son firrinys cosney yn ghraih echeysyn eh dy hoilshagh ny aignaghyn eu lesh yn goo dy haualtys. | |
| It was for this reason, I proposed to shew you the true way of profiting by sermons; by shewing you how every Christian ought and may most profitably apply the things he hears to himself, and form such resolutions as are most likely to influence his practice. I have already done this on several practical subjects, such as most nearly concern a christian life; and shall now proceed to others of like importance. | She er-yn-oyr shoh ghow mee ayns laue dy hoilshaghey diu yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish sharmaneyn; liorish soilshaghey diu kys lhisagh as kys oddys dy chooilley Chreestee goail huggey hene ny t’eh dy chlashtyn, reih geddyn yn vondeish smoo liorish, as dy ghoail er lheid ny gialdynyn as smoo licklee vees dy reill e ymmyrkey-bea. Ta mee hanna [47] er n’yannoo shoh ayns sharmaneyn elley mychione bea chreestee; as h’em nish er my hoshiaght gys ayrnyn elley vees jeh’n scansh cheddin. | |
| Let us then suppose, that you have heard a discourse concerning the danger of keeping bad company; of conversing with people of wicked principles or wicked lives. To be sure you will have been put in mind, how many have been ruined by an unwise choice of such companions. —How many have got habits of idleness, of intemperance, of trifling away their time and their estates; have been strangely corrupted both in their principles and in their manners. | Lhig dooin eisht goail ain hene, dy vel shiu er chlashtyn sharmane mychione yn danjere t’ayns freayl drogh heshaght; na thaaghey marish sleih jeh drogh ynsagh na drogh vea. Gyn dooyt va shiu er ve er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn cre whilleen as ta er ve cruit liorish dy ommijagh reih lheid y cheshaght; cre whilleen ta er gheddyn drogh chliaghtaghyn dy veerioose, dy neu-heeltys, dy yummal nyn draa as nyn gooid-heihlt; ta dy bollagh er stroie nyn gredjue as ymmyrkey mie bea. | |
| You will, with great truth, have been assured, that in all companies where men make a mock of sin, speak lightly of God, and profanely of any thing that belongs to him; there Satan infallibly governs, inspires his agents, and more or less infects all that are present. That you will in time be content to hear the most serious things made a jest of, and to wish inwardly that the things you were taught to believe were not true, and that there was no God to call you to an account. You do not know but the company you are fond of are atheists, men under the government of Satan; if you live as they do, you will in time believe as they do, whatever at present you may think of it. | Va shiu er nyn shickyraghey, as lesh firrinys vie, ayns dy chooilley heshaght raad ta sleih jannoo craid jeh pecca, loayrt dy eddrym jeh Jee, as dy mee-arrymagh jeh nhee erbee ta bentyn dasyn; dy vel yn Jouyl, gyn dooyrt, reill ayns shen, greinnaghey e yannooee, as ny smoo na ny sloo yn slane sheshaght. Dy bee shiu ayns traa gerrit booiagh clashtyn craid jeant jeh ny reddyn smoo casheric, as ayns nyn gree dy yeearree nagh row fockle dy irriney ’sy chredjue ta ynsit diu, as nagh row Jee ayn dy eam gys coontey shiu. Cha vel fys eu nagh vel yn cheshaght ta shiu goail maroo nyn an-chredjuee ayns Jee, sleih fo leeideilys y drogh-spyrryd: my nee shiu [48] beaghey myr ta adsyn, nee shiu ayns traa credjal myr ta adsyn, cre-erbee oddys shiu smooinaghtyn jeh ’sy traa t’ayn. | |
| You will have been assured, that nothing more provokes God to deprive men of his Holy Spirit, and of his graces, than the frequenting of wicked company, where things hateful to God are said and done. | Bee shickyrys er ny choyrt diu, nagh vel nhee erbee brasnaghey Jee ny smoo dy ghoail veih sleih e Spyrryd Casheric, as e ghrayseyn, na dy mennic thaaghey drogh heshaght, raad ta reddyn dwoaiagh da Jee er ny ghra as er ny yannoo. | |
| Lastly, you will have heard from the inspired Writer, that wine, and new wine, take away the heart, i. e. the understanding: And every one, who is given to drinking and company, will find it so to his sorrow, when it may be too late to return to a sober mind; sad experience convincing us, that one need but taste a sinful pleasure, or frequent bad company, a very little while, to be very fond of them, and a slave to them. | Er-jerrey; Bee shiu er lesh clashtyn veih’n Screeudeyr casheric, dy vel feeyn, as feeyn noa, ta shen dy ghra neu-heeltys, goail ersooyl yn cree; ta shen, yn tushtey: As nee dy chooilley unnane ta thaaghey iuderys as drogh heshaght, feddyn yh myr shen gys e hrimshey, tra oddys yh ve ro anmagh dy hyndaa gys aigney sheelt; nyn ennaghtyn trimshagh cur orrin fakin, nagh lhiass da peiagh agh blashtyn eunyssyn peccoil, na thaaghey drogh-heshaght agh traa feer ghiare, dy chur er ve feer ghraihagh orroo, as fo bondiaght daue. | |
| If I should observe any young person very serious and attentive when he hears these truths, I should conclude that such a person will make some such reflections as these following: | My hee’yns peiagh aeg erbee feer sheelt as tastagh tra t’eh clashtyn yn firrinys shoh, yarr’yn dy nee cooid vooar er yn aght shoh veagh smooinaghtyn lheid y phersoon: | |
| —I thank God that I have had this fair warning given me. I am convinced that bad company has cost many a man very dear. I have within me the same seeds of wickedness with other people; and if God leaves me to my own choices, and I make choice of bad company, I shall be as wicked as the worst of them; my heart will be infected, my faith weakened, my good purposes cooled, and all my graces injured. I am convinced of the difficulty of getting out of the snare, and of breaking off evil habits; and that if I provoke God to withdraw his spirit, I never can repent, never can return to a sober mind. I will therefore keep in my mind the words of the Apostle, evil communications corrupt good manners; and I am resolved, by the Grace of God, to avoid, as I would do the devil, the company of all such, by whose loose principles and lewd examples my faith may be corrupted, or my morals endangered. | “Booise dy row gys Jee dy row yn raue mie shoh er ny choyrt dou. Ta shickyrys aym dy vel dooinney ny ghaa er n’eeck dy deyr son thaaghey drogh heshaght. T’aym ayns my chree ny genneeyn cheddin dy olkys [49] as t’ec sleih elley; as my aagys Jee mee gys my reih hene, as mee dy reih drogh heshaght, bee’m cha mee-chrauee as ny feallee smessey jeu; bee my chree pushoonit, my chredjue moal, my chiarailyn mie gyn bree, as ooilley my ghrayseyn er nyn leodaghey. Ta mee fakin yn dooilleeys dy chosney ass yn ribbey, as jeh brishey jeh drogh chliaghtey; as my ta mee brasnaghey Jee dy ghoail e Spyrryd voym, cha vod-ym dy bragh goail arrys, na dy bragh chyndaa gys aigney sheelt. Freill-ym, er-y-fa shen, ayns my aigney goan yn Ostyl, Ta drogh heshaght cur mou ellyn mie; as ta mee kiarit, liorish grayse Yee, dy hea, myr yin’yn veih’n Jouyl, sheshaght ooilley nyn lheid, oddys my chredjue as my ymmyrkey mie bea y leodaghey liorish nyn ynsaghey peccoil as bea scammyltagh.” | |
| I persuade myself, that all young persons, who have any grace left, will make some such resolutions as these, and will beg of God the grace to keep them. | Er-lhiam, dy jean dy chooilley phersoon aeg, ta veg y ghrayse fagit ayn, jannoo gialdynyn ennagh nyn lheid shoh, as nee eh guee gys Jee son grayse dy chooilleeney ad. | |
| [16] How many discourses have Christians heard concerning another reigning vice, the sins of impurity, fornication, and uncleanness, without being bettered by what either God or his Ministers have said upon those subjects. They have heard, for instance, God's express declaration, “That whoremongers and adulterers God will judge; that they shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” That God abhors such as fall into these sins, and do not immediately repent and forsake them. | Cre whilleen sharmane ta Creesteenyn er chlashtyn mychione pecca elley ro chadjin, ny peccaghyn dy neu-heeltys, maarderys, as neu-ghlennid, fegooish lhiassaghey nyn mea voish ny ta Jee na e Hirveishee er ghra mychione ny peccaghyn cheddin. T’ad er chlashtyn, son mac-soyley, briwnys geyre Yee, “Dy jean Jee maarderee as brisheyderyn-poosey y vriwnys, dy [50] vou ad nyn gronney ayns y lough lostey lesh aile as brimstone.” Dy vel dwoaie ec Jee orroosyn ta tuittym ayns ny peccaghyn shoh, as nagh vel chelleeragh goail arrys as treigeil ad. | |
| They have as often been put in mind of the difficulty of forsaking these sins; because these sins do blind the understanding, waste and harden the conscience, blot out all good purposes, grieve the spirit of God, drive him from them, and give the devil the greatest power over those that live in them. They see with their own eyes, the pains people take to conceal these vices; which should convince Christians how shameful they really are. And they have often heard what St. Paul has said of these sins; “That they are such as should not so much as be named among Christians.” | T’ad cha mennic cheddin er ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn cre cha doillee t’yh dy hreigeil ny peccaghyn shoh; er-yn-oyr dy vel ny peccaghyn shoh dolley yn tushtey, cur naardey as creoghey yn chooinsheanse, cur mou dy chooilley chiarail vie, seaghney Spyrryd Yee, geiyrt eh voue, as coyrt da’n Drogh-spyrryd yn phooar stroshey harrishdoosyn ta beaghey ayndoo. T’ad fakin lesh nyn sooillyn hene, cre cha kiaraalagh ta sleih dy cheiltyn ny peccaghyn shoh; cooid lhisagh soilshaghey da sleih cre cha naaradagh as t’ad son firrinys. As t’ad dy mennic er chlashtyn cre ta’n Noo Paul er ghra mychione ny peccaghyn shoh: “Dy vel ad lheid as nagh lhisagh wheesh as ve enmyssit mastey Creesteenyn.” | |
| Lastly, Christians know that God has appointed lawful marriage as a means to prevent these sins, so hateful to God, and so destructive to men. And yet this unclean spirit reigns in the world without controul; very many fall into these sins, many live in them, and too many make a jest of them. | Myrgeddin, ta fys ec Creesteenyn dy vel Jee er n’oardaghey poosey lowal myr saase dy haghney ny peccaghyn shoh, cha dwoaiagh da Jee, as cha stroiagh da deiney. As ny yeih ta’n spyrryd neu-ghlen shoh reill lesh slane reamys ’sy theihl; ta ymmodee tuittym ayns ny peccaghyn shoh, ymmodee beaghey ayndoo, as rouyr jannoo craid jeu. | |
| What can be the reason of this? Why: Christians, when they hear these things, do not mind them; they do not think of them after they leave the church; they do not ponder them in their hearts. | Cre’n ta’n oyr jeh shoh? Cammah; cha vel [51] Creesteenyn, tra t’ad clashtyn ny reddyn shoh cur geill daue; cha vel ad smooinaghtyn orroo lurg daue v’er n’aagail yn cheeill; cha vel ad goail ad dy dowin gys nyn gree. | |
| Young people, when they hear these things, should ask themselves some such questions as these: | Lhisagh sleih aegey, tra t’ad clashtyn ny reddyn shoh, fenaght jeu hene questionyn ennagh nyn lheid shoh: | |
| —Do I really believe, that by falling into these sins, I shall lose the favour of God, and must expect a most fearful judgment if I continue in them? I dare not say I do not believe this: And if I do believe these truths, my crime will admit of no excuse; I shall be self-condemned, and lost irrecoverably, and ruined for ever, if I go on and continue in such sins as these. I will not flatter myself that God will be merciful to me, though I continue in sin; he was the same merciful God who, for these sins, destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from Heaven. I am to judge by this of God's mercy when it is abused. I will not venture upon these sins in hopes of repenting before I die; for at the best I can but repent for myself; I cannot repent for those I shall corrupt, whose blood shall be required at my hands. I will not make myself easy, because I may hope to hide my crimes; for I am assured, that God will bring to light the hidden works of darkness, when the stoutest, hardest heart, shall be ashamed and made to tremble. I will therefore endeavour to imprint these terrors upon my heart, and preserve my innocence, as I love my own soul. I will avoid, as much as I can, all temptations to these sins, idleness, intemperance; all company that make a jest of these crimes; all people that have lost their modesty; all whom the devil has inspired with immodest stories, filthy discourse, lewd songs; in short, all that discover, by their idle talk and wanton behaviour, that they only want to be tempted, that they only want an occasion to be lewd. | “Vel mee dy firrinagh credjal, liorish tuittym ayns ny peccaghyn shoh, dy gaill-ym foayr Yee, as dy nheign dou jercal rish y vriwnys s’agglee my nee’m tannaghtyn ayndoo? Cha lhoys dou gra nagh vel mee credjal shoh: as my ta mee credjal yn ynsagh shoh, cha bee leshtal erbee aym son my phecca; bee’m er my gheyrey liorym-pene, as bee’m caillit gyn cour, as cruit son dy bragh, my h’em er my hoshiaght as tannaghtyn ayns lheid ny peccaghyn shoh. Cha jean-ym molteyrys orrym pene dy bee Jee myghinagh dou, as mish dy hannaghtyn ayns pecca; v’eh yn un Jee myghinagh cheddin ren Sodom as Gomorrah y stroie lesh aile veih niau, son ny peccaghyn shoh. Ta mee dy vriwnys liorish shoh jeh myghin Yee tra ta daanys jeant er. Cha goym orrym ventreil er ny peccaghyn shoh ayns treishteil jeh goail arrys my voym baase; son, ec y chooid share, cha vod-ym agh goail-arrys er my hon hene; cha vod-ym goail-arrys er y hon ocsyn nee’m y hayrn gys pecca, yn uill oc vees er ny hirrey ec my laueyn’s. Cha bee’m ec [52] my aash ayns treishteil dy cheiltyn my oiljyn; son t’yh er ny hickyraghey dou, dy der Jee lesh gys soilshey obbraghyn keillit y dorraghys, tra vees yn cree s’dunnal as s’creoi fo nearey as er-creau. Nee’m er-y-fa shen, streeu dy ghrainney ny atchimyn shoh er my chree, as dy dy [sic] reayl my neu-loghtynys myr shynney lhiam my annym. Nee’m shaghney gys rere my phooar dy chooilley violagh gys ny peccaghyn shoh, lhitcheraght, neu-heeltys; dy chooilley heshaght ta jannoo craid jeh ny peccaghyn shoh; dy chooilley unnane ta er choayl nyn nearey; ooilley ny ta’n Drogh-spyrryd er lhieeney lesh storeeyn rouanagh, taggloo neu-fudagh, ronniaghtyn scammyltagh; ayns fockle, ooilley ny ta soilshagh liorish nyn daggloo ommijagh, as ymmyrkey rouanagh, nagh vel ad agh laccal dy ve miolit, nagh vel ad agh shirrey oyr son peccaghyn ny foalley.” | |
| If the devil, as be sure he will, lays a temptation in my way, a young man who has any grace left, will say, in the words of Joseph, on the like occasion, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” | My ta’n Jouyl, myr nee eh son shickyrys, cur miolagh ayns my raad, nee dooinney aeg ta veg y ghrayse ayn, gra, ayns goan Yoseph, er lheid yn oyr cheddin, “Kys oddym’s cur rish yn vee-chraueeaght vooar shoh, as peccah yannoo noi Jee?” | |
| A woman, who has not quite lost her modesty, will, on the like occasion, argue with herself in the words of Tamer, David's daughter, “I, whither shall I make my shame to go?” [if I consent to this foul crime.] | Nee ben, nagh vel dy bollagh er choayl e nearey, gra r’ee hene ayns goan Tamer, inneen Ghavid: “Er my hon’s, cre’n raad h’em dy choodaghey my nearey,” my nee’m coardail gys y peccah scammyltagh shoh? | |
| And knowing that I have not the power of resisting temptations in my own hands, I will pray to God every day of my life, to give me grace and strength to resist all temptations, which will cost me so very dear. | [53] As myr ta mee toiggal, nagh vel pooar aym ayns my laue hene dy hassoo magh noi miolaghyn, guee-ym gys Jee dy chooilley laa jeh my heihl dy choyrt dou grayse as niart dy hassoo magh noi dy chooilley violagh, nee costal cha deyr dou. | |
| [17] And such as have been so unhappy as to have fallen into these sins, will repent forthwith, and be very watchful for the time to come, if they will but think seriously of the words of Christ; “That the unclean spirit will return with seven others more wicked than himself.” And then what destruction will they make. | As quoi-erbee ta er ve cha mee vaynrey as dy huittym ayns ny peccaghyn shoh, gowee ad arrys jeeragh, as bee ad dy mooar er nyn arrey son y traa ta ry-heet, my nee ad agh smooinaghtyn dy dowin er goan Chreest;— “Dy jean yn spyrryd neu-ghlen chyndaa orroo reesht lesh shiaght elley ny s’dewley na eh-hene.” As eisht cre’n cragh nee ad y yannoo! | |
| These are the reflections that Christians should make, and will make, if they have any grace, when they hear a. discourse of the dreadful consequence of sins of impurity. | T’ad shoh ny smooinaghtyn lhisagh Creesteenyn y ghoail, as nee ad y ghoail, my ta veg y ghrayse ayndoo, tra t’ad clashtyn sharmane my-chione yn jerrey agglagh jeh peccaghyn y neu-ghlennid. | |
| There is another very great and very common sin, very little minded; however, I would beg you would lay to heart both the guilt and the curse that attends it. It is the sin of profaning the name of God to idle or wicked purposes. | Ta pecca feer vooar as feer chadjin elley, as beggan scainsh jeh; ny-yeih, ghuee’in erriu dy ghoail gys nyn gree chamma yn loght as yn mollaght ta lesh. Ta shen yn pecca jeh goail ennym Yee ayns fardail ayns cooishyn fardalagh as mee-chrauee. | |
| This is done every day, without fear and without thought; though it is a sin most displeasing to God, for which he will not hold men guiltless, i. e. he will punish them in an extraordinary manner. Because the impious custom of swearing in common conversation, strikes directly at the honour of God; it makes his name, i. e. God himself, contemptible; it lessens men's esteem and reverence for him that made them; and treats him as an idol, which can do them neither good nor hurt. By this impious custom, men come to lose the fear of an oath; so that oaths and vows are no manner of rule by which we can judge whether they speak true or false. From common swearing they come to cursing themselves and others; from cursing to blasphemy, and from blasphemy to downright atheism; to say, at least to wish, that there was no God. | Ta shoh jeant gagh-laa, gyn aggle as gyn smooinaght; ga dy vel yh peccah feer dwoaiagh da Jee, er y hon cha gum eh sleih gyn loght, ta shen, dy gow eh kerraghey trome [54] orroo: Er-yn-oyr dy vel yn cliaghtey mee-chrauee jeh loo ayns nyn daggloo cadjin bwoalley jeeragh noi ooashley Yee; t’yh mee-ooashlaghey e ennym, ta shen, t’yh an-chasherickey Jee eh-hene; t’yh leodaghey yn arrym as yn ooashley lhisagh ’ve ec sleih son eshyn ren ad y chro [sic: chroo]; as jeeaghyn er myr jalloo nagh vod jannoo edyr mie na sie roo. Liorish yn cliaghtey an-yeeagh shoh, ta sleih cheet dy choayl yn aggle casheric roish loo; myr shen nagh vel loo’ghyn as breearaghyn monney erbee dy chaslys liorish oddys mayd briwnys vel ad loayrt dy firrinagh na dy foalsey. Voish loo cadjin t’ad cheet dy ghuee mollaghtyn orroo hene as feallagh elley; voish gweeaghyn gys goan-mollaghtagh, as voish goan-mollaghtagh gys eer an-yeeys; dy ghra, ec y chooid sloo dy wishal, nagh row Jee edyr ayn. | |
| You will therefore, when you hear these things, as ever you hope to escape the vengeance of God; you will lay these truths to heart, and resolve with yourself as follows: | Nee shiu er-y-fa shen, tra ta shiu clashtyn ny reddyn shoh, my ta shiu dy bragh treishteil dy scapail kerraghey trome Yee; nee shiu yn firrinys shoh y ghoail gys nyn gree, as kiarail riu hene er yn aght shoh: | |
| I will always endeavour to speak of God with an awe and reverence upon my mind. If I am called to take a solemn oath, I will consider the meaning and terror of those words with which it is bound upon me, so help you god; and then I shall conclude, that as ever I expect the help of God when I shall most want it, I am bound to speak the very truth. As for rash, customary oaths, I will abhor the appealing to God, as every man does who swears, with a lie or a trifle in my mouth. If ever I shall be so unhappy as to be surprized into such a sin, I will immediately beg God's pardon, and resolve to do so no more. And lest such oaths should become less dreadful to me, and more familiar, I will avoid, as I would do the devil, or leave the company of, a man who is given to such vices, lest I should provoke God to leave me to myself, and lest I should become as bad as the worst. | “Nee’m dy kinjagh jannoo my chooid share dy loayrt jeh Jee lesh aggle as arrym ayns my chree. My ta mee sumnit dy ghoail my loo casheric, nee’m smooinaghtyn dy dowin er bree as atchim ny goan shen ta dy my chiangley, myr shen dy goon Jee lhiat; as eisht nee’m goail aym pene, my [55] ta mee dy bragh jercal rish cooney Yee tra smoo vee’m feme yh, dy vel mee kainlt dy loayrt yn eer irriney hene. As son loo’ghyn siyragh as cadjin cliaghtit, ver-ym feoh da pealal gys Jee son feanish, myr ta dagh peiagh dy yannoo ta loo lesh breg na red fardalagh n’y veeal. My veem d’y [sic: dy] bragh cha mee-vaynrey as dy ve goit er vullagh-ching ayns lheid y phecca, nee’m chelleeragh guee son pardoon Yee, as kiarail y ghoail nagh jean-ym myr shen arragh. As er-aggle dy jinnagh lheid ny loo’ghyn coayl nyn mree orrym liorish cliaghtey, treig-ym, myr yinnin yn drogh-spyrryd, as faag-ym sheshaght y dooinney ta geiyrt da lheid ny peccaghyn, er-aggle dy brasn’in Jee dy aagail mee dou hene, as dy darrin dy ve cha olk as y fer smessey jeu. | |
| That I may not take the name of God in vain, when I am at my prayers, and worshipping him, I will endeavour that my words and heart shall go together. To this end I will consider, that all the prayers of the church begin with such expressions as are most proper to make us mind to whom we speak; that it is —to an Almighty God, and merciful Father, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known; who is the fountain of all wisdom and goodness, the creator and preserver of mankind; whose nature and property is always to have mercy and to forgive. | Nagh jean-ym goail ennym Yee ayns fardail tra ta mee ec my phadjeryn, as dy ooashlaghey eh, nee’m my phaart dy jed my chree as my ghoan lesh y chielley. Cour shoh, smooin-ym rhym pene, dy vel ooilley padjeryn ny killagh goail toshiaght lesh lheid ny goan as smoo cooie ta dy choyrt shin ayns cooinaghtyn quoi rish ta shin loayrt; ta shen, rish Jee Ooilley-niartal as Ayr myghinagh, huggeysyn ta dy chooilley chree foshlit, dy chooilley yeearree er-fys; ta bun dy chooilley chreenaght as mieys, fer-chroo as fer-choadee ooilley sheelnaue; yn dooghys echeysyn t’yh, as dasyn [56] ny lomarcan t’yh bentyn dy hoilshaghey myghin as dy leih peccaghyn.” | |
| These, and such expressions, if attended to, will call back a roving mind, and fix it upon the duty you are about; will awaken the most careless, and melt down the most stubborn heart. | Nee ad shoh, as lheid ny goan shoh, my vees geill er ny choyrt daue, geam back aigney rauailagh, as soiagh’ yh er yn currym ta shiu mysh; nee ad doostey yn cree s’neu-chiaralagh, as meighey yn cree smoo roonagh. | |
| Whoever comes to these resolutions, which all people will do who are afraid to take God's name in vain, will not often speak of God, or to God, without thought, without reason, and without reverence. | Quoi-erbee ta myr shoh kiarit, cooid vees dy chooilley unnane ta aggle er dy ghoail ennym Yee ayns fardail, cha jean eh dy mennic loayrt jeh Jee, na rish Jee, fegooish smooinaght, gyn resoon, as gyn arrym. | |
| The next great sin to this is, that of profaning the lord's day. You hear the command of God touching this sin, and your duty, every such day. And you [18] hear your duty often pressed upon you in sermons; and too often you return home without profiting by the one on the other. | Yn nah ard phecca ta lurg shoh she brishey laa yn Chiarn yh. Ta shiu clashtyn sarey Yee mychione yn peccah shoh, as nyn gurrym dy chooilley ghoonaght. As ta shiu clashtyn nyn gurrym dy mennic cur’mit erriu ayns sharmaneyn; as ro vennick ta shiu goll thie fegooish ve ny share liorish yn derrey yeh na yn jeh elley. | |
| Do but consider the reason of this. —Why: you do not seriously attend to what you hear; or you forget it as soon as you leave the church; or you do not apply the truths you hear to yourself, or come to any sober resolutions concerning them. For is it possible that you should hear and believe that God has expressly commanded one day in seven to be kept holy? That he hath blessed that day, i. e. he has joined an especial blessing to the due observation of it. That it is a day dedicated to the honour and worship of God, and of Jesus Christ our Saviour. That if men were not on these days put in mind of the duty they owe to God; and if certain persons were not by his command appointed to keep up the knowledge of God, and of our dependence upon him, we should soon lose the knowledge of the true God, (as many nations have done) all sense of piety, all concern for what must come hereafter, whether men know, whether they think of it or not. And lastly, that such as do not keep this day holy, by going to the assemblies of the faithful, do, in effect, excommunicate themselves. | Jean-jee agh goail eu hene yn oyr ta er son shoh: —Camma; cha vel shiu dy sheeant geaishtagh rish ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn; er-nonney ta shiu jarrood yh cha leah as ta shiu fagail y cheeill; er-nonney cha vel shiu goail eu-hene yn firrinys ta shiu dy chlashtyn, na cheet gys kiarail shickyr mychione echey. Son vel yh possibyl dy glynnagh as dy gredjagh shiu dy vel Jee er choyrt sarey geyre dy bee un laa ayns shiaght er ny reayl [57] casheric? Dy vel eh er vannaghey yn laa shen; ta shen, t’eh lhiantyn ard vannaght er geill cooie y choyrt da. Dy vel yh laa pointit cour shirveish as ooashley Yee, as nyn Saualtagh Yeesey Creest. Mannagh beagh sleih er ny laghyn shoh currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym gys Jee; as mannagh row persoonyn reiht liorish e harey oardit dy reayl seose yn tushtey dy Yee, as nyn marrant ersyn, yinnagh shin dy leah coayl yn tushtey t’ain jeh’n Jee firrinagh, (myr ta mooarane aashoonyn er n’yannoo) dy chooilley ennaghtyn dy chraueeaght, dy chooilley imnea son nyn gronney lurg y vea shoh, lhig da sleih as fys ve oc, na smooinaghtyn na gyn smooinaghtyn er shoh. As, er-jerrey, ta lheid as nagh vel freayl yn laa shoh dy casheric, liorish thaaghey chaglym ny credjuee, t’ad ayns firrinys giarey-magh ad hene veih’n agglish. | |
| Is it possible, I say, that a Christian, when he is put in mind of these truths, should not come to some such firm resolutions as these?— | Vod yh ve, ta mee gra, nagh d’arragh [sic: darragh] Creestee erreish da er ve er ny choyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh lheid y firrinys, dy chiarail dy shickyr er aght ennagh lheid shoh?— | |
| I will consider who it is that has given me this command; that it is He who gives me all my time, and who blesseth all my labours. I will consider what it is he has commanded me: why; that I should, or one day in seven, leave all my worldly cares and concerns in his hands, whose blessing upon one day's labour is of more value than the whole week's work without it: And that I should dedicate this day to his honour; to give him thanks for his care over of me; to acknowledge and adore his infinite perfections, his power, his wisdom, his goodness, his truth, and his justice. And lastly, to acknowledge my own misery, without his blessing: And that I am subject to ignorance, to want, to troubles, to sickness, to sin, and to death, even to death eternal. | “Smooin-ym orrym quoi eh ta er choyrt dou yn sarey shoh; dy nee Eshyn eh ta coyrt dou ooilley my hraa, as ta bannaghey ooilley my laboragh. Smooin-ym orrym cre t’yh t’eh er harey orrym: camma; dy lhisin son un laa ayns shiaght, faagail ooilley my chiarail as my chooid-heihlt ayns ny laueyn [58] echeysyn, e vannaght er laboragh un laa ta ny s’feeuoil na obbyr y slane chiaghtin ny egooish: As dy lhisin yn laa shoh y chasherickey gys yn ooashley echeysyn; dy choyrt booise da son e chiarail har-ym; dy ghoail-rish, as dy chur ooashley da e phooar, e chreenaght, e vieys, e irrinys, as e chairys ta erskyn earroo. As, er-jerrey, dy ghoail-rish yn treihys aym-pene, fegooish yn bannaght echeysyn; as dy vel mee lhie fo mee-hushtey, feme, seaghyn, doghanyn, pecca, as fo briwnys baaish, eer yn baase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| I will therefore resolve, as ever I hope for a blessing in this life, or for happiness in the next, I will remember the lord’s day to keep it holy. I will go to the house of God, and confess my own unworthiness, and his infinite goodness. I will appear before God, with my heart as well as with my body. I will confess my sins unto God, and hope for a share in the absolution pronounced by his Minister in his name. I will attend to his word, and say a serious Amen to the graces and blessings there prayed for: And I will receive, with the greatest devotion, the solemn blessing of the Priest of God, by which he dismisseth the congregation; because I have the sure promise of God himself, that his blessing shall attend the blessing pronounced by his Priest. [Numb._vi. 23, &c.] | Nee’m, er-y-fa shen, dy shickyr kiarail, myr ta mee dy bragh treishteil son bannaght ’sy theihl shoh, na son maynrys ’sy nah heihl, nee’m cooinaghtyn er laa yn chiarn dy reayl yh dy casheric. H’em gys thie Yee, as go’ym rish yn neu-feeuid aym-pene, as y vieys echeysyn ta erskyn-earroo. H’em kione-enish Jee lesh my chree chammah as lesh my challin. Go’ym rish my pheccaghyn gys Jee, as nee’m treishteil son my ayrn ayns y phardoon ta er ny ockley magh liorish yn Saggyrt echeysyn ayns yn ennym echeysyn. Eaisht-ym dy jeean rish e Ghoo, as jir-ym Amen veih my chree gys ny bannaghtyn as ny grayseyn ayns shen er nyn yeearree: As go’ym, lesh yn arrym smoo bannaght crauee Saggyrt Yee er y cheshaght ec jerrey yn chirveish; er-yn-oyr dy vel gialdyn shickyr Yee hene aym, dy jed yn [59] bannaght echeysyn lesh yn bannaght ta er ny ockley magh liorish yn Saggyrt echey. [Earroo vi. 23, &c.] | |
| I will then return home, and consider seriously what I have heard, and then I will lay all my own particular wants before the throne of grace. I will consider, that it is God's own day; that it is the day of giving pardon to sinners; of giving grace to the humble; of giving comfort to the afflicted; of giving strength to the weak; of giving blessings to all that call upon him in sincerity. | H’em roym eisht dy valley, as smooin-ym dy dowin er ny ta mee er chlashtyn, as eisht soie-ym ooilley my ymmyrch hene kiongoyrt rish stoyl-reeoil y ghrayse. Cha jarrood-ym dy nee laa Yee hene yh; dy nee laa yh dy phardooney peccee; dy choyrt grayse da ny ’imlee; dy choyrt gerjagh dauesyn t’ayns seaghyn; dy choyrt niart da ny ’annooinee; dy choyrt bannaghtyn dauesyn ooilley ta geamagh er ayns ynrickys. | |
| And lastly, I will pray God to deliver me from all those ways by which this good day is generally profaned. Nor will I spend that time in idleness, in sloth, in trifling, with a careless indifference, which is consecrated to the honour of God, and designed to prepare me for an eternal rest hereafter. | As, er-jerrey, go’ym padjer gys Jee dy livrey mee voish ooilley ny aghtyn shen, lioroo ta’n laa mie shoh son y chooid smoo er ny vrishey. Chamoo nee’m ceau yn traa shen ayns lhitcheragh, ayns lhiastyd, mysh nheeghyn fardaalagh, mysh meerioose anmey, ta er ny chasherickey son ooashley Yee, as kiarit dy yannoo mee cooie cour beayntys vannee feih-yerrey.” | |
| Make such resolutions as these, when you hear this duty recommended and explained; and depend upon God for his blessing upon them. | Kiare-jee riu hene er yn aght shoh, tra ta shiu clashtyn yn currym shoh er ny chur rhimbiu as er ny hoilshaghey diu; as cur-jee nyn dreishteil er Jee son e vannaght orroo. | |
| [19] When one considers what steps people take from one sin to another, till they become very often both hardened and reprobate; one must conclude, that such people never seriously attended to what the sacred scriptures have told us concerning the deceitfulness of sin: “That if men will not retain God in their knowledge, God will give them up to a mind void of judgment; to work all iniquity with greediness.” | Tra ta fer smooinaght rish hene, kys ta sleih goll er nyn doshiaght veih pecca gys pecca, derrey t’ad dy mennic cheet gys creoghys-cree as cailjey-ghrayse; sheign da [60] peiagh smooinaghtyn, nagh ren rieau nyn lheid geill y choyrt da shen ta ny Scriptyryn casheric er n’insh dooin mychione molteyrys phecca. “Mannagh jean sleih freayl Jee ayns nyn dushtey, nee Jee ad y livrey seose gys aigney gyn-thort; dy obbraghey dy chooilley vee-chraueeaght dy jollyssagh.” | |
| That this has been the case of an infinite number of people, who have fallen into crimes and courses, which once in their lives they abhorred the thoughts of: That the most profligate sinners did once hate those vices they now are so fond of; and were afraid of that God, whose threats and judgments they now never mind, or fear: That most people, before they were corrupted, did blush, and start, and were ashamed of doing a base, or an unworthy thing, which now never disturbs them: That when men have once lost the fear of God, they will do what pleaseth themselves, though all the world sees their folly, and what their end will be: And that there is no wickedness which can be named, which such people have not at last fallen into. We have very many scripture examples which confirm this truth. | Dy vel shoh er ve stayd ymmodee dy leih ta er duittym ayns loghtyn as peccaghyn eajee, v’ad keayrt jeh nyn mea as dwoaie oc eer dy smooinaghtyn orroo: Dy dug ny peccee s’dewilley keayrt dy row feoh da ny peccaghyn shen t’ad nish sluit orroo; as dy row ad ayns aggle roish yn Jee shen, ny baggyrtyn as ny briwnyssyn echey t’ad nish soiaghey cha beg jeu, gyn aggle orroo: Dy jinnagh yn bunnys dy leih, roish nyn shaghrynys, jiargaghey ’syn eddin, as ve er-creau, as veagh nearey orroo dy yannoo nhee erbee scammyltagh na mee-lowal, nagh vel nish cur veg yn anvea daue: As keayrt dy vel sleih er choayl aggle Yee, nee ad jannoo myr sailloo hene, ga dy vel ooilley yn seihl fakin nyn ommijys, as cre s’erree daue: As nagh vod shiu ennym y choyrt er yn vee-chraueeaght nagh vel nyn lheid ec y jerrey er duittym ayn. Ta lane samplereyn veih’n scriptyr ain, dy phrowal yn chooish shoh. | |
| A Prince, beloved of God, but giving way to his lusts, first corrupts the wife, and then murders her husband. His son, by the same steps, falling into gross and senseless idolatry. | Ree dy row, va ennoil ec Jee, agh cur raad da e haynt-foalley, hayrn eh hoshiaght ben-phoose [sic: ben-phoosee] dy row gys brishey-poosey, as [61] eisht ren eh dunverys er y sheshey eck. Yn mac echey, neesht, liorish ny aghtyn cheddin, tuittym ayns y pheccah eajee as mee-cheeaylagh dy yalloonys. | |
| Another great man asking the prophet “Am I a dog, to do such things as you say I shall one day come to do?” Which yet he afterwards did without scruple. | Ard dooinney-ooasle elley fenaghtyn jeh’n Phadeyr “Nee moddey mee, mee dy yannoo lheid ny reddyn as t’ou gra nee’m laa ennagh y yannoo?” Cooid ren eh feih-yerrey fegooish guin chooinsheanse. | |
| By these instances you should be convinced, that neither the greatest wisdom, nor the best education, nor the greatest favours of God, nor the good opinion we may have of our own sense and resolutions, can secure us, when once we give way to our own appetites to do what God has forbidden. | Liorish ny samplereyn shoh foddee shiu ve shickyr, nagh moo oddys yn chreenaght smoo, na’n ynsagh share, na foayryn syrjey Yee, na yn smooinaght ard oddys ve ain jeh nyn doiggal as kiarailyn mie hene, shin y reayl sauchey, keayrt dy vel shin cur raad da nyn yeearreeyn. | |
| You see a common swearer. You think little of it: You esteem it a frailty only: You do not see the end of this sin; that it leads to impiety, to perjury, to atheism, and damnation. | Ta shiu cur-my-ner yn looder cadjin. Cha vel shiu coontey monney jeh. Ta shiu jeeaghyn er ynrycan myr annoonid dy veggan scansh: agh cha vel shiu fakin cre s’erree da’n phecca shoh; dy nee yn raad mooar yh gys mee-chraueeaght, gys loo-oaiagh, gys an-yeeys, as gys coayl-anmey. | |
| You see a tipler, or a drunkard. The sin is so common you mind it not. You do not see the end of it; his family and his affairs are neglected; God and religion, and his soul, are the least of his thoughts or concern; he grows sottish and thoughtless, contracts distempers, and dies hard, or in despair. | Ta shiu fakin tipler, na meshtallagh. Ta’n pecca cha cadjin nagh vel shiu coyrt geill da. Cha vel shiu smooinaght’ cre’n jerrey hig er; ta e lught-thie as e chooid-heihlt fagit fud-y-chielley; ta Jee, yn chredjue, as e annym, yn chooid sloo jeh e smooinaghtyn na e chiarail; t’eh cheet dy ve ny floddan as [62] gyn-thort, tayrn doghanyn er hene, as geddyn baase gyn arrys, na ayns mee-hreishteil jeh myghin Yee. | |
| You see another given to lewd, filthy, or profane talk. You laugh with him, and see no harm in it. You would tremble if you could see what this leads to. He grows debauched, becomes fearless of offending God, hardened in wickedness, and infidelity, and is taken off in his sin. —This does not affect you, because you are yet alive. | Ta shiu fakin fer elley cur rish taggloo scammyltagh, feohdagh, mee-chrauee. Ta shiu gerraghtee marish, as cha vaik shiu veg y loght ayn. Veagh shiu er-creau dy akin cre gys ta shoh leeideil. T’eh gaase ny vac-imshee, gyn aggle er dy vrasnaghey Jee, creoit ayns olkys as mee-chredjue, as t’eh giarit jeh ayns e phecca. —Cha vel shoh goail greme erriuish, er-yn-oyr dy vel shiu foast bio. | |
| If people will despise the Lord's Day; neglect the ordinances; refuse to hear God's word, or to know his will; he will withdraw his graces, they will grow more careless, and, at last, professedly wicked, and ripe for judgment. | My nee sleih coontey beg jeh Laa yn Chiarn; jannoo meerioose er ny saaseyn casheric; gobbal dy chlashtyn rish Goo Yee, na dy hoiggal e aigney; nee eh goail voue e ghrayseyn, hig ad dy ve ny s’mee-chiaralee, as feih-yerrey, gys mee-chraueeaght foshlit, as appee son briwnys. | |
| You have often heard what St. Paul observes, That infidelity, the not retaining god in their knowledge, was the occasion of the vilest sins that ever were thought of. You may be assured of it, the same cause will at all times have the same dreadful effects. | Ta shiu dy mennic er chlashtyn ny ta’n Noo Paul goail tastey jeh, Dy row mee-chredjue, gyn freayl Jee ayns nyn dushtey, oyr ny peccaghyn s’eajee haink rieau ayns cree dooinney. Foddee shiu ve shickyr jeh, dy der ny un oyryn cheddin lhieu mygeayrt ec dy chooilley hraa yn un jerrey agglagh cheddin. | |
| In short, the beginning of sin is not regarded; but one evil habit certainly begets another, till men forget God; till God forsakes them, and leaves them to themselves; till they have filled up the measure of their sins; and till God sends upon them swift destruction. | Ayns fockle, cha vel geill er ny choyrt da toshiaght peccaghyn; agh ta un drogh oaish [63] tayrn marish drogh oaish elley, derrey ta sleih jarrood Jee; derrey ta Jee treigeil adsyn, as fagail ad daue hene; derrey t’ad er lhieeney seose towse nyn beccaghyn; as derrey ta Jee tayrn orroo toyrt-mouys doaltaittym. | |
| Well then —will you hear such truths as these without profiting by them? Can you possibly leave the church without coming to some such reflections and resolutions as these following?— | Well eisht; —jean shiu clashtyn lheid ny goan shoh, as gyn ve ny share lioroo? Vod shiu fagail y cheeill fegooish cheet gys lheid ny smooinaghtyn as kiarailyn roo shoh?— | |
| [20] I see plainly, that human nature is the same, and extremely corrupt in all men: That without the grace of God we can do no good thing: That if by my sins I should grieve the spirit of God, and force him to leave me to myself, I cannot foresee what I shall do; what I shall be; what doom I shall bring upon myself. I am convinced, that if I desire to avoid the greater sins, I must resolve to resist the very beginnings of sin, the very least thing that I believe will displease God; and that if I do not do so, and get once out of God's way, one sin will infallibly lead to another. “I see what blindness, what wickedness, sinners have been capable of, when once they have been left to themselves: That they could neither think, nor act, nor live, like men that had reason. I will endeavour (will every serious Christian say) I will live in the fear of God, that I may never consent to known iniquity. This is the only security against the greatest crimes: To be afraid of those judgments which he has threatened to sinners, and of those ways which he has assured us will be our ruin. I will not, therefore, go against my conscience in the least thing whatever; being throughly convinced, that I cannot take up when I please. I see the danger of continuing in any known sin; if therefore I shall be so unhappy as to fall into sin, I will follow the example of holy David—I made haste (said he) and delayed not to keep thy commandments. And I will walk humbly before God, knowing that I have nothing of my own to boast of; neither my own reason, nor my own strength, nor my best resolutions, will secure me from falling into sin, without the help of God. | “Ta mee fakin dy plain dy vel dooghys sheelnaue yn un chooid, as erskyn towse olk ayns dy chooilley ghooinney: Fegooish grayse Yee nagh vod mayd jannoo nhee erbee mie: My nee’m liorish my pheccaghyn Spyrryd Yee y heaghney, as eh y eiginaghey dy aagail mee dou hene, cha vod-ym fakin cre yinnin; cre ve’in; na cre’n kerraghey trome hayrn’in orrym-pene. Ta mee toiggal, my ta mee geearree dy hea veih ny peccaghyn smoo, dy nheign dou kiarail dy hassoo magh noi pecca ’syn eer toshiaght, as yn eer red sloo ta mee credjal ver jymmoose er Jee; as mannagh vel mee jannoo shoh, as keayrt dy gholl er-shaghryn ass raad Yee, nee un phecca gyn dooyt leeideil gys pecca elley. Ta mee fakin cre cha doal, cre cha mee-chrauee oddys peccee ve, keayrt dy vel ad fagit daue hene: Nagh voddagh ad edyr smooinaghtyn, na gymmrykey ad hene, na beaghey go’rish deiney ayns nyn geeayl. Nee’m [64] streeu gys rere my phooar (jir dy chooilley Chreestee vie) nee’m beaghey ayns aggle Yee, nagh der-ym dy bragh my aigney gys drogh obbyr erbee lesh my yoin. Shoh yn ynrycan sauchys t’aym noi ny peccaghyn s’eajee: Dy ve fo aggle roish ny briwnyssyn shen t’eh er vaggyrt er peccee, as jeh ny raaidyn shen t’eh er hickyraghey dooin vees nyn doyrt-mouys. Cha jed-ym, er-y-fa shen, noi my chooinsheanse ayns y red sloo erbee, ayns slane shickyrys nagh vod-ym troggal orrym veih tra saill-ym pene. Ta mee fakin yn danjere jeh tannaghtyn ayns pecca erbee er-fys dou; my vees yh er-y-fa shen my chronney trome dy huittym ayns pecca, nee’m geiyrt da samplere Ghavid bannee: Ren mee siyr, (as eshyn) as cha lhig mee shaghey yn traa dy reayl dty annaghyn. As nee’m gimmeeaght dy imlee fenish Jee, myr ta fys aym nagh vel veg aym lhiam pene dy voggyssagh jeh; chamoo nee my resoon hene, na my niart hene, na my chiarailyn stroshey, freayl mee veih tuittym ayns pecca fegooish cooney Yee. | |
| I have the comfort of knowing—that while I fear to offend, and sincerely desire to please God, I shall be under the protection of his good providence: He will give his holy angels charge concerning me; he will inspire me with a dread of such things as would hurt me; support me under temptations; correct me when I am going wrong; awaken my conscience; lay restraints upon my passions; and keep me from such sins as are the ruin of those that forget God. In short, the wrath of God is, in the Gospel of Christ, so plainly revealed against all that live wickedly, that all such as do so will (to make their minds easy) either repent and forsake their sins, or strive to blot the knowledge of God out of their minds, and turn infidels. For fear, therefore, of falling into that most dreadful judgment, I will resolve, by the grace of God, not to live in any known sin, lest in time I become an atheist. | Ta’n gerjagh shoh aym dy hoiggal—choud as ta mee ayns aggle dy ghrennaghey jymmoose Yee, as dy aggindagh geearree dy vooiys eh, dy bee’m fo coadey yn ard-chiarail vie echeysyn: Ver eh currym er e ainlyn casheric my mychione’s; nee eh lhieeney my chree lesh aggle roish lheid ny reddyn as [65] yinnagh assee dou; niartaghey lhiam fo miolaghyn; smaghtaghey mee tra ta mee goll er-shaghryn; meighey my chooinsheanse; freayl fo smaght my yeearreeyn; as freayl mee voish lheid ny peccaghyn as ta yn toyrt-mouys ocsyn ta jarrood Jee. Ayns fockle; ta jymmoose Yee, ayns Sushtal Chreest, cha baghtal soilshit noi ooilley ta leeideil drogh vea, dy jean ooilley lheid as ta jannoo myr shen (dy yannoo nyn aignaghyn aashagh) edyr goail arrys as treigeil nyn beccaghyn, na streeu dy gholley yn tushtey dy Yee ass nyn aignaghyn, as chyndaa dy ve mee-chredjuee. Er-aggle, er-y-fa shen, dy huittym ayns y vriwnys atchimagh shen, kiar-ym, liorish grayse Yee, gyn dy veaghey ayns peccah erbee er-fys dou, er-aggle ayns traa dy jig-ym dy ve my an-yeeagh.” | |
| These are the resolutions, or some such as these, that you should make when you hear a sermon concerning the deceitfulness of sin, and the steps sinners take to their ruin. | T’ad shoh ny kiarailyn, na paart jeh nyn lheid, lhisagh shiu y yannoo tra ta shiu clashtyn sharmane mychione molteyrys phecca, as ny aghtyn ta peccee goail gys y toyrt-mouys oc hene. | |
| Christians must never hope to escape falling into sins of every kind, who do not seriously attend to what God has made known to us concerning the nature of temptations and trials, and the way not to be hurt by them. | Cha vod Creesteenyn dy bragh jercal dy scapail tuittym ayns peccaghyn jeh dy chooilley cheint, nagh vel cur geill vie da shen ny ta Jee er hoilshaghey dooin mychione dooghys miolaghyn as prowallyn, as ny saaseyn gyn skielley y gheddyn lioroo. | |
| They are charged, as they value their souls, to watch against temptations, and to pray continually —that they may not fall into, or be overcome by them. They are assured, by the spirit of God, that the devil is perpetually seeking whom he may devour, finding them off their guard, and from under God's protection. They are put in mind of their own frailty, that they may look up to God perpetually, and depend upon his grace. They are over and over again told, that there is no condition of life but what is subject to temptations. That every man living has reason to be upon his guard against the wiles of the devil, since he had power to prevail with Judas to betray the Son of God himself —with the chief of God’s priests to accuse him most wrongfully—and with Pilate to condemn him against his conscience. They have the example of our First Parents, to convince them how weak they are, and what will be the effects of giving way to the suggestions of the [21] devil. They see, every day, Christians who have vowed to renounce the devil, the world, and the lusts of the flesh, as much led by them as the very heathens. | T’ad sarit, myr s’deyr lhieu nyn anmeenyn hene, dy reayl arrey noi miolaghyn, as [66] dy ghoail padjer dy kinjagh, nagh jean ad tuittym ayndoo, na ad dy gheddyn yn varriaght orroo. T’ad er nyn shickyraghey liorish Spyrryd Yee, dy vel yn Jouyl kinjagh shirrey quoi oddys eh y stroie, feddyn ad jeh nyn arrey, as veih fo coadey Yee. T’ad currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ny annoonidyn oc hene, dy vod ad dy kinjagh jeeaghyn seose gys Jee, as nyn marrant y choyrt er e ghrayse. T’yh inshit daue harrish as harrish, nagh vel stayd erbee dy vea nagh vel foshlit roish miolaghyn: Dy vel oyr ec dy chooilley ghooinney bio dy ve er e arrey noi kialgyn y Drogh-spyrryd, neayr as va pooar echey dy chleaynagh Yuaase dy vrah Mac Yee hene—er ard-saggyrt Yee dy chassid eh dy aggairagh, as Pilate dy gheyrey eh noi e chooinsheanse. Ta oc samplere nyn chied Shannyryn [Adam as Aue] dy choyrt slane toiggal daue cre cha annoon as t’ad, as cre vees yn eiyrtys my ver ad raad da shen ny ta’n Jouyl coyrt ayns ny smooinaghtyn oc. T’ad fakin dy chooilley laa, dy vel Creesteenyn ta er vreearrey dy hreigeil yn drogh-spyrryd, yn seihl, as yn eill, wheesh er ny leeideil lioroo as ny eer an-chreesteenyn hene. | |
| These things, one should hope, might awaken Christians, and make them fly from the wrath to come. —But, God knows, it is too often that they are never minded. | Er-lhiam, dy lhisagh ny reddyn shoh Creesteenyn y ghoostey, as cur orroo chea veih yn chorree ta ry heet. —Agh, ec Jee ta fys, ro vennic t’yh nagh vel veg y gheill currit daue. | |
| Christians hear them with indifference, they leave the church, and satan cometh immediately and taketh the word out or their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. —They meet with temptations at every turn, and are drawn away, either by their lusts, or by evil examples, and are in the direct way of ruin. | [67] Ta Creesteenyn clashtyn ad lesh beggan faunnoo, t’ad fagail y cheeill, as ta noid-ny-anmey cheet chelleeragh as goail ersooyl yn goo ass ny creeaghyn oc, er-aggle dy jinnagh ad credjal as ve er nyn sauail. T’ad meeteil rish miolaghyn ec dy chooilley hyndaa, as t’ad tayrnit ersooyl, edyr liorish nyn yeearreeyn broghe hene, na liorish drogh samplereyn, as t’ad ayns y raad mooar lhean gys toyrt-mouys. | |
| Why now, what do people come to church for; but to be put in mind of these things, that they may lay them up in their hearts; and that they may in good earnest pray —to be delivered from evil? | Camma nish, cre hon ta sleih cheet gys y cheeill, agh dy ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ny reddyn shoh, dy vod ad ad y reayl ayns nyn greeaghyn; as dy vod ad dy creeoil padjer y ghoail dy ve er nyn livrey veih olk. | |
| Let us beseech you, therefore, good Christians, when you hear such truths as these —ponder them in your hearts, and come to some resolutions about them. | Lhig dooin guee erriu, er-y-fa shen, Chreesteenyn vie, tra chlinnys shiu firrinyssyn lheid shoh—smooinee-jee orroo dy dowin ayns nyn greeaghyn, as tar-jee gys kiarailyn ennagh my-nyn-gione. | |
| Say to yourselves —I have this day been told, (what I hope I shall not forget) that I have a watchful enemy to deal with; that I have a very corrupt heart, too ready to yield to his suggestions; and that I have bad examples, too many, to lead me astray, and to my ruin. I dare not, therefore, presume upon my own strength, upon my own wisdom, or conduct; but my whole trust shall be in god. I will most earnestly beg of him not to leave me to my own choices, but to discover to me the dangers I am liable to, and that he will enable me to resist and overcome them. I have been assured, that god’s grace is sufficient, and therefore I will neither despair nor be dejected. I will never run into the temptations which, in my daily prayers, I pray God I may not be led into. I will remember the word of God,— “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Neither will I hearken unto the suggestions of the devil—but resist him, (as I am exhorted by the Apostle) and then I am assured, that he cannot get an advantage over me. I will consider, who it is that puts me upon forbidden things: That it is the same Satan who said to our Saviour—all these things will i give thee: That it is the same evil spirit, or his angels, who suggests to me—that pleasure will not hurt you —that revenge is sweet—that gain, those riches, will make you happy. | Abbyr-jee riu hene— ‟T’yh er ve inshit dou jiu (cooid ta mee treishteil nagh jarrood-ym dy bragh) dy vel noid feer dooishtagh aym dy ghellal rish; dy vel aym cree feer volteyragh, ro aarloo dy chur raad da ny drogh smooinaghtyn t’eh coyrt ayns my chree; as dy vel aym drogh hamplereyn nagh nee beggan dy leeideil mee er-shaghryn, as gys my hoyrt-mou. Cha lhoys dou, er-y-fa shen, treishteil gys my niart hene, [68] my chreenaght hene, na my cheeayl hene; agh bee my slane treishteil ayns Jee. Go’ym padjer jeean huggey nagh vaag eh mee gys my reih hene, agh dy hoilshaghey dou ny danjereyn ta roym, as dy niartee eh lhiam dy hassoo magh nyn ’oi as dy gheddyn yn varriaght harrishdoo. Ta shickyrys er ve currit dou, dy vel grayse Yee fondagh er my hon, as shen-y-fa cha jean-ym mee-hreishteil na coayl my chree. Cha jean-ym dy bragh roie ayns ny miolaghyn shen, ta mee, ayns my phadjeryn gagh-laa, guee gys Jee nagh bee’m er my leeideil ayndoo. Cooin-ym er goo Yee, “Lhig dasyn er-lesh dy vel eh shassoo shickyr, kiarail y ghoail nagh duitt eh.” Chamoo eaisht-ym rish ny drogh smooinaghtyn ta’n Jouyl coyrt ayns my chree, —agh shass-ym magh ny ’oi, (myr ta’n Ostyl coyrlagh’ mee) as eisht ta mee shickyr nagh vod eh yn varriaght y gheddyn harr-ym. —Smooin-ym rhym pene, quoi eh ta dy my ghreinnaghey gys reddyn neu-lowal: Dy nee yn un noid-anmey cheddin eh dooyrt rish nyn Saualtagh, Ooilley ny reddyn shoh ver-yms dhyt: Dy nee yn drogh-spyrryd cheddin eh, er nonney e ainleyn, ta coyrt ayns my chree—nagh jean eunyssyn ny foalley veg yn assee dhyt; —dy vel goail cooilleen-aigney millish; —dy jean cosney as berchys jannoo oo maynrey.” | |
| It is the same spirit, that would make you believe, that there is no hurt in an idle, useless life; that there is no harm in spending your estate or your time; that they are your own, and you may do what you please with them. It is the same Satan, that tempts you to neglect the worship of God, and to think it a burthen; that persuades you. to believe, that you have time enough to repent in, and to lead a new life; and that in the mean time you may follow the desires of your own heart. Lastly, it is the same evil spirit, who, when you purpose to lead a new life, and forget your good purposes; it is the same spirit, that takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, in order to make your condition more desperate. | She yn spyrryd cheddin yinnagh erriu credjal, nagh vel skielley erbee ayns bea [69] lhitcheragh gyn fruiys; nagh vel veg yn aggair ayns jummal nyn gooid-heihlt na nyn draa; dy nee lhieu-hene ad, as dy vod shiu jannoo roo myr sailliu hene. She yn drogh spyrryd cheddin hene eh, ta miolaghey shiu dy hoiaghey beg jeh shirveish Yee, as dy yeeaghyn er myr errey; ta cur erriu credjal dy vel traa dy liooar rhimbiu dy ghoail arrys ayn, as dy leeideil bea noa; as dy vod shiu ’sy traa t’ayn geiyrt da yeearreeyn ny creeaghyn eu hene. Er-jerrey, she yn spyrryd olk cheddin t’ayn, quoi, tra ta shiu kiarail dy leeideil bea noa, as ny-yeih jarrood ny kiarailyn mie eu; she yn un spyrryd cheddin eh, ta mee gra, ta goail marish shiaght spyrrydyn elley ny’s custey na eh-hene, reih jannoo yn stayd eu ny’s treih. | |
| You will consider, therefore, what you lose by not attending to, and profiting by God's word, and by not pondering it in your heart, and by not resolving to be governed by it: That is, you are like to lose your soul. | Nee shiu goail eu-hene, er-y-fa shen, cre ta shiu dy choayl liorish nagh vel shiu cur geill da, as lhiassaghey nyn mea liorish Goo Yee; liorish gyn smooinaght er dy dowin ayns nyn greeaghyn; as son nagh vel shiu kiarail dy ve leeidit liorish: ta shen, ta shiu ayns danjere coayl-anmey. | |
| God deliver us all from such negligence and blindness; and give us grace to hear, and attend to, and remember, and profit by, his Holy Word; through Jesus Christ, &c. | Dy jean Jee shin ooilley y livrey voish lheid yn almorys as dellidys; as dy der eh dooin grayse dy chlashtyn, dy chur geill da, as dy chooinaghtyn er, as lhiassaghey nyn mea liorish yn Goo Casheric echeysyn, trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn. Huggeysyn, &c. | |
| [22] | [71] | |
| SERMON IV. | SHARMANE IV. | |
| THE TRUE WAY OF PROFITING BY SERMONS. | Yn Aght firrinagh dy gheddyn Vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn. | |
| . | ||
| luke viii. 18 | luke viii. 18. | |
| Take heed how ye hear: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. | Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn: Son quoi-erbee ta echey, dasyn vees er ny choyrt; as quoi-erbee nagh vel echey, veihsyn vees er ny ghoail eer shen hene er-lesh dy vel echey. | |
| I Have already considered these words, and this warning, of our Lord; as also the great hazard Christians run, who live under the ordinances of the gospel, and do not profit by them. | TA mee hanna er choyrt bun diu er ny goan shoh, as raue nyn Jiarn; as myrgeddin yn gaue mooar ta roish Creesteenyn, ta beaghey fo oardaghyn y Sushtal as gyn cosney vondeish erbee lioroo. | |
| If it be a great misfortune not to know the Gospel, (as most sure it is) it is a much greater, to hear and to know the truths of the Gospel, and not to mind them. It was this great sin with which the prophet Ezekiel charged the people of Israel: “This people have eyes to see; and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not.” And it was the same crime with which our Saviour so often charged the Jews, their posterity; and which was at last the cause of their destruction: “Hearing, ye hear, and will not understand.” | Myr [sic: My] t’yh ard mee-vaynrys gyn toiggal dy ve ec sleih jeh’n Sushtal, (myr son firrinys t’yh) t’yh foddey smoo, dy chlashtyn as dy hoiggal firrinyssyn y Sushtal, as gyn dy choyrt geill daue. She yn pecca mooar shoh ren yn Phadeyr Ezekiel [cab. xii. 2.] coyrt gys lieh pobble Israel: “Ta sooillyn ec yn pobble shoh dy akin, as cha vel ad cur-my-ner; ta cleayshyn oc dy chlashtyn, as [72] cha vel ad cur cleaysh.” As ve yn peccah cheddin ren nyn Saualtagh cha mennic cur gys lieh yn sliught oc, ny Hewnyn; as cooid va feih-yerrey oyr yn toyrt-mouys oc: “Clashtyn ta shiu clashtyn, as cha jean shiu toiggal.” | |
| And to such as had ears to hear, i. e. the ears of the heart, he gave the charge set down in the text, take heed how ye hear: for according to the measure of your attention, and your sincere desire to profit by what you hear, will be the measure of the grace and knowledge which God will give you. | As da lheid as va cleashyn oc dy chlashtyn, ta shen, cleayshyn y chree, hug eh yn sarey ta soit sheese ayns y text, Cur-jee twoaie kys ta shiu clashtyn. Son corrym rish y gheill ta shiu coyrt da, as yn yeearree jeean eu-hene dy gheddyn vondeish liorish ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn, shen myr vees y towse dy ghrayse as tushtey nee Jee y choyrt diu. | |
| Pursuant to this strict charge of our Lord and Saviour, I shall continue to shew you the true way of profiting by what you hear —of profiting by sermons. And be assured of it, Christians, that your salvation in a great measure depends upon your doing so. “Blessed are they,” saith our Lord, “that hear the word of God, and keep it.” [Luke xi. 28] And he assures us in another place [Luke x. 14.] that the not profiting by the word of God, will be punished more severely than the greatest crimes. | Ayns biallys da’n raue jeean shoh ta er ny choyrt liorish nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh, h’em er my hoshiaght dy hoilshaghey diu yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn—dy gheddyn vondeish liorish sharmaneyn. As, Chreesteenyn, bee-jee shickyr jeh, dy vel yn saualtys eu ayns towse mooar lhie er shen y yannoo. “Bannit ta adsyn” as nyn Jiarn, “ta clashtyn Goo Yee as freayl yh.” [Luke xi. 28.] As t’eh coyrt shickyrys dooin ayns ynnyd elley, [Luke x. 14.] dy bee adsyn nagh vel geddyn vondeish-anmey liorish Goo Yee, er nyn gerraghey ny s’dewilley na cummaltee Tyre as Sidon.[27] | |
| I shall use no more words to persuade you, now, and at all times, carefully to mind what you hear from God's word, and from his ministers: but I shall proceed (as I have done before) to shew you how you may profit by some of the most important subjects which you will hear very often pressed upon you. | Cha lhiass lane goan dy choyrlaghey shiu, nish, as ec dy chooilley hraa, dy imneagh dy [73] chur geill da ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn veih Goo Yee, as veih e Hirveishee: agh nee’m (myr ta mee er n’yannoo roie) soilshaghey diu kys oddys shiu vondeish-anmey y gheddyn liorish paart jeh ny cur’myn smoo as syrjey, nee shiu dy mennic clashtyn chionnit erriu. | |
| For instance: there are no subjects which Christians are more concerned to understand, and lay to heart, than those which are called the four last things, namely, Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. Death is not to be avoided—the time uncertain; the Judgment which must follow, will be without appeal; and the sentence will send us either to Heaven or Hell. | Son mac-soyley: cha vel ynsaghyn erbee smoo ta lhie er Creesteenyn dy hoiggal, as dy ghoail gys cree, na ad shen ta enmyssit ny kiare reddyn s’jerree, ta shen, Baase, Briwnys, Niau, as Niurin. Yn Baase cha vod shiu cosney voish, —yn traa neu-hickyr; Bee yn Vriwnys sheign cheet jeiy shen fegooish peal, as ver yn vriwnys cheddin shin edyr gys Niau na Niurin. | |
| [23] Will you, good Christians, hear these subjects at any time explained, and pressed upon you, without laying them to heart? God forbid. Every man that wishes well to his own soul, will (when he hears these things) argue and resolve with himself after some such way as this:— | Jean shiuish, Chreesteenyn vie, clashtyn ny banglaneyn shoh jeh nyn gredjue ec traa erbee dy jeean soit rhimbiu, as chionnit erriu, as gyn shiu dy ghoail gys cree ad? Na lhig y Jee. Nee dy chooilley ghooinney ta bwishal dy mie da e annym hene (tra t’eh clashtyn ny reddyn shoh) resooney as kiarail rish hene lurg aght ennagh myr shoh:— | |
| I have this day been put in mind of some truths, which I have not considered so well as I should have done, —that the sentence of Death is already passed upon me, and that God only knows when that sentence will be put in execution. That whenever it is put in execution, the moment I die, my fate is determined for ever. That I must not say, when I die there will be an end of me. So far from that, that then will begin my happiness or misery. And lastly, that God may be provoked to shorten my days, when he sees that I am like to make no good use of them: it was so done by the unfruitful tree: “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground.” How very serious should this make me, and all that hear and believe these things? | “Ta mee jiu er ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ard-firrinyssyn nagh vel mee wheesh er ghoail gys my chree as lhisin,—dy vel briwnys y Vaase hanna er n’immeeaght orrym, as dy nee ec Jee ynrycan ta fys cuin vees yn vriwnys shoh er ny choyrt ayns bree. As cre-[74]erbee yn traa t’yh er ny choyrt ayns bree, yn shallid ta mee geddyn vaaish ta my chronney shickyrit son dy bagh [sic: bragh]. Nagh jean mie dou gra, tra yioym baase bee jerrey orrym. Choud voish shen, dy nee shen y traa nee my hreihys na my vaynrys goail toshiaght. As er-jerrey, dy vod Jee ve er ny vrasnaghey dy yannoo giare my laghyn, tra t’eh fakin nagh vel mee laik dy yannoo ymmyd vie erbee jeu: shen myr ve jeant rish yn billey neu-vessoil: “Lhieg sheese yh; cre’n-fa t’yh goail seose room hallooin.” Kys lhisagh shoh cur orryms, as er ooilley ny ta clashtyn ny reddyn shoh smooinaghtyn dy dowin orrin hene! | |
| For my own part, (will every serious Christian say to himself) I will, by the grace of God, be no longer deaf to this call, nor flatter myself, that my time, my repentance, my salvation, will be always in my own power. I will consider, as I have been exhorted to do, what I was sent into the world for: —That I am upon my trial; and that as I behave myself well or ill here, I shall be happy or miserable when I die. That if my corrupt nature be not changed for the better, before I leave this world, I must never hope to go to Heaven. I will not forget what I have been put in mind of: What a dreadful thing it will be, if I should be surprized by death, while I am leading a careless, a useless, or a sinful life; before I have done any good in my generation; and when I have nothing to look back on, but what must render me altogether unworthy of mercy. | “Er my hon hene,” (jir dy chooilley Chreestee vie rish hene) “cha bee’m, liorish grayse Yee, ny sodjey bouyr da’n eam shoh, na molteyrys y yannoo orrym-pene dy bee my hraa, my arrys, as my haualtys dy kinjagh ayns my phooar hene. Nee’m goail aym pene, myr ta mee er ve coyrlit dy yannoo, cre hon va mee er my choyrt gys y theihl: —Dy vel mee nish er my hrial; as rere myr ta mee gymmyrkey mee-hene dy mie na dy sie ayns shoh, dy bee’m maynrey na treih tra yio’ym baase. Nagh nheign dou dy bragh treishteil dy gholl gys niau, mannagh bee my ghooghys peccoil er ny chaghlaa son y chooid share roish my vaag-ym yn seihl shoh. Cha jean-ym jarrood ny ta mee er ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh; cre’n red [75] agglagh vees yh, my vee’m goit doaltattym liorish yn baase, choud as ta mee leeideil bea neu-chiaralagh, neu-friusagh, na peccoil; roish my vel mee er n’yannoo veg y vie ayns my heeloghe, as choud as nagh vel veg aym dy yeeaghyn back er, agh shen nee cur orrym ve ooilley-cooidjagh neu-feeu jeh myghin. | |
| That this may not be my sad case when I come to die, I will no longer defer making my peace with God by a speedy repentance, lest my case grow every day more desperate, as most surely it will; and that I may have time to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, —the only sure sign that my repentance was sincere. | “Son nagh bee shoh yn stayd treih ayms tra hig-ym dy gheddyn baase, cha lhig-ym veg sodjey shaghey dy yannoo my hee rish Jee liorish arrys ayns traa, er-aggle dy n’aase my stayd ny s’despert [gyn treisht dy choural] gaghlaa, myr nee yh son shickyrys; as dy vod traa ve aym dy ymmyrkey magh messyn cooie dy arrys, —yn ynrycan cowrey shickyr dy row my arrys firrinagh. | |
| In the next place, that I may not be distracted with the cares of this world, when my thoughts should be upon another, I will settle my worldly concerns while I am in health, and after such a manner as no curse may cleave to any thing I shall leave behind me. In the mean time, I will endeavour to mortify all my evil and corrupt affections, and to wean my heart from the love of a world which I must leave so very soon. I will strive to live in peace with all the world, and every night lie down to sleep with the same charitable dispositions with which I desire and hope to die. I will endeavour to secure an interest in the mercy of God, at the hour of death, by acts of justice, mercy, and charity, while I live. I will, as I have been exhorted to do, endeavour always to be found in the way of my duty, that when my Lord comes, he may find me so doing, and that I may hear those comfortable words; Well done, good and faithful servant. I will endeavour in the mean time, to be pleased with all God's choices, that when sickness and death approach, it may be no new thing to me to submit my will to the will of God. I will consider sickness, and all those afflictions which lead to death, as ordered by a gracious God and Father. And that they must be the effect of his mercy, who cannot take delight in the miseries of his creatures; and who could take us out of the world without the least notice, were it for his glory and for our good. | ’Sy nah ynnyd, son nagh bee’m boirit lesh kiarailyn yn seihl shoh, tra lhisagh my smooinaghtyn ’ve er seihl elley, nee’m reaghey my chooishyn seihltagh, choud’s ta mee ayns slaynt, as er lheid yn aght shen as as [sic. repetition] nagh jean mollaght erbee lhiantyn gys nhee erbee aag-ym my yeih. ’Sy traa t’ayn nee’m my chooid share dy chur mou ooilley yeearreeyn olk my ghooghys peccoil; as dy harbaa my chree veih graih er seihl sheign dou cha gerrit fagail. Nee’m streeu dy veaghey ayns shee rish ooilley yn seihl, as dy chooilley oie lhie sheese dy chadley lesh yn aigney giastyllagh cheddin ayn ta mee geearree as treishteil dy gheddyn baase. Nee’m [76] my chooid share dy gheddyn ayrn ayns myghin Yee, ec oor y vaaish, liorish obbraghyn dy chairys, myghin, as giastyllys, choud’s bio mee. Nee’m, myr ta mee er ve coyrlit, dy kinjagh streeu dy ve er my gheddyn ayns raaidyn my churrym, tra hig my Hiarn, dy vod eh mee y gheddyn jannoo myr shen, as dy vod-ym clashtyn ny goan gerjoilagh shen, S’mie t’ou er n’yannoo harvaant vie as firrinagh! Nee’m my phaart ’sy traa t’ayn, dy ve booiagh lesh ooilley ny ver Jee orrym, tra ta chingys ny baase tayrn er-gerrey, nagh bee yh red erbee joarree dou dy injillaghey my aigney hene gys aigney mie Yee. Nee’m goail chingys, as ooilley ny seaghyn shen ta leeideil gys y vaase, myr pointit liorish Jee as Ayr graysoil. As dy nheign daue shoh cheet jeh’n vyghin echeysyn, nagh vod goail taitnys ayns treihys e chretooryn; as oddagh shin y ghoail ass y theihl fegooish yn raue sloo, dy beagh yh son yn ghloyr echey hene as yn foays ainyn. | |
| Lastly, I will (as I have been taught) consider death as a righteous sentence of God passed upon all men for sin, and which he will graciously accept as a sacrifice, in union with that of Jesus Christ, for all the sins which we have truly repented of. [24] Such a preparation for death as this, I am convinced, will free me from the fear of death, and from all other fears which are worse than death. | “Er-jerrey, Nee’m (myr ta mee er ny ve ynsit) jeeaghyn er y Vaase myr briwnys cairal Yee er sheelnaue son pecca, as cooid nee eh dy graysoil jannoo soiaghey jeh myr oural, trooid toilchinys as lhiassaghey Yeesey Creest, son ooilley ny peccaghyn ta shin er ghoail arrys firrinagh er nyn son. Mee dy ghoail lheid y chiarail shoh cour y vaase, nee ta mee shickyr jeh, mish y reayl veih aggle y [77] vaaish, as veih dy chooilley aggle elley ta ny smessey na’n baase. | |
| The sting of death is sin; it is this which makes death frightful. If I can have any reasonable assurance, that my sins will be forgiven, my death will then be a passage only to a much better world; and, if it has not been my own fault, I may say with, St. Paul, to me to die is gain. | “Gah yn vaaish she peccah yh; shoh ta cur er y vaase dy ve cha atchimagh. My oddys shickyrys resoonagh erbee y ve aym dy bee my pheccaghyn er nyn leih dou, eisht cha bee my vaase agh ynrycan raad gys seihl foddey share; as, mannagh vel yh er ve my oill hene, fod-ym gra marish y Noo Paul, dooys dy gheddyn baase t’yh cosney.” | |
| These are the truths which every Christian should remember; these the resolutions he should make, whenever he hears a discourse of Death, in order to the making his peace with God; that his death may be a blessing to him, and that he may find mercy at the great day of judgment. | T’ad shoh ny firrinyssyn lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee freayl ayns cooinaghtyn; ad shoh ny kiarailyn lhisagh eh jannoo, traa erbee dy vel eh clashtyn sharmane mychione Baase, reih jannoo e hee rish Jee; dy vod eh [sic: e] vaase ve bannaght da, as dy vod eh myghin y gheddyn ec laa mooar ny briwnys. | |
| That is another article of a Christian man's faith, which you will often hear recommended to you from the pulpit, and from the word of God, as a subject of the greatest concern to you. | Shen banglane elley jeh credjue dooinney Creestee nee shiu dy mennic clashtyn soit magh reaue veih’n phulpit, as veih Goo Yee, myr cooish jeh’n ymmyd smoo diu. | |
| For the love, therefore, that you have for your own souls, do not read or hear of the day of judgment, without resolving to profit by it. Let every man think, and argue, and resolve thus with himself:— | Shen-y-fa, er y ghraih t’eu er nyn anmeenyn hene, nagh jean-jee lhaih na clashtyn jeh laa ny briwnys, fegooish kiarail dy ve ny share liorish. Lhig da dy chooilley ghooinney smooinaghtyn, as resooney, as kiarail myr shoh rish hene:— | |
| If the bitterness of death were over when our heads are laid in the grave, it would then be no great matter how we live, or how we die; but when God has expressly told us, “That he has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness” [Acts xvii. 31.] And that he has given the world notice and assurance of this, by his raising of his son Jesus Christ from the dead; this makes it a matter of concern, indeed, how we spend our lives. “He will judge the world in righteousness;” that is, “He will render to every man according to his works done in the body, whether they have been good or evil.” | “Dy beagh sherriuid y vaaish harrish tra ta nyn giyng [sic: ging] lhie dy injil ayns yn oaie, cha [78] beagh eisht scansh vooar jeh, kys ta shin leeideil nyn mea, na kys ta shin geddyn vaaish; agh fakin dy vel Jee er n’insh dooin dy foshlit, “Dy vel eh er phointeil laa ayn nee eh briwnys yn seihl ayns cairys;” [Jannoo xvii. 31.] As dy vel eh er choyrt da’n seihl raue as shickyrys jeh shoh, liorish troggal e Vac Yeesey Creest veih ny merriu; ta shoh jannoo yh cooish dy scansh vooar, dy jarroo, kys ta shin leeideil nyn mea. — “Nee eh briwnys yn seihl ayns cairys;” ta shen, “Nee eh cooilleeney da dy chooilley ghooinney cordail rish e obbraghyn jeant ’sy challin, edyr ad er ve mie na sie.” | |
| How often, (ought every Christian to say with concern) how often have I heard this without thinking how to prepare for that great day, and the account I am then to make? I see what great reason the church had to put that prayer into my mouth, In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, good Lord deliver me. And I see too what reason I have never to repeat that prayer but with the greatest zeal and devotion, that I may find mercy at that day. | “Cre cha mennic (lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee gra lesh imnea) “cre cha mennic as ta mish er chlashtyn shoh fegooish smooinaghtyn kys dy yannoo mee-hene aarloo cour yn laa mooar shen, as yn coontey ta orrym eisht dy chur stiagh! Ta mee fakin cre’n oyr vooar v’ec yn Agglish dy choyrt yn phadjer shen ayns my veeal, Ayns oor y vaaish, as ayns laa ny briwnys, Hiarn vie livrey mee. As ta mee fakin neesht cre’n oyr t’aym gyn dy bragh dy ghoail yn phadjer shen fegooish yn jeeanid as yn chraueeaght smoo, dy vod-ym myghin y gheddyn er y laa shen. | |
| But then (as I hope for mercy at that day) I must think of it, and prepare for it; and order my life according to that law by which I am then to be judged, acquitted, or condemned. In order to this, I see I must (as I have been exhorted to do) not suffer myself to lose the sight of that great day, either by business, pleasures, or diversions. But my great concern must be, (will every serious Christian say to himself) my care must be, to govern my life and actions with an eye to the account I must then give, and the judgment that must follow. My care must now be to judge myself, that I may not be condemned of the Lord. And the way I have been directed is this—never to stifle or silence my conscience, but let it pass a righteous sentence upon every thing I do, or undertake. And to ask myself, upon every occasion, some such questions as these: | Agh eisht (myr ta mee treishteil son myghin er y laa shen) sheign dou smooinaghtyn er, as kiarail ny chour; as goardrail [79] my vea cordail rish yn leigh shen liorish ta mee ec y traa shen dy ve er my vriwnys, er my heyrey, na er my gheyrey. Cour shoh, ta mee fakin nagh nheign dou (myr ta mee er ve coyrlit) surranse dou hene dy choayl shilley jeh’n laa mooar shen, edyr trooid kiarail seihltagh, eunyssyn y vea shoh, na fardail erbee: Agh sheign da ve my ard chiarail (jir dy chooilley Chreestee vie rish hene) sheign da ve my chiarail dy ghorneill my vea as my yannoo lesh sooill gys y choontey sheign dooys ec y traa shen y choyrt, as yn vriwnys sheign cheet ny lurg. Sheign da ve my chiarail dy vriwnys mee-hene nish, nagh bee’m er my vriwnys liorish y Chiarn. As yn aght ta er ny ve currit roym she shoh yh—gyn dy bragh dy phlooghey, na dy choyrt my chooinsheanse my host, agh dy lhiggey jee dy yannoo briwnys cairal er ooilley my obbraghyn, na er cre-erbee ta mee dy ghoail ayns laue; as dy chur hym pene ayns dy chooilley chooish lheid ny queshtionyn shoh: | |
| What account shall I give to my great Judge, for this idle, useless life I now lead? What account can I give for the estate his providence has put into my hands? What use have I made of the talents he has intrusted me with? — of the authority he has given me, in order to promote his honour and the good of my fellow-creatures? —of the riches he has given me, that I may be able to relieve the necessities of such as are in want? —of the knowledge he has vouchsafed me, that I may be able to instruct the ignorant? All these I must then account for, as sure as I now live; though I am accountable to nobody now, and though I think not of the account I am to give. Will not this forbidden pleasure—this unrighteous gain, which I have set my heart upon, —will it not one day rise up in judgment against me? How shall [25] I be able to answer for this trouble, this wrong, this hardship, this unjust vexation, I am going to give my neighbour? I have it in the power of my hand to do what I please. Be it so. But what advantage will that be to me, when I shall have to do with an Almighty God, who has declared, that mighty men shall be mightily tormented. I have now no fear upon my spirits. Well; but remember that a day is coming, when the stoutest, the stubbornest heart upon earth will tremble. | “Cre’n coontey ver-yms da my ard Vriw, son yn vea lhiastey, gyn ymmyd shoh ta mee nish dy leeideil? Cre’n coontey oddym’s coyrt son y chooid-heihlt ta’n ard-chiaralys echeysyn er choyrt fo my laueyn? Cre’n ymmyd ta mee er n’yannoo jeh ny talentyn t’eh er hreishteil orrym; —jeh’n phooar heihlt t’eh er choyrt dou dy chur er y hoshiaght yn ooashley echey hene, as foays my heshaghyn [80] cretoor; —jeh’n verchys t’eh er stowal orrym son jannoo feaysley er ny ymmyrchee; —jeh’n tushtey s’cooidsave lesh dy choyrt dou cour gynsaghey ny mee-hushtee? Er nyn son shoh ooilley sheign dou ec y traa shen coontey y choyrt, cha shickyr as ta mee nish bio; ga nagh vel orrym dy chur coontey da peiagh erbee nish, as ga nagh vel smooinaghtyn er yn choontey ta orrym dy choyrt. Nagh jean yn eunys mee-lowit shoh, —yn cosney mee-chairal shoh ta mee er hoiagh my chree er, —nagh jean yh un laa girree seose ayns briwnys my ’oi? Kys oddym gansoor son yn seaghyn shoh, yn aggair shoh, yn chreoghys shoh, yn chrosh aggairagh shoh, ta mee goll dy choyrt er my naboo? T’yh nish ayns pooar my laue dy yannoo ny saill-ym. Abbyr dy vel. Agh cre’n vondeish vees shoh dou, tra vees aym dy ghellal rish Jee Ooilley-niartal, ta er vockley magh “Dy bee tranlaasee dy dewil er nyn dorchaghey?” Cha vel veg yn aggle nish er my annym. Abbyr nagh vel; ny-yeih cooinee, dy vel laa ry-heet, tra vees yn cree syrjey as s’roonee er y thalloo er-creau. | |
| What folly, what madness, must it be to provoke Him, by my ungodly deeds, who is to be my judge, to acquit or condemn me? | “Cre’n ommijys, cre’n vee-cheeaylid, sheign da ve dy chur corree Er’syn liorish my obbraghyn mee-chrauee, eh ta dy ve my Vriw, dy heyrey na dy gheyrey mee!” | |
| Let that man, who does now blaspheme the name of the great God, but think with him self—How shall I stand before him in judgment? I will bring you off, —I will gain your cause, —saith a skilful lawyer: But can you bring me off, if my cause be unjust, when I shall stand before the great Judge of the world? | Lhig da’n dooinney shen ta nish goltooaney ennym yn Jee Mooar, agh smooinaghtyn [81] rish hene—kys oddyms shasoo roishyn ayns briwnys? Ver-yms lhiam trooid oo,— Cosn’ym dty chooish, —jir yn leighder cooishagh: Agh vod oo cur lhiat trooid mee my ta my chooish neu-yeeragh, tra nee’m shassoo fenish Briw smoo ard yn seihl? | |
| A man may say to himself—this is a poor, ignorant, friendless, person I have to deal with; I can deal with him as I please. But hold a little, and consider— Can you deal as you please with Him, who has declared himself to be “the helper of the friendless; the avenger of the fatherless and the widow?” | Foddee dooinney gra rish hene—t’eh shoh ny ghooinney donney, er beggan tushtey, gyn caarjyn t’aym dy ghellal rish; fod-ym jannoo rish myr saill-ym. Agh furree ort, as smooinee—vod oo dellal myr sailt Rishyn ta er vockley magh eh-hene dy ve “ny charrey dasyn ta gyn caarjyn; cooilleeneyder yn chloan gyn ayr as y ven-treoghe.” | |
| Well, says another thoughtless man to himself, nobody knows, nor shall know, this that I am going about. Alas! you conclude too hastily: Does not he know it, “to whose eyes all things are naked and open,” and who has declared, that “he will bring every the most secret thing into judgment?” | Well, jir dooinney mee-cheeayllagh elley rish hene —“ta shoh ny ta mee kiarail dy yannoo gyn-yss, as bee yh gyn-yss da dy chooilley pheiagh.” Aless! t’ou goll er ro-hiyragh: Vel yh gyn-yss dasyn “ta dy chooilley nhee rooisht as foshlit gys ny sooillyn echey,” as ta er vockley magh dy “der eh lesh dy chooilley nhee smoo follit ta gys briwnys.” | |
| Why (will every thoughtful Christian argue with himself,) why should I spend my whole life in that which will not profit me in the day of judgment? It will not then be asked, whether I was rich, or poor; but how I bore my poor condition, or what use I made of my riches? | Cre hon (nee dy chooilley Chreestee resoonagh gra rish hene) cre hon vaar’in my slane bea er shen nagh bee gys faunnoo dou er laa ny briwnys? Cha bee briaght jeant ec y traa shen, nee berchagh na boght va mee; agh kys ren mee gymmyrkey my stayd injil, na cre’n ymmyd ren mee jeh my verchys? | |
| We are told, by our Judge himself, what questions will be asked at that day. And will it not be the highest wisdom for every man to ask himself those questions now, that he may know what answers to make? | [82] T’yh inshit dooin liorish nyn Mriw eh-hene, cre’n briaght vees jeant er y laa shen. As nagh bee yh ardc-hreenaght [sic: ard-chreenaght] dy chooilley ghooinney dy eannaghtyn jeh hene ny queshtionyn shoh nish, dy vod fys ’ve echey cre ny ansooryn dy chur stiagh. | |
| For instance: Let me ask myself, Have I been merciful to poor and needy people, and to such as were destitute of help and comfort? If you have not, it concerns you, above all things, to consider how you will be able to bear that doom which will then be passed by your Judge: “Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, —for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; naked, and ye clothed me not.” [Matt. 25] | Son co-soyley: Lhig dou fenaghtyn jee’m pene, Vel mee er ve myghinagh da ny boghtyn as ny ymmyrchee, as da nyn lheid as va fegooish cooney as gerjagh? Mannagh vel oo, t’yh lhie ort, erskyn dy chooilley nhee dy ghoail smooinaghtyn dowin kys oddys oo shassoo fo’n vriwnys shen vees eisht er ny chur ort liorish dty Vriw: “Reaue shiu shiuish sliught mollaghtee, gys yn aile dy bragh farraghtyn, —son va mish accryssagh, as cha dug shiu beaghey dou; rooisht, as cha dug shiu coamrey dou.” [Mian xxv.] | |
| And if this is to be the sad sentence which shall be passed upon the hard-hearted and uncharitable at the great day, what must the oppressor expect? What have they to fear, who waste their estates in riotous living, in pride and vanity, while so many are in want even of the necessaries of life? What will they have to say for themselves, who have done nothing towards their salvation? Why: they will be in the sad condition of that man “who had not on him a wedding garment: They will stand speechless.” Their sin and their conscience will stop their mouth. | As my she shoh yn vriwnys trome-agglagh vees er ny ockley magh noi yn creoi-chreeagh as y neu-ghiastyllagh er y laa mooar shen, cre’n erree hig er y tranlaasagh? S’mooar yn oyr aggle t’ocsyn ta stroie nyn dhalloo as nyn dhieyn ayns beaghey rouanagh, ayns moyrn as fardalys, choud as ta whilleen laccal eer cooid femoil y vea? Cre’n leshtal ver adsyn stiagh ass nyn lieh-hene, nagh vel ad er n’yannoo veg cour nyn saualtys? Camma: bee ad ayns stayd treih yn dooinney shen “nagh row er yn garmad-poosee:” Nee ad shassoo nyn dhost: Nee [83] nyn becca as nyn gooinsheanse dooney nyn meeal. | |
| Such as these will be, or ought to be, the meditations of every serious Christian, when he hears a discourse concerning a future judgment, or when he hears that great day mentioned in Sacred Scripture. | Lheid oc shoh, vees, na lhisagh ve smooinaghtyn dy chooilley Chreestee sheelt, tra t’eh clashtyn sharmane mychione briwnys ry-heet, na tra t’eh clashtyn imraa jeant er y laa mooar shen ayns y Scriptyr Casheric. | |
| The consequence of that judgment, is another of those subjects which Christians should never forget. It is not I, but your Lord and Judge, who tells you what will follow the judgment of the great day. [John v. 28, 29.] “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” | Eiyrtys yn vriwnys shen cooish elley nagh lhisagh dy bragh ve jarroodit liorish Creesteenyn. Cha nee Mish, agh nyn Jiarn as Briw eh-hene, ta ginsh diu cre vees eiyrtys yn laa mooar shen. [Ean v. 28, 29.] “Ta’n oor cheet tra chlinnys ooilley ny t’ayns ny oaiaghyn e choraa, as hig ad magh; adsyn t’er n’yannoo dy mie, gys irree-seose-reesht y vea; as adsyn t’er n’yannoo dy olk, gys irree-seose-reesht y choayl-anmey.” | |
| You hear, good Christians, how nearly we are all concerned in this revelation of the different portions of good and bad men in the next world. My purpose is, to shew you the true way of profiting by what you shall at any time hear upon these subjects. | Ta shiu clashtyn, Chreesteenyn vie, cre cha faggys t’yh bentyn rooin ooilley dy smooinaghtyn dy dowin er ny ta Goo Yee soilshaghey mychione cronney deiney mie as sie ayns y nah heihl. My chiarail yh, dy hoilshaghey diu yn aght firrinagh dy gheddyn vondeish liorish shen nee shiu ec traa erbee clashtyn mychione ny cooishyn shoh. | |
| [26] For example: When you hear the description of hell, and the fearful punishment of impenitent sinners, that “they will be sent to a place of torment,” [Luke xvi. 28] “that they must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire,” [Jude 7.] “that their worm never dieth,” [Mark ix. 44.] “that they are to be tormented for ever and ever; and that they shall seek death, but shall not find it.” [Rev. xx. 10.] —When you hear these amazing truths, do not strive to forget them; do not go about to question them, for they are the declarations of God himself; and they are revealed to us, as the strongest motives to repentance and an holy life, and that we may never come into that place of torment. They are designed to restrain sinners from ruining themselves, and will be found true, whether they believe, whether they think of them, whether they fear them, or not. “Wo unto you that laugh now,” says our Lord, i. e. that strive to divert the thoughts of the wrath to come, “for ye shall mourn and weep.” | Son mac-soyley: —Tra ta shiu clashtyn yh inshit diu mychione niurin, as kerraghey agglagh peccee mee-arryssagh, dy “bee ad [84] currit gys ynnyd dy horchagh,” [Luke xvi. 28.] “dy nheign daue surranse kerraghey yn aile dy bragh farraghtyn;” [Jude 7.] “nagh vou yn veishteig oc” [nyn gooinsheanse foiljagh] “dy bragh baase,” [Mark ix. 44.] “dy vel ad dy ve fo torchagh son dy bragh as dy bragh; as dy jean ad geearree baase, as nagh vou ad yh.” [Ashlish xx. 10.] Tra chlinnys shiu yn firrinys atchimagh shoh, nagh streeu-jee dy yarrood yh; na wheesh as dy ve ayns dooyt jeh, son t’yh er ny hoilshaghey liorish Jee hene; as t’yh er ny insh dooin, myr ny oyryn stroshey gys arrys as bea chrauee, as son nagh jig mayd dy bragh gys yn ynnyd shen dy horchagh. T’ad kiarit dy reayl peccee veih criu ad hene, as bee ad er nyn gheddyn firrinagh, edyr ad dy chredjal ad, edyr ad dy smooinaghtyn orroo, edyr ad dy ve ayns aggle roue na gyn ve. “Smerg diuish ta gerraghtee nish,” ta nyn Jiarn gra, (ta shen, ta streeu dy chur shaghey ny smooinaghtyn er y jymmoose ta ry-heet) “son nee shiu dobberan as keayney.” | |
| I will therefore, (will every Christian of sense and sobriety say) I will abhor and avoid, as I would the devil himself, the company and conversation of those reprobate men, who make a jest of sin, of hell, and of eternal torments. If it is uneasy to me, and I tremble when I but think of these things, let me consider the most deplorable condition of those lost souls, who now feel those torments, and who would not be persuaded to think of, and to fear them, when it was in their power, through the grace of God, to escape them. | “Nee’m er-y-fa shen, (jir dy chooilley Chreestee creeney as sheelt) “nee’m cur feoh da as nee’m chea veih, myr yinnin veih yn Jouyl hene, sheshaght as glare ny deiney-cailjey shen, ta jannoo craid jeh pecca, jeh niurin, as torchaghyn dy bragh farraghtyn. My t’yh pian da my chree, as mee er-creau tra nagh vel mee agh smooinaghtyn er ny [85] reddyn shoh, lhig dou goail aym-pene stayd treih ny anmeenyn cailjey shen, ta nish fo ny torchaghyn shen, as nagh beagh coyrlit dy smooinaghtyn orroo, na dy ghoail aggle roue, choud as ve ayns nyn booar, trooid grayse Yee, dy scapail ad.” | |
| But then you will remember, that it is not enough to fear, unless your fears have this good effect, to make you fear to offend Him, who can destroy both body and soul in that hell which you tremble to think of. And re member, likewise, that we need not take pains to go to that place of torment; our corrupt nature will lead us thither of course, if we do not strive, if we do not take pains, to avoid it. | Agh eisht nee shiu cooinaghtyn, nagh vel yh dy liooar dy ghoail aggle, mannagh vel yn bree mie shoh liorish nyn aggle, dy chur erriu ve agglagh roish jymmoose y choyrt Ersyn oddys stroie chammah callin as annym ayns yn niurin shen ta shiu er-creau eer dy smooinaghtyn er. As cooinee-jee, myrgeddin, nagh lhiass dooin tooilleil y ghoail dy gholl gys yn ynnyd shen dy horchagh; nee nyn ghooghys peccoil shin y leeideil gys shen jeh hene, mannagh jean mayd streeu, mannagh gow mayd lane kiarail dy haghney yh. | |
| It is for this reason, and not to fright us without cause, that the Spirit of God has represented the portion of the damned, as the greatest of all evils; that men may be prevailed on to work out their salvation with fear and trembling; i. e. with a concern answerable to the punishment they will escape by so doing. | Son yn oyr shoh t’yh, as cha nee dy agglagh shin fegooish oyr, dy vel Spyrryd Yee er hoiaghey rhimb’in cronney ny iurinee myr yn chooid smessey jeh dy chooilley olk; dy vod sleih ve coyrlit dy obbraghey magh nyn saualtys lesh aggle as atchim; ta shen, lesh kiarail corrym rish yn kerraghey nee ad shaghney liorish shen y yanno [sic: yannoo]. | |
| No Christian, who hears and lays this to heart, will flatter himself, that God will not be so severe as he has threatened. “The very angels that sinned,” we are assured, “are reserved in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” And so sure, as well as severe, will the punishment of sinners be, that no less a sacrifice than the life of his own son, could prevail with God to accept of their repentance. So that such as do not repent have nothing to look for but judgment without mercy, as sure as this word, and that God, whose word it is, is true. | Cha jean Creestee erbee ta clashtyn as goail shoh gys cree, molteyrys er hene, liorish smooinaghtyn nagh bee Jee cha geyre as t’eh er vaggyrt. Ta shickyrys er ny choyrt dooin, [86] “Dy vel ny Ainleyn hene ren pecca, er nyn vreayl ayns geulaghyn dy bragh-farraghtyn y dorraghys gys briwnys y laa mooar.” As cha shickyr cheddin shen, chamma as geyre vees kerraghey peccee, nagh voddagh oural erbee sloo na bioys e Vac hene cosney er Jee dy yannoo soiagh jeh nyn arrys. Myr shen ny mee-arryssee cha vel veg oc dy yercal rish agh briwnys fegooish myghin, cha shickyr as ta’n goo shoh, as dy vel yn Jee shen, e ghoo t’yh, firrinagh. | |
| These truths, good Christians, you will often hear pressed upon you, by God in his word, and by his ministers in their sermons. Will you not give yourselves leave to think of them after you leave the church? God forbid. I will tell you what you should do, that you may profit by them. We should, every soul of us, reason and resolve thus with himself:— | Ny firrinyssyn shoh, Chreesteenyn vie, chlinnys shiu dy mennic chionnit erriu liorish Jee ayns e Ghoo, as liorish e Hirveishee ayns nyn sharmaneyn. Nagh der shiu kied diu hene smooinaghtyn orroo lurg diu fagail y cheeill? Na lhig y Jee. Insh-ym diu cre t’eu dy yannoo, dy vod shiu ve ny share lioroo. Lhisagh shin dy chooillery annym j’in, resooney as kiarail myr shoh rish hene: | |
| I will endeavour to keep in my mind a dread of those fearful punishments, which (I am assured) are to be the portion of those who live without fear of what must come hereafter. I will consider what my religion requires of me, in order to be secure from these threatened evils. And I will also remember who those are, who (as God himself hath declared) shall be condemned to hell, if they do not repent in time. | “Nee’m my chooid share dy reayl ayns my aigney aggle roish ny kerraghyn atchimagh shen, cooid, (ta mee er my hickyraghey) vees yn cronney ocsyn ta beaghey gyn aggle roish ny sheign cheet feih-yerrey. Smooin-ym dy dowin er ny ta my chredjue Creestee dy chur’magh orrym, reih shaghney ny kerraghyn shoh ta er nyn maggyrt orrym. As cooinee-ym myrgeddin quoi ad-hene, vees (myr ta Jee hene er hoilshaghey) er nyn deyrey gys niurin, mannagh gow ad arrys traa.” | |
| They are such as know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. —“These,” saith the Apostle, “shall be punished with everlasting destruction.” [2 Thess. i. 9.] So that all unbelievers, and all Christians that live like unbelievers, fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with [27] mankind; all thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners; all these, without a timely and sincere repentance, are to have their portion with devils. [1 Cor. vi.] | [87] T’ad lheid as nagh vel ainjyssagh er Jee, as nagh vel biallagh da Sushtal nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest. “Bee ad shoh,” as yn Ostyl, “er nyn gerraghey lesh toyrt-mou dy bragh-farraghtyn.” [2 Thess. i. 9.] Myr shen dy bee ooilley ny mee-chredjuee, as dy chooilley Chreestee ta beaghey myr an-chredjuee, maarderee, jallooderyn, brisheyderyn-poosee, soailchee, adsyn ta cur rish pecca noi dooghys, maarlee, sayntoilee, meshtallee, oltooanee, chengee; yiow ad shoh ooilley, fegooish arrys traa as firrinagh, nyn gronney marish jouill. [1 Cor. vi.] | |
| A man must be wretchedly careless indeed, who can hear this declaration of God himself, and not think of getting out of the way of perdition. And even the best of men will fear for themselves, when they hear our Saviour declare, that broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many, many there are that are in it. And all Christians, who give themselves liberty to think of these things, will, when they are tempted to sin, ask themselves some such questions as these:— | Sheign da dooinney ve erskyn towse almoagh [sic: almoragh] dy jarroo, oddys clashtyn yn raue shoh veih Jee hene, fegooish smooinaghtyn dy chosney ass raad yn toyrt-mouys. As nee eer ny Creesteenyn share goail aggle er nyn son hene, tra t’ad clashtyn raa nyn Saualtagh, “Dy nee lhean ta’n raad ta leeideil gys toyrt-mou, as ymmodee, s’mooar yn ymmodee ta ’sy raad cheddin.” As nee dy chooilley Chreestee lhiggys daue hene smooinaghtyn er ny reddyn shoh, nee ad tra t’ad miolit gys pecca, fenaghtyn jeu hene lheid ny queshtionyn shoh — | |
| What is it I hazard my soul for? —For pleasures that I shall soon be sick of; for riches that I shall leave in a very short time; and for a world that will forget me as soon as I am gone. What will it profit me, when this pleasure I am so fond of will certainly be bitterness in the end? When this unjust gain will be followed with the loss of my soul? When this tenderness of myself, which will now not suffer me to mortify my corruptions, will be punished with everlasting burnings. | “Cre t’yh ta mee coyrt my annym ayns gaue er y hon? —Son eunyssyn vee’m dy leah ching jeu; son berchys sheign dou scarrey roo ayns traa feer gherrit; as son seihl nee jarrood mee cha leah as ta mee er n’immee[88]aght. Cre’n vondeish vees yh dooys tra vees yn eunys shoh ta mee nish cha taitnyssagh er, son firrinys sherriuid ec y jerrey? Tra vees coayl-anmey eiyrtys yn cosney neu-chairal shoh? Tra vees yn soalid shoh ta mee beaghey ayn, cooid nagh jean nish lhiggey dou smaghtaghey my yeearreeyn peccoil, er ny cherraghey lesh lostaghyn nagh bee dy bragh er nyn mooghey? | |
| These thoughts, good Christians, if kept in your memory, and pondered in your hearts, will help to preserve you from ruin, in the midst of a most profligate age—An age in which there are people who neither fear God, nor what he can do to them; who can laugh at damnation; who can wish it to themselves and others without trembling; and who are in the certain way to the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, without caring what will become of them. —These, Christians should have no fellowship with, as they value their own souls; as ever they expect the favour of God, as ever they hope for the happiness of Heaven. | Bee ny smooinaghtyn shoh, Chreesteenyn vie, my t’ad freilt ayns cooinaghtyn, as goit dy dowin gys nyn greeaghyn, saase dy reayl shiu veih toyrt-mou ayns mean seihl baiht ayns peccah—seihl ayn ta sleih nagh vel edyr goail aggle roish Jee, na roish cre[28] oddys eh jannoo roo, oddys jannoo craid jeh coayl-anmey, oddys guee shoh orroo hene as feallagh elley fegooish ve er-creau, as ta ayns y raad jeeragh gys yn lough ta lostey lesh aile as brimstone, fegooish leih oc cre s’erree daue. Rish nyn lheid shoh, cha lhisagh Creesteenyn jannoo sheshaght, myr shynney lhieu nyn anmeenyn hene; myr t’ad dy bragh jercal rish foayr Yee, as treishteil som maynrys niau. | |
| The happiness of heaven is another of those motives which our gracious God would not let us want, that we may have all the encouragement imaginable, to fit ourselves for that happy state and place. A place, as the Spirit of God represents it, where there is neither want, nor sorrow, nor sickness, nor pain, nor oppression, nor afflictions, nor troubles, of any kind. But the happiness of that state no mortal can comprehend: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,” [saith St. Paul, 1 Cor. ii. 9.] “neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” | Ta maynrys niau unnane jeh ny oyryn elley shen dy ghreinnagh’ shin, nagh jinnagh nyn Yee graysoil lhiggey dooin ve ny egooish, dy niartaghey shin er dy chooilley aght, dy yannoo shin hene cooie cour yn stayd as ynnyd maynrey shen. Ny ynnyd, myr ta [89] Spyrryd Yee dy hoilshaghey yh, raad nagh moo ta feme, na trimshey, na chingys, na pian, na tranlaase, na seaghyn, na crosh dy cheint erbee. Agh ta maynrys yn stayd shen erskyn tushtey dooinney: “Cha vel sooill er vakin, na cleaysh er chlashtyn,” [as y Noo Paul, 1 Cor. ii. 9.] “chamoo ta er gholl stiagh ayns cree dooinney, ny reddyn ta Jee er chiarail ny chour ocsyn ta graihagh er.” | |
| You will not, sure, hear these things with indifference; or return home without considering, over and over again, the happiness of Heaven, and the way to be secure of it when you die. | Shickyr, cha jean shiu clashtyn ny reddyn shoh lesh beggan scansh, na goll thie fegooish smooinaghtyn harrish as harrish er maynrys niau, as er yn aght dy ve shickyr jeh tra yiow shiu baase. | |
| I will endeavour to help your meditations upon this subject, and shew you how you may and ought to profit by such sermons. —Every Christian should reason thus with himself: — I have the sure word of God for it, that my condition, when I die, will be infinitely happy, even beyond what I can imagine, if it is not my own fault. At the same time, God has given me to understand, that before I can be fit for Heaven, my nature must be changed; that I must love him with all my heart and soul, and that, for his sake, I must love all mankind, otherwise I cannot be admitted into that blessed society. He has also shewed me the way how I may attain these holy dispositions, which are so absolutely necessary to fit me for Heaven. That in order to love him with all my heart, I must believe in him, and give entire credit to every thing which he has made known to us. That I must fear him —fear to do any thing that I believe will displease him. That I must obey him—do what he has commanded, and avoid what he has forbidden. That I must submit to all his choices for me, and endeavour that my heart may always go along with my lips in this petition—thy will be done. That I must give him the honour due unto his name; speak of him with reverence; worship him with great devotion; pray to him for what I want; and give him praise and thanks for all his mercies. [28] And lastly, that I must close with the means of grace which he has ordained for my edification, and by which he will give me the earnest of his holy spirit. By observing these rules, I shall come to love God with all my heart, and be qualified for that happiness for which he created me. | Neem’s my chooid share dy niartaghey lesh nyn smooinaghtyn crauee er y chooish shoh, as dy hoilshaghey diu kys oddys as kys lhisagh shiu vondeish y gheddyn liorish lheid ny sharmaneyn. —Lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee resooney myr shoh rish hene: —“Ta Goo Yee aym er y hon, dy bee my stayd tra yioym baase maynrey erskyn-towse, eer erskyn ooilley ny od-ym smooinaghtyn, mannagh nee my oill hene yh. Ec y traa cheddin, ta Jee er hoilshaghey dou, dy nheign da my googhys peccoil ve er ny chaglaa roish my vod-ym ve cooie son niau; dy nheign dou graih y choyrt da lesh ooilley my chree as annym, as er y ghraih echeysyn, dy nheign dou graih y choyrt da ooilley sheelnaue, er aght elley, cha vod-ym ve goit stiagh ayns y cheshaght van[90]nee shen. T’eh myrgeddin er hoilshaghey dou yn aght dy gheddyn ny yeearreeyn crauee shoh, ta dy slane ymmyrchagh dy choamrey mee son flaunys. Cour graih y choyrt da lesh ooilley my chree, sheign dou credjal ayn, as slane credjue y ve aym ayns dy chooilley nhee t’eh er hoilshaghey dooin. Dy nheign dou aggle y ghoail roish—ve agglagh dy yannoo nhee erbee ta mee credjal ver jummoose er. Dy nheign dou biallys y choyrt da—jannoo ny t’eh er harey, as chea veih ny t’eh er lhiettal. Dy nheign dou ve biallagh da ooilley ny t’eh dy reih my chour, as streeu dy vod my chree dy kinjagh goll lesh my veillyn ’syn aghin shoh—dty aigney dy row jeant. Dy nheign dou coyrt da yn onnor ta cair da e ennym; loayrt jeh lesh arrym; eh ’ooashlaghey lesh slane craueeaght; guee huggey son ny ta mee feme; as coyrt moylley as booise da son ooilley e vyghinyn. As er-jerrey, dy nheign dou jannoo ymmyd jeh ny saaseyn dy ghrayse t’eh er phointeil cour foays-anmey, as dy nee lioroo ver eh dou yeearlys e Spyrryd casheric. Liorish geiyrt da ny oardaghyn shoh, hig-ym dy choyrt graih da Jee lesh ooilley my chree, as bee’m jeant cooie son yn vaynrys shen er y hon ren eh my chroo. | |
| In order to love my neighbour, which is another qualification for Heaven and happiness, I must neither do nor wish any ill to him, I must remember, “that whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer; and that no murderer has any inheritance in the kingdom of Heaven?” All bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and strife, and evil speaking, and malice, must, as the Apostle exhorts, [Eph. iv. 31.] be “put away from such as hope for the happiness of Heaven.” We must be both just and charitable, “ready to give, and glad to distribute.” We must forgive, and give, as becomes brethren and the disciples of Jesus Christ. —These are the ways by which we are to express, and gain, and increase, that love for our neighbour which must qualify us for Heaven. | “Cour graih y choyrt da my naboo, cooid ta grayse elley ymmyrchagh dy yannoo mee cooie son niau as maynrys, cha [91] nheign dou edyr jannoo ny bwishal veg yn olk da. Sheign dou cooinaghtyn, “quoi-erbee ta dwoaie echey er e vraar, dy vel eh ny ghunver, as nagh vel ec dunver erbee eiraght ayns reeriaght niau.” Sheign da dy chooilley roonid, as jymmoose, as farg, as beealleraght, as oltooan, as goanlys, myr ta’n Ostyl coyrlagh’ [Ephes. iv. 31.] “ve eebrit ersooyl veih lheid as ta treishteil son maynrys niau.” Sheign dooin ve chamma jeeragh as giastyllagh, “arryltasgh dy choyrt, as aignagh dy rheynn.” Sheign dooin leih as ve erreeishagh, myr ta cooie da braaraghyn as eiyrtyssee dy Yeesey Creest. —Ad shoh ny aghtyn lioroo ta shin dy hoilshaghey, as dy chosney, as dy vishaghey, yn ghraih shen da nyn naboo sheign jannoo shin cooie son flaunys. | |
| And in the last place, with regard to my own self, God has made known to me, what qualifications are necessary to make me worthy to be partaker of the inheritance with the Saints in Heaven. —That I must be humble, for God hateth and resisteth the proud. I must be chaste, for no unclean person can enter into Heaven. I must be temperate and sober, lest that day overtake me unawares. That as I hope to follow my Saviour to Heaven, I must deny myself, and take up the cross. I must mortify my affections and lusts; keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, part with any thing, as dear as a right hand or a right eye, rather than do what will offend God, and shut me out of Heaven. Lastly, he has commanded me to watch, to walk circumspectly; to keep my heart with all diligence; because I have an adversary, which, like a roaring lion, is continually seeking to ruin me. | “As ’syn ynnyd s’jerree, er my hon hene, ta Jee er hoilshaghey dou, cre ny grayseyn ta ymmyrchagh dy yannoo mee cooie dy ve co-eirey marish ny Nooghyn ayns niau. Dy nheign dou ve imlee, son ta Jee cur dwoaie da as soiaghey eh-hene noi ny mooaraalee. Sheign dou my yeearreeyn foalley y reayl fo smaght, son cha vod persoon erbee neu-ghlen goll stiagh ayns niau. Sheign dou ve sheelt, er-aggle dy jig y laa shen orrym doaltattym. Dy nheign dou, myr ta mee treishteil dy eiyrt er my Haualtagh gys niau, mee-hene y obbal, as goail seose my chrosh. Sheign dou [92] smaghtaghey my yeearreeyn as my hayntyn; freayl fo my chorp, as tayrn yh gys biallys; paartail rish nhee erbee cha deyr dou as my laue-yesh, na my hooill-yesh, ny s’leaie na jannoo shen ver jymmoose er Jee, as nee dooney mee ass niau. Er-jerrey, t’eh er harey mee dy ve er my arrey, dy immeeaght dy tastagh; dy reayl arrey er my chree lesh ard-chiarail; er-yn-oyr dy vel noid aym ta myr lion jollyssagh, kinjagh shirrey dy my stroie. | |
| These things I must endeavour to remember, as I love my soul, and as I hope for heaven; and I must order my life accordingly: for so has Christ expressly told us, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” | “Ny reddyn shoh sheign dou streeu dy reayl ayns my chooinaghtyn, myr shynney lhiam my annym, na myr ta mee treishteil son Flaunys; as sheign dou leeideil my vea myrgeddin: son shoh myr ta Creest dy baghtal er n’insh dooin, “Cha nee dy chooilley unnane ta gra rhyms, Hiarn, Hiarn, hed stiagh ayns reeriaght niau; agh eshyn ta jannoo aigney my Ayrey t’ayns niau.” | |
| This, my Christian brethren, is the way we must take to profit by sermons upon these important subjects. | Shoh yn aght, my vraaraghyn Creestee, sheign dooin goail dy gheddyn vondeish liorish sharmaneyn er ny reddyn shoh ta jeh wheesh dy scansh. | |
| It is thus we must endeavour to affect our minds, that we may remember, that we may never forget, these truths, which concern us as much as our souls are worth. | She shoh myr sheign dooin streeu dy reill nyn aignaghyn, dy vod mayd cooinaghtyn er, nagh jean mayd dy bragh jarrood ny firrinyssyn shoh, ta wheesh bentyn roo as sheeu nyn anmeenyn. | |
| This being the only way to be secure of a blessed eternity, to be ever and anon asking ourselves some such short questions as these:— | Shoh yn ynrycan aght dy yannoo shickyr jeh maynrys y veayntys vraa, dy ve fenaghtyn [93] j’in hene veih traa dy traa queshtionyn giarey lheid shoh:— | |
| Why am I afraid of death? Why do I put die thoughts of it far from me? Is it not because I know that I am not prepared to die? Have I considered how miserable I shall be, if death should surprise me either doing evil, or doing nothing, or doing that which was not my duty to do? Is it because I fancy that I have time sufficient before me to prepare for death? But then I forget, that a Christian life is the only sure preparation for death; and I forget also, what Jesus Christ hath declared, “Thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon, thee.” [Rev. iii. 3.] Is not this the time in which I am to chuse whether I am to be miserable or happy for ever? And shall I let this time flip out of my hands? Do not I know, that I shall come out of the grave just as I go into it, either fit for Heaven, or fit for no place but hell? Have not I myself seen many surprized by death when they least thought of it; and were amazed when they saw that it was too late to bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life? What if this uncomfortable case should be my own! | “Cre’n-fa ta mee goail aggle roish y vaase? Cre’n oyr t’aym son coyrt yn smooinaghtyn jeh foddey voym? Nagh nee er-yn-oyr dy vel fys aym nagh vel mee aarlit dy gheddyn baase? Vel mee er ghoail aym-pene cre cha treih as vee’m, my yinnagh yn baase cheet orrym doaltattym, edyr jannoo olk, na jannoo fardail, na jannoo shen nagh row yh my churrym dy yannoo? Nee er-yn-oyr dy vel mee gourys dy vel traa dy liooar roym dy chiarail cour y vaase? Agh eisht ta mee jarrood, dy vel ymmyrkey-bea Creestee yn ynrycan aarlys shickyr son y vaase; as ta mee jarrood myrgeddin shen ny ta Yeesey Creest er vockley magh, “Cha bee fys ayd cre’n oor hig-ym ort.” [Ashlish iii. 3.] Nagh nee shoh yn traa ayn ta mee dy reih bee’m edyr treih ny maynrey son dy bragh? As jean-ym lhiggey da’n traa shoh goll shagh-ym? Nagh vel fys aym dy jig-ym ass yn oaie eer myr ta mee goll ayn, edyr cooie son niau, na cooie son niurin? Nagh vel mee hene er vakin lane sleih goit doaltattym ec y vaase, yn traa sloo heill ad er; as v’ad fo atchim tra honnick ad yh ro-anmagh dy ymmyrkey magh messyn cooie gys lhiassaghey bea? Cre dy beagh yn stayd mee-vaynrey shoh yn chooish aym pene. | |
| [29] One would ask further— What will this life I lead, end in? Will my great Judge approve of this way of spending my time, my estate, and the other talents he has intrusted me with? Can I hope to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord?” Or will not the manner of my life oblige him to say, Thou wicked servant, thou hast done nothing that I commanded thee. | [94] Yinnagh peiagh ny sodjey fenaghtyn —“Cre s’erree da’n vea shoh ta mee leeideil? Jean my ard Vriw lowal jeh’n aght shoh jeh baarail my hraa, my chooid-heihlt, as ny giootyn elley t’eh er hreishteil orrym? Vod-ym jercal dy chlashtyn eh gra rhym, S’mie t’ou er n’yannoo, harvaant vie as firrinagh, tar stiagh gys gerjagh dty Hiarn? Er-nonney nagh der yn aght ayn ta mee er leeideil my vea er’syn dy ghra rhym, uss ghrogh harvaant, cha vel oo er n’yannoo nhee erbee ta mee er harey dhyt. | |
| What is it I am losing my inheritance in Heaven for? For some poor pleasure; for some pitiful gain; or to gratify some filthy lust? Can I imagine, that the glorious inheritance of the children of God must cost me no pains, no trouble, to attain it, when it cost my Saviour his life to purchase it for me? | “Cre t’yh ta mee coayl my eiraght ayns niau er y hon? Son eunys fardalagh ennagh; son cosney neu-feeu ennagh; na dy yannoo magh saynt broghe ennagh? Vod-ym smooinaghtyn ayns my chree dy vod-ym eiraght gloyroil cloan Yee y chosney fegooish goail payns as tooilleil er y hon, tra chost yh da my Haualtagh e vioys dy choyrt tytle dou huggey? | |
| Lastly; let me ask myself that question, which my Saviour has put into my mouth, “what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” What pains ought I not to take, rather than run the hazard of suffering the bitter pains of eternal death? | “Er-jerrey; lhig dou yn queshtion shen y eanaghtyn jeem-pene, ta my Haualtagh er choyrt ayns my veeal, Cre nee dooinney y choyrt ayns coonrey son e annym? Cre’n tooilleil nagh lhisin y ghoail ny s’leaie na roie’in gaue dy hurranse pianyn sharroo yn baase dy bragh-farraghtyn.” | |
| Let these things, Christians, enter deep into your hearts; do not forget them as soon as you leave the church; beg of God to give you grace to profit by them. —And be assured of this, that there is no greater happiness in this life, than to have reasonable hopes of a blessed eternity. Which God grant we may all have, and that we may meet in peace in the paradise of God, for the Lord Jesus’ sake. | Lhig da ny reddyn shoh, Chreesteenyn, goail greme dowin er nyn greeaghyn; nagh [95] jean-jee jarrood ad cha leah as aagys shiu yn cheeill; guee-jee gys Jee dy choyrt grayse diu dy ve ny share lioroo. As bee-jee shickyr jeh shoh, nagh vel gerjagh smoo ’sy theihl shoh, na’n treishteil resoonagh jeh maynrys braa bannit: Shen dy gial Jee dy vod ve ain ooilley, as dy vod mayd meeteil ayns shee ayns pargeys Yee, er graih nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom, &c. | Huggeysyn, &c. | |
| [97] | ||
| SERMON V. | SHARMANE V. | |
| THE TRUE WAY OF PROFITING BY SERMONS. | Yn Aght firrinagh dy gheddyn Vondeish liorish Sharmaneyn. | |
| luke xi. 28. | luke xi. 28. | |
| Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.[29] | Bannit t’adsyn ta clashtyn Goo Yee, as jannoo ymmyd jeh. | |
| YOU have here the word of Christ for this important truth; that the preaching of the Gospel; the hearing it with attention and zeal; and leading a life answerable thereunto, is a sure way to blessedness or happiness. | TA eu ayns shoh Goan Chreest son yn ard firrinys shoh, Dy vel preacheil yn Sushtal, clashtyn yh lesh geill as jeeanid vie, as leeideil bea cooie gys shen, ny raad shickyr gys maynrys. | |
| You know the doom of those who heard the sermons of Christ, and would not mind them: “It shall,” (saith our Saviour and Judge) “it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that people. By which you see, Christians, the great hazard you will run, if you live under the light and ordinances of the Gospel, and are not bettered by them. | Shione diu yn kerraghey hie er fockley magh orroosyn cheayl sharmaneyn Chreest, er beggan geill daue: “Bee yh” (as nyn Saualtagh as Briw) “bee yh ny sassey son Sodom as Gomorrah ayns laa ny briwnys, na son y pobble shen.” Liorish shoh, Chreesteenyn, ta shiu fakin yn gaue mooar vees shiu ayn, liorish beaghey fo soilshey as oardaghyn y Sushtal, fegooish ve ny share lioroo. | |
| Our Saviour himself tells you, who it is that tempts you to hear the word with indifference, and to forget what you heard; to despise the preacher, and the ordi[30]nance of God. He tells you, that it is the devil that taketh the word out of the hearts of those that are not careful to keep it, lest they should believe and be saved. | Ta nyn Saualtagh hene ginsh diu, quoi eh ta miolaghey shiu dy chlashtyn y Goo dy [98] meerioosagh, as dy yarrood ny ta shiu er chlashtyn; as dy hoiaghey beg jeh’n phreachoor, as jeh oardaghyn Yee. T’eh ginsh diu, dy nee yn Jouyl ta goail ersooyl yn goo as ny creeaghyn ocsyn nagh vel kiaraalagh dy reayl yh, er-aggle ad dy chredjal as ve er nyn sauail. | |
| Lastly; you may be assured of it, that the word preached will become the word of salvation to every one that believeth; to every one who comes to hear with a teachable temper of mind, with a serious purpose and desire to learn his duty, and with a resolution to practise what he hears. | Er-jerrey; foddee shiu ve shickyr jeh, dy jig yn Goo ta er ny phreacheil dy ve goo yn taualtys da dy chooilley unnane ta credjal; da dy chooilley unnane ta cheet son ynsagh, geearree, as kiarit ayns e chree dy hoiggal e churrym, as dy yannoo ny t’yh dy chlashtyn. | |
| My design in this discourse (as it has been in several others) is, to shew you how you may best profit by the Sermons you hear; that you may return from the house of God with benefit, and with a blessing. | T’yh my chiarail ayns y charmane shoh (myr ve ayns shartanse elley) dy hoilshaghey diu kys share oddys shiu vondeish anmey y gheddyn liorish ny sharmaneyn ta shiu dy chlashtyn; dy vod shiu goll voish thie Yee lesh cosney as bannaght. | |
| In order to this, I will propose to you several subjects of importance, and shew you how every Christian should apply what he hears to himself. | Cour shoh, soie-ym rhimbiu ymmodee cooishyn dy scansh, as soilsh’-ym diu kys lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee goail huggey hene ny t’yh dy chlashtyn. | |
| But, in the first place, as ever you hope to profit by what you read or hear, endeavour to discharge your heart of a too great fondness for the world and its idols. It is not I, but our Lord himself assures you, that let the seed be never so good, yet if it be sown among thorns, they will choak it at last; that is, as he himself explains it, the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, will choak the word, and it will become unfruitful. | Agh hoshiaght, myr ta shiu dy bragh treishteil dy gheddyn vondeish liorish ny ta shiu dy lhaih na clashtyn, streeu-jee dy chastey ass ny creeaghyn eu rour graih gys y theihl, as ny eunyssyn echey. Cha nee mish eh, agh nyn Jiarn eh-hene ta coyrt shickyrys [99] diu, lhig da’n sheeyl ve cha mie as saillish, ny-yeih my t’yh cuirt mastey drineyn, dy bee yh plooghit feih-yerrey; ta shen, myr t’eh hene dy explaynal yh, “Nee kiarailyn seihltagh, as molteyrys y verchys, as sayntyn nheeghyn elley, plooghey yn goo, as hig yh dy ve neu-vessoil.” | |
| I. A too great fondness, therefore, for the things of this world, or what we call covetousness, being the greatest hindrance to piety and Christian knowledge; we will first consider this evil, and the great mischiefs that attend it. | I. Myr ta graih miandagh, er-y-fa shen, son reddyn y theihl shoh, na shen ta shin dy hoiggal liorish saynt-seihltagh, yn lhiettal smoo gys craueeaght as tushtey Chreestee, lhig dooin hoshiaght loayrt mychione yn pecca shoh, as ny seaghyn mooarey ta cheet marish. | |
| Take heed, saith our Saviour, and beware of Covetousness. Can we imagine that he would have given Christians this double, this earnest caution, but that he knew that there is something in this sin very destructive. And you will be convinced there is, if you will attend to what follows. | “Gow-jee tastey,” as nyn Saualtagh, “as bee-jee er nyn arrey noi Saynt.” Vod mayd smooinaghtyn dy beagh eh er choyrt yn raue dooble as jeean shoh da Creesteenyn, er-bey dy row fys echey dy vel red ennagh feer annym-stroiagh ayns y phecca shoh. As bee baght mie eu dy vel, my ver shiu geill da ny ta mee goll dy ghra. | |
| First; That no man can possibly love God, whose heart is set upon the world, let him pretend what he will. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” So saith the Spirit of God. | Hoshiaght; Nagh vod dooinney erbee graih y choyrt da Jee, ta e chree soit er y theihl, lhig da gra ny saillish. “My ta dooinney erbee graihagh er y theihl, cha vel graih yn Ayr aynsyn.” Shoh myr ta Spyrryd Yee dy ghra. | |
| Secondly; It leads men insensibly into Atheism; that is, to depend more upon themselves and upon their own industry and wealth, than upon God, his providence, and blessing. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; T’yh leeideil deiney ny vegganyn gys An-yeeys; ta shen, barrantys [100] smoo y chur huc-hene, as gys nyn darrooid as berchys hene, na gys Jee, gys e ard-chiaralys, as e vannaght. | |
| Thirdly; it strangely tempts men to believe, that any thing, almost, is lawful, which will but increase their substance. | ’Sy trass ynnyd; T’yh dy yindyssagh cleaynagh sleih dy chredjal, dy vel faggys dy chooilley nhee lowal, ver agh bishaghey er nyn gooid. | |
| Fourthly; It most surprisingly changeth the heart and dispositions of men. A compassionate man, once possessed with a spirit of covetousness, becomes hard-hearted; a liberal temper becomes stingy; and he that was charitable before, now grudges every penny he parts with. | ’Sy chiarroo ynnyd; T’yh dy yindyssagh chyndaa creeaghyn as aignaghyn sleih. Ta dooinney erreeishagh, keayrt dy vel spyrryd dy haynt er ghoail greme er, cheet dy ve creoi-chreeagh; ta aigney feoilt cheet dy ve gortagh; as eshyn va giastyllagh roie, t’eh nish mooaraghey dy chooilley phing t’eh cur voish. | |
| It is branded in scripture with the name of Idolatry, because it tempts men to have such an esteem for wealth, as if their life and happiness depended upon having a great deal. | Ta’n ennym scammyltagh dy Yalloonys, er ny choyrt ayns Scriptyr da’n phecca shoh, son dy vel yh cleayney sleih lheid y ghraih dy ve oc er berchys, myr dy beagh nyn mioys as nyn maynrys lhie er lane cooid ve oc. | |
| And that which still makes this sin more hateful to God is this, that it is (what the Spirit of God calls it) the root of all evil. The root of every evil, of injustice, of oppression, of extortion, of cheating one another, of thieving, of contention, of law-suits, of wishing for the death of parents, &c. | As shen ny ta jannoo yn pecca shoh sthill ny s’feohdoil da Jee, shoh yh, dy vel yh (cooid ta Spyrryd Yee dy enmys yh) fraue dy chooilley olk; —fraue dy chooilley ghrogh-yannoo, jeh mee-chairys, jeh tranlaase, jeh drogh-ghellal, jeh molley y chielley, jeh maarlys, jeh anvea, jeh leighderagh, jeh bwishal son baase ayraghyn as moiraghyn, &c. | |
| In short, it is a damnable sin; and whoever lives in it, is in a state of perdition: and it has this sad circumstance attending it, that few can be persuaded that they are guilty of it, and therefore cannot be persuaded to repent of it. And yet, no doubt of it, a sin branded in Scripture with being the root all evil, must of necessity be known by such as are guilty of it, if it is not their own fault; that they may be left without excuse. | Ayns fockle, t’yh ny phecca iurinagh; as quoi-erbee ta tannaghtyn ayn t’eh ayns stayd [101] cailjey: As ta’n eiyrtys treih shoh lhiantyn huggey, nagh nhimmey oddys ve coyrlit dy smooinaghtyn dy vel ad foiljagh jeh, as shen-y-fa cha vod ve coyrlit dy ghoail arrys jeh. As ny-yeih, gyn dooyt, pecca ta soit magh ayns Goo Yee myr fraue dy chooilley olk, sheign dauesyn ta foiljagh jeh toiggal yh dy ve ny phecca, my sailliu hene; dy vod ad ve fagit gyn leshtal. | |
| Any man, for instance, may conclude for certain, that he is under the power of this evil spirit—when he is more intent upon the world than in taking care of his soul; —when his love of gain puts him upon suspicious ways and means of increasing his substance, or denying his neighbour his rights. Suspicious, I mean, to himself; for even that ought to hinder a good man from doing any thing which he does but fear may displease God, or injure another.[30] | Foddee peiagh erbee, son mac-soyley, ve shickyr dy vel eh fo pooar yn spyrryd olk shoh, tra t’eh ny s’jeean soit er y theihl shoh, na er goail kiarail jeh e annym; tra ta e vian son cosney cur er geiyrt da aghtyn mee-lowal son bishaghey e chooid, na dy obbal e chair da e naboo. | |
| To proceed: —That person is possessed [31] with a spirit of covetousness, who has such an opinion and esteem for wealth, as if it could make him happy. Such a man, saith the Prophet, “coveteth an evil covetousness to his house,” [Hab. ii. 9.] “that he may set his nest on high, and be delivered from the power of evil;” i. e. that he may depend upon himself, be out of the reach of misfortunes, and be independent upon God’s providence. | Dy gholl er my hoshiaght: —Ta’n persoon shen fo’n drogh spyrryd dy haynt, ta smooinaght dy vel wheesh dy vree as pooar ayns berchys as dy vod eh ve maynrey liorish. Ta lheid y dooiney shoh, as y Phadeyr, [Hab. ii. 9.] “soandagh er cosney aggairagh son e hie, dy vod eh soiaghey e edd dy ard, as ve livreit veih roshtyn yn olk;” ta shen, dy vod eh cur barrant huggey hene, ve ass roshtyn seaghyn, as gyn jerkal gys ard-chiaralys Yee. | |
| Thirdly; A man may know whether his care and concern for the world does not often make him omit the duties he owes to God and to himself, or perform them with indifference and distraction; when the time is even grudged in which they are performed; when the Lord’s day is profaned by unnecessary worldly business, and such business made use of as a pretence for neglecting family duties. When a man shews no gratitude to God for the favours he has bestowed upon him, by doing a proportionable good with them; and when his concern for himself makes him unconcerned for those that want his help. When a man’s mind is distracted with imaginary fears of wanting; or who makes his necessities greater than indeed they are, and therefore can never be satisfied with his present condition. Lastly; when every disappointment, every loss or misfortune, casts him into trouble, grief, or despair, not being permitted to consider, that it is from God who orders all things for the best. | ’Sy trass ynnyd; Foddee fys ’ve ec dooinney vel na mannagh vel e chiarail as imnea son y theihl cur er lhiggey sheese ny currymyn ta kainlt er gys Jee as eh-hene, na [102] goll harrishdoo lesh beggan geill as roauail-aigney; tra t’eh mooaraghey yn eer traa ta goit seose ayndoo; tra ta Laa yn Chiarn er ny an-chasherickey liorish obbyr seihltagh gyn feme, as lheid yn obbyr shen jeant ny leshtal son jannoo meerioose er currymyn crauee ayns nyn lughtyn-thie. Tra ta dooinney soilshaghey eh-hene neu-vooisal gys Jee son ny bannaghtyn t’eh er stowal er, liorish gyn jannoo mie corrym roo; as tra ta’n kiarail t’eh dy ghoail er e hon hene cur er beggan kiarail y ghoail er nyn son ocsyn ta feme e chooney. Tra ta aigney dooinney seaghnit lesh smooinaghtyn agglagh gyn oyr dy huittym fo boghtynid; na tra t’eh smooinaghtyn dy vel e ymmyrch hene ny smoo na dy jarroo t’yh, as shen-y-fa cha vod eh dy bragh ve booiagh lesh y stayd t’eh ayn. Er-jerrey; tra ta dy chooilley nhee nagh vel cheet lesh, dy chooilley choayl ny lhag-haghyrt ceau eh fo trimshey, seaghyn, na mee-hreisht; ta shoh son nagh vel eh lhiggey da hene smooinaghtyn, dy vel ad shoh cheet veih Jee ta goardrail dy chooilley nhee son y chooid share. | |
| These are all instances of that covetousness which the Scripture condemns as leading to perdition. And whoever is, or is in danger of being, possessed with this spirit, (for that such are possessed with an evil spirit, one need no more question, than that Judas was possessed with such a spirit when Satan entered into him) —whoever is in this sad circumstance, had need to get out of the snare of the devil as soon as possible. | T’ad shoh ooilley sampleyryn jeh’n thaynt shen ta’n Scriptyr dy gheyrey myr leeideil gys coayl-anmey. As quoi-erbee ta, na t’ayns danjere dy ve er ny reill liorish yn spyrryd shoh (son dy vel nyn lheid fo reill drogh-spyrryd, cha lhiass ny smoo dy ghooyt ve [103] jeant jeh, na dy row Yuaase fo reill lheid y spyrryd tra hie Satan stiagh ayn;) quoi-erbee ta ayns y stayd danjereagh shoh, imree yh da cosney ass rybbey yn Jouyl cha leah as tyh [sic: t’yh] possibyl. | |
| —We should now proceed to consider how this is to be done; but it will be necessary to take notice, first, of what is but too often made use of as a cloak for this sin. | Ragh’in nish er my hoshiaght dy chonsideral kys ta shoh dy ve jeant; agh bee yh ymmyrchagh, hoshiaght, dy chur rhimbiu red ta agh ro-vennic jeant ny leshtal son y phecca shoh. | |
| The Apostle saith, “He that provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, or kindred, hath forfeited the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” [1 Tim. v. 8.] | Ta’n Ostyl gra, “Eshyn nagh vel kiarail cour e vooinjer hene, as erskyn ooilley ny chour ocsyn ta jeh’n lught-thie echey hene, t’eh er n’obbal y credjue, as t’eh ny smessey na an-chreestee.” [1 Tim. v. 8.] | |
| People are apt to think that this will justify them, let them be never so worldly-minded. When in truth, (and they will find it is so, if they will but look into their Bibles) the Apostle is not directing Christians to provide estates for their children, but to take care of their poor relations, and not let others be burthened with them. | Ta sleih apt dy smooinaghtyn dy jean shoh nyn leshtal, cre cha seihltagh erbee as t’ad. Tra, son firrinys, (as yiow ad dy nee shoh myr t’yh, my nee ad agh jeeaghyn ayns ny Bibleyn oc) cha vel yn Ostyl ayns shoh cur roish Creesteenyn dy yannoo seose berchys son nyn gloan hene, agh dy ghoail kiarail jeh nyn sleih-mooinjerey boghtey, as gyn fagail ad son errey er y theah. | |
| We come now to consider, what use a serious Christian should make upon hearing the nature, the deceitfulness, the danger, and the end, of this sin. Now; a Christian who desires to profit by what he hears, will think thus with himself:— | Ta shin cheet nish dy chonsideral cre’n ymmyd lhisagh Creestee firrinagh y yannoo jeh clashtyn mychione dooghys, molteyrys, danjere, as jerrey yn phecca shoh. Nish; Creestee ta geearree vondeish dy ve echey liorish ny t’eh dy chlashtyn, nee eh smooinaghtyn myr shoh rish hene:— | |
| I have heard what the Spirit of God saith; that every “covetous man, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the kingdom of God.” [Eph. v. 5.] —And shall not so terrible a truth put a stop to an over-greedy desire of getting more than I really want? I see what my duty is. It is to labour in my proper business; depending upon God’s blessing; without disquieting myself with unreasonable fears of wanting. And this I am to do; first, in order to supply my own and the necessities of those that be- long to me; and then, to supply the necessities of those that are in want. I will not let the hurry of business, therefore, (will every serious Christian say) I will not let worldly business hinder me from serving God, because I serve myself most when I serve him. I will endeavour always to remember, that I am in the hands of God, who has commanded us “to cast all our care upon him, for he careth for us.” And who, having given us life even before we could ask it, will never let us want the necessary means of preserving it. I will beg of God, that he will grant me grace to make a good use of what he shall give me, [32] which will be a sure way of obtaining more favours from him. | [104] “Ta mee er chlashtyn cre ta Spyrryd Yee dy ghra; “nagh vel ec dooinney sayntoilagh erbee, eh ta ny yallooder, eiraght erbee ayns reeriaght Yee.” [Eph. v. 5.] As nagh jean lheid y firrinys agglagh shoh lhiettal ayn-ym yeearree joogh son cosney ny smoo na ta mee dy jarroo feme? Ta mee fakin cre ta my churrym. As ta shen dy laboragh ayns my stayd as aght-beaghee hene; coyrt my varrant gys bannaght Yee, fegooish boirey mee-hene lesh aggle gyn oyr roish feme. As shoh ta orrym dy yannoo; hoshiaght, dy rere my ymmyrch hene, as adsyn ta bentyn rhym; as eisht dy yannoo feaysley er ymmyrchee elley. Cha lhig-ym da preish obbyr, er-y-fa shen,” (jir dy chooilley Chreestee firrinagh) “cha lhig-ym da obbyr seihltagh m’y lhiettal veih shirveish Yee, er-yn-oyr dy vel mee share shirveish orrym-pene, choud as ta mee shirveish eshyn. Nee’m gys rere my phooar dy kinjagh cooinaghtyn, dy vel mee ayns laueyn Yee, ta er choyrt sarey dooin “dy lhie ooilley nyn giarailyn ersyn, son dy vel eh kiarail er nyn son.” As quoi, myr hug eh dooin bioys, eer roish my ve ayns nyn booar dy yeearree yh, nagh lhiggys dooin dy bragh ve fegooish ny saaseyn cooie dy chummal seose yh. Nee’m my phadjer gys Jee, dy der eh grayse dou dy yannoo ymmyd vie jeh ny reddyn ver eh dou, cooid vees yn aght by-hickyree dy chosney bannaghtyn sodjey voish. | |
| And since the Spirit of God assures me, that when I do good to others I do most good to myself, I will, therefore, endeavour to make myself friends against the great day, “by giving alms of such things as I have,” as our Lord commands us. [Luke [x]i. 41.] And because I cannot have a better rule than that which the Apostle has given us, [1 Cor. xvi. 2.] (will every serious Christian say who lives by gain) “I will constantly lay by me in store as God hath prospered me,” that I may have to give to him that needeth. —And that I may do this more cheerfully, I will beg of God to preserve me from an evil spirit of covetousness; and that I may lay up in store a good foundation against the time to come. | [105] “As neayr as dy vel Spyrryd Yee coyrt shickyrys dou, traa erbee dy vel mee jannoo mie da feallagh elley, dy nee shen y traa smoo dy vie ta mee jannoo dou-hene, nee’m, er-y-fa shen, my phaart dy yannoo dou-hene caarjyn cour y laa mooar, liorish coyrt jeirk jeh lheid as t’aym, myr ta’n Chiarn er choyrt sarey dooin. [Luke xi. 41.] As son nagh vod rule share ’ve aym na shen ta’n Ostyl er choyrt roin, [1 Cor. xvi. 2.] (nee dy chooilley Chreestee vie gra ta cosney e veaghey liorish dellal) nee’m dy kinjagh coyrt dy lhiattee ayns stoyr, myr ta Jee er vannaghey mee, dy vod kuse ’ve aym dy choyrt dasyn t’ayns feme. —As dy vod-ym shoh y yannoo ny s’aggindee, guee-ym gys Jee eh dy choadey mee veih drogh spyrryd y thaynt; as dy vod-ym coyrt seose ayns stoyr undin vie cour yn traa ry-heet. | |
| In order to this, I will often call to mind such scriptures as these:— “that wealth profiteth not in the day of wrath;” either when we fall into affliction, or when we come to die. “Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou has provided?” —“So,” saith our Lord, “is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.” [Luke xii. 20.] i. e. employing his riches to God’s glory, or transmitting them to Heaven by the hands of the poor. | “Cour shoh, cooin-ym er lheid ny Scriptyryn as shoh: —“Cha vel berchys jeh foays erbee ayns laa yn cherraghey; edyr tra [ta] shin tuittym fo seaghyn, na ayns laa nyn maaish. “Uss ommydan, yn oie noght vees dty vioys er ny ghoail void: quoi lesh eisht vees ooilley dty chooid-heihlt?”—“Myr shoh,[”] as nyn Jiarn, [Luke xii. 20] “ta eshyn ta tashtey seose berchys ny chour hene, as nagh vel berchagh ass lieh Yee;” ta shen, nagh vel jannoo ymmyd jeh e verchys gys gloyr Yee, na cur roish ad gys niau liorish laueyn ny boghtyn. | |
| “Remember,” saith Abraham to the rich man, that “thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things; the things in which thou didst place thy very soul and happiness; and likewise Lazarus, evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” | [106] “Cooinee,” as Abraham, rish y dooinney berchagh, “dy dooar uss ayns earish dty vea soylley as sonnys seihlt;” ny reddyn va dty eer annym as eunys soit ayndoo; “as myrgeddin Lazarus seaghyn as boghtynid; agh nish t’eshyn er ny gherjaghey, as t’ou uss er dy [sic: dty] horchaghey.” | |
| Will any Christian, after this, call those his good things, which may be lost when he least thinks of it; that he cannot keep without fear, nor part with without vexation; which tempt us to forget God; are a snare to us while we live, and may, without a mighty grace, be a curse to us when we are dead? Rather let us all beg of God to convince us, most effectually, of the vanity of all the idols of this world, which we are but too apt to doat on; and that we may not, like unbelievers, look for happiness here. And especially, that God would keep us from every degree of a sin, which is the mother of so many evils. | Jean Creestee erbee, lurg shoh, soiaghey e chree ayns ny reddyn shen oddys ve caillit tra sloo heillys eh; cooid nagh vod eh freayl fegooish aggle, na paartail rish fegooish sou-aigney; ta cleayney shin dy yarrood Jee; ta ny rybbey dooin choud as ta shin bio, as foddee ve, fegooish ard-ghrayse, ny vollaght dooin tra ta shin marroo? Dy haghney shoh, lhig dooin guee er Jee dy choyrt slane toiggal dooin jeh fardail ooilley jallooyn y theihl shoh, ta shin agh ro aarloo dy choyrt graih daue; as nagh jean mayd, myr mee-chredjuee, treishteil son maynrys ayndoo; as er-lheh, dy gooidsave lesh Jee dy reayl shin veih dy chooilley chaslys jeh lheid y phecca, as ta moir whilleen olk. | |
| What those evils are, we now come to take a short view of; that, as we value our souls, we may abhor and avoid them. | Cre ta ny huilk shen, ta shin nish cheet dy ghoail shilley giare jeu; dy vod mayd, myr shynney lhien nyn anmeenyn, feoh y chur daue as chea voue. | |
| II. The first we shall consider, is that of oppression; when a man bears hard upon his neighbour, because it is in the power of his hand to do it; or when it is not in the power of his neighbour to contend with him: Or, secondly, when a man’s necessities force him to submit to the very hardest terms his neighbour thinks fit to impose upon him. Or, thirdly, when a man will take all the advantage of a hard bargain which the law will give him, though it be to the great loss of his neighbour. | II. Yn chied olk nee mayd loayrt jeh, t’yh Tranlaase; tra ta dooinney chionney dy creoi er e naboo, son dy vel yh ayns pooar e [107] laue dy yannoo shen; na tra nagh vel yh ayns pooar e naboo dy chur eddin da. Na, ayns yn nah ynnyd, tra ta feme dooinney dy eginaghey eh dy lhie fo yn dellal s’dewilley saillish e naboo y chur er. Er-nonney, ’sy trass ynnyd, tra ghoys dooinney vondeish jeh bargane creoi ver y leigh da, ga dy bee yh gys assee mooar e naboo. | |
| These, and such as these, are very great crimes, and will shut men out of Heaven, though no law on earth can take hold of those that are guilty of them. And indeed, nobody thinks them small crimes when they themselves come to be the sufferers. | T’ad shoh, as nyn lheid shoh, peccaghyn feer vooar, nee dooney sleih ass niau, ga nagh vod leigh erbee hallooinagh goail greme orroosyn ta foiljagh jeu. As dy jarroo firrinagh, cha vel peiagh erbee smooinaghtyn dy nee loghtyn fardalagh ad, tra t’ad hene cheet dy ve surranse lioroo. | |
| Hear what the Spirit saith of these sins: —“He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his riches, shall surely come to want.” “Oppress not the poor;” i. e., those that are not able to contend with you; —“the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of them that spoiled them.” But above all, hear these terrible words of God, —“oppressors, extortioners, shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” and then you know what they must inherit. | Eaisht-jee rish ny ta’n Spyrryd Noo dy ghra mychione ny peccaghyn shoh: “Eshyn ta jannoo tranlaase er y voght, dy vishagh’ e chooid, hig eh-hene dy feer gys feme.” “Ny jean spooilley yn boght,” ta shen, adsyn nagh vel fort oc streeu rhyt; —“son nee yn Chiarn yn chooish oc y ghoail seose, as spooillee eshyn yn annym ocsyn ren adsyn y spooilley.” Agh, erskyn ooilley, eaisht-jee rish ny goan atchimagh shoh dy Yee, —“Cha vou sayntoilee, na tranlaasee, eiraght erbee ayns reeriaght Yee;” as eisht ta fys eu cre sheign da’n eiraght oc ve. | |
| III. Injustice is another sin to which a spirit of covetousness leads men. I shall not take notice of those instances of injustice which the laws of men may, and ought to punish, and do the sufferers right, without making it cost them more than it is worth. | III. Ta aggair ny phecca elley huggey ta’n spyrryd dy haynt leeideil sleih. Cha [108] jir-ym veg jeh ny aghtyn shen dy aggairys oddagh leighyn y theah, as lhisagh ad smaghtaghey, as jannoo cairys da ny surransee, fegooish coyrt ad gys cost smoo na sheeu yn chooish. | |
| [33] There are other instances of injustice, as evil in the sight of God, and as damnable in the end, though people make a shift to live in them, without public reproach, or check of conscience. Such are—taking advantage of men’s mistakes, ignorance, simplicity, and the like. | Ta aghtyn elley dy vee-chairys, cha eajee cheddin ayns shilley Yee, as cha annym-stroiagh feih-yerrey, ga dy vel sleih jannoo shioot dy veaghey ayndoo fegooish scammylt foshlit, na guin chooinsheanse. Lheid shoh ta—goail vondeish jeh marranys, mee-hushtey, boggannys sleih, as nyn lheid. | |
| I will put you in mind of instances of this kind, that you may avoid the sin and the punishment. | Ver-ym shiu ayns cooinaghtyn jeh paart jeh ny drogh aghtyn shoh, dy vod shiu shaghney chamma yn pecca as yn kerraghey. | |
| If a man is in drink, he is, in the very language of the world, over-seen. Now; if in such a condition he happen to fall into bad hands, and make a bargain, it is ten to one but he repents when he is sober, and too often his family smart for it. Shall I go about to prove, that it is a sin to insist upon such a bargain; every man who has a conscience knows it to be so; but perhaps every body does not remember what God has expressly declared, [1 Thess. iv. 6.] “That he will be the avenger of all such as go beyond or defraud another in any matter.” | My ta dooinney er-meshtey, foddee eh ve rait, nagh vel eh er-hene. Nish, ayns lheid y doaie shoh, my hagherys da tuittym ayns drogh laueyn, as jannoo bargane, t’yh jeih gys unnane dy bee arrys er tra t’eh sheelt as er hene, as ro-vennic t’yh dy vel e lught-thie surranse er y hon. Lhiass dou goll dy phrowal diu, dy nee pecca yh dy hassoo er lheid y bargane shoh? Ta fys ec dy chooilley ghooinney cooinsheansagh dy nee pecca yh; agh higgal nagh vel dy chooilley unnane goail gys e chree shen ny ta Jee er ockley magh [1 Thess. iv. 6.] “Dy jean eshyn goail cooilleen er ooilley nyn lheid as ta goail vondeish er e vraar, as molley eh ayns cooish erbee.” | |
| How easily may a poor man, who has a righteous cause, mistake, or be unable to defend it: But will his oversight, or inability, give me or you a right to that, to which, in truth, we had no just title? or will the judgment of a court lessen the injustice, when it comes to be tried at the great day? | [109] Cre cha easal t’yh da dooinney boght, lesh cooish yeeragh, gyn toiggal kiart ve echey jeh, na gyn fort dy endeil yh: agh der yn marranys echeysyn, na e veggan fort, cairys diuish na dooys gys shen, huggey, son firrinys, nagh vel tytle cairagh ain? Na vod briwnys quaiyllagh jannoo yn vee-chairys ny sloo, tra hig yh gys aa-chlashtyn ec laa mooar ny briwnys? | |
| To feed a man with money, when I know he has no real occasion, only that I may get a bargain of his estate, when he shall be forced to sell it; this is thought to be no great crime; and yet it is plain, I help to ruin him, and perhaps his family; and if he sins in squandering the inheritance of his forefathers, is it possible for me to be without guilt? | Dy leckal argid er dooinney, tra ta fys aym nagh vel eh dy jarroo feme yh, ynrycan er-chee dy vod-ym bargane y gheddyn jeh’n thalloo echey, tra vees eh eginit dy chreck yh; ta shoh red nagh vel smooinit loght mooar; as ny-yeih, t’yh plain dy vel mee cooney dy chur mou eh, as foddee, lught e hie; as my ta eshyn foiljagh ayns jummal eiraght e hennaryn, vel yh possibyl dooys ve gyn loght? | |
| Because, in wronging orphans, and widows, and poor people, a man has less powerful people to deal with, is he therefore less wicked? No, sure; so far from it, that God has declared himself concerned in such causes: their “Redeemer,” saith Solomon, [Prov. xxiii. 11.] “is mighty; he will plead their cause with thee.” | Er-yn-oyr dy vel ny sloo dy vree ayns cloan gyn-ayr, mraane-treoghe, as sleih boghtey dy hassoo magh nyn gooish, vel eshyn ta jannoo aggair daue, er-y-fa shen lesh ny sloo dy phecca? Shickyr, cha vel; choud shen voish, dy vel Jee er vockley magh dy jean eh-hene goail seose lheid ny cooishyn: “Ta’n fendeilagh oc,” as Solomon, [Raaghyn Creeney xxii[i]. 11.] “niartal, gowee eh seose yn chooish oc dt’oi.” | |
| How often do wills and writings of moment, and even other things of value, fall into the hands of persons to whom they do not belong. The sin of concealing such things is looked upon as a less sin than stealing. But for no reason, I am sure, but because in one case he may be in danger of being hanged, if he is caught; and in the other, he will only be called a dishonest man, which such a man will not lay much to heart: But Christians should consider, that the judgment of a righteous God will not be according to the foolish opinion of men. | Cre cha mennic as ta chymnaghyn as barganeyn elley dy scainsh vooar, as myrgeddin [110] reddyn elley dy feeagh, tuittym ayns laueyn sleih nagh vel cairys oc ayndoo! Ta sleih jeeaghyn er y phecca jeh keiltyn ny reddyn shoh dy ve ny sloo na maarlys. Agh fegooish oyr erbee elley, ta mee shickyr jeh, agh shoh; ayns y derrey chooish foddee eh ve ayns danjere y chrih, my hig briaght er; ayns y jeh elley cha bee eh agh enmyssit ny vitchoor, red nagh jean lheid y dooinney goail cooid vooar gys e chree: Agh lhisagh Creesteenyn goail huc hene, nagh bee briwnys Jee ny-cairys cordail rish smooinaghtyn mee-cheeaylagh sheelnaue. | |
| It is too common for people to conceal and keep what they have found. Such people do not sure know, that there is an express law of God, against such practices; nor do they ever think how they shall answer it at the great day of accounts. | T’yh ro-chadjin neesht son sleih dy cheiltyn, as dy reayl cooid-chailjey t’ad er gheddyn. Shickyr cha vel fys ec lheid y sleih, dy vel leigh Yee, dy plain noi lheid ny cliaghtaghyn; as s’beg t’ad smooinaghtyn kys nee ad gansoor son shoh ec laa mooar ny coontaghyn. | |
| If a man will take all advantages which the law will give him, he will very often do great injustice in the sight of God, and make himself liable to Restitution, without which his repentance and salvation will be very hazardous. And, indeed, a man must love the world exceeding well, even better than his own soul, who will put his neighbour to trouble, grief, and expence, to seek for his rights in equity, when he knows before hand, that in equity he will and ought to be relieved. | My gho’ys dooinney dy chooilley vondeish ver y leigh da, nee eh dy mennic lane mee-chairys ayns shilley Yee, as bee yh kainlt er dy yannoo lhiassaghey; ny egooish, cha vel e arrys firrinagh, as ta e haualtys ayns lane gaue. As dy feer, sheign da lane graih ve ec dooinney er y theihl, na smoo dy jarroo na t’echey er e annym hene, ver e naboo gys anvea, seaghyn, as cost, dy hirrey son e chair ayns quaiyl, tra ta fys echey ro-laue, ayns shen dy vou eh, as dy lhisagh eh cairys y gheddyn. | |
| But the sins of fraud and injustice, which are most common, and least taken notice of, are such as are committed in the way of trade and bargains. The wise man has given all people fair warning of this; [Ecclus xxvii. 2.] “As a nail sticketh fast betwixt the joinings of the stones, so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.” Every Christian, therefore, who desires to keep a good conscience, will be glad to have such rules to walk by, as he needs not be deceived, unless he be willing to be deceived. Such is that of our Saviour’s; [Matth. vii. 12.] “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets:” which, though a general rule, may by a well-meaning Christian, [34] be applied to all our dealings one with another; while those that are resolved to be rich, whatever shall be the consequence, all the rules of the Gospel, though never so well explained, will be of little use to them.[31] But for such as do really make a conscience of their ways, one would endeavour to make their way plain and safe. | [111] Agh ny peccaghyn dy volteyrys as mee-chairys, smoo cadjin ta, as sloo dy scainsh jeu, t’ad nyn lheid as ta jeant ayns dellal as barganeyn. Ta’n Dooinney Creeney er choyrt raue foshlit jeh shoh da dy chooilley pheiagh; [Ecclus. xxvii. 2.] “Myr ta greme ec y treiney eddyr claghyn y voalley, shen myr ta molteyrys lhiantyn dy chion eddyr creck as kionnagh.” Dy chooilley Chreestee, er-y-fa shen, ta geearree dy reayl cooinsheanse vie, bee eh booiagh lheid ny ruleyn y ve echey dy immeeaght lioroo, as nagh lhiass da ve mollit, mannagh vel yh e aigney hene. Lheid as rule nyn Saualtagh; [Mian vii. 12] “Cre-erbee bailliuish deiney dy yannoo riuish, jean-jee shiuish shen roosyn, son shoh yn leigh as ny phadeyryn:” Ta shoh ny rule lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee onneragh geiyrt da ayns e ghellal; agh bee ooilley ruleyn yn Sushtal, ga dy baghtal soit rhymboo, agh lesh beggan bree orroosyn ta sleuit er ve berchagh camm na jeeragh. Agh son nyn lheid as ta dy jarroo jannoo cooinsheanse jeh nyn raaidyn, yinnagh peiagh streeu dy yannoo nyn immeeaght rea as sauchey. | |
| Now; gain being the great and just end of trade, of which every man for himself must be judge; and consequently, too apt to be favourable to his own interest, I shall, therefore, recommend one very plain rule, which will go a great way towards directing every conscientious man of business, how to act safely with regard to gain. And this is—to take such a gain, advantage, or consideration, as the person with whom I deal would be satisfied with, if he knew my business as well as I do myself, and the reasons which oblige me to take such a profit. Whoever makes this his rule, his conscience will never reproach him of injustice. But if, instead of doing so, men will take all that they can get; make an hand of the ignorance, necessities, or simplicity, of those with whom they deal, they do what they must know to be unjust, and make themselves liable to one of the most difficult duties of Christianity, —and that is, Restitution, without which their repentance will not be accepted of God. | Nish; myr ta cosney yn ard oyr, as oyr lowal, jeh dellal, sheign da dy chooilley ghooinney briwnys er e hon hene; as myr shen, t’eh ro aarloo dy ve foayroil gys yn vondeish echey hene; Nee’m er-y-fa shen, [112] coyrlaghey shiu gys un rule plain, ver lane cooney da dooinney cooinsheansagh kys dy ymmyrkey eh-hene dy sauchey ayns e ghellal. As ta shen—dy ghoail lheid y cosney, vondeish, na price, as veagh yn persoon rish ta mee dellal booiagh jeh, dy beagh wheesh dy hoiggal echey jeh my vissness as t’aym-pene, as ny oyryn ta cur orrym goail lheid y cosney shen. Quoi-erbee ta gymmyrkey eh-hene er yn aght shoh, cha jean e chooinsheanse dy bragh deyrey eh son mee-chairys. Agh, ayns ynnyd shoh, my nee sleih goail dy chooilley vondeish oddys ad jeh mee-hushtey, feme, na bogganys ny persoonyn t’ad dellal roo, t’ad jannoo shen sheign fys vie ve oc hene ta mee-chairagh, as lhie ad hene fo unnane jeh ny cur’myn s’doillee jeh’n Chredjue Chreestee, as ta shen, dy yannoo lhiassaghey, ny egooish cha jean Jee soiaghey y yannoo jeh nyn arrys. | |
| But before we come to consider this duty of Restitution, I would add a few words concerning the now common, but scandalous,[32] crimes of pilfering and stealing. | Agh roish my jig mayd dy loayrt jeh’n currym shoh jeh jannoo Lhiassaghey, baillym hoshiaght red ennagh y ghra mychione ny peccaghyn nish cadjin, jeh mingeragh as geid. | |
| I am very sensible, that few of those who have fallen into these base, bewitching sins, will mind what can be said from the pulpit, or from the word of God. The Spirit of God saith indeed, [Zech. v. 4.] “That a curse or evil spirit entereth into the house of the thief, to consume it with the timber and stones.” But what will this signify to those that have neither faith, nor religion, nor shame, nor fear? | Smie ta mee toiggal, nagh nhimmey jeusyn ta er huittym gys ny peccaghyn scammyltagh, miolee shoh, ver geill da red erbee oddys ve rait veih’n phulpit, na veih Goo Yee. Ta Spyrryd Yee dy jarroo gra, [Zech. v. 4.] “Dy vel mollaght,” na drogh spyrryd, “goll stiagh ayns thie yn vaarliagh, [113] dy bollagh dy chur naardey yh, fuygh as clagh.” Agh cre’n greme nee shoh ’ghoail orroosyn ta gyn credjue, gyn cooinsheanse, gyn nearey, gyn aggle? | |
| But it will not, one would hope, be in vain to advise those who are not yet arrived to this height of sinning—to repent and leave it in time; for, be assured of it, that when a spirit of pilfering has once taken possession of a man, it will, if not resisted, lead him to every degree of that sin, till it brings him to ruin both of soul and body. And that it will be as difficult for him, whatever his condition in the world afterwards may be, to break off an habit of stealing, as it is for a drunkard, or a whoremaster, or a common swearer, to leave off those vices that are become a second nature to them. | Agh cha bee yh ayns fardail, ta mee treishteil, dy choyrlaghey adsyn nagh vel foast er jeet gys lheid yn yrjid phecca—dy ghoail arrys, as dy aagail jeh ayns traa; son bee-jee shickyr jeh, keayrt dy vel spyrryd dy vingeragh er ghoail holt er peiagh, mannagh shass eh noi, ver yh lesh eh gys dy chooilley vonney jeh’n phecca shen, derrey ver yh lesh eh gys toyrt-mouys chamma annym as callin: As bee yh cha doillee da, lhig da e stayd-heihltagh maghey shen ve ny saillish, dy aagail jeh’n cliaghtey dy gheid, as t’yh da’n meshtallagh, na’n maarderagh, na’n looder-cadjin, dy hreigeil ny peccaghyn shen ta er jeet dy ve aa-ghooghyssagh da. | |
| How exceeding careful, therefore, should parents be to discourage every the least degree of this sin, every shadow of it; to warn their children, over and over again, against so base, so scandalous a vice, which is so hard to be forsaken, so hard to be repented of. For restitution must be made, for all the sins we have been speaking of, as ever men hope for salvation, at least in the sincere endeavour. I will no more go about to prove that restitution is a necessary duty, than I would take pains to persuade you that robbing is a sin. Every man’s conscience, every man who dare ask his conscience, must tell him so. And if any man is easy under the guilt of this sin, he will be easy under the guilt of any other sin. For sure the same reason and justice, which oblige me to restore what I have borrowed, will oblige me make restitution for what I have wronged a man of. This being a certain truth, that all a man gets wrongfully is theft and robbery, and no better. | Cre cha erskyn-towse kiaralagh, er-y-fa shen, lhisagh ayraghyn as mayraghyn ve dy lhiettal dy chooilley vonney as keint jeh’n phecca shoh, yn eer chaslys sloo jeh; dy chur raue da nyn gloan harrish as harrish, noi lheid y phecca broghe scammyltagh, ta cha doillee dy ve treigit, as cha doillee dy ghoail arrys jeh. Son lhiassaghey sheign ve jeant, son ooilley ny peccaghyn ta shin er ve loayrt jeu, ec y chooid sloo ayns cree as aigney, my ta sleih dy bragh jerkal rish saualtys. Cha je’m ny smoo dy phrowal [114] diu dy vel lhiassaghey ny churrym ymmyrchagh, na ghoghe’in payns dy choyrlaghey shiu dy vel roosteyrys ny phecca. Sheign da cooinsheanse dy chooilley ghooinney s’loys fenaght jeh e chooinsheanse hene, ginsh da dy vel yh myr shen. As my ta peiagh erbee ec fea fo loght yn phecca shoh, bee eh ec fea fo loght dy chooilley phecca elley. Son shickyr yn un resoon as cairys ta kiangley mee dy eeck my eeasaght, nee shen m’y chiangley dy yannoo lhiassaghey son aggair erbee dy vel mee er n’yannoo. Son ta shoh ny ard firrinys, dy vel dy chooilley chosney aggairagh, eer maarlys as roosteyrys. | |
| Therefore, delay not, Christians, at the peril of your souls, to make satisfaction for any injustice or wrong you have done, while it is in your power. And if any scruple arises in your breast concerning the way of doing it, go to your Pastor, or to some person of judgment and discretion, who may be able to silence your doubts, and quiet your conscience. | Shen-y-fa, ny lhig-jee shaghey Chreesteenyn, ec gaue nyn anmeenyn, dy yannoo lhiassaghey son aggair na assee erbee ta shiu er n’yannoo, choud as t’yh ayns nyn booar. As my ta mee-hreishteil erbee girree ayns nyn greeaghyn mychione yn aght dy yannoo shoh, immee-jee gys nyn mochil-anmey, na gys Creestee creeney tushtagh ennagh elley, oddys liorish e choyrle chrauee lheihys nyn imnea. | |
| Without doing this, a man of any thought, can have no comfort either living or dying. This day (saith our Saviour to Zaccheus, Luke xix. [9].) [35] “This day is salvation come to thy house.” So that until he had sincerely resolved to make restitution, he was not in a state of salvation, he was in a state of perdition. | Fegooish jannoo shoh, cha vod dooinney dy smooinaghtyn erbee as veg y gherjagh y ve echey edyr son bioys na baase.[33] “Jiu,” as nyn Saualtagh rish Zaccheus, [Luke xix. 9.] “jiu ta saualtys er jeet gys dty hie.” Myr shen derrey v’eh kiarit veih e chree dy yannoo lhiassaghey, cha row eh ayns stayd dy haualtys, v’eh ayns stayd dy choayl-anmey. | |
| The law of God to the Israelites is so particular upon this head, that I must repeat it to you. [Lev. vi. 2.] “If a soul sin, [and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or] in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour, or hath found that which was lost, and [lieth concerning it …]; he shall restore it in the principal, and add a fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth. And then the Priest shall receive his trespass-offering, and make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.” And pray take notice, that this command did not concern such as were convicted of these crimes of injustice before a magistrate, but such whose own consciences accused them, and who desired peace and pardon from God. | [115] Ta leigh Yee gys ny Israeliteyn cha corrym shen gys y chooish shoh, dy nheign dou cheet harrish. [Lev. vi. 2, &c.] “My ta persoon erbee jannoo pecca as loght noi’n Chiarn, as dy breagagh gobbal da e naboo shen ny va currit da fo e churrym, na ayns dellal, na ayns nhee erbee t’er ny ghoail ersooyl lesh tranlaase, na t’er volley e naboo, na ta er gheddyn cooid-chailjey, &c. shen hene nee eshyn dy slane chyndaa reesht, as yn wheiggoo ayrn smoo y chur huggey, as ver eh shen dasyn te cair. As eisht nee’n Saggyrt lhiassaghey y yannoo er e hon, fenish y Chiarn, as bee yh er ny leih da.” As gow-jee tastey, guee-ym erriu, nagh row yn sarey shoh bentyn rish nyn lheid as va deyrit jeh ny loghtyn shen dy vee-chairys fenish yn briw, agh rish nyn lheid as va nyn gooinsheansyn dy gheyrey, as va geearree shee as pardoon veih Jee. | |
| This was the way prescribed by God himself. This is the voice of the Law and the Gospel; and, let me add, of natural reason. For every body, who has been wronged, expects satisfaction; and, if it is denied by men, is apt to appeal to God for justice and vengeance. So that the most ignorant know their duty in this case, and if they are loath to make restitution, it is because the fear of God is not in their hearts. They will venture their souls rather than part with what they have got. | Shoh va’n aght pointit liorish Jee hene. Shoh coraa yn leigh as yn Sushtal; as lhig dou gra, jeh resoon dooghyssagh neesht: son ta dy chooilley pheiagh ta er hurranse aggair jeeaghyn son lhiassaghey ve jeant da; as my ta shoh obbit da liorish deiney, t’eh aarloo dy yannoo peal gys Jee son cairys as cooilleen. Myr shen dy nheign da nyn gurrym ’sy chooish shoh ve toiggit liorish yn peiagh s’mee-hushtagh, as mannagh vel ad aggindagh dy yannoo lhiassaghey, te son nagh vel [116] aggle Yee ayns ny creeaghyn oc. Ny s’leaie na paartail rish ny t’ad er gheddyn, nee ad ventreil nyn anmeenyn. | |
| Christians, therefore, who wish well to themselves, and are convinced of the absolute necessity of this duty, will think before-hand, when they are tempted to any of the sins we have been speaking of—they will think, what a bitter cup they are preparing for themselves, if they give way to such temptations. | Creesteenyn, er-y-fa shen, ta wishal dy mie daue hene, as toiggal cre cha slane ymmyrchagh as ta’n churrym shoh, nee ad smooinaghtyn ro-laue, tra t’ad miolit gys veg jeh ny peccaghyn ta shin er ve loayrt jeu—smooinee ad cre’n cappan sharroo t’ad lhieeney daue hene my ver ad raad da lheid ny miolaghyn. | |
| Christians would do well to consider, how it was with Judas when his conscience was awake; —he valued the thirty pieces of silver no more than the very earth he trod upon; he flung them away; he confessed his injustice before the world; and would have given the world, if he had had it, to have had it in his power to have undone what he had been guilty of. And surely, this will be the case of every one, either now or hereafter, who knows he has done wrong, and will not be persuaded to make timely satisfaction. | Yinnagh Creesteenyn dy mie dy ghoail huc hene, cre va stayd Yuaase tra va e chooinsheanse er ny ghoostey: Cha ren eh soiaghey ny smoo jeh ny jeih peeshyn as feed ny argid, na jeh yn ooir fo e chassyn; cheau eh voish ad; ghow eh rish e vee-chairys fenish yn seihl; as v’eh er choyrt yn seihl mooar hene, my oddagh eh, son pooar dy rassey shen ve er ve foiljagh jeh. As dy feer, shoh vees cooish dy chooilley unnane, edyr ayns shoh na ny lurg shoh, ta fys echey dy vel eh er n’yannoo yn aggair as nagh bee coyrlit ayns traa dy yannoo lhiassaghey. | |
| On the other hand, a Christian who resolves to do his duty in this instance, to the best of his power, (for God expects no more,) by doing so, he gives glory to God; he acknowledges the justice of his laws, the power he has to punish offenders, his mercy in accepting the repentance of sinners upon the most equitable condition; he shews, that he fears God, and that he values the favour of God more than his own profit, or his own reputation; and has the surest proof and comfort, that his repentance is sincere, and his sin forgiven. | Er y cheu elley, Creestee ta fo dy yannoo e churrym ’sy chooish shoh, gys rere e phooar, (son cha vel Jee shirrey ny smoo) liorish jannoo shen, t’eh cur gloyr da Jee; t’eh goail-rish cairys e leighyn, e phooar dy cherraghey drogh-yantee, e vyghin ayns jannoo soiaghey jeh arrys pheccee er y chonaant [117] smoo cairal; t’eh soilshaghey, dy vel aggle er roish Jee, as dy vel eh soiaghey ny smoo jeh foayr Yee, na jeh e vondeish hene, na e ennym mie hene; as ta’n prowal as gerjagh shickyree echey, dy vel e arrys firrinagh, as e phecca er ny leih da. | |
| I shall conclude this article of Restitution with the words of that excellent, godly, Divine, Bishop Beveridge: “All persons that ever wronged any man of any thing, are bound to make restitution. All that by forging, or concealing of deeds, or tampering with witnesses, have got possession of other men’s estates. All that by robbing, or any kind of theft, have stolen what was their neighbours. All servants and apprentices, who neglect their master’s business, embezzle or purloin his goods. All that by false measures or weights impose upon their customers. All that conceal the faults of the goods they sell. All that cheat or over-reach those they deal with. All that by any wicked artifice defraud their creditors of what is their due. All that by smuggling of goods, forswearing themselves, or bribing others, with-hold from the King any part of his customs or other revenues, which the laws of God and of the land have given him a just right to. In short, all that have been either principals or accessaries in wronging any man of any thing, they are bound to make full restitution.” Thus far that good man. | Ver-ym jerrey er y chooish shoh jeh jannoo Lhiassaghey, lesh goan yn Fer-ynsee mie as crauee shen, Aspick Beveridge: “Dy chooilley phersoon ren rieau aggair da dooinney erbee ayns nhee erbee, t’eh kianlt dy yannoo lhiassaghey. Dy chooilley unnane ta liorish barganeyn foalsey, na keiltyn barganeyn, na liorish prowallyn oaiagh, er gheddyn possession jeh cummallyn sleih elley. Ooilley ta liorish roosteyrys, na keint erbee dy vaarlys, er gheid cooid nyn naboo. Dy chooilley sharvaant as prenteys ta meerioosagh ayns obbyr e vainshtyr, ta jummal na geid e chooid. Ad shen ooilley ta liorish towseyn na weightyn foalsey jannoo molteyrys orroosyn t’ad dellal roo. Ad shen ooilley ta keiltyn foiljyn y chooid t’ad dy chreck. Adsyn ooilley ta molley as goail vondeish. Adsyn ooilley ta liorish clukeyn leigh, na er aght erbee elley freayl nyn gooid hene vouesyn t’ad ayns lhiastynys daue. Adsyn ooilley ta liorish smugleraght cooid, goail loo-oaiagh, na bribeal feallagh elley dy yannoo shen, ta freayl veih’n Ree ayrn er[118]bee jeh e cheeshyn, na cheet-stiagh erbee elley ta cair da, liorish leighyn Yee as leighyn ny cheerey, Ayns fockle, ooilley ta er ve paart na aart ayns jannoo assee da dooinney erbee ayns red erbee, t’yh kianlt orroo dy yannoo slane Lhiassaghey.”—Choud shoh yn dooinney mie shoh. | |
| Now every serious Christian, who hears these things and lays them to heart, will reason and resolve with himself after some such way as this: | Nish nee dy chooilley Chreestee sheelt, ta clashtyn ny reddyn shoh, as goaill ad gys e chree, resooney as kiarail rish hene, ayns aght ennagh lheid shoh: | |
| —I see plainly that I [36] must not judge of the greatness of the fins of injustice and fraud, by the opinion and way of the world. But by the authority of God, who has forbidden them, by the punishments he has threatened, and by the mischiefs that attend them. Such sins, being committed without remorse are too often forgotten; and, it is to be feared, are too seldom repented of. I will not, therefore, let the love of the world possess my soul, lest it choke the seed of God’s word sown in my heart, and those truths which should keep me from ruin. Such as these: “He that hasteth to be rich, can hardly be innocent.” [Prov. xxviii. 2[0].] That all depends upon the blessing of God, which cannot be hoped for in unrighteous ways. That every man living has a right to be dealt with fairly and with justice. That neither life, nor happiness, consisteth in the abundance any man possesseth. That it will be no advantage to a man to have doubled his talents, if at the same time he has doubled his guilt. That posterity will feel the effects of my injustice; God having declared, that he will lay up the iniquities of sinners for their children. And lastly, “That there is nothing that a man can get in exchange for his soul.” | “’Smie ta mee toiggal nagh nheign dou briwnys jeh mooads ny peccaghyn dy vee-chairys as molteyrys liorish cliaghtey as smooinaghtyn y theihl, agh liorish torrity Yee ta er lhiettal ad, liorish ny kerraghyn t’eh er vaggyrt orroo, as ny seaghyn t’ad cur lhieu maroo. Myr ta lheid ny peccaghyn shoh jeant fegooish guin chooinsheanse, ro-vennic t’ad er nyn yarrood; as, ta aggle orrym, ro-anvennic arrys goit er nyn son. Cha lhig-ym, er-y-fa shen, da saynt-seihltagh goail possession jeh my annym, er-aggle dy der yh mou rass Goo Yee cuirt ayns my chree, as ny firrinyssyn shen lhisagh m’y reayl veih coayl-anmey. Nyn lheid shoh: Eshyn ta jannoo siyr dy ve berchagh, scoan oddys eh ve gyn loght. [Raaghyn Creeney xxviii. 20.] Dy vel ooilley lhie er bannaght Yee, cooid nagh vod ve jeeaghit er y hon ayns raaidyn neu-yeeragh. Dy vel cairys ec dy chooilley [119] ghooinney bio gys dellal onneragh as jeeragh. Nagh vel bioys dooinney na maynrys seihltagh shassoo ayns yn ymmodee cooid t’ec peiagh erbee. Nagh bee yh gys vondeish dooinney erbee dy vel eh er ghoobley e chooid-heihlt, my t’eh ec y traa cheddin er ghoobley e loght. Dy bee yn vee-chairys aym’s er ny cherraghey er my luight; son ta Jee er vockley magh, dy gooinee eh er mee-chairys pheccee cour nyn gloan. As er-jerrey, nagh vod dooinney geddyn coonrey corrym son e annym.” | |
| These considerations, I will dwell upon, will every serious Christian say, when he has beard them from the pulpit, or from God’s word. And may this be the resolution of every soul who has now heard these things, and attended to them. In order to this, 1 will leave a few things with you to be remembered. | Ny reddyn shoh, smooin-ym dy dowin orroo, nee dy chooilley Chreestee sheelt gra, tra t’eh er chlashtyn ad ayns sharmaneyn, na veih Goo Yee. As dy giall Jee, dy nee shoh vees kiarail dy chooilley annym ta nish er chlashtyn ny reddyn shoh, as hug geill daue. Cour shoh, faag-ym meriu ghaa na three dy chooishyn dy ve freilt ayns cooinaghtyn. | |
| Suppose, for example, you should see one of your poor neighbours wronged, or deprived of his just rights or goods, by robbery, by oppression, or by fraud. To see a whole family in trouble; their minds uneasy; their health and rest broken; their necessary business neglected; tempted to murmur against God; and to curse such as have been the occasion of their trouble. Let, I say, any body who has the least spark of humanity, grace, or goodness, see this; and say, whether this will not make him abhor, and resolve against, every instance of injustice, violence, and fraud, which must of necessity give his neighbour so much sorrow and grief of heart. | Cre my hee-agh shiu, son mac-soyley, unnane jeh nyn naboonyn boghtey wrongit, na spooillit jeh e chair na ’chooid, liorish roosteyrys, liorish tranlaase, na liorish molteyrys. Dy akin slane lught-thie ayns seaghyn; nyn aignaghyn trimshagh; nyn slaynt as fea er ny vrishey; nyn obbyr ymmyrchagh ny haue; miolit dy ve tallagh noi Jee; as dy ghuee mollaght orroosyn ta er ve oyr nyn seaghyn. Lhig, ta mee gra, peiagh erbee ta’n bine sloo dy ghiastyllys, dy ghrayse, as dy vieys ayn, [120] fakin shoh; as eisht lhig da gra nagh der shoh er dy chur feoh da, as dy chiarail noi dy chooilley cheint dy vee-chairys, tranlaase, as molteyrys, sheign wheesh dy sou-aigney as trimshey-chree y choyrt er e naboo. | |
| If this does not affect every one that sees or hears of it, (for there may be some people so destitute of humanity and grace, that provided they be easy, and can get or keep what they have gotten, are not much concerned for the sufferings of others.) Let us suppose we saw such a man upon his death-bed; his eyes open, his conscience awake; and calling to mind the evil he has done his neighbour; whether by cunning, power, violence, or fraud; dreading the consequence; not knowing how to make satisfaction for the injuries he has done; ashamed to own his crimes, and yet not able to bear the thoughts of them; just going to leave the world under the greatest uncertainties of what is like to be his portion in a very few hours perhaps. Can there be a case, a condition, more terrible, more miserable, than this? And yet, how many are there, who, in all human appearance, leave the world under these most astonishing circumstances! | Mannagh jean shoh meighey dy chooilley unnane ta fakin na clashtyn yh, (son foddee paart dy leih ve wheesh shen gyn dooghys as grayse, dy my houyr daue hene, as my oddys ad freayl ny ta oc, nagh nee mooarane ennaghtyn ta oc son surranse sleih elley.) Abbyr dy vel shin er vakin lheid y dooinney shen er e lhiabbee-vaaish; sooillyn e anmey foshlit, e chooinsheanse dooisht, as cooinaghtagh er yn olk t’eh er n’yannoo da e naboo, edyr liorish croutys, pooar, tranlaase, na molteyrys; atchimagh roish yn eiyrtys; ass e phooar dy yannoo lhiassaghey son yn aggair ve er n’yannoo: nearey er dy ghoail-rish e loghtyn, as ny-yeih cha n’oillee da smooinaghtyn orroo; just goll dy aagail yn seihl fo yn neu-hickyrys smoo cre ta licklee dy ve e chronney, foddee ayns traa feer gherrit. Vod cooish, vod stayd erbee ve ny s’atchimee, ny s’treih, na shoh? As ny yeih, cre wooad t’ayn, ayns dy chooilley chaslys, ta fagail yn seihl ayns y stayd smoo atchimagh shoh! | |
| Lastly; suppose people should be so thoughtless, so stupid, so ignorant, as to die without remorse, or fear; is their case any better, than that of those who die under the fear of God’s displeasure? —Can it be imagined, that their ignorance, or unconcernedness, will alter the decrees of God; who has expressly declared, that they that have done evil, and have not repented, shall go into everlasting fire? This should hinder Christians from doing to others what they would not have done to themselves. | Er-jerrey; Abbyr-jee dy beagh sleih wheesh gyn-thort, gyn mioyr-anmey, lesh cha beg dy hushtey, as dy gheddyn baase fegooish arrys na aggle; vel yn stayd oc shoh un oar[121]lagh share, na yn stayd ocsyn ta geddyn baase fo aggle jymmoose Yee? Vod yh ve smooinit dy jean nyn vee-hushtey, na nyn veggan imnea, caghlaa saraghyn Yee; eh ta dy baghtal er ockley magh, adsyn ta er n’yannoo dy olk, as nagh vel er ghoail arrys er y hon, dy jed ad gys yn aile dy bragh farraghtyn? Lhisagh shoh Creesteenyn y lhiettal veih jannoo rish feallagh elley, shen nagh bailliu ve jeant roo hene. | |
| Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, —with such a love as worketh no ill to his neighbour. Believe it, Christians, mine and your salvation depends upon the observation of this command of God. | Ver oo graih da dty naboo myr dhyt hene, —lheid y ghraih as nagh vel jannoo olk da e naboo. Cred-jee yh, Chreesteenyn, ta yn saualtys ayms, as yn saualtys euish lhie er freayl yn sarey shoh dy Yee. | |
| I pray God we may remember it; and pardon us whenever through frailty we are wanting to our duty—for Jesus Christ’s sake. | Dy der Jee dooin cooinaghtyn er; as dy bardoon eh shin, traa erbee trooid marvaneys ta shin failleilagh ayns nyn gurrym, er graih Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom, &c. | Huggeysyn, marish yn Ayr as y Spyrryd Noo, dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr, seihl gyn jerrey, Amen. | |
| [37] | [123] | |
| SERMON VI. | SHARMANE VI. | |
| THE TRUE WAY OF PROFITING BY THE PUBLICK WORSHIP. | Yn Aght firrinagh dy gheddyn Vondeish liorish Shirveish ny Killagh. | |
| VOUCHSAFE, O God, to direct me, and to bless this discourse to the benefit of my flock, and to all such as shall hear it; that they may glorify Thee for the blessings they shall receive by my ministry; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. | Dy gooidsave lhiat, O Yee, dy chur mee er my hoshiaght, as dy vannaghey yn Sharmane shoh son foays my Hioltane, as ooilley nee clashtyn yh; dy vod ad Uss y ghloyraghey son ny Bannaghtyn nee ad y gheddyn liorish y Chirveish ayms; trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh. Amen. | |
| i. Cor. xiv. 14. | i. Cor. xiv. 14. | |
| I will pray with the Understanding.[34] | Go’ym padjer lesh my hoiggal. | |
| WHEN one sees Christians coming constantly to church, without any visible benefit; without becoming more serious and devout at their prayers, or more regular in their lives; one cannot but conclude, either that they never ask those graces which they want, or that they ask and have not, because they ask amiss. | TRA ta peiagh fakin Creesteenyn cheet dy kinjagh gys y Cheeill, fegooish foays erbee ve ry akin liorish; fegooish ve ny s’crauee as ny s’jeean ec nyn badjeryn, na ny s’kiaraalee ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea; cha vod peiagh agh smooinaghtyn, edyr nagh vel ad dy bragh geearree ny grayseyn shen t’ad feme, na dy vel ad geearree as cha vel ad geddyn, er-y-fa dy vel ad geearree ass y raad. | |
| This is certain; that there is not any one grace, not one good thing, which either in duty, interest, or charity, we are bound to pray for, but what our Church has provided us proper prayers by which to ask them. And it is as certain, that God will hear us, and grant our petitions, “whenever we ask any thing according to his will [1 John v. 14.] | Ta shoh shickyr; nagh vel un ghrayse flaunyssagh, na red mie erbee, ta shin edyr [124] liorish currym, nyn voays hene, na giastyllys, kianlt dy phrayil er y hon, nagh vel yn Agglish ain er chur roin padjeryn cooie lioroo dy yeearree ad. As t’yh cha shickyr cheddin, dy jean Jee clashtyn rooin, as coyrt dooin nyn aghinyn “traa erbee dy vel shin geearree nhee erbee cordail rish e aigney.” [1 Ean v. 14.] | |
| There must, therefore, be some very great fault, when the generality of Christians (to the great scandal of the religion they profess) do all their life long, pray for graces and blessings which they never obtain. They must have been either ignorantly, or carelessly, or wilfully, wanting to themselves, when they return so often from the House of God without benefit, and without a blessing; when it is most certain, that God designed these solemn meetings as the greatest of blessings; as the best opportunity of fitting ourselves for heaven and happiness. | Shen-y-fa, sheign da foill vooar ve raad ennagh, tra ta’n chooid smoo dy Chreesteenyn (gys scammylt mooar yn chredjue t’ad er ghoail orroo) yn ayrn smoo jeh nyn mea guee son grayseyn as bannaghtyn nagh vel ad dy bragh cosney. Sheign daue, edyr dy mee-hushtagh, dy mee-chiaralagh, na jeh nyn yoin, v’er hassoo magh noi nyn vondeish hene, tra t’ad cha mennic goll veih Thie Yee fegooish foays, as fegooish bannaght; tra t’yh feer shickyr, dy ren Jee kiarail ny meeteilyn crauee shoh myr ny bannaghtyn smoo; myr yn caa share dy yannoo shin hene cooie cour niau as maynrys. | |
| We will therefore consider, what may be the real cause of so great unfruitfulness under such powerful ordinances, and means of grace and salvation. | Lhig dooin briaght er-y-fa shen, cre oddys ve yn oyr firrinagh dy vel Creesteenyn cha neu-vessoil fo oardaghyn cha breeoil, as saaseyn dy ghrayse as saualtys. | |
| In the first place, then, it is but too plain, that very many come to church merely out of custom; many only to avoid the reproach of having no religion; and most of all do not consider what they come to church for, what they want, what they pray for. And so it comes to pass, that Christians confess their sins, without being sensible of the danger of being sinners. They hear the most gracious terms of pardon declared, and the absolution pronounced, without receiving the comfort and benefit [38] thereof. They repeat the most divine and powerful prayer of our Lord, without considering the majesty of Him to whom they speak, or his wonderful goodness in permitting them to come to him as to a father. They repeat his praises in the psalms and hymns without any true devotion; and they hear his word, his commands, his promises, and his judgments, without being moved by them to mend their lives. | Ayns y chied ynnyd, eisht, t’yh ro-phlain, dy vel ymmodee sleih cheet gys y Cheeill trooid eer chliaghtey; ymmodee ynrycan dy haghney yn oltooan dy vee-chredjue; as ta’n chooid smoo ooilley nagh vel smooinaghtyn [125] roo-hene cre hon t’ad cheet gys y cheeill, cre t’ad feme, cre t’ad goail padjer er y hon. As shoh myr t’yh, dy vel Creesteenyn goail-rish nyn beccaghyn, fegooish toiggal yn danjere ta liorish ve peccee. T’ad clashtyn ny conaantyn smoo graysoil jeh pardoon er ny hoilshaghey, as leih peccaghyn er ny ockley magh, fegooish geddyn gerjagh na vondeish lioroo. T’ad goll harrish padjer smoo flaunyssagh as breeoil nyn Jiarn, fegooish dy cooie smooinaghtyn er yn Ard-ooashley Echeysyn rish t’ad loayrt, na e vieys yindyssagh ayns dy vel eh lhiggey daue cheet huggey myr gys Ayr. T’ad fockley magh e voylley ayns ny psalmyn as arraneyn-moyllee fegooish arrym cooie; as t’ad clashtyn e ghoo, e haraghyn, e ghialdynyn, as e vriwnyssyn, fegooish ve coyrlit lioroo dy lhiassaghey nyn mea. | |
| In short, they solemnly profess their faith in God; they ask of him all necessary graces and blessings; they say Amen to prayers which they have never attended to; and hear a blessing pronounced by the Minister of God, to which God has annexed an especial grace and blessing. And after all this, too often return home —without any benefit, without a blessing. | Ayns fockle, t’ad er aght crauee goail-rish nyn gredjue ayns Jee; t’ad geearree er dy chooilley ghrayse as bannaght t’ad feme; t’ad gra Amen gys padjeryn nagh dug ad rieau geill daue; as clashtyn bannaght er ny ockley magh orroo liorish Saggyrt Yee, cooid da ta Jee er ghialdyn ard-ghrayse as bannaght. As lurg ooilley shoh, ro-vennic goll thie —fegooish foays, na bannaght erbee. | |
| Our Saviour Christ will give you the true reason of this: [Matt. xv. 7.] “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” This was the case of the Jews (you see) before their final destruction. Let us take care that this be not our case and our fate. | Ver nyn Saualtagh Creest yn oyr firrinagh diu son shoh: [Mian xv. 8.] “Ta’n pobble shoh tayrn er-gerrey dou lesh nyn meeal, [126] as cur ooashley dou lesh nyn meillyn, agh ta’n cree oc foddey voym.” Shoh va cooish ny Hewnyn (ta shiu fakin) roish yn cragh s’jerree haink er yn ashoon shen. Lhig dooinyn kiarail y ghoail nagh bee shoh yn chooish as y chronney ain-hene. | |
| To prevent this, I will set before you —the true way of profiting by the publick worship of God; and what every devout Christian, who hopes for God’s blessing, should endeavour to do, in order to obtain it. | Dy haghney shoh, soie-ym rhymbiu yn aght firrinagh dy ve ny share liorish ooashlaghey Jee ayns shirveish foshlit ny killagh; as cre lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee crauee, ta treishteil son bannaght Yee, streeu dy yannoo, reih shen y chosney. | |
| He should, in the first place, endeavour (when he is about to go to worship God) he should endeavour to possess his heart with a true sense of his sad condition without the grace of God. This is by the Spirit of God, most lively represented in these words, [Rev. iii. 17.] “Thou sayst, I have need of nothing; and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked?” | Lhisagh eh, ayns y chied ynnyd, jannoo e chooid share (tra t’eh goll mysh shirveish Yee) lhisagh eh jannoo e chooid share dy ghoail gys e chree ennaghtyn firrinagh jeh’n stayd treih t’eh ayn fegooish grayse Yee. Ta shoh, liorish Spyrryd Yee, dy feer vreeoil er ny hoilshaghey ayns ny goan shoh, [Ashlish y Noo Ean iii. 17.] “T’ou gra, cha vel mee feme nhee erbee; as cha vel oo goail hood hene dy vel oo treih, as seaghnit, as boght, as doal, as rooisht” | |
| This is yours, and mine, and every man’s sad condition by nature, and destitute of the grace of God. We are wretched and miserable sinners, and unless God pardons us, we are for ever undone. We are poor and weak creatures, in danger to be ruined (as Job was) by our adversary the devil. We are blind, and in the dark, as to every thing relating to our happiness or misery. And we are naked, and destitute of every virtue that might recommend us to the favour of God. | Shoh’n stayd treih euish, as ayms, as jeh dy chooilley ghooinney liorish dooghys, as ta fegooish grayse Yee. Ta shin peccee hreih as mee-vaynrey; as son dy bragh caillit, mannagh jean Jee shin y phardooney. Ta shin cretooryn boghtey as faase, ayns danjere dy ve creuit, (myr va Job) liorish nyn noid y Jouyl. Ta shin doal, as ayns y dorraghys, mychione [127] dy chooilley nhee ta bentyn gys nyn maynrys as nyn dreihys. As ta shin rooisht as follym jeh dy chooilley ghrayse oddagh shin y choyrt ayns foayr rish Jee. | |
| These are the thoughts which we should take along with us to the House of God; and we should consider what we are going thither for; viz. To beg of God to pardon and forgive us our sins. To give God thanks for the mercies and favours which he has vouchsafed us. To learn how we may live so as to please God. To make a publick and open profession of our faith; and to ask such things as are needful both for our souls and bodies. This is truly to pray with the understanding. | T’ad shoh ny smooinaghtyn lhisagh shin cur lhien marin gys thie Yee; as lhisagh shin smooinaghtyn dy dowin cre hon ta shin goll gys shen; ta shen, dy ghuee er Jee dy phardooney as dy leih dooin nyn beccaghyn; dy choyrt booise da Jee son ny myghinyn as ny foayryn s’cooidsave leshyn dy stowal orrin; dy ynsaghey dooin kys lhisagh shin leeideil nyn mea dy vooiys Jee; dy ghoail-rish nyn gredjue dy foshlit, as dy yeearree lheid ny reddyn shen as ta ymmyrchagh chamma son nyn anmeenyn as son nyn gallinyn. Ta shoh son firrinys dy ghoail padjer lesh nyn doiggal. | |
| Now; every Christian, who has these things in his mind and at heart, will, when he goes to church, be very serious; endeavour to lay aside all worldly thoughts; and will beg of God to dispose and assist him in the work he is going about. And it is for this reason that all well taught Christians, do fall upon their knees as soon as they come into the church, and pray to God to prevent them, by his grace and spirit. And that the most unlearned Christian may not want words, the church has provided a most excellent prayer, to be made use of before we begin any work of moment; and which all Christians may learn, being so often repeated in the publick service, as follows: —“Prevent us, O Lord, in all doings, with thy most gracious favour,” &c. | Nish; dy chooilley Chreestee, ta goail ny reddyn shoh dy dowin gys e aigney as e chree, tra t’eh goll gys y cheeill, bee eh feer serious; nee eh streeu dy chur gy-lhiattee dy chooilley chiarail seihltagh, as guee gys Jee dy leeideil as dy niartaghey eh ayns yn obbyr t’eh goll mysh. As shoh yn oyr dy vel dy chooilley Chreestee mie-ynsit ayns e churrym, goll er e ghlioonyn cha leah as t’eh cheet stiagh ayns y cheeill, as goail padjer gys Jee dy ve marish liorish e ghrayse as spyrryd. As son nagh bee yn Creestee s’neu-ynsit fegooish goan cooie, ta’n Agglish er [128] chiarail padjer erskyn-towse mie dy ve er ny ghoail roish my jed mayd mysh obbyr erbee dy scainsh; padjer oddys dy chooilley Chreestee gynsagh, myr t’ee cha mennic er ny ghra ayns shirveish ny killagh;—myr shoh: “Gow roin, O Hiarn, ayns ooilley nyn yannoo lesh dty oayr smoo graysoil,” &c. | |
| And here let me give you, and beg you to remember, one most excellent rule of a Christian Life: —Never to undertake any business without praying to God in this, or some such prayer, to prevent and prosper you. Whoever conscientiously observes this rule, will be hindered from doing many things which the world counts innocent, and which must afterwards be repented of. For who can, who dare, say this prayer, and beg of God to prevent him with his gracious favour, and further [39] him with his help, when he is going to do a thing which he knows, or suspects, either to be unjust, unfit for a Christian man to do, or displeasing to God? | As ayns shoh lhig dou soiagh rhimbiu, as guee erriu dy chooinaghtyn er, un rule erskyn-towse vondeishagh son bea Creestee:—gyn dy bragh dy ghoail ayns laue obbyr erbee fegooish guee gys Jee ayns goan y phadjer shoh, na ’lheid elley, eh dy gholl meriu as dy chur shiu er nyn doshiaght. Quoi-erbee ta dy chooinsheansagh geiyrt da’n rule shoh, bee eh er ny lhiettal veih jannoo red ny-gha ta’n seihl goail dy ve gyn loght, as jeh sheign maghey shen arrys ve goit. Son quoi oddys, quoi s’loys gra yn phadjer shoh, as guee er Jee dy gholl roish lesh e oayr graysoil, as dy chur er y hoshiaght eh lesh e chooney, tra t’eh goll dy yannoo red ta fys echey, na auryssagh [sic: ouryssagh] dy ve edyr neu-chairal, na neu-chooie da dooinney Creestee dy yannoo, na neu-vooisal da Jee. | |
| Let us now return to the consideration of the publick worship. And I must repeat it again, and beseech you to remember it; that the only way to have your persons and your prayers accepted, is to come before God with an humble, penitent, and obedient heart. It is for this reason you are put in mind, “That a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.” And you have a convincing proof of this, in the person of the Publican, mentioned by our Saviour; who, out of a deep sense of his sins and unworthiness, “durst not lift up his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful unto me a sinner.” Which holy indignation, and condemning himself, after so penitent a manner, procured for him the pardon of his sins; the very greatest blessing he could, or we can, ask or obtain of God. | Lhig dooin nish cheet reesht dy loayrt mychione shirveish ny killagh. As sheign dou cheet harrish reesht, as guee erriu dy chooinaghtyn er, dy nee yn ynrycan aght dy gheddyn soiaghey jeant jeh nyn bersoonyn as nyn badjeryn ta, dy heet kionfenish Jee lesh [129] cree imlee; arryssagh, as ammyssagh. Son yn oyr shoh t’yh dy vel shiu er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn, “nagh jean Jee soiaghey beg jeh cree brish as arryssagh.” As ta prowal fondagh eu jeh shoh, ayns persoon y Phublican, ta nyn Saualtagh gimraa er; quoi, trooid ennaghtyn dowin jeh e pheccaghyn as neu-feeuid, “nagh b’loys wheesh as troggal seose e hooillyn gys niau, agh woaill eh er e chleeu, gra, dy row Jee myghinagh dooys ta my ghooinney peccoil.” Yn jymmoose crauee shoh, as deyrey eh-hene lurg aght cha arryssagh, hooar da leih e pheccaghyn; yn eer bannaght smoo oddagh eshyn, na shinyn, geearree na geddyn veih Jee. | |
| On the other hand; if we present ourselves before God, after a careless, indecent manner, with a vain confidence and satisfaction that we are not as great sinners as some others; our very prayers will be turned into sin, and we shall leave the church without a pardon, and without a blessing. To prevent this; when you hear the sentences read with which the publick service begins, attend to them with seriousness; and, in order to stir up your devotion, apply them to yourself in some such short prayers as these following:— | Er y cheu elley, my ta shin chebbal shin-hene fenish Jee, ayns aght almoragh, neu-feeudagh, lesh barrantys fardalagh as brynneragh rooin hene nagh vel shinyn nyn beccee wheesh as ta feallagh elley; bee eer nyn badjeryn er nyn jyndaa gys pecca, as faagee mayd y cheeill fegooish pardoon, as fegooish bannaght. Dy lhiettal shoh, tra ta shiu clashtyn ny viersyn er nyn lhaih, lhieu ta’n chirveish goail toshiaght, cur-jee geill vie daue; as, dy ghriennaghey nyn graueeaght, gow-jee ad hiu-hene ayns lheid ny padjeryn giarey shoh:— | |
| For example: If this sentence shall be read:— “When the wicked man turneth away from” &c. —say secretly to yourself; Turn thou me, O good Lord, and so shall I be turned. Or if this sentence shall be read— “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses,” &c. —you may say in your heart; It is of the Lord’s mercies that my sins have not been my ruin. Or suppose this sentence has been read— “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,” &c. —you may say in your heart, But most unfit is mine to be to God presented, until I have obtained his pardon for the many sins by which it has been defiled. Or if this sentence shall be read— “Turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,” &c. —say secretly, God grant that I may never abuse this goodness and patience of God, which is designed to lead me to repentance. While this sentence is reading— “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,” &c. —think with yourself with what an humble, penitent heart this poor prodigal said these words, and endeavour to possess your own heart with the same devout affections. Lastly, when this sentence shall be read— “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” &c. —a devout and penitent soul will pour out some such secret ejaculation as this: The very best of men have need of mercy and pardon; how much more such a miserable sinner as I am! —“I will acknowledge my sin unto God, and mine iniquities will I not hide.” | Son mac-soyley: My ta’n vierse shoh er ny lhaih, “Tra ta’n dooinney mee-chrauee chyndaa ersooyl veih” &c. abbyr ayns dty [130] chree; “Chyndaa uss mee, O Hiarn vie, as myr shen bee’m er my hyndaa.” Na my vees yn vierse shoh er ny lhaih; “Gys y Chiarn y Jee ain ta bentyn myghin as sleih [sic: leih] peccaghyn,” &c. foddee oo gra ayns dty chree, She veih myghinyn y Chiarn t’yh nagh vel my pheccaghyn er my choyrt mou. Na abbyr dy vel yn vierse shoh er ve lhaiht; “Ta ourallyn Yee spyrryd seaghnit; cree brish as arryssagh,” &c. foddee oo gra myrgeddin, Agh feer neu-chooie ta’n cree ayms dy ve chebbit da Jee, derrey ta mee er gheddyn e phardoon son ny ymmodee peccaghyn lioroo t’yh er ve jeant neu-ghlen. Na my vees shoh er ny lhaih, “Raip-jee nyn greeaghyn, as cha nee nyn goamraghyn, as chyndaa-jee gys y Chiarn y Jee eu: son t’eh graysoil as myghinagh, moal gys corree,” &c. abbyr rhyt hene, Dy giall Jee nagh jean-yms dy bragh drogh ymmyd jeh mieys as surranse-foddeey Yee, ta kiarit dy leeideil mee gys arrys. Choud’s ta’n vierse shoh dy lhaih, “Trog-yms orrym, as h’em roym gys m’ayr, as jir-ym rish,[”] &c. smooinee rhyt hene lesh cre’n cree imlee, arryssagh dooyrt yn stroialtagh boght shoh ny goan shoh, as streeu dy ghoostey ayns dty chree ny yeearreeyn crauee cheddin. Er-jerrey, tra ta’n vierse shoh er ny lhaih, “My ta shin gra dy vel shin gyn pecca, ta shin molley shin hene, as cha vel yn irriney ain,” &c. nee annym crauee as arryssagh goail lheid ny smooinaghtyn shoh: Ta feme [131] ec ny eer deiney share er myghin as pardoon; cre wooad smoo ec lheid yn peccagh treih as ta mish! “Go’ym rish my phecca gys Jee, my vee-chraueeaght cha jean-ym y chieltyn.” | |
| By this method, you will keep your mind intent upon the great work you are about; you will go through the whole service with devotion; “you will pray with the understanding:” And you will accustom yourself to apply every scripture to your own case. | Er yn aght shoh, nee shiu freayl nyn aignaghyn soit er yn obbyr vooar ta shiu mysh; hed shiu trooid yn slane shirveish lesh craueeaght; “nee shiu goail padjer lesh nyn doiggal:” As nee shiu cliaghtey shiu-hene dy ghoail dagh scripture myr rait riu-hene. | |
| But be sure you take this consideration along with you; and I beseech you to remember it as long as you live; —That you are not going to make your address to God for yourself only, but for every Christian in the whole world. For, as we are all members of that body of which Jesus Christ is the head; we are every one of us bound (as we hope to meet in heaven) to pray for, and to do good to, every member of that body. Think seriously of this, and it will quicken your charity, and mightily stir up your devotion, when you consider, that you are going to pray for millions of millions of Christians, and that millions of Christians are praying for you; [40] and that, as you sincerely pray for others, God will most surely hear their prayers for you. And then, with what satisfaction and comfort will you leave the church, when you consider that you have been a real benefactor to an infinite number of miserable Christians; by praying for all that are in errors, or want the necessary means of instruction; for all that labour under trials and afflictions; for all that are in pain of body or anguish of mind; for all that are in slavery, under persecution, in poverty, or in prison; for all that are under temptations, or in danger of falling into despair; and lastly, for all sick and dying persons. | Agh erskyn ooilley gow yn choyrle shoh mayrt; as ta mee guee ort dy chooinaghtyn er choud as s’bio oo; Nagh vel oo goll dy yannoo dty aghinyn gys Jee er dty hon hene ny lomarcan, agh son dy chooilley Chreestee er eaghter ny hooirey. Son, myr ta shin ooilley oltyn jeh’n chorp jeh ta Yeesey Creest yn kione; ta shin dagh unnane j’in kainlt (myr ta shin treishteil dy veeteil ayns flaunys) dy ghoail padjer son, as dy yannoo mie da dy chooilley olt jeh’n chorp cheddin. Smooinee dy dowin er shoh, as nee yh dty ghiastyllys y vishaghey, as dy pooaral greinnagh dty chraueeaght, tra t’ou goail ayd hene, dy vel oo goll dy ghoail padjer son millaghyn dy villaghyn dy Chreesteenyn, as dy vel millaghyn dy Chreesteenyn goail padjer er dty hon’s; as rere myr t’ou dy firrinagh prayil son feallagh elley, nee Jee son shickyrys clashtyn ny padjeryn ocsyn er dty hon’s. As eisht, lesh cre’n boggey as gerjagh aagys oo yn cheeill, tra [132] t’ou cooinaghtyn dy vel oo er ve jannoo thurn creestee er earroo erskyn earroo dy Chreesteenyn seaghnit;—liorish goail padjer son ooilley ta ayns shaghrynys, na laccal ny saaseyn ymmyrchagh dy ynsagh; son ooilley ta tooilleil fo croshyn as seaghyn; son ooilley ta ayns pian callinagh, na angaish aigney; son ooilley ny ta ayns bondiaght, fo tranlaase, ayns boghtynid, na pryssoon; son ooilley ta fo miolaghyn, na ayns danjere jeh roie ayns mee-hreishteil jeh myghin Yee; as er-jerrey, son dy chooilley phersoon ching as ayns raad y vaaish. | |
| Besides this, you have had an opportunity of shewing your gratitude, by praying, and praising God for all your benefactors; as also of shewing your charity, by praying for your enemies. And lastly, of begging graces and blessings for all your friends and relations, and for all that have desired your prayers. | Marish shoh, ta caa ayd dy hoilshaghey dty vooise, liorish prayil as coyrt moylley da Jee son ooilley dty oaysyderyn: as myrgeddin jeh soilshaghey dty ghiastyllys, liorish goail padjer son dty noidyn; As er-jerrey, jeh guee son grayseyn as bannaghtyn son ooilley dty chaarjyn as sleih-mooinjerey, as son ooilley ta er yeearree dty phadjeryn. | |
| If any considerations will make a Christian serious and devout at his prayers, surely these will:— That he is doing a work the most pleasing to God; that he is going to do himself, and all his fellow Christians, the greatest good that can be thought of. | My nee smooinaghtyn erbee cur er Creestee ve creeoil as crauee ec e phadjeryn, shickyr nee ad shoh:— Dy vel eh jannoo obbyr s’booisal ta da Jee, as dy vel eh mysh jannoo da hene, as da ooilley e heshaghyn Creestee, yn vie smoo oddys ve smooinit er. | |
| Well then, with these dispositions and with these views, you begin your prayers in an humble confession of your own sins, and the sins of all others; without which none of our prayers will be accepted; (for a sinner can make no prayer that will be heard, but for the grace of conversion only.) | Well, eisht, lesh ny yeearreeyn shoh, as lesh ny kiarailyn crauee shoh, ta shiu goail toshiaght ayns nyn badjeryn ayns dy imlee [133] goail-rish nyn beccaghyn hene, as peccaghyn dagh unnane elley; ny egooish cha bee soiagh jeant jeh veg jeh nyn badjeryn; (son cha vod peccagh goail padjer erbee vees er ny chlashtyn, agh ynrycan son y ghrayse jeh lhiassaghey-bea.) | |
| When the congregation are making this confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon their knees; if there be any so ill taught, or so ignorant of their duty, as wilfully to refuse to put themselves into this humble posture; one may, without any breach of charity, conclude—that man does not know himself to be a miserable sinner; or he does not consider, that his prayers will be rejected; or he does not believe, that hell fire will one day be the portion of unpardoned sinners; if he did, he would think no posture too painful by which he might obtain God’s pardon and blessing. | Tra ta’n cheshaght Chreestee goail-rish nyn beccaghyn gys Jee Ooilley-niartal dy imlee gliooney er nyn ghlioonyn; my ta veg lesh cha beg dy ynsagh na cha neu-hushtagh jeh nyn gurrym, as dy moyrnagh dy obbal dy chur ad hene ayns yn aght imlee cheddin; foddee fer, fegooish neu-ghiastyllys, gra—nagh vel yn dooinney shen toiggal eh hene dy ve ny pheccagh treih; nagh vel eh goail huggey hene nagh bee soiagh jeant jeh e phadjeryn; na cha vel eh credjal dy bee aile niurin un laa cronney peccee nagh vel er nyn bardooney; dy beagh eh, cha smooinagh eh aght erbee ro-injil liorish oddagh eh geddyn pardoon as bannaght veih Jee. | |
| To proceed: —After this confession follows the absolution; not to be repeated by you, but by the Minister of God only; and in the name, and by the authority, of God. | Dy gholl er my hoshiaght:— Erreish dooin myr shoh er ghoail-rish nyn beccaghyn, ta cheet yn Absolution; dy ve rait, cha nee lieriuish, agh liorish Saggyrt Yee ny lomarcan; ayns ennym, as liorish tority Yee. | |
| Ignorant people may suggest, that we take upon us to pardon sins, which we acknowledge none but God can do. But sure God can send his pardon, as well as a king can send his, by what hands he thinks fit. And if he has committed this ministry of reconciliation to his own Ministers, (as St. Paul assures he has done) who will be so perverse as to refuse so great a mercy, though it comes through the hands of a man like themselves? | Foddee sleih mee-hushtagh gra, dy vel shin goail orrin dy leih peccaghyn, cooid ta shin goail-rish nagh vod unnane agh ynrycan Jee hene y yannoo. Agh shickyr foddee Jee e phardoon hene y choyrt [134] magh, chamma as oddys Ree hallooinagh coyrt magh yn pardoon echeysyn, liorish chaghter erbee dy naillish. As my t’eh er churmal er e Hirveishee hene yn shirveish shoh dy choardail, (myr ta’n Noo Paul shickyraghey dy vel eh) quoi vees cha roonagh as dy obbal lheid yn ard vyghin, ga dy vel yh cheet liorish shirveish dooinney casley roo-hene? | |
| Pray remember the behaviour of no less a man than king David; who thought himself happy that he could receive absolution by the mouth of his subject Nathan; who, upon his confession, declared, “God hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die.” [2 Sam. xii. 13.] | Guee-ym erriu dy chooinaghtyn kys ren yn ard dooinney shen, Ree David, eh-hene y ymmyrkey ’sy chooish shoh; quoi ren goail yh myr ard-vannaght dy gheddyn pardoon liorish beeal e harvaant Nathan; ren, tra ghow eh rish e phecca, fockley magh “Ta Jee er choyrt ersooyl dty phecca, cha vou baase.” [2 Sam. xii. 13.] | |
| God bestows his blessings of pardon and peace, according to his own appointment. He has appointed his Ministers to baptize you for the remission of sins. And in order to assure to you the pardon of your sins, they are ordained to administer to you the other Holy Sacrament. | Ta Jee stowal orrin e vannaghtyn jeh pardoon as shee, cordail rish yn oardagh echey hene. T’eh er phointeil e Haggyrtyn dy vashtey shiu son leih peccaghyn. As dy chur shickyrys diu dy vel nyn beccaghyn er nyn bardooney, t’eh oardit dy hirveish erriu yn Sacrament Casheric elley. | |
| Jesus Christ empowered his Ministers not only to pray for, but to give with effect, the blessings of peace and happiness, which none but God can give, to every son of peace, i. e. to every person qualified to receive such a blessing. [Luke x. 6.] Even so every Christian, duly qualified by true repentance, and faith unfeigned, may have the comfort of hearing his pardon pronounced by God’s own ambassador, pursuant to Christ’s own power and authority. | Hug Yeesey Creest pooar da e Hirveishee cha nee ny lomarcan dy ghoail padjer son, agh dy breeoil dy hirveish erriu ny bannghtyn dy hee as maynrys, cooid oddys Jee ynrycan y choyrt, da dy chooilley vac shee, ta shen, da dy chooilley phersoon cooie son lheid y bannaght. [Luke x. 6.] Eer myr [135] shen, foddee dy chooilley Chreestee, jeant cooie liorish arrys firrinagh, as credjue firrinagh, yn gerjagh y gheddyn dy chlashtyn e phardoon focklit magh liorish chaghter Yee hene, cordail rish pooar as ard-reill Chreest hene. | |
| But that God may render this pardon, by the mouth of his Minister, more effectual; every true penitent would do well to receive, and apply it to himself, in some such secret prayer as this following: —May this pardon, O Lord, fall upon my soul, [41] and seal the forgiveness of all my sins. This one would recommend again and again to every devout Christian, as what would be attended with the greatest comfort and assurance of his pardon being sealed in Heaven. | Agh dy vod Jee cur er yn pardoon shoh liorish beeal e Hirveishagh dy ve ny s’breeoil; yinnagh dagh peccagh arryssagh dy mie dy ghoail huggey hene yh, ayns padjer ennagh follit lheid shoh:— “Giall, O Hiarn, da’n pardoon shoh dy lhiantyn rish my annym, as sealal leih ooilley my pheccaghyn!” Gys shoh yinnagh fer dy jeean coyrlaghey dy chooilley Chreestee crauee, myr red jeh’n gherjagh smoo, as shickyrys dy row yn pardoon echey jeant mie ayns niau. | |
| The next thing which we are directed to do, is —to address our Heavenly Father in a prayer appointed by the Son of God himself. This consideration should oblige us always to say this prayer with the greatest attention, deliberation, devotion, and zeal; that God may hear us according to the full importance of this most comprehensive prayer. | Yn nah red ta shin ynsit dy yannoo, t’yh—dy ghuee gys nyn Ayr Flaunyssagh ayns padjer ta pointit liorish Mac Yee hene. Lhisagh yn smooinaght shoh cur orrin dy kinjagh gra yn phadjer shoh lesh yn gheill, yn chiarail, yn chraueeaght, as yn jeeanid smoo; dy vod Jee clashtyn y choyrt dooin cordail rish slane bree yn phadjer shen ta wheesh dy roshtyn ayn. | |
| And now we are qualified to praise God, and to give him thanks for all his mercies; which we are to do in the following psalms and hymns: And pray take notice, that the psalms are appointed to be read over, no less than twelve times in every year, for this great and good reason; that we may learn (by hearing and repeating them so often) to pray to, and praise God, in the very words or expressions of the Holy Ghost; which, to be sure, will always be most acceptable to the Divine Majesty. | As nish ta shin cooie dy choyrt moylley da Jee, as dy choyrt booise da son ooilley e vyghinyn; cooid ta shin dy yannoo ayns ny Psalmyn as Arraneyn-moyllee ta cheet geiyrt urree: As guee-ym erriu gow-jee tastey, dy [136] vel ny Psalmyn pointit dy ve lhaiht harrish, choud as daa cheayrt jeig dy chooilley vlein, son yn oyr mooar as mie shoh; dy vod mayd gynsagh (liorish clashtyn as gra ad cha mennic) dy ghoail padjer gys as dy choyrt moylley da Jee, ayns eer goan as glare yn Spyrryd Noo; cooid vees, son shickyrys, dy kinjagh feer vooisal da’n Ard-ooashley Flaunyssagh. | |
| Then follows a lesson out of the Old Testament. The Old Testament was written in order to establish the great article of a Divine Providence; and to give men right notions of God’s glorious perfections, of his almighty power, his infinite wisdom, his justice, goodness, and truth. | Eisht ta cheet Lessoon ass y Chenn Chonaant. [yn Vible.] Va’n Chenn Chonaant scruit dy hickyraghey yn banglane mooar shen, Ard-chiaralys Yee; as dy choyrt toiggal cairal da deiney jeh ard-foaysyn gloyroil Yee, jeh e phooar ooilley-niartal, e chreenaght erskyn earroo, e chairys, e vieys, as e irrinys. | |
| When the Minister saith, here beginneth the lesson, —say in your heart—God is going to speak to me; shall I not vouchsafe to hear him with attention? God grant that I may hear, and understand, and bring forth fruit an hundred-fold. | Tra ta’n Saggyrt gra, Ta’n lessoon goit ass, &c. —abbyr ayns dty chree —“Nish ta Jee goll dy loayrt rhyms; nagh gooidsave lhiam geaishtagh rish dy tastagh? Dy giall Jee dou dy chlashtyn, dy hoiggal, as dy ymmyrkey magh mess keead filley.” | |
| It is in these books, that we have an account of what has happened from the creation to the coming of Christ, and particularly of the two states of man, his innocency, and his fall. That God having made man, he promised to make him happy for ever, if he would be obedient to his commands: But man, failing in this, forfeited all his right to eternal happiness, and became subject to sin and to death. That to convince us of his infinite goodness, love, and mercy, from the moment man fell, God promised a Redeemer, for whose sake his repentance should be accepted, on condition he would live according to that light and reason which God had given him. | She ayns ny lioaryn shoh, ta coontey ain jeh ny ta er daghyrt er d’yn chroo gys cheet Chreest, as er-lheh jeh’n daa stayd sheelnaue, e neu-loghtynid as e huittym ayns pecca. Dy ren Jee, lurg da ve er chroo dooinney, gialdyn dy yannoo eh maynrey son dy bragh, my veagh eh biallagh da e haraghyn: agh ren dooinney, liorish failleil ayns shoh, coayl ooilley e chairys gys maynrys braa, as huit eh fo pecca as briwnys baaish. Dy choyrt [137] shickyrys dooin jeh e vieys, e ghraih, as e vyghin erskyn-earroo, veih eer traa shaghrynys dooinney, ren Jee Fer-chionnee y ghialdyn, er y ghraih echeysyn veagh soiagh jeant jeh e arrys, er conaant dy jinnagh eh beaghey cordail rish yn soilshey as yn resoon shen va Jee er choyrt da. | |
| After this, men, abusing their reason, and falling into idolatry, God gave them, by his servant Moses, written laws to walk by; and, from time to time, raised up Prophets, either to explain the true meaning of those laws, or to foreshew what would be the sad consequence of their persisting to provoke God by their wicked lives. | Deiney lurg shoh, jannoo drogh ymmyd jeh nyn resoon dooghyssagh, as tuittym gys jalloonys, hug Jee daue, liorish e harvaant Moses, leighyn scruit dy immeeaght lioroo; as veih traa dy traa hrog eh seose Phadeyryn, edyr dy choyrt bun as toiggal firrinagh er ny leighyn shen, na dy insh daue ro-laue cre veagh eiyrtys treih nyn gholl er nyn doshiaght dy vrasnaghey Jee liorish nyn ymmyrkey-bea mee-chrauee. | |
| And to convince men of his infinite justice, and hatred of sin, it appears in these books, that he has punished sinners in all ages, without respect of persons; once in the destruction of the whole world, (except eight persons;) at another time, by fire and brimstone from Heaven; and by infinite other sore judgments, by the sword, famines, pestilence, and persecutions. | As dy choyrt shickyrys da deiney jeh e chairys erskyn-earroo, as yn feoh t’echey er pecca, t’yh ry-akin ayns ny lioaryn shoh, dy vel eh er ghoail kerraghey er peccee ayns dy chooilley eash fegooish soiaghey jeh persoonyn; hoshiaght ayns stroie yn seihl ooilley, er-lhimmey jeh hoght persoonyn; yn nah cheayrt, lesh aile as brimstone veih niau; as liorish ymmodee briwnyssyn tromey elley; liorish yn chliwe, paittyn, gortey, as tranlaaseyn. | |
| All these things were written for our instruction; that we may profit by hearing them read; and that we may learn to fear, and love, and obey, this great and good God, who can make us infinitely happy, or miserable beyond expression. | V’ad shoh ooilley scruit son yn ynsagh ainyn; dy vod mayd ve ny share liorish clashtyn ad lhaiht; as dy vod mayd gynsaghey [138] dy ghoail aggle roish, as dy choyrt graih, as biallys da’n Jee mooar as mie shoh, oddys jannoo shin erskyn-towse maynrey, na treih erskyn-insh. | |
| Remember therefore, I beseech you, our Saviour’s words:— “If they hear not (if they mind not) Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” So dreadful is the consequence of not attending to the word of God when read in the church. | Cooinee-jee er-y-fa shen, ta mee guee erriu, er goan nyn Saualtagh:—“Mannagh jean ad geaishtagh rish (mannagh der ad geill da) Moses as ny Phadeyryn, cha gredjagh ad, ga dy n’irragh fer veih ny merriu.” Cha atchimagh shen ta’n eiyrtys jeh gyn cur geill da Goo Yee, tra t’yh er ny lhaih ayns y cheeill! | |
| After this follows one of the most devout hymns of praise that ever was made by man: To the praise of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to whom you were dedicated in baptism; beginning with these words:— “We praise Thee, O God,” &c. | Lurg shoh ta cheet unnane jeh ny Arraneyn-moyllee s’crauee va rieau er ny yannoo liorish dooinney; gys moylley Yee yn Ayr, yn Mac, as yn Spyrryd Noo, huc va shiu er nyn gasherickey ayns bashtey; goail toshiaght lesh ny goan shoh:— “Ta shin dy dty voylley, O Yee,” &c. | |
| [42] That you may join with the church with greater devotion, remember what God hath declared,— “They that honour me, I will also honour.” | Dy vod shiu goll marish yn Agglish lesh craueeaght smoo, cooinee-jee cre ta Jee er ny ockley magh, “Yiow adsyn ooashley voyms, ta coyrt ooashley dooys.” | |
| Then will be read the second lesson out of the New Testament. In attending to what you hear out of the New Testament, you will be convinced, that it was one and the same spirit which was the author of both the Old and New. | Eisht vees er ny lhaih yn nah Lessoon ass y Chonaant Noa. [yn Testament.] Ayns coyrt geill vie da ny ta shiu clashtyn ass y lioar shoh, bee shickyrys eu, dy nee yn un Spyrryd cheddin va bun y Chenn as y Noa. | |
| Prepare yourself to hear the history of Christ Jesus your Saviour, and the manner of your redemption, as truths on which your salvation depends. Our Saviour himself gives us warning what will follow, if we do not mind these things:— “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment, than for people who have an opportunity of hearing the word of God, and despise it.” | Jean-jee aarloo dy chlashtyn history Yeesey Creest yn Saualtagh eu, as saase nyn livrey-[139]ys-anmey, myr firrinyssyn orroo ta’n saualtys eu lhie. Ta nyn Saualtagh eh-hene coyrt raue dooin cre s’erree dooin, mannagh der mayd geill da ny reddyn shoh: “Bee yh ny sassey da Sodom as Gomorrah ayns laa ny briwnys, na da sleih ta’n vondeish oc dy chlashtyn Goo Yee, as soiaghey beg jeh.” | |
| Here you have the terms of your salvation, and the example of your Saviour, set before you. Here you have an account of the Son of God; the promised Redeemer, taking our nature upon him; instructing us what we must believe, and what we must do, to be saved; suffering what our sins had deserved; satisfying the justice, and restoring us to the favour of God. | Ayns shoh ta eu conaantyn y taualtys eu, as samplere nyn Saualtagh soit rhimbiu. Ayns shoh ta coontey eu jeh Mac Yee, yn Fer-chionnee va er ny ghialdyn, goail yn dooghys ain er; coyrt roin cre sheign dooin credjal, as cre sheign dooin jannoo dy ve er nyn sauail; surranse toilliu ny peccaghyn ainyn; jannoo cooilleen da cairys, as coyrt shin reesht ayns foayr rish Jee. | |
| And that no man, no, not the most unlearned Christian, may be discouraged from reading and hearing the Sacred Scriptures, our Lord [Matt. xi. 25.] gives God thanks, for that he reveals these truths, and makes them easy to the humble, obedient, and willing Christian. And, indeed, the Gospel does not only teach Christians their duty, but also inspires them with grace to understand, and power to perform it. [John vi. 63.] | As nagh vod dooinney erbee, eer yn Creestee s’neu-ynsit ta, ve er ny reayl veih lhaih na clashtyn ny Scriptyryn Casheric, ta nyn Jiarn, [Mian xi. 25.] cur booise da Jee, son dy vel eh soilshaghey ny firrinyssyn shoh, as jannoo ad aashagh da’n Creestee imlee, biallagh, as aggindagh. As dy jarroo cha vel yn Sushtal ynrycan gynsaghey Creesteenyn nyn gurrym, agh myrgeddin gientyn grayse ayndoo dy hoiggal, as pooar dy chooilleeney yh. [Ean vi. 63.] | |
| That therefore you may profit by the word of God, remember and observe these two rules:— First; apply what you hear, as spoken to yourself. This command, this promise, this threatening, this reproof, this direction, this warning, I will take to myself. And secondly; fail not to beg of God, at the end of every lesson, that he may enable you to understand, and love, and obey his Holy Word. | Dy vod, er-y-fa shen, vondeish ve eu liorish Goo Yee, cooinee-jee er, as cur-jee tastey da’n daa choyrle shoh:— Hoshiaght; gow-jee ny ta shiu dy chlashtyn myr loayrit riu-[140]hene. “Yn anney shoh, yn gialdyn shoh, yn baggyrt shoh, yn oghsan shoh, yn oardagh shoh, yn raue shoh go’ym hym-pene.” As ’sy nah ynnyd; ny lhig shaghey dy phrayil gys Jee, ec jerrey dy chooilley lessoon, dy goon eh lhiat dy hoiggal, dy choyrt graih as biallys da e Ghoo Casheric. | |
| In this word are contained, all the articles of your Christian faith; which, that we may remember them the better, are all summed up in the apostles’ creed, which ought to be repeated with great deliberation. And if every one would secretly beg of God, in the words of the Apostles —Lord, increase my faith, at the end of the Creed; God would most surely increase his faith, and it would become a sure shield against all the assaults of the Devil. | Ayns y Ghoo shoh, ta ooilley banglaneyn nyn gredjue Creestee soit sheese; as dy vod mayd cooinaghtyn orroo ny share, t’ad ooilley symmit seose ayns Crea ny ostyllyn, lhisagh ve er ny ghra lesh lane traa as smooinaghtyn dowin. As dy jinnagh dagh unnane dy follit guee gys Jee, ayns goan ny Ostyllyn, Hiarn bishee my chredjue, ec jerrey yn Chrea; yinnagh Jee son shickyrys e chredjue y vishaghey, as harragh yh dy ve eilley shickyr noi ooilley kialgyn y Drogh-spyrryd. | |
| After this, we proceed to make our prayers and supplications to God, for the graces and blessings we stand in need of. For Kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives. For the Ministers of God, who shew unto you the way of salvation; and to whom the word of reconciliation, and of life eternal, is committed. And lastly, for all estates and conditions of men, that our charity may render our prayers more acceptable to God. | Lurg shoh, ta shin goll er nyn doshiaght dy yannoo nyn badjeryn as aghinyn gys Jee son ny grayseyn as ny bannaghtyn ta shin feme. Son Reeaghyn, as ooilley ny ta ayns pooar, dy vod mayd leeideil bea feagh as sheeoil. Son Shirveishee Yee, ta soilshaghey diu raad y taualtys; as gys y churrym oc ta goo yn choardail, as jeh’n vea veayn er ny choyrt. As er-jerrey, son dy chooilley stayd as aashoon dy leih, dy vod nyn ghiastyllys jannoo nyn badjeryn ny s’pleasal da Jee. | |
| The litany is a part of our service, which will be attended to, and joined in, by every devout Christian, who fears the judgments of God, or fears for himself. | [141] Ta’n Litany ayrn jeh’n chirveish ain, da nee dy chooilley Chreestee geill y choyrt, as goll lesh, ta agglagh roish briwnyssyn Yee, na imneagh er e hon-hene. | |
| And pray do not think that those often repeated words, let us pray, are said without reason. Every one knows for himself, how very apt our minds are to wander in prayer: And these words are designed, and should always put us in mind, to whom we are speaking; that our thoughts may go along with our lips, when we speak to Him who knows our hearts. | As nagh smooinee-jee dy vel ny goan shen, lhig dooin padjer y ghoail, ta’n Saggyrt cha mennic cheet harrishdoo, er ny ghra gyn oyr. Ta fys ec dy chooilley pheiagh er e hon-hene, cre cha aarloo as ta nyn aignaghyn dy roauail ayns padjer: as ta ny goan shoh kiarit, as lhisagh ad cur shin dy kinjagh ayns cooinaghtyn, quoi rish ta shin loayrt; dy vod nyn smooinaghtyn goll lesh nyn meillyn, tra ta shin loayrt rishyn echey ta fys cre ta ayns nyn greeaghyn. | |
| You cannot but observe, that we conclude all our prayers with some such expression as this; through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that we may ever remember, that it is for his fake, and for what he has done, and suffered for us, that God gives us any thing we pray for. | Cha vod shiu agh goail tastey, dy vel shin cur jerrey er ooilley nyn badjeryn lesh goan ennagh lheid shoh, —trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Saualtagh; dy vod mayd dy kinjagh cooinaghtyn dy nee er y ghraih echeysyn, as son ny t’eh er n’yannoo as er hurranse er nyn son, dy vel Jee coyrt dooin nhee erbee ta shin goail padjer er y hon. | |
| When the minister goes to the Altar, prepare to hear, with the greatest attention, the Commandments of God, which at your baptism you vowed to keep all the days [43] of your life. As often as these are read, you have an opportunity of seeing wherein you have offended against any of these commands, and of begging God’s pardon for what is past, and his grace to observe them better for the time to come, in these most affecting words, which the church has provided, Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law; which should never be hurried over, but said with the greatest devotion. | Tra ta’n Saggyrt goll gys yn altar, kiare-jee lesh geill vie dy eaishtagh rish annaghyn Yee, ren shiu ec nyn mashtey breearrey dy reayl ooilley laghyn nyn mea. Cha mennic as t’ad shoh er nyn lhaih, ta caa eu dy akin cre ayn ta shiu er vrishey veg jeh ny annaghyn shoh, as dy ghuee son pardoon Yee son [142] ny ta shaghey, as son e ghrayse dy reayl ad ny share son y traa ta ry heet, ayns ny goan smoo breeoil shoh ta’n Agglish er choyrt roin, Hiarn jean myghin orrin, as injillee ny creeaghyn ain dy reayl yn leigh shoh; goan nagh lhisagh ve dy bragh er nyn ghra dy siyragh, agh lesh yn arrym as craueeaght smoo. | |
| When the Epistle and Gospel are read, and you remember that they are portions of Sacred Scripture, taken out of the Book of your Salvation, you will hear them with the greater attention. | Tra ta’n Screeuyn as yn Sushtal er nyn lhaih, as ta shiu cooinaghtyn dy vel ad ayrnyn jeh’n Scriptyr Casheric, goit ass Lioar nyn Saualtys, nee shiu geaishtagh roo lesh yn gheill smoo. | |
| Sometimes you will hear the most instructive sermons or parables of Christ; at other times you will hear the miracles he wrought, for the confirmation of our faith. | Ny-cheayrtyn nee shiu clashtyn sharmaneyn na raaghyn-dorraghey Chreest smoo lane dy ynsagh; keayrtyn elley clynnee shiu ny mirrillyn d’obbree eh, dy niartaghey nyn gredjue. | |
| And, to encourage us to follow his blessed example of patience, humility, submission to the will of God, and disregard for this world, we have set forth, in the Gospel, his most sure promise of grace and consolation while we live, and of happiness eternal when we die. And, to hinder us from growing secure and careless, we shall often and often hear, in these Gospels, the dreadful doom which unconverted, hardened, and impenitent sinners shall surely meet with in the next world. | As dy ghreinnaghey shin dy eiyrt da’n samplere bannee echeysyn dy veenid, dy imlid, dy viallys gys aigney Yee, as dy hoiagh’ beg jeh’n seihl shoh, ta ain soit magh ayns y Sushtal e ghialdyn smoo shickyr jeh grayse as gerjagh choud as s’bio shin, as jeh maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn tra yiow mayd baase. As dy lhiettal shin veih gaase almoragh as neu-chiaralagh, nee mayd mennic as mennic clashtyn ayns ny Sushtalyn shoh yn briwnys atchimagh shen hig, son shickyrys, er peccee creoghit, as gyn arrys ayns y theihl ta ry-heet. | |
| At certain solemn seasons, you have a particular account of what Jesus Christ has done and suffered for our redemption and salvation, that we may never forget his love. | [143] Er ny Feaillaghyn casheric, ta coontey kiart eu jeh ny ren Yeesey Creest jannoo as surranse son nyn gionneeaght-reesht as saualtys, son nagh jarrood mayd dy bragh e ghraih. | |
| And in the several Epistles, you will hear, every man his duty very particularly set down, in the words not of man, but —as they are, indeed— the Words of God. | Ayns paart jeh ny Screeuyn, nee shiu clashtyn, dy chooilley ghooinney e churrym dy feer vaghtal soit sheese, cha nee ayns goan gheiney, agh (myr t’ad dy feer) Goan Yee. | |
| And some part or other of this Word you will hear every Lord’s day explained in the Sermon, and pressed upon you; in order to enlighten the minds of the ignorant, to awaken the consciences of the careless and profane, and such as hold the truth in unrighteousness. But then, as you hope to profit by sermons, you must come to church with an humble and teachable temper; submitting to receive instruction, reproof, and advice, from the person whom the providence of God has set over you. | As ayrn ny ayrn ennagh jeh’n Ghoo shoh nee shiu clashtyn dy chooilley Ghoonaght bun currit er ayns y Charmane, as chionnit erriu, cour soilshaghey aignaghyn ny mee-hushtee, dy ghoostey cooinsheansyn ny almoree as mee-chrauee, as lheid as ta cummal yn ynrickys ayns neu-ynrickys. Agh eisht, myr ta shiu treishteil dy gheddyn vondeish anmey liorish Sharmaneyn, sheign diu cheet gys y cheeil lesh aigney imlee as arryltagh dy ynsaghey; booiagh dy ve ynsit, dy ghoail oghsan, as coyrle, veih’n persoon ta ard-chiaralys Yee er hoiaghey harrishdiu. | |
| If the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is to be administered, and you lightly turn your back upon that holy ordinance; you must not expect, that God will hear any of the prayers that you have made. Do this in remembrance of me, were the dying words of Jesus Christ. You refuse to obey this command, (for such in truth it is) and yet hope that God, for his sake, will hear you when you call upon him. | My ta Sacrament Shibber y Chiarn dy ve er ny hirveish, as shiu dy eddrym chyndaa cooyl rish yn Oardagh Casheric shen; cha nheign diu jerkal dy der Jee clashtyn da veg jeh ny padjeryn ta shiu er n’yannoo. Jean-jee shoh ayns cooinaghtyn jeem’s, va goan Yeesey Creest tra ve mysh y vaaase [sic: vaase]. Ta shiu gobbal dy choyrt biallys da’n sarey shoh (son lheid shen ayns firrinys t’yh) as foast ta shiu [144] treishteil dy der Jee, er y ghraih echeysyn, clashtyn diu tra ta shiu geamagh er. | |
| Do not deceive yourself. It is by this Sacrament, that the subjects of Christ are distinguished from the subjects of Satan. Have a care, therefore, lest it happen to you as it did to the Egyptians; lest the destroying angel, finding you without the blood of the Lamb, the mark of your high calling, should have power to destroy you. | Nagh moll-jee shiu-hene. She liorish yn Sacrament shoh t’yh, dy vel lhiettrimys jeant eddyr sharvaantyn Chreest as sharvaantyn yn Noid-anmey. Cur-jee twoaie, er-y-fa shen, nagh jig shen erriuish haink er ny Egyptianee; er-aggle dy jean yn ainle ren adsyn y stroie, feddyn shiuish fegooish fuill yn Eayn, cooid ta courey nyn gredjue, as pooar ’ve echey dy stroie shiuish myrgeddin. | |
| Consider, that this Sacrament is to Christians, what the Tree of Life was to Adam in Paradise; it was to make him immortal; so that when he deprived himself of that food, he was left to his natural weakness, which ended in death, and misery till death. And whoever deprives himself of this Bread of Life will be left to themselves, to the power of Satan, and to death eternal. | Gow-jee eu-hene dy vel yn Sacrament shoh da Creesteenyn, ny va Billey yn Vea da Adam ayns Pargeys; v’yh dy yannoo eh dy bragh beayn; myr shen tra ghiare eh eh-hene jeh’n beaghey shen, ve fagit gys yn annoonid dooghyssagh echey, ghow jerrey ayns baase, as seaghyn laghyn e heihl. As quoi-erbee ta gobbal goail yn Arran shoh dy Vea, bee ad fagit daue-hene, gys pooar Noid-ny-anmey, as gys baase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| Do but lay to heart, how many tears it cost St. Peter for a crime so near a-kin to this, and you will not lightly turn your back upon this Sacrament; it being in effect saying, I am not one of Jesus Christ’s disciples. | Jean-jee agh goail gys cree, cre whilleen jeir chost yh da’n Noo Peddyr son loght co-laik rish shoh, as cha jean shiu cha eddrym chyndaa nyn gooyl er yn Sacrament shoh; son t’yh myr yarragh oo, Cha vel mish unnane jeh eiyrtyssee Yeesey Creest. | |
| And now the publick service of the church concludes with a most solemn blessing, pronounced by the priest of God. | As nish bee jerrey currit er Shirveish ny Killagh lesh Bannaght feer eunyssagh, er ny ockley magh liorish Saggyrt Yee. | |
| That you may always dispose yourselves to receive this blessing with devotion and advantage, I will shew you the certain, blessed fruits, of doing so. In the book of Numbers, [ch. vi. 22.] there is a special charge given to the priests, by God himself, to bless the people. —There is a special form for doing it; and there is a special blessing promised to follow upon the priest’s [44] blessing: and I (saith God) will bless them. | [145] Dy vod shiu dy kinjagh cur shiu-hene ayns am cooie dy gheddyn yn bannaght shoh lesh craueeaght as vondeish, nee’m soilshaghey diu ny messyn shickyr bannee ta liorish jannoo shen. Ayns Lioar ny Earrooyn, [cab. vi. 22, 23.] ta currym geyre currit er ny Saggyrtyn, liorish Jee hene, dy vannaghey yn pobble. Ta goan cooie soit er-lheh son jannoo shoh; as ta bannaght er-lheh giallit dy gholl marish bannaght y Taggyrt: As neem’s, as Jee, ad y vannaghey. | |
| In Deut. x. 8, it is expressly said, That God separated the tribe of Levi —to bless in his name. And accordingly, [2 Chron. xxx. 27.] we have the priests blessing the people; and it is there added, “That their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to God’s holy dwelling-place, even unto Heaven.” | Ayns Deuteronomy x. 8. t’yh dy plain rait, dy ren Jee reih tribe Levi, dy vannaghey ayns yn ennym echeysyn. As cordail rish shoh, [2 Recort. xxx. 27.] ta shin feddyn ny Saggyrtyn bannaghey yn pobble; as ayns shen, t’yh ny sodjey rait, “Dy row nyn goraa er ny chlashtyn, as hie yn phadjer ocsyn seose gys e chummal casheric, eer gys niau.” | |
| Had the blessing of the priest, under the Law, such a good effect; and has not Jesus Christ given his Ministers as great a power? That would be to have very unworthy thoughts of the Gospel Ministry indeed. A ministry, to which St. Paul expressly tells us, God has, in an especial manner, committed the power of reconciling men to God. [2 Cor. v. 18.] | Row wheesh dy vree ayns bannaght y Taggyrt fo yn chenn leigh; as nagh vel Yeesey Creest er choyrt yn vree cheddin da ny Saggyrtyn echeysyn? Veagh shen dy jarroo smooinaghtyn feer neu-feeudagh jeh’n Shirveish ta fo yn Sushtal. Shirveish, da ta’n Noo Paul dy plain ginsh dooin, dy vel Jee ayns aght er-lheh, er choyrt yn phooar jeh coardail deiney rish Jee. [2 Cor. v. 18.] | |
| I will set before you the devotion with which the people of God received the blessing of the priest; a pattern not to be despised. —It is in the fiftieth chapter of Ecclus, at the 20th and 21st verses, you read as follows: —“When they had finished the service, then the priest lifted up his hands over the whole congregation, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, —and they bowed themselves down to worship, that they might receive a blessing from the Most High.” And a blessing most certainly every Christian receives from the Most High, according as he is disposed for such a mercy, and as he has qualified himself by his devout behaviour in the service of God. | Soie-ym rhimbiu yn aght crauee ayn ren pobble Yee bannaghey yn Taggyrt y ghoail; samplere feeu dooinyn dy eiyrt da. T’yh [146] ayns y jeihoo chabdil as daa-eed jeh Ecclesiasticus, ec yn feedoo as un vierse as feed, raad ta shin lhaih myr shoh:— “Tra v’ad er chur jerrey er y chirveish, eisht hrog yn Saggyrt seose e laueyn harrish slane chaglym cloan Israel, dy chur bannaght y Chiarn lesh e veillyn, —as chroym ad sheese ad-hene dy choyrt ooashley, dy chosney bannaght veih’n Er smoo syrjey.” As bannaght ta dy chooilley Chreestee dy shickyr feddyn veih yn Er smoo syrjey, rere myr t’eh cooie son lheid y vyghin, as myr t’eh er n’yannoo eh-hene feeu jeh liorish e ymmyrkey crauee ayns shirveish Yee. | |
| The publick service being ended, a serious Christian will not conclude that he has done all that is required of him. He will rather consider where he has been; what he has been doing; what he has heard; what he has prayed for. He will consider, that he has been at the House of God, where he has heard God speaking to him by his own Minister. He will give God thanks for the helps and means he has vouchsafed him, of knowing his duty, and of performing it. He will call to mind what he has heard, and beg of God that he may profit by it; that he may live as he has been taught, and as a Christian ought to live. In short, he will not let the world take possession of his heart, as soon as he comes out of the church; but will endeavour to edify his soul by some such thoughts and short petitions as these:— | Lurg da jerrey ve er y chirveish, cha jean Creestee crauee smooinaghtyn dy vel ooilley e churrym cooilleenit. Nee eh ny s’leaie consideral cre’n raad ve; cre v’eh jannoo ayns shen; cre t’eh er chlashtyn; cre t’eh er ghoail padjer er y hon. Nee eh consideral dy nee ayns thie Yee v’eh, raad t’eh er chlashtyn Jee loayrt rish liorish e Hirveishagh hene. Ver eh booise da Jee son y chooney as ny saaseyn t’eh er gooidsave lesh dy choyt da cour toiggal e churrym, as cour cooilleeney yh. Nee eh geam gys cooinaghtyn ny t’eh er-lesh [sic: erreish] clashtyn, as guee er Jee dy vod eh ve ny share liorish; as dy vod eh leeideil e vea myr t’eh er ve ynsit, as myr lhisagh Creestee jannoo. Dy ve giare, cha sur eh da’n seihl goail seose e chree, cha leah as t’eh faagail y cheeill; agh nee eh e phaart dy niartaghey e [147] annym liorish smooinaghtyn as aghinyn giarey ennagh lheid shoh:— | |
| I have been professing, openly, my faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom I was dedicated in baptism. I have been told, by his own Minister, and out of his own word, what my duty is; how I ought to walk so as to please God. I have been praying for such blessings as may make me happy while I live; and for such graces and virtues, without which I shall be most miserable when I die. If I do not profit by these things, they will most surely rise up in judgment against me. | “Ta mee dy foshlit er ve goail-rish my chredjue ayns Jee yn Ayr, yn Mac, as yn Spyrryd Noo, huc va mee er my chasherickey ayns bashtey. T’yh er ve inshit dou liorish e Haggyrt hene, as ass e Ghoo hene, cre ta my churrym; kys lhisin gimmeeaght dy wooiys Jee. Ta mee er ve prayil son lheid ny bannaghtyn as oddys jannoo mee maynrey choud as vee’m bio; as son lheid ny grayseyn as foaysyn, nyn vegooish bee’m erskyn towse treih tra yioym baase. Mannagh j’em ny share lesh ny reddyn shoh, nee ad son shickyrys girree seose ayns briwnys m’oi. | |
| To be so often told what will please, and what will displease God, and not to mind it: To know that he is terrible in judgment, and not to fear him: To know that he is gracious and merciful, and not to love him: To be so often put in mind, that God sees all my actions, and not to be afraid to offend him: To pray so often, and so long, for God’s graces, without laying it to heart, that it must be my own fault if I do not obtain his grace and assistance to mend my life. | “Cha mennic dy ve inshit dou cre nee booiys, as cre nee neu-vooiys Jee, as gyn dy choyrt geill da: Dy hoiggal dy vel eh cha atchimagh ayns briwnys, as gyn aggle y ghoail roish: Dy hoiggal dy vel eh graysoil as myghinagh, as gyn graih y choyrt da: Dy ve cha mennic er my choyrt ayns cooinaghtyn, dy vel Jee fakin ooilley my yannoo, as gyn aggle ve orrym dy chur jymmoose er: Dy ghoail padjer cha mennic, as choud, son grayseyn Yee, fegooish goail gys my chree, dy nheign da ve my oill hene mannagh vo’ym e ghrayse as cooney dy lhiassaghey my vea. | |
| What will this end in; if I pass one Lord’s day, one year, after another, without growing better by the many sermons I hear; by the prayers offered so often to God for me; by the times appointed for the taking care of my soul? Is this the way of preparing for eternity; —for an eternity of happiness or misery? Shall I still continue to keep these thoughts out of my mind? Shall I shut my eyes, and not see the danger of being lost for ever? God forbid, (will every one say that has any grace) I will rather pray God to deliver me from hardness of heart, and contempt of his word. And since he has promised to hear the petitions of such as ask in his Son’s name, I will, for his sake, beseech him to pardon my imperfections and indevotions. And I will endeavour for the time to come, that my devotion and zeal shall be answerable to my [45] wants. And then, I am sure, I shall return home with a blessing. | “Cre’n jerrey gho’ys shoh; my nee’m ceau Doonaght lurg Doonaght, blein lurg blein, fegooish gaase ny share liorish ny [148] ymmodee Sharmaneyn ta mee dy chlashtyn; liorish ny padjeryn cha mennic chebbit seose gys Jee er my hon; liorish ny traaghyn pointit dy ghoail kiarail cour my annym? Nee shoh yn aght dy gheddyn aarloo son beayntys; —son beayntys dy vaynrys na dy hreihys? Jean-ym dy kinjagh tannaghtyn dy reayl ny smooinaghtyn shoh ass my aigney? Jean-ym my hooillyn y yeih, as gyn fakin yn gaue jeh ve caillit son dy bragh? Ny lhig y Jee, (jir dy chooilley pheiagh ta veg y ghrayse ayn) nee’m ny s’leaie guee gys Jee dy livrey mee veih creoghys cree, as soiaghey beg jeh e ghoo. As neayr as t’eh er ghialdynys dy chlashtyn ny aghinyn ocsyn ta geearree ayns ennym e Vac, nee’m, er y ghraih echeysyn, guee er dy phardooney my faase-yannoo, as my veggan craueeaght. As nee’m my phaart, son y traa ta ry-heet, dy bee my chraueeaght as jeeanid-chree corrym gys my ymmyrch. As eisht ta mee shickyr, dy j’em thie lesh bannaght. | |
| I pray God we may all do so, as often as we meet here to worship God. And that our behaviour, when out of the church, may be such as becomes the true disciples of Jesus Christ. | Dy der Jee dooin ooilley dy yannoo shen, cha mennic as ta shin cheet cooidjagh ayns shoh dy chur ooashley da Jee. As dy vod yn ymmyrkey-bea ain, tra ta shin ass y cheeill, ve lheid as ta cooie da eiyrtyssee firrinagh Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be &c. | Huggeysyn, &c. | |
| [49] | [149] | |
| SERMON VIII. | SHARMANE VII. | |
| THE MISERY OF NOT ATTENDING TO THE WORD AND MINISTERS OF GOD. | Yn Coayl Spyrrydoil jeh soiaghey beg jeh Goo Yee as e Hirveishee. | |
| O Important Subject! Grant, O God, that I myself may see, and be able to teach others, the danger of living in any known sin; of being diverted from considering our latter end, by the cares, pleasures, or other idols, of this world. Let this truth be ever present with us—that we have but a short time to live, and an eternal interest depending; that we may not squander one moment of this short life in that which will not profit us in the day of necessity, and the hour of death. O let us never lose the sight of that important hour, for Jesus Christ’s sake! Amen. | O Chooish dy scansh vooar! Giall, O Yee, dy vod-ym pene fakin, as gynsagh da feallagh elley, yn gaue jeh leeideil nyn mea ayns pecca erbee er fys dooin; jeh ve cleaynit veih smooinaghtyn dy dowin er jerrey nyn mea, liorish kiarailyn, eunyssyn, ny jallooyn erbee elley yn theihl shoh. Lhig da’n ynrickys shoh ve dy kinjagh marin—nagh vel ain agh earish ghiare dy ve bio, as dy vel yn vaynrys veayn ain ny lhie er; nagh gaill mayd un shallid hene jeh’n vea ghiare shoh geiyrt er shen nagh bee gys vondeish erbee dooin ayns laa yn feme, as oor y vaaish. O ny lhig dooin dy bragh jarrood yn oor scanshoil shen, er graih Yeesey Creest! Amen. | |
| Prov. v. 11, 12, 13. | Raaghyn Creeney v. 11, 12, 13. | |
| And thou mourn at the last, when thy Flesh and thy Body are consumed; [i. e., when you come to die] and say—how have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me? [35] | As dy jean oo dobberan ec y jerrey tra vees dty eill as dty chorp er shymley ersooyl; [ta shen, tra hig oo dy gheddyn baase] as dy jir oo, Kys va mee dwoaiagh er ynsagh, as kys ren my chree soiaghey beg jeh coyrle; as nagh dug mee biallys da coraa my ir-ynsee, as nagh ren mee my chleaysh y chroymmey dauesyn hug roym. | |
| THIS, good Christians, is what I would endeavour to prevent; that when you come to die, your conscience may not reproach you—for having not attended to the word of God read or preached to you, —for having not obeyed the voice of your teachers, —for the great number of sermons, admonitions, and reproofs, that have been lost upon you, —for turning a deaf ear to those who were appointed to instruct you, and despising their reproof. | SHOH yn stayd treih shen, Chreesteenyn vie, baillym y lhiettal; nagh jean nyn gooinsheanseyn hene shiu y gheyrey, tra hig [150] shiu dy gheddyn baase—son nagh dug shiu biallys da Goo Yee va er ny lhaih na er ny phreacheil diu,—son nagh dug shiu biallys da coraa nyn vir-ynsee,—son ny ymmodee sharmaneyn, coyrleyn, as oghsan ta er ve barit gyn ymmyd erriu,—son chyndaa cleaysh vouyr hucsyn va pointit dy ynsagh shiu, as soiaghey beg jeh’n choyrle oc. | |
| You hear, in the words just read to you, what a person, directed by the Spirit of God, assures you will be one of the great things that will torment and trouble you, when you come to die, if you have led a careless and ungodly life. That you will most sadly lament your perverseness, your folly, and madness; and wish, with all your soul, that you had heard, with patience, the threatenings of the Gospel, and that you had taken the good advice of such as, out of pity to your souls, had forewarned you of the ruin you were bringing upon yourselves, by disregarding the word of God, and the truths of the Gospel. | Ta shiu clashtyn ayns ny goan va nish er ny lhaih diu, cre ta dooinney, va fo leeideilys Spyrryd Yee dy hickyraghey diu, dy bee shoh red nee dy mooar seaghney as lhie trome erriu, tra hig shiu dy gheddyn baase, my ta shiu er leeideil bea almoragh as mee-chrauee. Dy jean shiu dy trome dobberan nyn roonid, nyn ommijys, as mee-cheeaylys; as wishal, lesh ooilley nyn annym, dy row shiu lesh meenid er n’eaishtagh rish baggyrtyn y Sushtal, as er ghoail yn choyrle vie ocsyn, va, ass chymmey da ny anmeenyn eu, er choyrt raue diu jeh’n toyrt-mouys va shiu tayrn erriu hene, liorish soiaghey beg jeh Goo Yee, as firrinyssyn y Sushtal. | |
| Believe it, Christians, this is the very beginning of sin and of ruin; when truths of the greatest concern to us are not minded; when the means of knowledge, of grace, of faith, and of salvation, are slighted. | Cred-jee yh, Chreesteenyn, dy nee shoh eer toshiaght phecca as toyrt-mouys; tra nagh vel geill er ny choyrt da firrinyssyn ta wheesh lhie orroo; tra ta ny saaseyn dy hushtey, dy ghrayse, dy chredjue, as dy haualtys, as beg er ny hoiaghey jeu. | |
| [50] Consider, that preaching is an ordinance of God, and an ordinance on which depends, in some measure, the salvation of the world; for how shall they hear, how shall they believe, without a preacher? [Rom. x. 14.] | Gow-jee eu-hene, dy vel Preacheil oardagh dy Yee, as oardagh jeh ymmodee bree [151] gys saualtys y theihl; son kys nee ad clashtyn, kys nee ad credjal fegooish preachoor? [Rom x. 14.] | |
| This ordinance, therefore, neglected or despised; this sin continued in; how often does it provoke God to leave men to themselves, —to withdraw from them his graces and his Spirit! Upon which satan takes them under his government, and then must follow sin and misery. | Yn oardaghey shoh, er-y-fa shen, as mee-rioose jeant er, na soit beg jeh; yn pecca shoh er ny hannaghtyn ayn, s’mennic lesh brasnaghey Jee dy aagail sleih daue hene,—dy ghoail voue e ghrayseyn as e Spyrryd: Er shoh ta’n Noid-anmey goail ad fo e reill hene, as eisht sheign pecca as treihys ve yn eiyrtys. | |
| You will take notice, that this was the very case of Judas. How many concerning truths did he hear from his Lord and Master? Especially this one so often repeated, take heed and beware of covetousness. This was lost upon him, because he would not lay it to heart; and you all know what followed. The words of the text were most dreadfully fulfilled upon him; he mourned at the last, and left this world in despair. | Nee shiu goail tastey dy nee shoh va eer cooish Yuaase. Cre whilleen firrinys eunyssagh cheayl eshyn veih e Hiarn as Mainshtyr?—er-lheh yn raa shoh haink eh cha mennic harrish, Gow kiarail as bee er dty hwoaie jeh Saynt. Va shoh caillit er’syn, er-yn-oyr nagh goghe eh yh gys e chree; as ta fys eu ooilley cre deiyr da. Va goan y text dy feer agglagh cooilleenit er’syn; ren eh dobberan ec y jerrey, as daag eh yn seihl shoh ayns mee-hreishteil. | |
| Christians should consider, that this may be their own case, that it certainly will be so, if they hate to be informed and reproved, if they obey not the voice of their teachers. | Lhisagh Creesteenyn smooinaghtyn dy dowin, dy vod shoh ve yn chooish oc hene, dy bee yh son shickyrys myr shen, my ta dwoaie oc er ve ynsit as coyrlit, mannagh der ad biallys da coraa nyn vir-ynsee. | |
| Now; the things which I would desire you to take notice of, as implied in the text, are these following: 1st; That all Christians, even the most knowing, will often want to be put in mind of their duty; to be taught, to be told of their faults, their infirmities, and backslidings. 2dly; That God has appointed certain persons, who, at the peril of their own souls, are to do this —to watch for your fouls as they that must give an account. 3dly; That such as neglect or despise this appointment of God, or the ministers ordained for this purpose, will have reason to repent of it sadly when they come to die, and to consider what a life they have led, and what sins they have fallen into, for want of hearkening to the voice of their teachers. | Nish; ny reddyn bail-ym shiu dy ghoail tastey jeu, myr cheet fo meanal y text, she shoh ad: Hoshiaght, Dy vel dy chooilley Chreestee, eer yn feallagh s’tushtee, dy men[152]nic feme dy ve er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym; dy ve ynsit; nyn voiljyn, nyn vailleilyn, as cooyl-skyrraghtyn dy ve inshit daue. ’Sy nah ynnyd, Dy vel Jee er phointeil persoonyn, quoi, ec gaue nyn anmeenyn hene, ta dy yannoo shoh—dy ve er nyn arrey son ny anmeenyn eu myr adsyn sheign coontey y choyrt. ’Sy trass ynnyd; Dy bee adsyn ta jannoo meerioose er, na soiaghey beg jeh’n oardagh shoh dy Yee, na jeh ny Shirveishee ta pointit gys yn ymmyd shoh, as oyr oc dy ghoail arrys sharroo er y hon tra hig ad dy gheddyn baase, as dy smooinaght er y vea t’ad er leeideil, as cre ny peccaghyn t’ad er duittym ayndoo, er-yn-oyr nagh dug ad geill da coraa nyn vir-ynsee. | |
| These truths, one would hope, you do not want to be convinced of. | Ny firrinyssyn shoh, heil’in hene, nagh vel feme shickyraghey diu. | |
| Every one for himself knows, how very apt we are to forget our duty, and the vows that are upon us, and to fall into sins which we have repented of; how often we want to be awakened into a sense of the danger we are in, and of the hopes set before us. | Ta fys ec dy chooilley unnane er e hon hene, cre cha aarloo as ta shin dy yarrood nyn gurrym, as ny breearaghyn ta orrin, as dy huittym gys ny peccaghyn er nyn son ta shin roie er ve arryssagh; cre cha mennic as ta shin feme ve er nyn ghoostey gys ennaghtyn jeh’n gaue ta shin ayn, as jeh’n treishteil ta soit roin. | |
| Every body, who knows any thing of Christianity, knows likewise, that there are persons appointed by the Holy Ghost, as overseers, and to feed the flock of Christ; to teach, to reprove, to rebuke with all authority, to instruct such as oppose themselves, that they may recover them out of the snare of the devil. | Ta fys ec dy chooilley pheiagh ta toiggalagh jeh’n Chredjue Creestee, dy vel persoonyn pointit liorish yn Spyrryd Noo, myr oaseiryn, as dy vochilagh shioltane Chreest; dy ynsagh, dy choyrlagh’, dy choyrt oghsan [153] lesh slane tority, dy chur nyn gurrym rouesyn ta shassoo magh, dy vod ad feaysley ad ass ribbey yn Jouyl. | |
| Lastly; every Christian, who is acquainted with the Gospel, must know the sad doom of such as may know the will of God, and will not hear or mind it, nor order their life accordingly: “That it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of judgment, than for such people,” who do not consider, that when they despise the persons, the ministry, or the doctrine, of such as are ordained to instruct them, they despise not man, but God: so saith St. Paul expressly. [1 Thess. iv. 8.] | Er-jerrey; Sheign ta [sic: da] fys ve ec dy chooilley Chreestee, ta toiggal yn Sushtal, cre’n cronney treih ta cour nyn lheid as oddys toiggal cre ta aigney Yee, as nagh jean clashtyn na geill y chur da, na nyn mea y leeideil cordail rish: “Dy bee yh ny sassey da Sodom as Gomorrah ec laa ny briwnys, na da lheid y sleih,” nagh vel goail oc hene tra t’ad soiaghey beg jeh ny persoonyn, jeh’n chirveish, na jeh’n ynsagh ocsyn ta dy chur nyn gurrym roue, nagh nee jeh dooinney t’ad soiaghey beg, agh jeh Jee: myr ta’n Noo Paul gra, 1 Thess. iv. 8 | |
| Taking it therefore for granted, that you believe the preaching of the Gospel to be one of those necessary means of salvation, —without which you would either be altogether ignorant of your duty, or soon forget it, —without which you would live and die in sin, and without hopes of mercy; taking this for granted, I will take some pains (and I hope it will not be lost) to convince you, | Jir-ym eisht, dy vel shiu credjal preacheil yn Sushtal dy ve unnane jeh ny saaseyn ymmyrchagh dy haualtys, —ny egooish veagh shiu ooilley-cooidjagh mee-hoiggalagh jeh nyn gurrym, na dy leah jarrood yh,—ny egooish yinnagh shiu beaghey as geddyn baase ayns pecca, as fegooish treishteil jeh myghin; shoh lowit dou, neem’s my phaart (as ta mee treishteil nagh bee my obbyr ayns fardail) dy choyrt toiggal diu, | |
| 1st, Of the infinite danger of living in any known sin, lest death should surprize and send us to a miserable eternity. | Hoshiaght, Jeh’n danjere erskyn-towse jeh beaghey ayns pecca erbee er-fys dooin, er-aggle dy jig baase doaltattym orrin, as shin y chur ersooyl gys treihys dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| 2dly; That the way not to be surprized by death is, to have death much in our thoughts. | [154] Yn nah ynnyd; Dy nee shoh yn aght dy haghney baase doaltattym, dy ve mennic smooinaghtyn er y vaase. | |
| 3dly; The great care we should take not to be diverted from the thoughts of death, by the cares, pleasures, or amusements of the world. | Yn trass ynnyd; Yn chiarail vooar lhisagh shin y ghoail nagh bee mayd cleaynit veih smooinaghtyn er y vaase, liorish kiarailyn, eunyssyn, na fardalyssyn y theihl. | |
| 4thly; That when we come to die, we shall have very different thoughts of these idols of the world, than what we are apt to have at present. | Yn chiarroo ynnyd; Tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase, dy bee cleer smooinaghtyn elley ain jeh ny fardalyssyn shoh jeh’n theihl, na shen ta ro-vennic ain ’sy traa t’ayn. | |
| 5thly; That the ill use and loss of our time, which cannot be recalled, will then be the most tormenting [51] thought to those who now lead a careless and a sinful life. | Yn wheiggoo ynnyd; Dy nee yn drogh ymmyd as y coayl jeh nyn draa, nagh vod ve eit back, vees ec y traa shen yn smooinaght smoo dy heaghyn ver dauesyn ta nish leeideil bea almoragh as peccoil. | |
| 6thly; Lastly, That whatever they think of it, this will most surely be the fate and punishment of those who refuse to hear and obey the voice of their teachers. | Er-jerrey; Lhig cre saillish ve nyn smooinaghtyn nish, she shoh son shickyrys vees cronney as kerraghey dy chooilley unnane ta gobbal clashtyn coraa nyn vir-ynsee. [nyn mochilyn-anmey.] | |
| I. In the first place, pray consider with me, the infinite danger of living in any known sin. Now whoever does so, lives in rebellion against his Maker, one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. He most ungratefully offends the best Father and Friend, the most indulgent Prince and Lawgiver, who commands his subjects nothing but what is absolutely necessary to make them happy; nor forbids them any thing but what would hurt and ruin them. You despise the patience and long-suffering of God, who can deprive you of life whenever he pleases, and continues you in life only that you may be converted and saved. You are in danger of provoking God to with-hold his grace, without which you can never repent, never be saved. You, in effect, renounce being a subject of God, and chuse to be a slave to satan. You are in the direct way to Atheism—even to wish there was no God to call you to an account. | I. Ayns y chied ynnyd, smooinee-jee marym’s, guee-ym erriu, er yn danjere erskyn-towse ta liorish beaghey ayns pecca erbee er-fys dooin. Nish, quoi-erbee ta jannoo shen, t’eh beaghey ayns lhome irree-magh noi e Er-chroo, noi echeysyn oddys annym as callin y stroie ayns niurin. T’eh dy feer neu-ghooghyssagh girree-magh noi e Ayr vie as carrey share, yn Ree as Kiannoort [155] s’dooie, nagh vel cur e harvaantyn fo sarey erbee agh ny ta slane ymmyrchagh gys nyn maynrys; na lhiettal nhee erbee voue agh shen veagh coayl as toyrt-mouys daue. T’ou soiaghey beg jeh mieys as surranse-foddey Yee, oddys goail void dty vioys tra saillish hene, as ta freayl oo bio ynrycan dy vod oo chyndaa veih dty pheccaghyn, as ve er dty hauail. T’ou ayns danjere dy vrasnaghey Jee dy reayl e ghrayse void, ny egooish cha vod oo dy bragh goail arrys, na dy bragh ve er dty hauail. T’ou, myr dy beagh yh, gobbal dy ve seyr fo Jee, as goail myr reih dy ve dty chappee da’n Jouyl. T’ou ayns y raad rea gys An-yeeys—eer dy wishal nagh row Jee ayn dy eamagh ort gys coontey. | |
| This is the very condition of every one who lives in the practice of any known sin; or who, when he perceives that he has offended God, does not immediately repent of it, and resolve to do so no more. And whosoever shall be surprized by death in this state, has nothing to expect but a miserable eternity. | Shoh eer stayd dy chooilley unnane ta beaghey ayns as geiyrt dy cadjin da cliaghtey peccoil erbee er-fys da, na tra t’eh gennaghtyn dy vel eh er chur jymmoose er Jee, as nagh vel arrys er chelleeragh er y hon, as kiarail gyn dy yannoo myr shen arragh. As quoi-erbee hig y baase doaltattym er ayns y stayd shoh, cha vel jerkal arragh echey agh treihys dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| II. This should convince us of the great necessity and advantage of having the thoughts of death much at heart. | II. Lhisagh shoh slane toiggal y chur dooin jeh’n ymmyrch as y vondeish mooar ta liorish goail smooinaghtyn y vaase lane gys nyn gree. | |
| If Christians would but seriously consider, that the sentence of death is already passed upon them, (as it really is upon every one of us) they would be apt to think now, just as they would do when that sentence comes to be put in execution. Why should I set my heart upon a world where I am to continue so very short a while, and where I am sure never to meet with true satisfaction? What, if God, seeing me very intent upon the world, and setting up my rest here, should say unto me, as he has done to many others, “Thou fool, this night shall thy foul be required of thee”? What then will this unrighteous gain profit me? How bitter will the remembrance of these unlawful pleasures be to me? With what pain and grief shall I then part with these riches, these pleasures, these idols, which I am now so fond of? | Dy jinnagh Creesteenyn agh goail gys cree dy vel briwnys y vaaish hanna er gholl magh [156] nyn ’oi oc (myr t’yh dy feer er dagh unnane ain) veagh ad laik dy smooinaghtyn ec y traa t’ayn nish eer myr yinnagh ad tra ta’n vriwnys shen cheet dy ve cooilleenit orroo. Cre’n-fa yin’ins my chree y hoiaghey er seihl raad ta mee dy hannaghtyn agh traa cha giare, as raad ta mee shickyr nagh meet-ym dy bragh rish maynrys firrinagh? Cre my yinnagh Jee, fakin mee slane soit er y seihl, as son goail my slane soylley ayn, cre dy jinnagh eh gra rhym’s, myr t’eh er ghra rish ymmodee elley, —“Ommydan myr t’ou, yn oie t’ayn noght vees dty annym er ny hirrey ort?” Cre eisht vees my vondeish liorish yn cosney neu-chairagh shoh? Cre’n gooin sharroo ver cooinaghtyn ny eunyssyn neu-lowal shoh da my chree? Lesh cre’n pian as trimshey nee’m eisht paartail rish yn verchys shoh, ny eunyssyn shoh, ny fardalyssyn shoh, ta mee nish cha miandagh orroo? | |
| Let me, therefore, beg of you to suppose you were now lying at the point of death. | Lhig dou, er-y-fa shen, guee erriu dy smooinaghtyn riu hene dy row shiu nish ny lhie ec point y vaaish. | |
| Would you, for the sake of leaving a better estate behind you, would you take advantage of that poor man’s necessities? —of this poor man’s ignorance? Would you recommend to your children the way of life yourself have led? Would you not rather tell them, multitude of business has ruined me; it has made me forget myself, my God, my duty to both, and the end of my being sent into the world. | Jinnagh shiu, er graih dy aagail ny smoo dy chooid heihlt nyn lurg, jinnagh shiu vondeish y ghoail er ymmyrch yn dooinney boght shen; —er mee-hushtey yn dooinney boght shoh? Jinnagh shiu moylley rish nyn gloan dy leeideil nyn mea rere myr ren shiu hene? Nagh jinnagh shiu ny s’leaie ginsh daue, —ta weight kiarail seihltagh er my [157] chreu; t’yh er chur orrym jarrood mee-hene, my Yee, my churrym hooin ny neesht, as yn oyr er y hon va mee er ny choyrt gys y theihl. | |
| Or if you have led a careless, useless, idle life, would you not charge your children, as they hope to be saved, not to follow your example? Would you not bid them, over and over again, remember the sentence passed upon the unprofitable servant, “Cast him into outer darkness.” | Na my ta shiu er leeideil bea almoragh, gyn ymmyd, as gyn fruiys, nagh jinnagh shiu cur’mey nyn gloan, myr ta nyn dreishteil son saualtys, gyn dy eiyrt da’n samplere euish? Ny jinnagh shiu dy jeean gra roo harrish as harrish, —cooinee er y vriwnys va currit er y charvaant neu-vondeishagh, “Tilg-jee eh ayns y dorraghys sodjey mooie.” | |
| Or, suppose yourself surprized by the approach of death in the midst of a life of pleasures, would you not tell your children, how sad and bitter the remembrance of such a life is, when one comes to die? That you have, by leading such a life, lived in an utter forgetfulness of God; done little or no good in your generation; lost all the principles of a Christian life; so fixed your heart and soul to these vanities, that you cannot raise your thoughts to God, nor pray to him, in this time of distress, with any hopes of being heard? | Na, abbyr-jee dy beagh shiu bwoailt doaltattym lesh chingys baaish ayns mean bea dy eunyssyn seihltagh, ny jinnagh shiu ginsh da nyn gloan, cre cha treih as sharroo ta cooinaght er lheid y vea, tra ta peiagh cheet dy gheddyn baase? Dy vel shiu-hene, liorish leeideil lheid y vea er veaghey ayns slane jarrood jeh Jee; er n’yannoo feer veg, na s’coan veg edyr, dy vie ayns nyn sheeloghe; er yarrood slane bun as toiggal jeh bea Creestee; er hoiagh wheesh shen nyn slane gree as annym er ny fardalyssyn shoh, nagh vel shiu abyl nyn smooinaghtyn y hroggal seose gys Jee, na guee huggey ayns y traa shoh dy heaghyn, lesh veg y treishteil dy bee shiu er nyn glashtyn? | |
| Lastly; would not the most learned man, upon setting death before his eyes, confess the folly and impertinence of every study which does not tend to better our neighbour, or ourselves; to glorify God; to mend the corruption of our nature, [52] and to restore us to the image of God; which does not serve to furnish the understanding with heavenly wisdom, and the soul with devout affections? | Er-jerrey; ny jinnagh yn dooinney smoo ynsit, er soiagh baase roish e hooillyn, goail-rish ommijys as fardalys nhee erbee dy vel [158] dooinney er cheau e hraa as e smooinaght er, agh shen ta cheu dy yannoo mie da nyn naboo na dooin hene; dy ghloyraghey Jee; dy lhiassaghey neu-ghlennid nyn ghooghys, as dy hayrn shin reesht gys tooarystal Yee; nagh vel shirveish dy choamrey yn annym lesh creenaght flaunyssagh, as lesh yeearreeyn crauee? | |
| In short, death will come, whether we think of it or not; the time, it is true, is uncertain; but this we are sure of, that the reason why the unfruitful tree was not immediately cut down was, that it might (if spared a little longer) bring forth fruit worthy of its place in the vineyard. | Ayns fockle; nee yn baase cheet, shin dy smooinaght er ny gyn; spheer yh, ta’n traa neu-hickyr; agh shoh ta shin shickyr jeh, dy nee yn oyr nagh row yn billey neu-vessoil chelleeragh er ny ghiarey sheese va, dy voddagh yh (my veagh traa sodjey currit da) cur magh mess feeu jeh’n ynnyd echey ’sy gharey-feeyney. | |
| III. This shews the great care we ought to take not to be diverted from the sight of death, by a supine negligence, or by the business or pleasures of this world. | III. Ta shoh soilshaghey yn chiarail vooar lhisagh ’ve orrin gyn dy choayl shilley jeh’n vaase, liorish neu-friuys lhiastagh, na liorish cooishyn na eunyssyn y theihl shoh. | |
| Few people imagine, that they shall ever forget they must die; and yet how many live to find themselves deceived, and never think of preparing for death till they come within the sight of eternity? It is then indeed they will see their error; but who will assure them that it is not then too late? It is for this reason, our Lord has made it one of the express duties of Christianity, to watch continually, lest that day overtake us unawares; because so very much depends upon it. He has also forewarned us, in the parable of the seed sown among thorns, what are the things which will certainly divert us from the thoughts of what must come hereafter; assuring us, that an heart possessed with the love of riches, or filled with the cares, the pleasures, or idols, of this world, is utterly incapable of entertaining any lasting thoughts of another life. | Stiark ta smooinaghtyn dy jarrood ad dy bragh dy nheign daue baase y gheddyn; as foast nagh nhimmey ta bio dy akin ad-hene mollit, as gyn dy bragh smooinaght dy yannoo aarloo cour y vaase derrey t’ad ayns shilley da’n seihl dy bragh farraghtyn? Shen y traa dy jarroo ver ad my-ner nyn marranys; agh quoi eh ver shickyrys daue nagh vel yh eisht ro-anmagh? Er yn oyr shoh t’yh, dy vel nyn Jiarn er n’yannoo yh unnane jeh ny ard currymyn Creestee, dy ve kinjagh er nyn [159] arrey, er-aggle dy jig yn laa shen doaltattym, er-yn-oyr dy vel wheesh erskyn-towse lhie er. T’eh myrgeddin er chur raue dooin ayns coraa-dorraghey yn rass cuirt mastey drineyn, cre ta ny reddyn nee son shickyrys shin y chleayney veih smooinaghtyn er ny sheign cheet ny lurg shoh; shickyraghey dooin, dy vel cree ta soit er berchys, na lhieent lesh kiarailyn, eunyssyn, na fardalyssyn y theihl shoh, dy bollagh neu-chooie dy reayl smooinaghtyn farraghtagh er bea elley. | |
| It is true, a form of religion and piety, and some serious thoughts and purposes, and even good works, may, for a time, subsist with a life of sensual pleasures, worldly amusements, and the love of riches; but at last, He, who knows what was in man, assures us, that these will choke every grain of good seed which his Spirit had sown in our hearts. | Spheer yh, dy vod caslys dy chredjue as dy chraueeaght, as ny cheayrtyn smooinaghtyn as kiarailyn mie, as eer obbraghyn mie hene, ve, son traa, myr bio marish bea dy eunyssyn foalley, taitnyssyn seihltagh, as saynt er berchys; agh feih-yerrey, Eshyn, echey ta fys cre ta ayns dooinney, t’eh shickyraghey dooin, dy der ad shoh mou dy chooilley ghrein jeh’n rass mie va’n Spyrryd echeysyn er chuir ayns nyn greeaghyn. | |
| Let us, therefore, be persuaded, by all that is dear to us, not to lose the sight of death, by diversions, which will signify nothing to us when we come to die, but only to torment us. | Lhig dooin, er-y-fa shen, ve coyrlit, liorish ooilley ny ta deyr dooin, gyn dy choayl shilley jeh’n vaase, liorish reddyn gyn faunnoo, nagh n’eeu monney dooin tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase, agh ynrycan dy horchaghey shin. | |
| IV. For, when we come to die, we shall have very different thoughts of all these idols of the world, than what we are apt to have at present. | IV. Son, tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase, bee nyn smooinaghtyn slane caghlaait mychione fardalyssyn y theihl shoh, veih shen s’mennic lhieu ’ve ’sy traa t’ayn. | |
| You have seen a child extremely fond of his play-things, and most impatient to part with them: an hour after, perhaps, he is taken ill, and you strive to divert him by the things he was just before so very fond of; but all in vain. The very sight of them offends him. Why now, as sure as we live, this will be the case of every soul of us, if we will set our hearts upon things which will not satisfy and comfort us when we come to die. | [160] Ta shiu er vakin paachey as mooarane taitnys echey er e ghaieaghyn, as goail feer olk rish scarrey roo: oor ny lurg, foddee, t’eh bwoailt lesh chingys, as shiuish streeu dy vrynneragh rish lesh ny eer gaieaghyn ve tammylt roish shen as wheesh dy haitnys echey ayndoo; agh ooilley ayns fardail: ta’n eer shilley jeu cur corree er. Camma nish, cha shickyr as ta shin bio, she shoh vees cooish dagh annym j’in, my ta shin soiaghey nyn greeaghyn er nheeghyn nagh vod shin y vooiys na y gherjaghey tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase. | |
| You are young, and you think a serious temper is not necessary; —depend upon it, you will not think so, if God shall visit you, and bring you within the sight of death. You will then see the folly and madness of a life spent in sin and vanity. | T’ou foast agh aeg, as gourys nagh vel smooinaghtyn dowin ymmyrchagh:— Gow my ockle, cha nee shen vees dty smooinaghtyn, my lhieys Jee e laue ort, as oo y chur lesh gys shilley da’n vaase. Nee oo eisht fakin ommijys as mee-cheeaylys lheid y vea as ta ceaut ayns pecca as fardalys. | |
| You are at present fond of what you call pleasant company; you will not believe it, that a time will come when you will cry out, would to God I had never seen those unhappy people who tempted me to an idle life, which made me forget myself, my God, and especially my latter end! | T’ou nish as lane taitnys ayd ayns shen t’ou genmys sheshaght ghennal; cha gred oo yh, dy jig y traa nee oo geam, —dy baillish Jee nagh row mee rieau er vakin yn sleih mee-vaynrey shen ren mish y violagh gys bea er y veggan fruiys, hug orrym’s jarrood mee-hene, my Yee, as erskyn ooilley my laa er-jerrey! | |
| As for sensual pleasures, of every kind, it will be found true of them what the wise man said of wine, “At the last they will sting like a serpent, and bite like an adder.” Their wound will be mortal. | Er son eunyssyn foalley, jeh dy chooilley cheint, hig shen magh dy ve firrinagh jeusyn dooyrt yn dooinney creeney mychione feeyn, [161] “Ec y jerrey nee yh lhottey myr ard-nieu, as gahghey myr yn adder.” Bee yn lhot oc baasoil. | |
| You lead a useless life; and you make your mind easy with such thoughts as these—I have enough to live on, and why should I trouble myself with labour and care? I will tell you why; for this reason, amongst others; because, when you come to die, such a scripture as this may come to torment your soul, —“Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” | T’ou leeideil bea gyn ymmyd; as cur aash da dty aigney lesh lheid ny smooinaghtyn shoh: —Ta my haie aym dy veaghey er, cre’n-fa eisht yinnin’s mee-hene y voirey lesh laboragh as kiarail? Insh-yms dhyt cre’n-fa; son yn oyr shoh, marish lane elley; er-yn-oyr, tra hig oo dy gheddyn baase, foddee lheid y scriptyr shoh cheet tessyn er dty annym seaghnit, —“Ersooyl lesh y charvaant neu-vondeishagh gys diunid yn dorraghys sodjey mooie, shen y raad vees keayney as snaggeraght feeacklyn.” | |
| To avoid this sentence, there are others so very intent upon the world, that they make a little religion serve their turn; nor will they give themselves time to hear, what their teachers would tell them, that this is not the world they were made for; and that they will have quite other [53] thoughts of this world when they come in sight of that which is to come, and look back upon the little they have done towards preparing for a life which must never end. | Dy haghney yn deyrey shoh, ta feallagh elley wheesh shen soit er y theihl, dy vel kuse fardalagh dy chredjue as dy chraueeaght shirveish y thurn ocsyn; chamoo ver ad traa daue hene dy chlashtyn shen yinnagh nyn vir-ynsee rhymboo, nagh nee son yn seihl shoh v’ad kiarit; as dy bee slane caghlaa smooinaghtyn oc jeh’n seihl shoh, tra hig ad ayns shilley da’n seihl ta ry-heet, as dy yeeaghyn back er y veggan t’ad er n’yannoo cour kiarail son bea nagh bee dy bragh ec kione. | |
| V. It is then the ill use and loss of time will be the torment of their souls, who now lead a careless or a sinful life. | V. Shen y traa nee yn smooinaght jeh’n drogh ymmyd t’ad er n’yannoo jeh nyn draa lhie dy trome er ny anmeenyn ocsyn, ta nish leeideil bea neu-friusagh na peccoil. | |
| Most people in health are apt, too apt, to flatter themselves that they have time enough before them; and that, as long as they live, their salvation will be in their own hands. This delusion has been the ruin of many a soul. “I say unto you,” saith our Lord, “many shall seek to enter, and shall not be able.” This is fair warning to such as will be making experiments, how long they may go on in a careless way of living, depending upon their own purposes, and the goodness and grace of God, whenever they shall think fit to ask for it; not considering that a time may come, that a time will come, when by a just judgment, they shall not be able to make one step towards their salvation, because they despised the long-suffering and goodness of God, which was designed to lead them to repentance. | [162] Ta’n ayrn smoo dy leih ec nyn slaynt laik, feer laik, dy vrynneragh roo-hene as dy smooinaghtyn dy vel traa dy liooar roue; as dy bee, choud as s’bio ad, nyn saualtys ayns nyn laue hene. Ta’n volteyrys shoh er ve toyrt-mou annym ny ghaa. “Ta mee gra riu,” as nyn Jiarn, “dy jean ymmodee shirrey dy gholl stiagh, agh cha jig yh lhieu.” Ta shoh raue baghtal dauesyn bailliu jannoo triallyn caid oddys ad goll er nyn doshiaght ayns aght bea neu-fruiysagh, treishteil gys ny t’ad hene kiarail jannoo, as gys mieys as grayse Yee, traa erbee dy nailloo hene shirrey er y hon; gyn goail huc hene, dy vod traa cheet, as dy jean traa cheet, ayn nagh vod ad, liorish briwnys cairal Yee, yn saase sloo y yannoo cour nyn saualtys, er-yn-oyr dy ren ad soiagh beg jeh surranse-foddey as mieys Yee, va kiarit dy leeideil ad gys arrys. | |
| Christians do not consider, as they should do, that we are in this life in a state of trial; that this trial is for eternity; and that as we behave ourselves well or ill in this life, it will be well or ill with us for ever. | Cha vel Creesteenyn goail huc hene, myr lhisagh ad, dy vel shin ’sy vea shoh ayns stayd dy phrowal; dy vel yn prowal shoh son beayntys vraa; as dy nee myr ta shin er n’ymmyrkey shin-hene mie na sie ’sy vea shoh, shen myr vees yh mie na sie dooin son dy bragh. | |
| He that lays this to heart, will never think his time a burthen, —will never seek for ways to get it off his hands, —will never imagine that he may spend it as he pleaseth, —will never live as if he had nothing to do. | Eshyn ta goail shoh gys e chree, cha jean eh dy bragh coontey e hraa myr laad er e laue,—cha shir eh son saaseyn dy reaghey rish,—cha jean eh dy bragh smooinaghtyn [163] dy vod eh ceau e hraa myr saillish hene,—cha jean eh ec traa erbee beaghey myr nagh row monney echey dy yannoo. | |
| Now; that you may set a true value upon the time which God allows us, in order to have our corrupt nature mended, and to fit us for Heaven, do but represent to your minds—one who when he comes to die, and looking backwards, can see nothing that he has done but what must render him unworthy of the favour of God; —who has done little or no good in his generation; —who has done a great deal of evil, and has no longer time to repent of it, and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance; —who has done wrong to his neighbour, and has no time to make restitution; —who is surprized in a course of sin—in the midst of worldly cares or pleasures—in an utter forgetfulness of God, and the duty he owes to him. | Nish; dy vod toiggal cooie ’ve eu jeh scansh feeuoil yn traa ta Jee er lowal dooin, cour lhiassaghey nyn ghooghys peccoil, as dy yannoo shin aarloo son niau; cha vel eu agh dy ghoail hiu hene dy vaik shiu fer er e lhiabbee vaaish, as jeeaghyn back er e vea ta ceaut, nagh vod fakin nhee erbee agh shen sheign jannoo eh neu-feeu jeh foayr Yee;—nagh vel er n’yannoo agh beggan beg, my ta veg edyr dy vie ayns e heeloghe;—ta er n’yannoo mooarane olk, as nagh vel traa sodjey echey dy ghoail arrys er y hon, as dy ymmyrkey magh messyn jeh arrys;—ta er n’yannoo aggair da e naboo, as nagh vel veg y traa echey dy yannoo lhiassaghey; ta goit er vullagh ching ayns cooyrse dy phecca,—ayns mean kiarailyn as eunyssyn seihltagh, ayns slane jarrood dy Yee, as jeh ny currymyn t’eh lhiastyn da. | |
| One cannot but tremble when we but suppose such a case as this, lest it should be yours, or mine, or any Christian’s, when he comes to lie upon his death bed. | Cha vod fer agh ve er-creau eer dy smooinaghtyn er lheid y vea shoh, er-aggle dy vod yh ve yn chooish ayds, na ayms, na Creestee erbee elley, tra t’eh cheet dy lhie er e lhiabbee vaaish. | |
| And yet it may be so, and it really will be so, if we neglect the means of grace ordained by God to keep us from bringing this ruin upon ourselves. | As foast foddee yh ve myr shen, as son shickyrys shen myr vees yh, my nee mayd almorys er ny saaseyn dy ghrayse ta Jee er n’oardaghey dy reayl shin veih cur lhien yn treihys shoh orrin hene. | |
| VI. Particularly, if Christians refuse or neglect to hear, and to obey, the voice of their teachers. | [164] VI. Erskyn-ooilley, my ta Creesteenyn gobbal na almoragh dy chlashtyn as dy ve biallagh da coraa nyn vir-ynsee. | |
| Most people are apt to believe they know their duty as well as those that are ordained to instruct them. And the truth is, the duties of Christianity are so plain and reasonable, that the most unlearned need not perish in a Christian country, for want of knowledge. How then comes it to pass, that so many Christians are in the certain way of perdition? The reason is plain; they do not attend and hearken to their teachers, with that seriousness they ought to do, who would ever and anon put them in remembrance of what must follow their disobedience. | Ta’n chooid smoo dy leih aarloo dy chredjal dy vel ad toiggal nyn gurrym chamma roosyn ta dy lowal oardit dy chur roue yh. As spheer yh, dy vel cur’myn y Chreestee cha plain as resoonagh shen, nagh lhiass da’n peiagh sloo ynsit cherraghtyn ayns cheer Chreestee son laccal tushtey. Kys t’yh eisht dy vel whilleen Creestee ayns y raad shickyr gys coayl-anmey? Ta’n oyr plain; cha vel ad lesh imnea cur geill da na geaishtagh rish nyn vir-ynsee, yinnagh dy kinjagh ad y chur ayns cooinaghtyn jeh’n eiyrtys sheign ve er nyn vee-viallys. | |
| People know their duty; but they are, the very best of men, but too apt to forget it. They believe the penalty—but are diverted, too often, from laying it to heart. Worldly cares and business, sensual pleasures, and other amusements, are the thorns mentioned by our Lord, which choak the word, and it becometh unfruitful. | Ta fys ec sleih er nyn gurrym; agh t’ad, eer yn sleih share, ro-aarloo dy yarrood yh. T’ad credjal yn kerraghey ta cour peccee, —agh t’ad ro-vennic cleaynit veih goail yh gys cree. Kiarailyn as bisnessyn seihltagh, eunyssyn ny foalley, as fardalyssyn elley orroo ta sleih ceau nyn draa, as goail taitnys ayndoo, t’ad shoh ny drineyn ta rait liorish nyn Jiarn, dy phlooghey yn goo, as cur er dy ve neu-vessoil. | |
| Besides this, our corrupt nature is very unwilling to dwell upon such amazing subjects as must of necessity give great uneasiness to people’s minds, who are engaged in any sinful way. They will avoid, they will shut out, the thoughts of death and judgment; if possible, out of their very memory. | Marish shoh, ta nyn ghooghys peccoil feer neu-vooiagh dy ghoail smooinaghtyn dowin er lheid ny cooishyn ard-yindyssagh as sheign gyn dooyt seaghyn trome y hayrn er aignaghyn sleih ta geiyrt da aght peccoil [165] erbee. Nee ad chea veih, nee ad jeigh mooie ass nyn eer cooinaghtyn, my oddys yh ve, yn smooinaght jeh baase as briwnys. | |
| And therefore our gracious God, [54] who knows what man is, and the terrible consequence of such obstinacy, has appointed his ministers, who, at the peril of their own souls, shall ever and anon bring these things to your remembrance; and press you, as you value your souls, to dwell upon them; and as often as you forget them, so often to sound them in your ears, until, by the grace of God, you order your life accordingly, and bring forth fruit answerable to amendment of life. | As shen-y-fa, nyn Yee graysoil, echey ta fys cre ta ayns dooinney, as yn eiyrtys treih jeh lheid y roonid, t’eh er phointeil e Hirveishee, ta cur’mit ec gaue nyn anmeenym hene, dy kinjagh dy chur shiu ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ny reddyn shoh; as dy hionney erriu, myr s’deyr lhieu ny anmeenyn eu-hene, dy smooinaghtyn dy mennic as dy dowin orroo; as cha mennic as ta shiu dy yarrood ad, cha mennic cheddin dy feiyral ad ayns ny cleayshyn eu, derrey, liorish grayse Yee, ta shiu leeideil nyn mea cordail roo, as gymmyrkey magh mess cooie gys lhiassaghey-bea. | |
| And they that neglect to hear these truths from their teachers will most certainly mourn at the last, and say, “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;” when they come to see what their negligence has ended in. | As adsyn nagh der clashtyn da ny firrinyssyn shoh veih nyn mochillyn-anmey, nee ad son shickyrys dobberan ec y jerrey, as gra, “Kys va mee dwoaiagh er ynsagh, as my chree soiaghey beg jeh coyrle;” tra hig ad dy akin cre’n jerrey ta er jeet er lheid yn almorys. | |
| How such negligence does end, the same inspired writer tells us in the following verses: they will be forced to confess, I was almost in all evil. And the observation is certainly most just, That the profanation of the Lord’s day, and the neglect of the ordinances then ad ministered, is the beginning of all evil; and the greatest criminals have been forced to confess this at the last, when their eyes have been opened upon the sight of death and judgment, and what must follow. | Cre’n jerrey ta cheet er lheid yn almorys, ta’n screeudeyr noo cheddin ginsh dooin ayns vierseyn chelleeragh lurg y text: bee ad eginit dy ghoail-rish, va mee fagys ayns dy chooilley olk. As ta’n observation son shickyrys feer chiart, Dy vel brishey Laa [166] yn Chiarn, as soiaghey beg jeh ny oardaghyn ta ec y traa shen er ny hirveish, toshiaght dy chooilley olk; as ta ny kimmee smoo er ve eginit dy ghoail-rish shoh ec y jerrey, tra va ny sooillyn oc er nyn vosley liorish shilley jeh baase as briwnys, as yn eiyrtys orroo. | |
| And let no Christian, even the most knowing, be so conceited as to think he stands not in need of instruction from his teachers, after what the Apostle has declared, [Rom. i. 16. 1 Cor. i.18. 21.] “That the preaching of the Gospel is the power of God unto the salvation of them that hear and believe.” And “that it pleaseth God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe.” Intimating, that God has annexed the grace of conversion and salvation, in a great measure, to the preaching of the Gospel, to them who close with this ordinance, who esteem, and are sensibly affected with it, and endeavour and pray to be bettered by it. | As ny lhig da Creestee erbee, eer yn fer s’tushtee, ve cha lane jeh e cheeayl hene as dy smooinaghtyn nagh vel eh feme ynsagh veih e vochilyn-anmey, lurg shen ta’n Ostyl er n’insh dooin, [Rom. i. 16. 1 Cor. i. 18, 21.] “Dy vel preacheil yn Sushtal pooar Yee gys saualtys da dy chooilley unnane ta clashtyn as credjal.” As “dy nee aigney Yee ve liorish ommijys preacheil, dy hauail adsyn ta credjal.” Soilshaghey liorish shoh, dy vel Jee er lhiantyn, son y chooid smoo, yn grayse dy arrys as dy haualtys gys preacheil yn Sushtal, son foays dauesyn ta soiaghey jeh’n oardagh shoh, ta jannoo scansh jeh, as ta dy breeoil greinnit liorish, as streeu as guee dy ve ny share liorish. | |
| And they that imagine that they know their duty, and need no teachers, will however stand in need of being put in mind both of their duty and danger, which the best of men are too apt to forget, and fall into the sins they have repented of. And one most necessary grace they surely want, (who think they want not to be instructed) and that is, the grace of humility, the want of which (or else they understand little of their duty) will shut them out of Heaven. | As adsyn ta smooinaght dy vel fys oc er nyn gurrym, as nagh vel adsyn feme fir-ynsee, bee ad, son ooilley shen, feme dy ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn chamma jeh nyn gurrym as nyn ghanjere, cooid ta’n sleih share ro-aarloo dy yarrood, as dy huittym ayns ny peccaghyn er nyn son t’ad er ve arryssagh. As un ghrayse smoo ymmyrchagh t’adsyn ayns shickyrys feme (ta smooinaght [167] nagh vel ad feme nyn gurrym ve soit roue) as ta shen, yn grayse dy imlid, ny egooish (er-nonney s’beg t’ad toiggal nyn gurrym) bee ad nyn ghooney magh ass niau. | |
| And now, good Christians, if you have attended to what has been said upon this subject, you will, I hope, be disposed to come to some such resolutions as these following:— | As nish, Chreesteenyn vie, my ta shiu er chur geill da ny ta er ve rait er y chooish shoh, ta mee treishteil dy bee shiu coyrleit dy yannoo lheid ny gialdynyn shoh:— | |
| I will no longer flatter myself, that my time is in my own power; this short and uncertain time of life is my time of trial, of grace, and of fitting myself for Heaven and Happiness: how long it will last, God only knows, and therefore, through his grace, I will not let it slip and lose it. I will thank God for his patience in waiting so long for the fruits of his graces; and beg of him to enable me to bring forth such fruit as his mercy and goodness will accept of. And I will endeavour, by a sincere repentance and an holy life, to prevent the sad reproaches of an awakened conscience, when I shall have no more time to do any thing towards making my peace with God. | “Cha jean-ym ny sodjey mee-hene y volley, ayns smooinaght dy vel my hraa ayns my laue hene; ta’n traa giare as neu-hickyr shoh dy vea my earish dy hrial, dy ghrayse, as dy yannoo mee-hene cooie son niau as maynrys: caid nee yh farraghtyn, ec Jee ynrycan ta fys, as shen-y-fa, trooid yn ghrayse echeysyn, cha jean-ym lhiggey shaghey na coayl yh. Ver-ym booise da Jee son e hurranse-foddey ayns farkiagh choud dy hraa dooys dy ymmyrkey magh messyn e ghrayseyn, as guee-ym er dy m’y niartaghey dy chur magh lheid y mess as nee e vyghin as e vieys soiagh y yannoo jeh. As nee’m streeu, liorish arrys firrinagh as bea chrauee, dy haghney gahghyn dewilley cooinsheanse ghooshtit, tra nagh bee traa sodjey aym dy yannoo nhee erbee cour jannoo my hee rish Jee. | |
| It is not now a question among Christians, as it was among Heathens, —What will become of us when we die? Our Lord Christ came down from heaven to let us know this, and that death infallibly sends us to a much better, or much worse place, than that we are now in. And, therefore, I will make it one part of my daily prayers, that God may not suffer me to forget my latter end, and what will follow. I see the advantage it would be to myself, and to the world, if we were often put in mind of this by those that are ordained to instruct us. It would teach us more than we are aware of; it would tie up our hands from injustice, from oppression, from malice, from every evil thing, from every sinful pleasure, which we shall then go to account for. | “Cha vel yh nish ny wheshtion mastey Creesteenyn, myr ve roish nish mastey Anchreesteenyn, —Cre s’erree dooin tra yiow mayd baase? Haink nyn Jiarn Creest neose [168] veih niau dy hoilshaghey shoh dooin, as dy vel yn baase son shickyrys dy choyrt shin gys boayl foddey share, na foddey smessey na ta shin nish ayn. As shen-y-fa, nee’m yh ayrn jeh my phadjeryn gagh-laa, nagh jean Jee mee y hurranse dy yarrood my laa jerrinagh, as cre vees yn eiyrtys echey. Ta mee fakin yn vondeish veagh yh dou hene, as da’n seihl, dy beagh shin dy mennic er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh shoh lioroosyn ta dy lowal oardit dy hoiagh nyn gurrym roin, Yinnagh yh ny smoo dy hoiggal y choyrt dooin, na ta shin smooinaght jeh; yinnagh yh nyn laueyn y chiangley seose veih aggair, veih tranlaase, as nyn greeaghyn veih goanlys, veih dy chooilley nhee olk, veih dy chooilley eunys peccoil, vees mayd ec y traa shen goll dy choyrt coontey er y hon. | |
| [55] I will, therefore, (will every serious Christian say) I will bless God for the pastors he has appointed to put us in remembrance of these things; and I will endeavour to profit by their instructions. | “Nee’ms, er-y-fa shen, (nee dy chooilley Chreestee crauee gra) Nee’ms Jee y vannaghey son ny bochilyn-anmey t’eh er phointeil dy chur shin ayns cooinaghtyn jeh ny reddyn shoh; as nee’m streeu dy ve ny share liorish ny t’ad dy ynsagh dou. | |
| I see plainly, that every thing conspires to make us lose the remembrance of the dangers that encompass us. The pleasures we are so fond of, are only an art against thinking of death. The cares of the world, and the love of worldly things, are only a device of satan to make us set up our rest here. Every vice we are fond of, every sin we commit, makes us still more unwilling to think of death. What then would become of us, if it were nobody’s duty to shew us whither our steps will certainly lead us? In one word, we should live, as we speak, by chance; we should never seriously consider, what we came into the world for; what we are doing; whither we are a going. | “Ta mee fakin dy plain dy vel dy chooilley nhee nyn ’oi dy chur orrin jarrood ny danjereyn ta combaasal shin er dy chooilley heu. Yn vaynrys seihltagh ta wheesh dy haitnys ain ayn, cha vel yh agh saase croutagh n’oi nyn smooinaght er y vaase. Kiarailyn y theihl, as saynt reddyn seihltagh, t’ad [169] ynrycan kialg jeh’n Jouyl dy chur orrin soiagh seose nyn aash ayns shoh. Dy chooilley ghrogh-yannoo ta nyn daitnys ayn, dy chooilley phecca ta shin cur rish, t’ad kinjagh jannoo shin ny s’neu-vooiagh dy smooinaght er y vaase. Cre b’erree dooin eisht, mannagh beagh yh currym fer erbee dy hoilshaghey dooin cre gys nee nyn immeeaght son firrinys shin y leeideil? Ayns un ockle, yinnagh shin leeideil nyn mea myr ta shin loayrt, rere myr nee yh taghyrt; cha jinnagh shin goail gys cree cre hon haink shin gys y theihl; cre ta shin mysh; na c’raad ta shin reih goll. | |
| I will not look upon the instructions of the ministers of God, as the words of men, but—as they are indeed—grounded upon the word of God, and, as such, I will hearken to them. And I will hope and depend upon it, his blessing will go along with them, if it is not my own fault. They watch for our souls, as they that must give an account. What a mournful account will they have to give of those that will not hear their instructions? And what a mournful end will they make who shall despise their reproof? | “Cha jean-yms jeeaghyn er shen ta Shirveishee Yee dy chur roym myr goan gheiney, agh—myr t’ad dy jarroo—gruntit er Goo Yee, as myr lheid, nee’m geaishtagh roo. As nee’m jerkal as treishteil huggey, dy jean e vannaght goll lhieu, mannagh bee yh my oill hene. T’ad er nyn arrey son ny anmeenyn ain, myr adsyn sheign coontey ’choyrt. Cre’n coontey treih trimshagh ver adsyn stiagh mychione ocsyn nagh neaisht rish nyn gurrym voue? As cre’n jerrey treih hig orroosyn nee soiaghey beg jeh’n choyrle oc? | |
| “Horrible” saith the wise man, “horrible will be the end of the unrighteous. They have no hope, no comfort, in the day of trial. But the righteous hath hope even in his death.” [Wisd. iii.] | “Atchimagh, (ta’n dooinney creeney gra) atchimagh vees jerrey yn cheeloghe vee-chrauee: t’ad gyn treishteil, as fegooish gerjagh ayns laa ny briwnys. Agh ec yn er-crauee ta treishteil, eer ayns e vaase.” | |
| These are the thoughts which will support his departing soul:— | [170] Ad shoh ny smooinaghtyn nee niartaghey e annym ayns e oor jerree:— | |
| I have obeyed the voice of my teachers, and inclined mine ear to them that instructed me; and their instructions have not been in vain. They often put me in mind of the thought[s] I should have when I should come to die; and these thoughts made me more careful of my duty, and kept me from a thousand evils. The return of every Lord’s day brought along with it its especial blessing; either some advice, or some reproof, some duty I had forgot, or some sin I had unwarily fallen into. These I received as messages from God, and ordered my life accordingly, and now I have the comfort of doing so, when I most stand in need of it. | “Ta mee er ve biallagh da coyrle my ir-ynsee, as er chroymmey my chleaysh hucsyn hug roym, as cha vel ny coyrleyn oc er ve caillit orrym. S’mennic hug ad mee ayns cooinaght jeh ny smooinaghtyn veagh aym er my lhiabbee yerrinagh; as ren ny smooinaghtyn shoh mee ny s’kiaraalee jeh my churrym, as dreill yh mee veih thousane olk. Hug dy chooilley Ghoonaght lesh marish e vannaght er-lheh hene, edyr coyrle, na oghsan ennagh, currym ennagh va mee er yarrood, na pecca ennagh va mee trooid almorys er duittym ayn. Ghow mee roo shoh myr chaghteryn veih Jee, as ren mee my vea y leeideil cordail roo; as ta’n gerjagh aym dy ren mee shen, nish tra smoo ta mee ayns y feme echey.” | |
| Who would not wish to make such an end? And surely it is in the power of every soul of us, through the grace of God, to make such an end. Than which no sight upon earth is so charming, so desirable, as to see a dying man cheerful, and a soul departing with comfort; with a certain prospect of a blessed resurrection. | Quoi nagh bwishagh lheid y jerrey ’ve echey? As shickyr t’yh ayns pooar dy chooilley annym j’in trooid grayse Yee, dy yannoo lheid y jerrey cheddin. Cha vel shilley erbee er yn ooir cha cleaynoil, as wheesh dy ve er ny yeearree, na dy akin dooinney tra t’eh geddyn baase ayns cree mie, as e annym paartail ayns gerjagh; lesh shickyrys vie roish jeh irree-seose vannee. | |
| O God! grant that this may be the case, of myself, and of every one that hears me. That we may love, and attend to, the word and ministers of God. That we may live in the fear of God, and die in his favour, for the Lord Jesus’ sake; | O Yee! giall dy vod shoh ve yn stayd aym-pene, as stayd dy chooilley unnane ta geaishtagh rhym. Dy vod mayd ve graih[171]agh er, as clashtyn rish Goo Yee as e Hirveishee. Dy vod mayd beaghey ayns aggle Yee, as baase y gheddyn ayns y foayr echey, er graih yn Chiarn Yeesey. | |
| to whom, &c. | Huggeysyn, marish yn Ayr as y Spyrryd Noo, dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr, seihl gyn jerrey, Amen. | |
| [56] | [173] | |
| SERMON IX. | SHARMANE VIII. | |
| THE SHAME AND DANGER OF BEING CHRISTIANS WITHOUT CHRISTIANITY. | Yn Nearey as Danjere jeh ve Creesteenyn, fegooish Ymmyrkey-bea Creestee. | |
| ezekiel xliii. 10. | Ezekiel xliii. 10. | |
| Thou Son of Man, Shew The House to the House of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the Pattern.[36] | Uss Vac y Dooinney, jeeagh yn Thie [t’ou er n’akin ’syn Ashlish] da Thie Israel, dy vod nearey ’ve orroo son nyn Ghrogh-yannoo, as lhig daue towse yn Cho-soylaghey. | |
| THE last eight chapters of Ezekiel have respect unto the state of the Gospel, and unto the New Jerusalem mentioned in the Revelations, as appears from the forty-seventh chapter, and from the name of the city Jehovah Shammah, i. e., God is there. | TA ny hoght cabdillyn s’jerree shoh dy Ezekiel cowraghey magh stayd yn Sushtal, as yn Jerusalem Noa, my-e-chione ta imraa ayns Ashlish yn Noo Ean, myr ta ry-akin veih yn chiaghtoo chabdil as daa-eed, as veih ennym yn ard-valley Jehovah Shammah, ta shen dy ghra, Ta Jee ayns shen. | |
| The Holy Spirit having very particularly described the Temple and its ordinances, at the tenth verse, he commands the Prophet to shew that description to the house of Israel, that is, in a spiritual sense, to the Christian Church, that they may measure, that is, take especial notice of, the pattern, and be ashamed of their iniquities. | Erreish da yn Spyrryd Casheric v’er hoiaghey magh dy feer chiart cummey as tooarystal y Chiamble as e oardaghyn; ayns y jeihoo vierse t’eh sarey yn Phadeyr dy yeeaghyn yn cummey as tooarystal shen da Thie Israel, ta shen, ayns meanal spyrrydoil, da’n Agglish Creestee, dy vod ad towse, ta [174] shen, goail baght vie jeh yn co-soylaghey, as nearey ’ve orroo son nyn ghrogh-yannoo. | |
| Now; whatever was written afore-time was written for our instruction, especially what was purposely designed for the use of the church of Christ. This then being by the Holy Ghost commanded as a very proper method of convincing people of their error, to shew them the pattern they ought to imitate, that they may be ashamed when they see with their own eyes, how sadly they come short of it; I shall, therefore, follow this direction, as far as that Good Spirit shall enable me, and set before you, —first, the pattern which Christians ought to follow; what they ought to be. And then, secondly, the manner how they imitate or follow this pattern. | Nish; cre-erbee va scruit ’sy chenn earish v’yh scruit son yn ynsagh ainyn, er-lheh shen ny va er purpose kiarit son ymmyd agglish Chreest. Myr ta shoh eisht sarit liorish yn Spyrryd Noo myr aght feer chooie dy choyrt toiggal cair da sleih jeh nyn shaghrynys, dy hoilshaghey daue yn co-soylaghey da lhisagh ad geiyrt, dy vod nearey ’ve orroo tra t’ad fakin lesh nyn sooillyn hene, cre wheesh as t’ad cheet giare jeh: Nee’m, er-y-fa shen, cordail rish yn sarey shoh, choud as nee Spyrryd mie Yee m’y niartaghey, as ver-ym rhimbiu, —hoshiaght, yn co-soylaghey [yn pattern] da lhisagh Creesteenyn geiyrt; cre lhisagh ad ve. As eisht, ’sy nah ynnyd, yn aght kys dy yannoo lurg as dy eiyrt da’n samplere cheddin. | |
| By which I would hope to convince such as have any degree of seriousness or concern for their souls, that as far as they come short of this pattern, so far they will certainly come short of that happiness which God has promised his faithful servants. | Liorish shoh yinn’in treishteil dy choyrt toiggal cooie da nyn lheid as ta fo veg y chiarail na imnea son nyn anmeenyn, wheesh shen as t’ad cheet giare jeh’n samplere shoh, dy jig ad son firrinys choud cheddyn giare jeh’n vaynrys shen ta Jee er n’ghialdyn da e harvaantyn jeidjagh. | |
| Now, in order to do this more effectually, we shall consider, | Nish, dy yannoo shoh ny s’troshey, nee mayd consideral, | |
| first, What is the great design of the Gospel? | Hoshiaght, Cre ta ard chiarail yn Sushtal: | |
| Secondly. What means God has ordained for making that design effectual? | ’Sy nah ynnyd, Cre ny saaseyn ta Jee er n’oardaghey cour jannoo yn chiarail shen breeoil: | |
| Thirdly. What is required on our part towards bringing this design about? | [175] ’Sy trass ynnyd, Cre ta er ny hirrey er y phaart ainyn cour yn obbyr shoh. | |
| A plain account of these things will shew Christians to themselves. And when they see—how little they are affected with God’s gracious design for their good, —how little they have complied with the means ordained for bringing it about, —and how very indifferently they have performed the duties required of them; they may be ashamed of their iniquities, or be left without excuse. | Nee coontey plain jeh ny reddyn shoh, shilley jeu-hene y choyrt da Creesteenyn. As tra hee-ys ad—cre’n beggan greme ta kiarail graysoil Yee son nyn voays er ghoail orroo, —cre’n beggan geill t’ad er choyrt da ny saaseyn oardit cour shen y chooilleeney, — as cre cha lhag as t’ad er ve ayns jannoo ny currymyn sarit orroo; dy vod ad goail nearey jeh nyn ghrogh-yannoo, er-nonney ve fagit gyn leshtal. | |
| [57] I. And first; the great design of the Gospel is, in the apostle’s words, “to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God.” —That their eyes being enlightened with saving truth, they may see the wonderful goodness of God to mankind, in offering them happiness eternal upon the most favourable conditions; —that being made sensible of this, they may give glory to God, and shew forth his praise by fruits worthy of such a favour. | I. As hoshiaght; ta ard chiarail yn sushtal, ayns goan yn Ostyl, “dy hyndaa sleih veih dorraghys gus soilshey, as veih pooar Noid-ny-anmey gys Jee.”—Dy vod ad, nyn sooillyn er nyn soilshaghey lesh firrinys flaunyssagh, fakin mieys yindyssagh Yee gys sheelnaue, ayns chebbal daue maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn er ny conaantyn s’foayroil; —liorish ennaghtyn ve oc jeh shoh, dy vod ad Jee y ghloyraghey, as soilshaghey magh e voylley liorish messyn cooie son lheid y foayr. | |
| And truly, the favour was so great, that mankind would hardly have believed it, had not God sent his Son into the world, to assure them, that although they are sinners, and that as such he cannot take pleasure in them, yet that he is ready to be reconciled to all such as, being sensible and weary of their bad condition, are willing to accept deliverance upon the terms he has prescribed, and are content to be governed by such laws as he knows to be necessary to fit them for that happiness which he designs for them. | As dy feer, va’n foayr wheesh shen, s’coan va sheelnaue er chredjal yh, er-bey dy dug Jee e Vac gys y theihl, dy chur shickyrys daue, ga dy nee peccee ad, as myr nyn lheid nagh vod eh goail taitnys ayndoo, ny-yeih dy vel eh ullee dy ve coardit rish ooilley nyn lheid as ta, ennaghtagh as deiynagh jeh nyn [176] ghrogh stayd, aggindagh er livrey-ys er ny conaantyn ta eshyn er hebbal, as ta booiagh ve er nyn reill liorish lheid ny leighyn as shione dasyn dy ve ymmyrchagh dy yannoo cooie son yn vaynrys shen t’eh kiarail nyn gour. | |
| And that they may not be at a loss to know how that happiness is to be attained; what are the duties required of us; and how we may be able to perform them, God, by his Son, has given us a full and plain account of what is expected from us; upon what terms he will pardon us; and how we may be enabled to do what he requires of us. | As nagh beagh ad ec coayl dy hoiggal kys ta’n vaynrys shen dy ve ry-gheddyn; cre ny currymyn ta er ny hirrey orrin, as kys oddys mayd ve abyl dy chooilleeney ad, ta Jee, liorish e Vac, er choyrt dooin coontey slane baghtal jeh ny ta er ny yercal rish voinyn; er cre ny conaantyn nee eh nyn bardooney; as kys oddys mayd ve er nyn niartaghey dy yannoo shen ny ta eshyn er chur’mal orrin. | |
| To this end, he has appointed certain ordinances, to the serious observers of which he has promised his infallible blessing. He has also appointed an Order of Men, whose business it shall be, to teach and to explain these things; to exhort Christians not to neglect such offers of mercy; and to administer those ordinances, which he has appointed for enabling them to overcome all the difficulties they can possibly meet with. | Cour shoh, t’eh er phointeil lheid as lheid ny oardaghyn shen, as er n’ghialdyn e vannaght shickyr dauesyn nee dy crauee gimmeeaght ayndoo. T’eh myrgeddin er phointeil order dy gheiney, nyn oik vees yh, dy baghtal dy ynsaghey as dy ockley magh ny reddyn shoh,—dy choyrlaghey Creesteenyn gyn dy chur voue lheid ny chebbyn dy vyghin,—as dy hirveish orroo ny oardaghyn shen, ta eshyn er phointeil cour niartaghey ad dy gheddyn harrish dy chooilley lhiettal ta possibyl cheet nyn raad. | |
| And that men may not, at their peril, set light by these ordinances, and those that administer them, —because the ordinances are plain, and because they that administer them are men of like passions with themselves, — God hath expressly declared, that they that despise them, despise Him, for by Him they are sent; and that such as will not lay hold of the means of grace which he has ordained, must not expect his assistance in this life, or his favour in the next, but shall be punished for ever, for abusing so great goodness. | As er chee nagh jean sleih, er gaue anmey, soiaghey beg jeh ny oardaghyn shoh, as jeusyn ta dy hirveish ad orroo,—er-yn-oyr dy vel ny oardaghyn plain, as son dy vel adsyn [177] ta dy hirveish ad deiney lesh ny un annoonidyn roo-hene,—ta Jee ayns firrinys er n’ockley magh, dy vel adsyn ta soiagh’ beg jeusyn soiaghey beg Jehsyn, son Liorishyn t’ad er nyn goyrt; as nyn lheid as nagh jean goail y vondeish jeh ny saaseyn dy ghrayse ta eshyn er n’oardaghey, nagh nheign daue jerkal rish yn cooney echeysyn ’sy vea shoh, na rish e oayr ’sy vea ta ry-heet, agh dy bee ad er nyn gerraghey son dy bragh, son nyn ghrogh-ymmyd jeh lheid y vieys. | |
| The truth of all which the Son of God sealed with his most precious blood; that men might not have any pretence to question the truth of these things, or to slight them. | Yn firrinys jeh ooilley shoh ren Mac Yee sealal lesh e uill smoo ooasle; nagh voddagh leshtal erbee ve ec sleih dy wheshtional firrinys ny reddyn shoh, na dy hoiaghey beg jeu. | |
| And to awaken them into a sense of the hazard they run, if they should be so perverse as to despise that goodness which should lead them to repent, God has made known to the world this concerning truth, That he will call all men to an account; “and that they that have done good, shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.” And that thus it will be, though all the world should be so stupid as not to believe or mind it. | As dy ghoostey as gys ennaghtyn jeh’n danjere ta roue, my veagh ad cha roonagh as dy hoiaghey beg heg’n vieys shen lhisagh nyn leeideil gys arrys, ta Jee er hoilshaghey magh yn firrinys dooishtee shoh, Dy jean eh geam dy chooilley ghooinney gys coontey; as dy “jed adsyn ta er n’yannoo dy mie, gys y vea dy bragh farraghtyn; as adsyn t’er n’yannoo dy olk, gys yn aile vees dy bragh er-mayrn.” As dy nee shoh myr vees yh, ga dy beagh ooilley yn seihl cha bouranagh shen as gyn dy chredjal yh na dy chur geill da. | |
| This is the design of the Gospel; this is the Christian’s great concern; this is his work. | Shoh ta yn Sushtal dy chiarail; —shoh ard imnea yn Chreestee; —shoh yn obbyr echey. | |
| [178] | ||
| Let us now consider, how this gracious design affects the generality of Christians. | Lhig dooin nish consideral cre’n greme ta’n chiarail graysoil shoh dy ghoail er bunnys ny Creesteenyn. | |
| One would expect, that when life and death are set before people, there would be no difficulty with them which they should chuse. That they would be very desirous to be informed what will be expected from them; and be very thankful to those whom God has appointed to inform them, and to be the ministers of their reconciliation with God: And lastly, one would expect a general concern and seriousness, wherever these things are believed. | Heillagh oo, tra ta bea as baase soit kiongoyrt rish sleih, nagh beagh veg y doillidys oc quoi jeu dy reih. Dy beagh ad feer aggindagh er toiggal y gheddyn cre vees er ny hirrey orroo; as dy beagh ad feer vooisal dauesyn ta Jee er phointeil dy nyn ynsagh, as dy ve Shirveishee ayns nyn goardail rish Jee: As er jerrey, heillagh oo, raad erbee dy vel ny reddyn shoh er nyn gredjal, dy beagh yn slane theah fo imnea anmey. | |
| But, alas! the very contrary to all this is matter of fact. There are but few, in comparison, that give themselves the trouble of laying these things to heart at all. And, therefore, the generality of Christians have no taste, no sense of, no value for, the kindness and love of God, held forth to us in this dispensation. | Agh, ah treih! s’foddey voish shoh ta’n chooish. S’beggan, ayns soylagh, ta’n earroo ocsyn ta goail y troubyl orroo dy ghoail gys nyn greeaghyn ny reddyn shoh. As shen-y-fa, cha vel ec bunnys ny Creesteenyn edyr blass, na ennaghtyn, na scansh son kenjallys as graih Yee, chebbit dooin ayns y chonaant shoh. | |
| It is true, that all that live among Christians cannot but hear, and know, something of these things. But then the corrupt nature of man, [58] which cannot bear to be restrained, strives to pervert the design of God and the Gospel, according to the disposition in which it finds them. They that are atheistically disposed, think they see objections enough, not to believe it. Of them that do believe and receive the Gospel, very many have only the form of godliness, but know nothing of the power thereof. Many hold the truth in unrighteousness; many run into sinful pleasures; others suffer the cares of the world to take up all their thoughts and time; while others, who yet think their time innocently spent, are engaged in studies which have no relation to the one thing needful. All these, however, are moved by the very same secret spring, viz. the satisfaction men find in forgetting themselves, and the design of the Gospel, which is—to make us holy, that we may be happy. | Spheer yh, cha vel yh possibyl agh dy nheign da ooilley ta cummal mastey Creesteenyn clashtyn as toiggal red ennagh jeh ny cooishyn shoh. Agh eisht ta dooghys peccoil sheelnaue, cooid nagh vod goail-rish ve smaghtit, streeu dy chassey kiarail Yee as yn Sushtal, cordail rish yn stayd aigney ayn ta yn Sushtal dy gheddyn ad. T’adsyn ta linkal lesh An-yeeys, smooinaghtyn dy vel ad fakin oyr dy liooar son gyn credjal yh. Jeusyn ta [179] credjal as goail-rish yn Sushtal, ta ymmodee seihlt nagh vel oc agh yn eer cummey dy chraueeaght, fegooish veg yn ennaghtyn jeh’n phooar vreeoil echey. Ta ymmodee as fys vie oc er yn irriney, agh ta nyn mea controllee da; ta ymmodee cur raad daue hene ayns eunyssyn peccoil; feallagh elley surranse da kiarailyn y theihl dy ghoail seose ooilley nyn draa as smooinaghtyn; choud as ta feallagh elley, ta ny yeih smooinaghtyn dy vel nyn draa ceauit gyn loght, goit seose ayns cooishyn nagh vel veg bentyn gys yn un red ymmyrchagh. Yn eer un red cheddin follit, ny yeih, ta gobbragh’ ayndoo shoh ooilley, as shen, yn boggey ta sleih dy ghoail ayns cur jarrood orroo hene, as er kiarail yn Sushtal, ta—dy yannoo shin chasheric, cour ’ve maynrey. | |
| And this is the reason, that the name of Christ, as the Apostle speaks, i. e. the Christian Religion, is blasphemed by unbelievers, because of the careless and bad lives of Christians, —of such Christians as are in danger of being shut out of Heaven, for being as bad as infidels. | As shoh yn oyr, dy vel ennym Chreest, myr ta yn Ostyl loayrt, (ta shen, yn Credjue Creestee) oltooanit liorish mee-chredjuee, kyndagh rish almorys as drogh vea Chreesteenyn, —lheid ny Creesteenyn as ta ayns gaue dy ve dooint magh ass niau; son nagh vel ad veg share na mee-chredjuee. | |
| But, because we shall be better able to judge, by coming to particulars, how far we come short of our pattern, we will, | Agh dy vod mayd ve ny share abyl dy vriwnys, liorish goll harrish ny cooishyn shoh er lheh, caid giare ta shin cheet jeh nyn samplere, nee mayd, | |
| II. In the second place, take a view of the means which God has ordained for making the design of the Gospel effectual for the salvation of mankind. | II. ’Sy nah ynnyd, shilley y ghoail jeh ny saaseyn ta Jee er n’oardaghey cour jannoo kiarail yn Sushtal fondagh gys saualtys sheelnaue. | |
| And these are, the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments. | [180] As t’ad shoh, Shirveish yn Ghoo, as ny Sacramentyn. | |
| And first; for as much as “without faith, it is impossible to please God,” God has, therefore, given us his holy word, as the most powerful means of begetting and increasing in us that Faith which will save us, by bringing us to the knowledge and belief of God, his attributes, and perfections. For instance: that he is infinite in goodness, and, therefore, to be loved above all things; that he is infinitely just and powerful, and therefore to be feared; that his word is true from everlasting; that, therefore, his promises may be depended on with the greatest confidence; —that he is merciful, and that he is severe; kind and merciful to such as strive to please him; and dreadfully severe to such as despise his goodness, and break his laws. | As hoshiaght; son wheesh as “fegooish credjue t’yh neu-phossibyl dy wooiys Jee,” ta Jee, er-y-fa shen, er choyrt dooin e ghoo casheric, myr yn saase s’breeoil dy yientyn as dy vishagh’ aynin yn Credjue shen nee sauail shin, liorish cur lesh shin gys yn tushtey as credjue dy Yee, e ghooghys spyrrydoil as flaunyssagh. Son soyley: dy vel eh erskyn-earroo ayns mieys, as shen-y-fa dy vel graih dy ve er ny choyrt da erskyn dy chooilley nhee; dy vel eh cairagh as pooaral erskyn-earroo, as shen-y-fa aggle dy ve er ny ghoail roish; dy vel e ghoo firrinagh er dy rieau as son dy bragh, as shen-y-fa dy vod yn barrantys smoo shickyr ve er ny choyrt er e ghialdynyn; dy vel eh myghinagh, as dy vel eh geyre; dooie as myghinagh dauesyn ta streeu dy wooiys eh; agh atchimagh geyre dauesyn ta soiaghey beg jeh e vieys as brishey e leighyn. | |
| —This is the foundation of our faith; this is the mighty treasure we enjoy; a blessing which the Heathen world are strangers to, and which even many Christians are deprived of. These are the oracles, the statutes, and judgments of God, “which shew us what is good; and what the Lord our God requires of us;” which set before us the way of life, and the way of death; and “teach us what we must do to be saved.” “Which being in truth the Word of God, does effectually work in them that believe.” Having this advantage above all other writings, that such as read or hear them with an honest mind, and sincerely desire to do the will of God, such shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. | Shoh grunt as undin nyn gredjue; shoh yn verchys mooar ooasle ta ayns nyn soylley; ny vannaght ta’n seihl an-chreestee nyn yoarreeyn da, as voish ta eer ymmodee Creesteenyn giarit magh. Shoh ny ocklaghyn, ny slattyssyn, as briwnyssyn Yee, “ta soilshaghey dooin cre ta’n vie; as cre ta’n Chiarn nyn Yee dy hirrey orrin;” ta soiaghey roin raad y vea, as raad yn vaase; as gynsaghey dooin “cre sheign dooin jannoo dy ve er [181] nyn sauail.” “Cooid, myr t’yh ayns firrinys Goo Yee, t’yh dy breeoil gobbraghey ayndoosyn ta credjal.” As ta’n vondeish shoh oc harrish lioaryn erbee elley, quoi-erbee ta lhaih as clashtyn as lesh aigney ynric, as yeearree jeean dy yannoo aigney Yee, dy vow ad shoh toiggal dy nee veih Jee ta’n ynsaghey. | |
| In short, this is that book, of which the Spirit in the book of Revelations [ch. i. 3.] affirms, “blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this book, and keep those things which are written therein.” | Ayns fockle, shoh yn lioar shen my-e-chione ta’n Spyrryd ayns Ashlish yn Noo Ean [cab. i. 3.] dy hickyrys, “Bannit ta eshyn ta lhaih, as adsyn ta clashtyn goan y lioar shoh, as freayl ny reddyn shen ta scruit ayn.” | |
| Having thus received of the Lord Jesus, “how we ought to walk and to please God,” let us now see how we follow this pattern? What use we make of this mighty blessing? | Erreish dooin myr shoh v’er gheddyn veih yn Chiarn Yeesey, “kys lhisagh shin gimmeeaght, as Jee y wooiys,” lhig dooin nish jeeaghyn cre’n aght ta shin geiyrt da’n samplere shoh; cre’n ymmyd ta shin jannoo jeh’n ard-vannaght shoh. | |
| And verily, there is such a plain opposition betwixt the rules of the Gospel and the lives of many Christians, that one cannot but fear that they make but very little use of God’s word, either for increasing their faith, or governing their lives. And yet they say, they believe the Gospel, and that they hope to be saved. | As dy feer, ta lheid y lhiettrimys shen edyr leighyn y Sushtal as ymmyrkey-bea ymmodee Creesteenyn, dy vel oyr vooar son aggle dy nee yn eer veggan ymmyd t’ad jannoo jeh Goo Yee, edyr cour bishaghey nyn gredjue, na reill nyn immeeaght. As ny-yeih t’ad gra, dy vel ad credjal yn Sushtal, as treishteil dy ve er nyn sauail. | |
| This is a strange delusion indeed! —Can a man say with any truth, that he believes the Gospel, which gives a plain and positive account of the very different condition of good and bad men after death, which gives rules for Christians to walk by, upon the observance or neglect of which they [59] are to be happy or miserable for ever? Will a man say that he believes these things, and yet live as unconcernedly as if nothing were to be feared, nothing to be desired? | Ta shoh cleayn as shaghrynys treih dy jarroo! Vod dooinney gra lesh firrinys erbee, [182] dy vel eh credjal yn Sushtal, ta cur coontey plain as shickyr jeh’n ard lhiettrimys ta edyr staydyn ny crauee as ny mee-chrauee lurg yn vaase; ta cur ruleyn son ymmyrkey-bea Chreesteenyn, as dy nee rere myr ta biallys na mee-viallys er ny choyrt daue shoh, t’ad dy ve maynrey na mee-vaynrey son dy bragh[?]. Jean dooinney erbee gra dy vel eh credjal ny reddyn shoh, as ny yeih beaghey fo cha beg dy imnea as myr nagh row monney dy ghoail aggle roish, na monney dy ve er ny yeearree? | |
| Now; to hinder this delusion from taking place, God has appointed an order of men, whom he has been pleased to call his Ministers, his Ambassadors; whom he has made Overseers of his flock, and appointed them to bless the people in his name; to exhort and to rebuke gainsayers; and if they continue obstinate, to reject them.— | Nish, dy lhiettal yn volteyrys shoh veih goail raad, ta Jee er phointeil Ordyr dy Gheiney, s’cooidsave leshyn dy enmys e Hirveishee, e Haghteryn; ad t’eh er n’yannoo Oaseiryn er e hioltane, as er chur’mal ad dy vannaghey yn pobble ’syn ennym echeysyn, dy choyrlaghey as dy chur oghsan dauesyn ta loayrt noi’n chredjue; as my nee ad tannaghtyn ayns nyn roon, dy ghiarey magh ad veih yn agglish. | |
| These are their powers—and their duty is, in Christ’s stead, to exhort Christians, that they receive not the grace of God in vain, but that they walk worthy of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light, and to give them warning of the great hazard of holding the truth in unrighteousness; and to guard them against contempt, while they faithfully do their duty. Jesus Christ has declared, “that he that despiseth them, despiseth God that sends them.” [Luke x. 16.] And has made it the mark of an Heathen for any man to set light by their censures. [Matt. xviii. 17.] | Shoh yn phooar ta currit dauesyn; —as ta nyn gurrym shoh, —ayns ynnyd Chreest, dy choyrlaghey Creesteenyn nagh jean ad grayse Yee y ghoail ayns fardail, agh dy n’immee ad feeu jehsyn ta er n’eamagh ad ass y dorraghys gys e hoilshey mirrillagh, as dy chur raue daue jeh’n ard-danjere jeh cummal yn ynrickys ayns neu-ynrickys. As dy endeil e Hirveishee veih faghid, choud as t’ad dy jeidjagh jannoo nyn gurrym, ta Yeesey Creest er n’ockley [183] magh, dy “vel eshyn ta soiaghey beg jeusyn, soiaghey beg jeh Jee ta er choyrt ad er y chaghteraght shoh;” [Luke x. 16.] As t’eh er n’yannoo yh ny chourey jeh Anchreestee son dooinney erbee dy hoiaghey beg jeh ny censureyn ocsyn. [Mian xviii. 17.] | |
| And now; would not one expect that such persons should, as the Apostle commands, be highly esteemed by Christians for their works sake, as well as for their master’s sake? | As nish, nagh sheillagh oo dy beagh ard soiagh, myr ta’n Ostyl sarey, jeant jeh ny persoonyn shoh liorish Creesteenyn er graih nyn obbyr, chamma as er graih nyn mainshtyr? | |
| I wish it might be said, with any truth, that the generality of Christians are truly sensible of the great blessing of a regular standing ministry. But the truth is, the wicked pains which too many take to defeat this gracious design of God for their good, and the too little regard for their administrations and godly admonitions, which others discover, should in all reason make Christians ashamed of their iniquities, and afraid of the consequence, viz. the removing their candlestick; i. e. unchurching them. | Wish’in dy voddagh yh ve rait, lesh firrinys erbee, dy vel yn bunnys dy Chreesteenyn dy firrinagh ennaghtagh jeh’n bannaght mooar ta liorish saggyrtys lowal oardit. Agh shoh yn irriney, yn payns mee-chrauee ta rour goail dy chur gyn vree yn chiarail ghraysoil dy Yee son nyn voays, as yn veggan geill ta currit da nyn shirveish as raueyn crauee, ta soilshit liorish feallagh elley, lhisagh shoh ayns dy chooilley resoon cur er Creesteenyn goail nearey jeh nyn mee-chraueeaght, as ve agglagh roish yn eiyrtys, ta shen, dy bee yn cainlere oc er ny scughey, na ayns focklyn elley, nagh bee agglish fagit oc. | |
| The next merciful provision which God has made to preserve true religion amongst men, is that of the Sabbath; one day in seven is expressly commanded by God himself to be kept holy; that is, to be employed in hearing God’s word, in begging his pardon and blessing, in giving him thanks for his mercies, and in learning how to please him here, that we may be happy hereafter. | Yn nah haase myghinagh elley ta Jee er n’oardaghey cour freayl seose credjue firrinagh mastey sleih t’yh, yn Doonaght. Ta un laa ayns shiaght dy chion cur’mit liorish Jee hene dy ve freilt feailley-casheric; ta shen, dy ve baarit ayns clashtyn Goo Yee, ayns guee son e phardoon as bannaght, ayns coyrt booise [184] da son e vyghinyn, as ayns gynsagh kys dy vooiys eh ayns y vea shoh, dy vod mayd ve maynrey ’sy vea veayn ta ry-heet. | |
| Let us now see how the generality of Christians observe this command of God—Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day. Why truly, just as they do the rest of God’s favours. Some make it a day of idleness; others of sinful pleasures; many go to church merely for form’s sake, and many to avoid the imputation of having no religion; some will go only when they are in humour, when the preacher pleases them, when they have nothing else to do; and of those that do go constantly, how few seem to be truely affected with the blessed opportunity of approaching God? How few go with a sincere desire to be informed of their duty? How few behave themselves with the humility and reverence of people that know they are in the house of God; that acknowledge themselves to be miserable sinners, and know that they are for ever undone, if God does not pardon them? How few seem to be truly thankful for the mercies they have received, or truly sensible of the blessings they stand in need of? | Lhig dooin fakin kys ta bunnys ny Creesteenyn cur tastey da yn anney shoh dy Yee— Cooinee dy vreill oo yn Doonaght dy casheric. Camma, dy jarroo, eer myr t’ad jannoo rish foayryn elley Yee: Ta paart dy yannoo yh ny laa dy lhiastys; paart elley ny laa dy eunyssyn peccoil; ta ymmodee goll gys y cheeill myr eer chliaghtey, as ymmodee dy haghney scammylt an-chredjuee; hed paart ynrycan tra t’ad ’syn humour, tra s’laik lhieu yn preachoor, tra nagh vel monney arragh oc dy yannoo; as jeusyn ta thaaghey ee dy kinjagh, s’fardalagh yn earroo ta jeeaghyn dy ve dy firrinagh ennaghtagh jeh’n caa bannee shen ta oc dy hayrn er-gerrey da Jee! Cre cha beg as ta goll lesh yeearree creeoil dy ve ynsit ayns nyn gurrym? Cre cha beg as ta dy rere ad hene lesh yn imlid as arrym sleih ta fys oc dy vel ad ayns thie Yee; ta goail-rish dy vel ad-hene nyn beccee treih, as fys oc dy vel ad caillit son dy bragh, mannagh vel Jee dy leih daue! Cre cha beg as ta soilshaghey booise firrinagh son ny myghinyn t’ad er gheddyn, na ennaghtyn cooie oc jeh ny bannaghtyn t’ad ny eme! | |
| And is it not for want of thus approaching God, with dispositions becoming his majesty, and our miserable condition, that too many return from God’s house without a blessing; and very many, it is to be feared, without so much as asking a blessing? | As nagh nee son nagh vel ad myr shoh tayrn er-gerrey da Jee, lesh yeearreeyn cooie da yn ard-ooashley echeysyn, as da’n stayd treih ain-[185]hene, dy vel rour chyndaa veih thie Yee fegooish bannaght; as ymmodee seihlt, t’yh dy ve dooytit, fegooish wheesh as shirrey bannaght? | |
| Let us consider the other means of grace. We say, the Sacraments are necessary to salvation. Do the generality of Christians seem to believe them, in good earnest, to be so? Why, truly, as to the first, Christians are generally very careful to have their children baptized; and very ready to promise for them, that those conditions, which God requires of persons to be baptized, shall be observed when they come to age; and then they suppose, that they have done their duty, though they neither think of this promise themselves, nor take any great care that their children shall [60] either know or perform it. Through which wretched carelessness of too many parents, it comes to pass, that they, who by baptism have been made the children of God and heirs of Heaven, instead of continuing such, have become the children of the devil, and heirs of damnation. | Lhig dooin consideral ny saaseyn elley dy ghrayse. Ta shin gra, dy vel ny Sacramentyn ymmyrchagh gys saualtys. Vel yn bunnys dy Chreesteenyn soilshaghey dy vel ad, dy jarroo firrinagh, credjal dy nee shen myr t’ad? Camma dy feer, mychione yn chied unnane jeu, ta’n bunnys dy Chreesteenyn feer chiaralagh dy gheddyn nyn gloan bashtit; as feer aarloo dy ghialdyn er nyn son, dy bee ny conaantyn shen ta Jee dy hirrey er persoonyn ta dy ve bashtit, er nyn gooilleeney tra hig ad gys eash; as eisht er-lhieu hene, dy vel ad er n’yannoo nyn gurrym, ga nagh vel ad smooinaghtyn er y ghialdyn shoh ad-hene, na goail veg y chiarail edyr dy vou nyn gloan toiggal jeh, na dy jean ad cooilleney yh. Trooid yn veggan kiarail treih shoh ayns rour ayraghyn as maraghyn [sic], t’yh cheet gy-kione, dy vel adsyn, ta liorish bashtey er ve jeant nyn gloan dy Yee, as eiraghyn dy reeriaght Niau, ayns ynnyd tannaghtyn dy ve lheid shen, t’ad er jeet dy ve nyn gloan da’n Jouyl, as eiraghyn y choayl-anmey. | |
| We all know, that this is not the pattern set us in Sacred Scripture. I know, saith God, of Abraham, that he will teach his children to keep the way of the Lord. And they that neglect to do so, will have reason to repent, when they find not that comfort in their children which they hoped for; and when their children will wish they had never been born. | Ta fys ain ooilley nagh nee shoh yn samplere ta roin ayns y Scriptyr Casheric. Ta fys ayms, as Jee, mychione Abraham, dy n’ynsee eh e chloan dy reayl raaidyn y [186] Chiarn. As adsyn ta lhiggey shaghey dy yannoo shen, bee oyr oc dy ghoail arrys, tra nagh vel ad feddyn yn gerjagh shen ayns nyn gloan v’ad treishteil er y hon; as tra nee nyn gloan wishal nagh row ad rieau er ve ruggit. | |
| To prevent this, and to provide a remedy against the carelessness of too many parents, the church has ordered, that as soon as children come to years of discretion, they shall be brought to be confirmed; i. e. the church will then be satisfied, —and that from their own mouths, —whether they know what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, was made in their name at their baptism; and whether they will ratify and confirm the same in their own persons? Which if they do sincerely, they become compleat members of the church of Christ, and have a right to all the blessings of being such; which are, the forgiveness of all their past sins; the manifold graces of God’s Holy Spirit; and an assurance of everlasting life and happiness, if they shall be careful to keep the vows they now take upon them. | Dy haghney shoh, as dy chiarail saase noi almorys rour ayraghyn as maraghyn [sic], ta’n Agglish er n’oardrail, cha leah as hig cloan gys eash, keeayl, as tushtey, dy bee ad er nyn goyrt lhieu dy gholl fo-laue-aspic, ta shen, bee eisht shickyrys ec yn Agglish, —as shen veih nyn meil hene, vel toiggal oc jeh’n breearrey, gialdyn, as goail-rish casheric, va jeant ’syn ennym oc ec nyn mashtey; as vel ad jannoo mie as confirmal yn chooid cheddin ayns nyn bersoonyn hene? Shoh my nee ad veih nyn gree, t’ad eisht dy ve slane oltyn jeh Agglish Chreest, as cairys oc gys ooilley ny bannaghtyn ta liorish; as t’ad shen, leih son ooilley nyn beccaghyn ta er n’gholl shaghey; grayseyn ymmodee-filley yn Spyrryd Noo; as shickyrys jeh bea as maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn, my nee ad dy kiaralagh freayl ny breearaghyn t’ad nish goail orroo. | |
| And now; would not one expect to see all parents very thankful for such a blessed opportunity of having their children set out as they should do, so as living or dying to be a comfort to them? But, instead of this, instead of being solicitous to have their children duly prepared for this ordinance, too many parents are very little concerned whether their children are instructed or not; whether they are confirmed; nay, whether they are likely to be saved or damned. And those very parents, who would be in the greatest affliction to see their children made slaves for life, can yet be content to see them in danger of being slaves of hell to all eternity; which they are sure to be, if they are not instructed how to live so as to please God. | As nish, nagh jinnagh peiagh jerkal dy akin dy chooilley ayr as moir feer vooisal son lheid y caa bannee jeh cur nyn gloan toshiaght y theihl ’syn aght Chreestee shoh, bio ny marroo dy vod ad ve gerjagh daue? Agh, ayns ynnyd shoh, ayns ynnyd ve im[187]neagh dy gheddyn nyn gloan dy cooie kiarit son yn oardagh shoh, rour ayraghyn as maraghyn t’ayn ta feer veg dy imnea orroo bee nyn gloan ynsit na mannagh bee,—fo-laue-aspic na gyn,—na, dy jarroo, vel ad licklee ve seyrit na deyrit. As ny eer ayraghyn as maraghyn shen hene, veagh fo yn trimshey smoo dy akin nyn gloan jeant nyn slaveyn laghyn nyn seihl, oddys ad shoh ny yeih ve gyn imnea erbee orroo dy akin ad ayns danjere dy ve slaveyn dy niurin son dy bragh as dy bragh; shen t’ad shickyr dy ve, mannagh bee ad ynsit dy leeideil nyn mea myr shen as dy wooiys Jee. | |
| This is an occasion of grief to all serious Christians. And all Christians should be ashamed of such stupid carelessness. | Ta shoh oyr trimshey da dy chooilley Chreestee crauee: As lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee goail nearey jeh lheid y lhag imnea vouraanagh. | |
| The great end of Confirmation is, to prepare young Christians for the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. That as often as that Sacrament shall be administered, they may have an opportunity of making their peace with God; of obtaining his pardon for any sins they may have fallen into; of renewing their vows, and obtaining such further degrees of grace as are necessary for their present condition. | Yn ard oyr ta son goll fo-laue-aspic t’yh, dy yannoo aarloo Creesteenyn aegey son Sacrament Shibber y Chiarn. Cha mennic as vees yn Sacrament shen er ny hirveish, dy vod caa ’ve oc—dy yannoo nyn shee rish Jee,—dy chosney e phardoon son peccaghyn erbee oddys ad v’er duittym ayndoo,—dy yannoo ass y noa nyn mreearaghyn-bashtee, as dy gheddyn lheid y towse sodjey dy ghrayse as ta ymmyrchagh son y stayd-anmey t’ad ayn. | |
| Here, if ever, one would expect to find all who profess Christianity very serious, and very sincere, very constant, and very devout, at this Sacrament. | Shoh yn boayl, my dy bragh, yinnagh peiagh jerkal dy gheddyn ooilley ta er ghoail orroo yn chredjue Chreestee, feer sheelt, as [188] feer ynric, feer kinjagh, as feer chrauee ec y Sacrament shoh. | |
| The command is plain and positive: do this in remembrance of me; of me, your Redeemer; of me, who am going to lay down my life for you. The duty is easy to be understood by the meanest capacity; and easy to be performed by all that are willing to lead a godly life. | Ta’n sarey plain as chion: Jean-jee shoh ayns cooinaghtyn jeem’s.; jeem’s, nyn Ver-chionnee; jeem’s, ta goll dy scarrey rish my vioys er nyn son. Ta’n currym aashagh dy ve toiggit liorish sleih jeh’n stayd s’inshley; as aashagh dy ve cooilleenit lioroosyn ooilley ta aggindagh er leeideil bea chrauee. | |
| All Christians are bound, at the peril of their souls, to observe this ordinance of Christ. The blessings which attend the worthy receiving this Sacrament are invaluable, —no less than the pardon of all our past sins; the continuance of God’s Holy Spirit; the increase of his graces here, and eternal happiness hereafter: And lastly, the neglect or abuse of this ordinance will be punished with judgments in this world, and in the world to come with misery unspeakable. | Ta dy chooilley Chreestee kainlt er gaue anmey, dy reayl yn oardagh Creestee shoh. Ta ny bannaghtyn ta liorish goail yn Sacrament shoh dy feeu erskyn price,—gyn veg sloo na pardoon son ooilley nyn beccaghyn; jeh tannaghtyn kinjagh Spyrryd Casheric Yee marin; bishagh er ny grayseyn echey ’sy vea shoh, as maynrys dy bragh beayn ny lurg shoh. As er-jerrey, bee jannoo meerioose na drogh ymmyd jeh’n oardaghey shoh er ny cherraghey lesh briwnyssyn ’sy theihl shoh, as ayns y theihl ta ry-heet lesh treihys erskyn insh. | |
| Notwithstanding all this, this ordinance is very much neglected, and much profaned by too many; —by too many, who would tremble to think of renouncing the Christian religion; who yet do in effect renounce the communion of Saints, by turning their backs upon this ordinance. Not now to mention the strange indifference which too many discover, who come to the Lord’s supper; not considering, that it is as much the food of their souls, [61] and as necessary for their spiritual growth, as their daily bread is for the support of their bodies. | Son ooilley shoh, s’beg y gheill as scansh ta rour dy yannoo er yn oardagh shoh;—rour foddey, veagh er-creau dy smooinaghtyn er treigeil yn chredjue Chreestee; agh ta ny-yeih ayns slane bree scarrey ad-hene veih Sheshaght ny Nooghyn, liorish chyndaa nyn gooyl er yn oardagh shoh. Gyn nish dy heet harrish yn veggan imnea-anmey ta ry-akin ayns rour ta cheet gys Shibber y Chiarn; [189] nagh vel goail oc hene, dy vel yh wheesh beaghey nyn anmeenyn, as cha ymmyrchagh son ny slaynt-anmey, as ta nyn arran gaghlaa son niartaghey yn challin. | |
| And what do you think the consequence of this indifference will be? Why, assure yourselves, the very same with that mentioned, [Matth. xxii. 12.] when the King came to see the guests, and saw there a man that had not on him a wedding garment; that is, one who professed to be a disciple of Christ, but yet behaved himself very unworthy of such a master; the King, therefore, ordered him first to be turned out of his house as an hypocrite, and then to be cast into outer darkness, where there is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth. | As cre ta shiu smooinaghtyn vees jerrey yn veggan imnea-anmey shoh? Camma, yn eer jerrey cheddin, son shickyrys, rish shen enmyssit, Mian xxii. 12. tra haink yn Ree stiagh dy akin ny goaldee, as honnic eh ayns shen dooinney nagh row er garmad banshey; ta shen, fer va lhiggey er hene dy ve ny eiyrtyssagh dy Chreest, agh gymmyrkey eh-hene feer neu-feeu jeh lheid y vainshtyr; shen-y-fa doardee yn Ree eh hoshiaght dy ve chyndait magh ass e hie myr crauee-oalsey, as eisht dy ve tilgit ayns dullyr y dorraghys sodjey magh, raad nagh row monney agh keayney as snaggeraght feeacklyn. | |
| And now, good Christians, I have shewed you your pattern. I have set before you the design of Christianity, and the means appointed by God himself for bringing that design about. That he has given us his holy word, by which we come to the knowledge of him and his glorious perfections, —that he is infinitely good, and therefore to be loved above all things; that he is infinitely just, and therefore at our peril not to be offended; that he is infinite in power, and therefore to be feared. By that word also we come to know our own condition; that we are sadly fallen from that state in which we were created; that we are become the objects of God’s anger, and of his compassion; that he is pleased to offer us pardon upon the most reasonable terms; and has given us all possible assurance, that if we make this word the rule of our faith and manners, we shall be the care of his Holy Angels while we live, and be very happy when we die; that to bring this about, he calls us by his ministers to repentance. By them, i. e. by baptism administered by them, we are admitted into his houshold, which is the church, by which we become his children, and heirs of the kingdom of Heaven. That if we are so unhappy as to offend him after this, he will, notwithstanding, be reconciled to us upon our pleading his Son’s atonement, represented in the Sacrament of the Lord’s supper. | As nish, Chreesteenyn vie, ta mee er hoiaghey rhimbiu yn samplere euish. Ta mee er hoiagh rhimbiu kiarail yn Chredjue Chreestee, as ny saaseyn pointit liorish Jee hene son cur lesh mygeayrt yn obbyr vooar shoh. Dy vel eh er choyrt dooin e Ghoo casheric, liorish ta shin cheet gys y tushtey jehsyn, as jeh e ghooghys flaunyssagh as gloyroil, —dy vel eh mie erskyn earroo, as shen-y-fa graih dy ve currit da erskyn dy chooilley nhee; dy vel eh cairagh erskyn earroo, as shen-y-fa nagh vel shin dy neu-wooiys eh er gaue anmey; dy vel eh erskyn earroo ayns [190] pooar, as shen-y-fa aggle dy ve goit roish. Liorish yn Ghoo cheddin ta shin myrgeddin cheet dy hoiggal nyn stayd hene; dy vel shin dy boght er duittym veih yn stayd ayn va shin er nyn groo; dy vel shin nyn moghtyn treih fo corree Yee, as fo e erreeish; dy gooidsave leshyn dy hebbal pardoon dooin er ny conaantyn s’resoonee; as dy vel eh er choyrt dooin dy chooilley hickyrys possibyl, my nee mayd jannoo yn Goo shoh rule nyn gredjue as ymmyrkey-bea, dy bee mayd fo kiarail e Ainleyn casheric choud as ta shin bio, as feer vaynrey tra yiow mayd baase; as dy chur lesh shoh mygeayrt t’eh cuirrey shin gys arrys liorish e Hirveishee hene. Lioroosyn, (ta shen, liorish bashtey shirveishit lioroosyn) ta shin goit stiagh gys lught e hie, ta shen yn agglish, liorish shoh ta shin cheet dy ve cloan dasyn, as eiraghyn dy reeriaght niau. As my hagherys dooin lurg shen dy ve cha neu-vaynrey as dy neu-vooiys eh, bee eh, ny-yeih coardit rooin er nyn pleadeil lhiassaghey e Vac, cowrit ayns Sacrament Shibber y Chiarn. | |
| By all this, you see what God has done for us, and what more he will do for us, if it is not our own fault. | Liorish ooilley shoh, ta shiu fakin cre ta Jee er n’yannoo er nyn son, as cre sodjey nee eh er nyn son, mannagh bee yh nyn voill hene. | |
| You have seen, likewise, how the generality of Christians are affected with this love of God, and his tender concern for them. That it is too often with difficulty that they will be brought to consider these things with any seriousness. That they act as if they thought they did not stand in need of these means of grace; either altogether neglecting them, or using them with indifference. | Ta shiu er vakin myrgeddin, cre’n greme ta’n ghraih shoh dy Yee, as e imnea meigh er nyn son, er ghoail er yn ayrn smoo dy [191] Chreesteenyn. Dy nee ro-vennic s’coan vees ad er nyn goyrlaghey dy dowin dy ghoail ny reddyn shoh gys nyn gree. Dy vel ad gymmyrkey ad-hene myr sleih nagh vel feme ny saaseyn shoh dy ghrayse; edyr cur slieh [sic] orroo ooilley-cooidjagh, er-nonney thaghey ad lesh y veggan scansh. | |
| To many, the Lord’s Day is a burthen; prayer is discharged as if it were a task, and not a privilege. The Sacraments are used as common things; and as if no special blessings were annexed to them. | Da ymmodee, ta Laa yn Chiarn ny errey; ta padjer er ny ghoail myr dy beagh yh keesh trome, as cha nee myr vondeish foayroil. Ta ny Sacramentyn er nyn ghoail myr reddyn cadjin; as myr dagh [sic: nagh] row ard-vannaght erbee bentyn daue. | |
| In short, you have been shewn, that too, —too many content themselves with an outward performance of a few religious duties, without ever considering, that, unless the heart be changed, all other shews of religion will never qualify a man for Heaven and Happiness. | Ayns fockle, t’yh er ve soilshit diu, dy vel rour—rour foddey booiys ad-hene lesh yn eer obbyr cheu-mooie jeh goll trooid ghaa ny three jeh ny currymyn Creestee, fegooish dy bragh goail oc hene, mannagh bee yn cree er ny chaghlaa, cha jean ooilley ny caslyssyn elley dy chredjue dy bragh dooinney y yannoo cooie son niau as maynrys. | |
| And yet heaven and happiness, as faint as our belief of them is; and as unconcerned as the generality of Christians are about them, are what we all hope for, I was going to say, what we all make ourselves sure of. Now, this is a matter in which, if we deceive ourselves, we are for ever undone. | As ny-yeih ta Niau as Maynrys, moayl as ta nyn gredjue my-nyn-gione, as cha mee-rioosagh as ta yn vunnys dy Chreesteenyn moo, t’ad cooid ta shin ooilley treishteil er y hon, —va mee goll dy ghra, cooid ta shin ooilley jannoo shin-hene shickyr jeh. Nish, ta shoh cooish ayn, my ta shin molley shin-hene, ta shin caillit son dy bragh. | |
| To prevent this, as I have in part shewn you our pattern, and how far too many Christians come short of it; and therefore, (if they be not ashamed, and mend) will come short of Heaven; so I would, before I conclude, put you in mind of a few truths, very proper to make us all more serious and concerned to be, what we all profess to be, Christians indeed. | Dy haghney shoh, myr ta mee ayns ayrn er hoilshaghey diu yn samplere ainyn, as cre [192] cha giare ta rour Creeesteenyn [sic: Creesteenyn] cheet jeh; as shen-y-fa (mannagh gow ad nearey, as lhiassaghey nyn mea) dy jig ad giare jeh Niau; myr shen baillym, my jin’in jerrey er my harmane, ’chur shiu ayns cooinaghtyn jeh firrinyssyn ennagh, feer chooie dy chur orrin ooilley ve ny s’tastagh as s’imneaee dy ve, shen ta shin ooilley goail-rish dy ve, Creesteenyn dy jarroo. | |
| The Apostle observed to the Jews, that they were not all Israel, that were of Israel. The carnal Jew expected God’s favour, because he was of Abraham’s seed, and of Abraham’s religion. The carnal Christian has the same false hopes; he blesses God he is a Christian, and hopes for salvation without loving God, or parting with his sins. | Hoilshee yn Ostyl da ny Hewnyn, nagh nee Israeliteyn v’adsyn ooilley va jeh Israel. Va yn Ew foalley jerkal rish foayr Yee, son dy row eh jeh sluight Abraham, as jeh credjue Abraham. Ta yn un treishteil foalsey cheddin ec y Chreestee foalley; t’eh bannaghey Jee son dy vel eh ny Chreestee, as treishteil son saualtys fegooish graih er Jee, na scarrey rish e pheccaghyn. | |
| [62] Faith and obedience, therefore, must never be separated. A fruitless faith is of no more value than a fruitless tree; you all know the fate of it; “Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?” | Cha nheign da credjue as biallys, er-y-fa shen, ve dy bragh er nyn scarrey. Ta credjue neu-vessoil cha beggan feeu as ta billey neu-vessoil; shione diu ooilley yn jerrey echey; “Lhieg-jee yh, cre’n-fa t’yh goail seose room hallooin.” | |
| To hope much, and do little, is too much the way of the world; but be assured of it, (good Christians) wherever there is a true faith, and a well-grounded hope, there will always be a proportionable concern to do what God has commanded. And, wherever there is such a concern, and a real desire to do the will of God, there will always be a proportionable degree of knowledge, grace, and assistance, given by God; so that no Christian must ever say, that he cannot do the things which he is commanded. | Dy hreishteil mooarane, as dy yannoo beggan, ta shoh rour cliaghtey yn theihl; agh bee-jee shickyr jeh, (Chreesteenyn vie) raad erbee dy vel credjue firrinagh, as treishteil mie gruntit, dy bee dy kinjagh maroo kiarail corrym dy yannoo ny ta Jee er harey. As raad erbee dy vel lheid yn imnea, as yeearree [193] firrinagh dy yannoo aigney Yee, shen y raad vees towse corrym dy hushtey, grayse, as cooney er ny choyrt liorish Jee; myr shen cha nheign da Creestee dy bragh gra, nagh vel eh abyl jannoo ny reddyn ta sarit da. | |
| And for our comfort we may remember, that Christian perfection does not consist in having no failings, but in striving against them always, and not suffering them to get the dominion over us. | As son nyn gherjagh foddee mayd cooinaghtyn, nagh vel yn slane Creesteeaght shassoo ayns seyrsnagh veih dy chooilley failleil, agh ayns dy kinjagh streeu nyn ’oi, as gyn lhiggey daue yn reiltys y gheddyn harrin. | |
| And because humility is a grace most accept able to God, let this consideration be ever present with us, that if we really did do the things we are commanded, and as we should do them; we must, as our Lord bids us, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have but done that which is our duty; and if God shall think fit to give us any reward, it is of mere grace that he does so; so that when we serve God, let us remember, that we serve ourselves much more. | As son dy vel imlid ny ghrayse smoo pleasal da Jee, lhig da’n smooinaght shoh ve dy kinjagh marin, ta shen, dy beagh shin dy jarroo firrinagh er n’yannoo ny reddyn ta sarit dooin, as myr lhisagh shin jannoo ad, dy nheign dooin gra myr ta nyn Jiarn cur roin, Sharvaantyn neu-vondeishagh shin,—cha vel shin er n’yannoo veg agh nyn gurrym; as my hee-ys Jee mie dy chur dooin leagh erbee, trooid eer foayr t’eh jannoo shen; myr shen tra ta shin shirveish Jee, lhig dooin cooinaghtyn, dy vel shin shirveish shin-hene foddey smoo. | |
| And it is fit we should know, that although God has not tied himself to ordinances, yet he has bound us to the use of them; and that Christian will be sadly deceived, who shall expect grace, or pardon, or assistance, or Heaven, without a sincere observance of the means of grace. | As t’yh cooie fys ’ve ain, ga nagh vel Jee er chiangley eh-hene gys oardaghyn, dy vel eh er chiangley shinyn dy yannoo ymmyd jeu; as dy bee yn Creestee shen dy cailjey mollit, nee jerkal rish grayse, ny pardoon, ny cooney, na Flaunys, fegooish dy jeidjagh-creeoil thaghey ny saaseyn dy ghrayse. | |
| But then, let us beware that we do not rest in form of religion, without feeling the power of religion: For, most certainly, imperfect conversions, a mere formal religion, a zeal for lesser duties, a forsaking of scandalous sins, and indulging of others; will in the end, be found as hazardous as the most profligate life. A profligate sinner may be startled by God’s judgment; but a sinner who thinks himself safe, what can convince him? And indeed (as one very truly observes) those are not the greatest enemies to religion, that are most irreligious; —a formal Christian may do more hurt than an atheist. | As eisht, lhig dooin ve er nyn dwoaie nagh gow mayd seose lesh yn eer chummey dy [194] chredjue, fegooish gennaghtyn pooar vreeoil y chredjue: son, smoo shickyr t’yh, dy hyndaa agh lieh harraaid gys Jee, yn eer cummey dy chraueeaght, jeeanid son ny currymyn s’inshley, treigeil peccaghyn scammyltagh, as cur raad da peccaghyn elley, dy bee shoh, ’sy jerrey er nyn gheddyn chiart cha danjereagh as yn ymmyrkey-bea s’peccoil. Foddee briwnyssyn Yee cur aggle ayns yn peccagh s’desparate; agh peccagh ta smooinaghtyn eh-hene sauchey, cre oddys y choyrlaghey eshyn? As dy jarroo (myr dooyrt fer dy row dy feer firrinagh) cha nee adsyn ny noidyn smessey da’n chredjue Creestee smoo neu-chreestee ta; foddee Creestee foalsey jannoo ny smoo dy olk na An-yeeagh ta gobbal e Yee. | |
| To conclude this discourse; the great end of religion is, to restore us to the favour of God, from which we are sadly fallen. If our religion does not do this; if it does not make us more humble; more fearful of offending God, more concerned to do what we know will please him; more holy, just, and charitable, than we are by nature; we had as good to have no religion. | Dy chur jerrey er my harmane; —T’yh ard chiarail nyn gredjue, dy aa-choyrt shin ayns foayr rish Jee, voish ta shin dy treih er huittym. Mannagh vel nyn gredjue jannoo shoh; mannagh vel yh jannoo shin ny s’imlee, ny s’agglee dy neu-wooiys Jee, ny s’kiaraalee dy yannoo shen ta fys ain nee eshyn y wooiys; mannagh vel yh jannoo shin ny s’casheric, ny s’cairagh, as ny s’giastyllee na ta shin liorish dooghys; my chamma dooin ve gyn credjue erbee. | |
| Thou shalt love the lord thy god with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself. This is our Law and our Pattern; this is what every Christian is to aim at; and God will proportion every Christian’s reward, according as he shall sincerely strive to come up to this rule. | Ver oo graih da’n chiarn dty yee lesh ooilley dty chree, as da dty naboo myr dhyt hene. Shoh yn Leigh ainyn as nyn Samplere; lhisagh sooill kin[195]jagh ve ec dy chooilley Chreestee er shoh; as nee Jee cor’mal leagh dy chooilley Chreestee, rere myr nee eh dy creeoil streeu dy heet seose gys y rule shoh. | |
| That we may all resolve to do so; let us seriously consider the great importance of those words of Christ, many are called, but few are chosen; i. e. many profess Christianity, but, of those many, few will be saved; because they do not live up to the rules of the Gospel: This, if any thing, will make us serious. | Dy vod ve fo’in ooilley dy yannoo shen, lhig dooin goail dowin gys nyn gree cre wheesh as ta lhie er ny goan shoh dy Chreest, shimmey t’er nyn eam, agh stiark t’er nyn reih; ta shen, shimmey t’ayn ta goail orroo yn chredjue Chreestee, agh jeh’n ymmodee shoh, stiark vees er nyn sauail, er-yn-oyr nagh vel ad beaghey seose gys ruleyn yn Sushtal: Shoh, my oddys nhee erbee, ver orrin dy ghoail smooinaghtyn dowin. | |
| And may God, who has blessed us with a knowledge of our duty, and the happiness we are capable of, and with sufficient means of attaining it; may He put his fear into our hearts, and suffer us not to content ourselves with bare shadows of religion, without endeavouring after that holiness without which no man must see the Lord. | As dy der Jee, ta er vannaghey shin lesh toiggal jeh nyn gurrym, as jeh’n vaynrys ta roin dy chosney, as lesh saaseyn fondagh dy chosney yh; dy der Eshyn e aggle ayns ny creeaghyn ain; as nagh lhig eh dooin dy wooiys shin hene lesh eer caslyssyn lhome dy chredjue, fegooish streeu son yn chasherickys shen ny egooish cha nheign da dooinney erbee yn Chiarn y akin. | |
| Grant this, O God, for Jesus Christ’s sake. | Giall shoh, O Yee, er graih Yeesey Creest, nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh bannee. | |
| [63] | [197] | |
| SERMON X. | SHARMANE IX. | |
| THE SHAME AND DANGER OF BEING CHRISTIANS WITHOUT CHRISTIANITY. | Yn Nearey as Danjere jeh ve Creesteenyn, fegooish Ymmyrkey-bea Creestee. | |
| EZEKIEL xliii. 10. | Ezekiel xliii. 10. | |
| Thou Son of Man, shew the House to the House of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the Pattern. | Uss Vac y Dooinney, jeeaghyn yn Thie [t’ou er n’akin ’syn Ashlish] da Thie Israel, dy vod nearey ’ve orroo son nyn Ghrogh-yannoo, as lhig daue towse yn Cho-soylaghey. | |
| I Made choice of these words, in order to oblige Christians to reflect upon their own conduct, and the danger they are in, who lead a life contrary to what they believe and profess. | REN mee ny goan shoh y reih, cour Creesteenyn y choyrlaghey dy smooinaghtyn er nyn ghrogh ymmyrkey-bea hene, as er y danjere t’adsyn ayn, ta leeideil bea nagh vel cordail rish nyn gredjue t’ad er ghoail orroo. | |
| I was sure it was a most proper method, because the Spirit of God directed the prophet to do the same; i.e. To shew the House of Israel their pattern, that they might measure it, i.e., take particular notice of it, and be ashamed, when they should see with their own eyes, how sadly they come short of it. | Va mee shickyr dy row shoh aght feer chooie, er-yn-oyr dy doardee Spyrryd Casheric Yee yn Phadeyr dy yannoo yn lheid cheddin, ta shen, Dy hoilshaghey da Thie Israel nyn battern, dy voddagh ad towse yh, ta shen, goail baght vie jeh, as nearey ’ve orroo, tra hee-agh ad lesh nyn sooillyn hene cre wheesh as t’ad cheet giare jeh. | |
| I considered also, what an effect the like method had upon King David, when forgetting himself, and his God, he had taken the wife of Uriah; and how truly he judged, that the rich man deserved no mercy, who had so barbarously taken away a poor man’s only lamb for his use, when he had enough of his own; and lastly, how bitterly the King repented of his sin, when the prophet made him sensible, that this was his own case. | [198] Ghow mee aym-pene myrgeddin cre’n bree mie v’ec yn aght cheddin er Ree David, tra, jarrood eh-hene, as e Yee, v’eh er ghoail ben Uriah; as cre cha cairagh as va e vriwnys, nagh row yn dooinney berchagh toilliu veg y vyghin, va ayns aght cha tranlaasagh er ghoail ersooyl eayn ynrycan y dooinney boght gys e ymmyd hene, tra va e haie echey hene; as er-jerrey, cre’n arrys sharroo haink er y Ree son e phecca, tra hug yn Phadeyr slane toiggal da dy nee shoh va e chooish hene. | |
| The way I took, in my former discourse on these words, to convince Christians of the shame and danger of being Christians without Christianity; and that as far as they come short of their pattern, so far they will most certainly come short of that happiness, which God has promised his faithful servants; was this: I first shewed, that the great design of the Gospel was to make men holy, that they might be capable of being happy. Then I explained the means which God has appointed to bring that design about. Such are, his Word and Sacraments, his Ministers, and his Sabbaths. After this, I shewed, how little the generality of Christians are affected with this gracious design of God, for their good; how little they esteem it; and how indifferently they comply with the means ordained by God for bringing that design about. This I did, to awaken Christians into a sense of the danger they are in, if they should continue to despise so great means of salvation. | Yn aght ghow mee ayns y sharmane ren mee roie er ny goan shoh, dy chur er Creesteenyn toiggal as gennaghtyn yn nearey as gaue jeh ve Creesteenyn fegooish leeideil bea Chreestee, va shoh; as choud as v’ad cheet giare jeh’n phattern, dy jig ad son shickyrys giare jeh’n vaynrys shen ta Jee er ghialdyn da e harvaantyn firrinagh: —Hoshiaght hoilshee mee, dy nee ard-chiarail yn Sushtal yh, dy yannoo sleih casheric, dy vod ad ve ayns am son maynrys. Eisht ren mee explaynal ny saaseyn ta Jee er phointeil cour yn obbyr shen: lheid as, e Ghoo as Sacramentyn, e Hirveishee, as e Ghooneeyn casheric. Lurg shoh, hug mee rhimbiu —cre cha beg as ta yn ayrn smoo dy Chreesteenyn er ny veighey liorish yn chiarail ghraysoil shoh dy Yee son nyn voays, —cre’n veggan scansh t’oc jeh, —as cre cha lhiastagh as t’ad cooilleney [sic: cooilleeney] ny saaseyn oardit liorish Jee son jannoo magh yn chiarail cheddin. Shoh ren mee, er-chee [199] Creesteenyn y ghoostey gys ennaghtyn jeh’n danjere t’ad ayn, my nee ad tannaghtyn dy hoiaghey beg jeh lheid ny ard-saaseyn dy haualtys. | |
| The next thing I proposed was, to set before you, in one short view, your pattern, with respect to the things required on our part, to fit us for Heaven and Happiness. And this is what I purpose, by God’s blessing, to do at this time. | Yn nah red chiare mee v’yh, dy hoiaghey reaue ayns un shilley giare, nyn battern, myr bentyn rish ny reddyn ta er ny hirrey er yn ayrn ainyn, dy yannoo shin cooie son Niau as Maynrys. As shoh yh ta mee kiarail dy yannoo, liorish bannaght Yee, ec y traa shoh. | |
| Now; the things required on our part, are faith and repentance. To believe in God, and to keep his commandments, is what every Christian promises, when he is baptized. | Nish ny cur’myn ta er ny hirrey er yn ayrn ainyn t’ad, Credjue as Arrys. Dy chredjal ayns Jee, as dy reayl e annaghyn, t’yh cooid ta dy chooilley Chreestee dy ghialdyn tra v’eh er ny vashtey. | |
| [64] We will first consider, what it is which we profess to believe. We profess to believe of God, that he is infinite in power; that we depend on him for life, and breath, and all things; that he knows and sees every thing that is done; that he is perfectly holy, and cannot but be displeased with every thing that is wicked or unjust. That he is infinitely just, in punishing such as abuse his goodness; for his goodness is such, that he cannot command any thing which is not absolutely necessary for the happiness of his creatures: And lastly, that he is most faithful and true, and will make good all his promises. | Nee mayd hoshiaght consideral, cre ta shen ta shin goail orrin dy chredjal. Ta shin goail orrin dy chredjal mychione Jee, dy vel eh erskyn-earroo ayns pooar; —dy nee huggeysyn ta shin treishteil son bioys as ennal, as dy chooilley nhee; dy vel fys echey er, as fakin dy chooilley nhee ta jeant; —dy vel eh erskyn-earroo casheric, as dy nheign da ve neu-vooiagh rish dy chooilley nhee mee-chrauee na aggairagh; —dy vel eh erskyn-earroo cairagh, ayns kerraghey ooilley ta jannoo drogh ymmyd jeh e vieys; son wheesh shen ta e vieys, nagh vod eh sarey nhee erbee nagh vel slane ymmyrchagh son maynrys e chretooryn. As er-jerrey, dy vel eh smoo ynric as firrinagh, as dy jean eh mie ooilley e ghialdynyn. | |
| Now; the duties which should follow from the knowledge and belief of these things, are these: That we should fear this great God; that we should fear to offend him above all things; that we should love him with all our heart, forasmuch as all the blessings we enjoy, or hope for, are the effect of his goodness; that we should keep his commandments, it being our interest as well as duty to do so; that we should be thankful for his favours, never murmur at what he orders for us; depend upon his word and promises; and honour and reverence every thing that belongs to him. | [200] Nish; ny cur’myn lhisagh girree veih yn tushtey as credjue jeh ny reddyn shoh, shoh ad: —Dy nheign dooin ve ayns aggle roish yn Jee mooar shoh; dy nheign aggle ’ve orrin dy neu-vooiys eh erskyn dy chooilley nhee; dy nheign dooin graih y choyrt da lesh ooilley nyn gree, er-yn-oyr dy vel ooilley ny bannaghtyn ta ain, na treishteil er nyn son, gioot yn vieys echeysyn; —dy nheign dooin freayl e annaghyn, er-yn-oyr dy vel yh nyn vondeish chamma as nyn gurrym dy yannoo shen; —dy nheign dooin ve booisal son ny foayryn echey, gyn dy bragh ve tallagh noi ny t’eh goardrail er nyn son, —dy chur barrant er e ghoo as e ghialdynyn, —as dy chur arrym as ammys da dy chooilley nhee ta bentyn dasyn. | |
| If our faith in God has not these effects, it is surely not such as it should be. For, to believe is to be persuaded of the truth of the thing we believe. | Mannagh vel nyn gredjue ayns Jee ceau ny messyn shoh, shickyr cha vel yh lheid as lhisagh yh ve. Son dy chredjal, t’yh dy ve ayns slane shickyrys jeh firrinys yn red ta shin dy chredjal. | |
| But can it be said with any truth, that Christians do generally live, as if they were really persuaded of the truth of those things which yet they profess to believe? For, if men are not at all afraid of offending God, and of breaking his laws, it cannot be said, that they are convinced that God will punish sinners, and that he sees all their ways. | Agh vod yh ve rait lesh firrinys erbee, dy vel Creesteenyn son y chooid smoo leeideil nyn mea, myr dy row ad dy jarroo firrinagh credjal firrinys ny reddyn shen t’ad goail-rish dy chredjal? Son mannagh vel veg yn aggle er sleih dy neu-vooiys Jee, as dy vrishey e leighyn, cha vod yh ve rait dy vel ad dy firrinagh credjal dy der Jee kerraghey er peccee, as dy vel eh fakin ooilley ny raaidyn oc. | |
| Will Christians, who live at all adventures without fear and without concern, say, that they verily believe, and are persuaded, that joys unspeakable will be the portion of good men, and that unutterable miseries will be the lot of the wicked? | [201] Jean Creesteenyn ta beaghey lurg nyn yeearreeyn peccoil hene fegooish aggle na imnea, gra, dy vel ad dy jarroo firrinagh credjal dy bee maynrys erskyn-insh leagh deiney mie, as dy bee treihys erskyn-insh cronney ny mee-chrauee? | |
| Will a man say, that he loves God with all his soul, whose conscience tells him, that he loves many things better; that he seldom thinks of God, and that he takes little care to please him? | Jean dooinney gra, dy nhynney lesh Jee lesh ooilley annym, as e chooinsheanse ginsh da dy vel ny smoo dy ghraih echey er ymmodee reddyn elley; dy nee anvennic t’eh smooinaght er Jee, as dy nee beggan kiarail ta er dy wooiys eh. | |
| Shall we pretend to say, that we put our whole trust in God, when we seldom ask for his guidance and blessing; when we value not his promises, nor are careful to perform the conditions on which all his promises are made? | Jean mayd goail orrin dy ghra, dy vel shin cur nyn slane treishteil ayns Jee, tra dy nee anvennic ta shin guee son e leeideilys as bannaght; tra nagh vel shin jannoo leiy er e ghialdynyn, na imneagh dy chooilleeney ny conaantyn orroo ta ooilley e ghialdynyn jeant? | |
| How do we express our dependance upon God, when we are not careful to pray to him for what we want, and forget to give him thanks for the mercies we every day receive from him? | Kys ta shin soilshaghey nyn marrant er Jee, tra nagh vel shin kiaralagh dy ghoail padjer huggey son ny ta shin feme, as jarrood dy chur booise da son ny myghinyn ta shin dy chooilley laa dy gheddyn voish? | |
| With what assurance will a man say, that he fears him who can destroy both body and soul in hell; who will act against his conscience for the fear of man, or to avoid any worldly inconvenience? | Lesh cre’n eddin nee dooinney gra, dy vel eh goail aggle roishyn oddys chamma annym as callin y stroie ayns niurin, nee jannoo noi e chooinsheanse trooid aggle roish dooinney, na dy haghney lheh-chiartys erbee seihltagh? | |
| Lastly; will any man say, that he honours God, who upon every occasion, takes his name in vain; who sets no value upon his Word, or Ordinances; who despises his Ministers, and his Sabbaths? | [202] Er-jerrey; jean dooinney erbee gra dy vel eh cur ooashley da Jee, as er dy chooilley hyndaa goail e ennym ayns fardail, —nagh vel veg y leiy echey er e Ghoo na e Oardaghyn, —ta soiaghey beg jeh e Hirveishee, as e Ghooneeyn casheric? | |
| These things are so inconsistent with what we profess to believe of God, that Christians only want to reflect a very little, and to compare their doings with their pattern, to fill them with shame and confusion. | Ta ny reddyn shoh wheesh shen noi ny ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal mychione Jee, nagh lhiass da Creesteenyn agh smooinaghtyn tammylt orroo hene, as soylaghey nyn n’yannoo rish nyn samplere, dy lhieeney nyn greeaghyn lesh nearey as atchim. | |
| And so it would, in the next place, if they would but consider what they profess to believe concerning Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation by him made known to us. | As shen yinnagh yh, ’sy nah ynnyd, my ghoghe ad agh gys nyn gree shen ny t’ad goail-rish dy chredjal mychione Yeesey Creest, as yn saase dy haualtys liorishyn soilshit dooin. | |
| We acknowledge him to be the Son of God; that God sent him to make his will known to us; that he taught us, both by his word and example, how to live and to please God. He knew that we could never be happy till we were restored to the favour of God, which we never could be, till we should be restored to his image. In order to this, he proposes to us —the forgiveness of all our sins, upon our sincere repentance; the assistance of God’s holy Spirit, to renew what is amiss in us; and eternal happiness after death. | Ta shin goail rishyn dy ve Mac Yee; —dy dug Jee eh dy hoilshaghey e aigney dooin; —dy dynsee eh dooin, chamma liorish e ghoo as samplere hene, kys lhisagh shin beaghey as Jee y wooiys. Va fys echey nagh row pooar dooin dy ve dy bragh maynrey, derrey veagh shin aa-ghoit stiagh gys foayr rish Jee, cooid nagh voddagh shin dy bragh y ve, derrey veagh shin cummit ass y noa ’sy chaslys echeysyn. Cour shoh, t’eh chebbal dooin —leih son ooilley nyn beccaghyn, er nyn arrys firrinagh, —cooney Spyrryd casheric Yee, dy lhiassaghey cre-erbee va ass y raad aynin, —as maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn lurg y vaaish. | |
| To convince us of the evil of sin, and to make us abhor and flee from it, he assures us, that sinners will have their portion with devils, if they do not make their peace with God by a timely repen[65]tance. | [203] Dy chur slane shickyrys dooin jeh olkys phecca, as dy chur orrin dy chur dwoaie da as dy hea voish, t’eh dy feer er n’insh dooin, dy bee nyn gronney ec peccee marish iurinee, mannagh jean ad nyn shee rish Jee liorish arrys traa. | |
| To prevail with God to accept of their repentance, he laid down his life for us; (for no less a sacrifice would be accepted;) and, that we might not be for ever miserable. | Dy yannoo nyn shee rish Jee er nyn arrys, hug eh sheese e vioys er nyn son; (son jeh oural veg sloo cha beagh soiagh jeant) as nagh beagh shin deyrit gys treihys dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| To convince us more effectually, by his own example, of what moment these things are to us; and of what little value this world is, in comparison of that which is to come, he, the Lord of all things, made choice of a life of poverty, humility, afflictions, resignation, and self-denial; renouncing all those pleasures and advantages, which the world values, and is fond of. | Dy chur toiggal s’troshey dooin liorish e hamplere hene, cre wheesh as ta ny reddyn shoh bentyn dooin, as cre cha beggan feeu as ta’n seihl shoh ayns soylagh rish shen ta ry-heet, ren eshyn, Chiarn dy chooilley nhee, reih bea dy voghtynid, dy injillid, dy heaghyn, dy veenid fo surranse, as smaght e yeearreeyn; treigeil ooilley ny eunyssyn as vondeishyn shen, ta’n seihl soiaghey dy mooar jeu, as graihagh orroo. | |
| And lastly; that he might make his precepts and example effectual to our salvation, he receives us into his family; instructs us by his Ministers, guides us by his Spirit; protects us by his Angels, and is our mediator with God, for all the blessings we want and pray for. | As er-jerrey; reih jannoo e haraghyn as samplere breeoil son nyn saualtys, t’eh goail shin stiagh gys lught e hie; t’eh gynsaghey shin liorish e Hirveishee; t’eh leeideil shin liorish e Spyrryd; coadey shin liorish e Ainleyn; as t’eh yn Fer-mean eddyr shinyn as Jee, son dy chooilley vannaght ta shin feme as geearree. | |
| And now let us consider, what are the consequences of this tender concern of our Saviour for us? What are the effects of our belief of these things? Shall we say, that the generality of Christians do make the life of Christ their pattern; and are verily persuaded, that all his doctrines are most true; that his precepts are most necessary to fit us for Heaven; his promises of grace and assistance, upon our sincere prayers, and of pardon upon our repentance, to be entirely depended upon; and lastly, his account of a judgment to come, of the joys of Heaven, and of the torments of hell, most certain? | As nish lhig dooin consideral, cre ta eiyrtyssyn imnea meigh shoh nyn Saualtagh er [204] nyn son? Cre ta mess nyn gredjue ayns ny reddyn shoh? Jean mayd gra, dy vel yn ayrn smoo dy Chreesteenyn jannoo bea Chreest nyn samplere; as dy vel ad dy jarroo firrinagh credjal dy vel ooilley ny ynsaghyn echeysyn smoo feer; dy vel e haraghyn smoo ymmyrchagh dy yannoo shin cooie son Niau; dy vel slane barrant dy ve er ny choyrt gys e ghialdynyn dy ghrayse as cooney, er nyn badjeryn jeeaney; as dy phardoon er nyn arrys firrinagh; as er-jerrey, [dy] nee feer as firrinagh ta’n coontey t’eh er choyrt jeh briwnys ry-heet, jeh maynrys niau, as torchaghyn niurin? | |
| Would to God we could say, with truth, that Christians are generally convinced of these things, and that they live accordingly. But how can we say so, when we see too, too many very indifferent whether these thing are true or not; and most of all, who acknowledge them to be true, and yet will not be persuaded to live as they know and believe they ought to do? | Dy baillish Jee dy voddagh shin gra, lesh firrinys, dy vel Creesteenyn son yn ayrn smoo dy slane credjal ny reddyn shoh, as dy row nyn immeeaght cordail rish shen. Agh kys oddys mayd shoh y ghra, tra ta shin fakin rour, —rour foddey feer lhag-imneagh vel ny reddyn shoh firrinagh mannagh vel; as yn ayrn smoo dy leih, ta goail roo dy ve firrinagh, nagh bee ny-yeih coyrlit dy veaghey myr ta fys oc, as t’ad credjal dy lhisagh ad? | |
| To instance in some particulars: We believe that Jesus Christ “has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” [2 Tim. i. 10] i.e. He has made known to us the certainty of a future and an eternal state after death. Now this should, in all reason, oblige Christians, to consider things as they have respect to eternity. But is this the fruit of our faith? On the contrary, we live as if this were to be our everlasting home; we desire to set up our rest here; and we seldom think of, seldomer provide for, a life to come. | Dy enmys ghaa ny three: Ta shin credjal dy vel Yeesey Creest “er chur lesh bea as bioys son dy bragh gys soilshey liorish yn Sushtal;” [2 Tim. i. 10.] ta shen, t’eh er hoilshaghey dooin dy bee ayn stayd dy bragh farraghtyn dy heet lurg y vaase. Nish lhisagh shoh, ayns dy chooilley resoon, [205] kiangley Creesteenyn dy ghoail ny reddyn shoh gys nyn gree myr bentyn rish y vea dy bragh farraghtyn. Agh nee shoh mess nyn gredjue? Choud shen voish, dy vel shin beaghey myr dy nee ayns shoh va nyn gummal reih ve son dy bragh; —ta aggindagh er tannaghtyn ’sy theihl; —as anvennic smooinaghtyn er, s’an-ven’key kiarail cour, bea ta ry-heet. | |
| Are Christians persuaded, that as soon as they die, they shall go to a place either of happiness or misery, according as they have lived in this world? If they do believe this, it is certain they do not often think of it. And yet Jesus Christ assures us, it will be so; and that a Christian ought to part with any thing, as dear to him as a right hand or a right eye, rather than provoke God to send him to hell. | Vel Creesteenyn dy jarroo credjal, cha leah as yiow ad baase, dy jed ad gys stayd edyr dy vaynrys na treihys, rere myr t’ad er veaghey ’sy theihl shoh? My t’ad dy chredjal shoh, t’yh shickyr nagh vel ad mennic smooinaght er. As foast ta Yeesey Creest shickyrys dooin, dy nee shen myr vees yh; as dy lhisagh Creestee scarrey rish nhee erbee, ga cha deyr da as laue-yesh na sooill-yesh, ny s’leah ny brasnaghey Jee dy gheyrey eh gys niurin. | |
| Then, for the example he has set us, we know with what a small share of the world he was satisfied, though all nature was at his command; we hear him every where exhorting, and even requiring, his followers —to take up the cross, to deny themselves, to mortify their corrupt affections, —as ever they hope to be happy hereafter. If there are any of his followers, who never think they have enough of this world; who aim at nothing so much as to be easy, to meet with no crosses; to have whatever their hearts desire; who will not deny themselves any satisfaction; it will not sure be said, that such Christians take Jesus Christ for their pattern; or that he will ever own them for his followers. | Eisht, mychione yn samplere t’eh er hoiaghey roin, ta fys ain cre’n ayrn fardalagh dy chooid heihlt ren eshyn y wooiys, ga dy row ooilley [sic] dy chooilley nhee va rieau er ny chroo fo yn laue echeysyn; ta shin clashtyn eh dy chooilley voayl coyrlaghey, as eer sarey e eiyrtyssee —dy ghoail seose yn chrosh, dy obbal ad-hene, dy smaghtaghey nyn yeearreeyn peccoil, —myr t’ad dy bragh treishteil son maynrys ny lurg shoh. My ta veg jeh e eiyrtyssee, ta smooinaghtyn nagh vel dy [206] bragh nyn saie oc jeh cooid y theihl shoh; nagh vel red erbee wheesh ayns nyn smooinaghtyn as dy ve dy souyr, gyn dy veeteil rish croshyn erbee, ooilley yeearreeyn nyn greeaghyn dy ve oc; nagh n’ob daue hene eunys erbee; shickyr cha bee yh er ny raa, dy vel lheid ny Creesteenyn goail Yeesey Creest son nyn samplere, na dy jean Eshyn dy bragh goail roosyn son eiyrtyssee dasyn. | |
| It is upon the account of the great things our Saviour has done for us, that the apostle says, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha,” accursed when the Lord comes to judgment. How do Christians shew that they love him? I will tell you how they should satisfy themselves in this; that they do love him sincerely. If they love his humility, his patience, his self-denial, and strive to imitate them; if they hate that sin, which for our sake cost him his life; lastly, if they desire to know what will please him, and, when they know the things which he has commanded, do endeavour to do them; then they [66] have that very testimony of their love, which Jesus Christ requires; all others being nothing but delusion. | She er coontey ny reddyn mooarey ta ny [sic: nyn] Saualtagh er n’yannoo er nyn son, dy vel yn Ostyl gra, “My ta dooinney erbee nagh vel graih echey er y Chiarn Yeesey Creest, lhig da ve Anathema Maranatha,” ve deyrit tra hig y Chiarn gys briwnys. Kys ta Creesteenyn soilshaghey dy vel ad graihagh er? Insh-ym’s diu kys lhisagh ad shickyrys y chur daue hene jeh shoh; dy vel ad dy firrinagh graihagh er’syn. My shynney lhieu e imlid, e veenid, e smaght harrish hene, as streeu dy eiyrt daue; my ta dwoaie oc er y phecca shen, chost er y ghraih ainyn e vioys dasyn; er-jerrey, my t’ad geearree fys ’ve oc er cre nee eshyn y wooiys, as, tra ta fys oc er ny cur’myn t’eh er harey, t’ad streeu dy yannoo ad; eisht ta oc yn eer prowal shen hene jeh nyn ghraih, ta Yeesey Creest dy hirrey; cha vel dy chooilley phrowal elley monney agh molteyrys. | |
| To conclude this particular, Christians profess to live by faith. They should know in the first place, that faith is the gift of God, and to be prayed for. If they neglect to do this, and to put themselves into a capacity of receiving the grace of God, they must not wonder, if God denies them his grace. | Dy chur mullagh er y chooish shoh, Dy vel Creesteenyn goail-rish dy nee liorish cred[207]jue t’ad beaghey. Lhisagh fys ’ve oc, ’sy chied ynnyd, dy vel credjue gioot Yee, as padjer dy ve goit er y hon. Mannagh vel ad jannoo shoh, as streeu dy chur ad hene ayns am dy gheddyn grayse Yee, cha nheign [?daue] goail yindys my ta Jee gobbal e ghrayse daue. | |
| A Christian may know certainly whether he lives by faith or not. If he lives as in the presence of God, fearful of offending him; concerned to please him; when the promises and threats of the Gospel affect us; when the fear of hell hinders us from following forbidden pleasures; when the hopes of Heaven keeps us from doting upon the appearances of happiness we meet with here; when the belief of a judgment to come makes us watchful over our thoughts, designs, words, and actions. In one word, when we govern ourselves by the rules of the Gospel; it is then we live by faith, and shall most certainly obtain the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls. | Foddee fys shickyr ve ec Creestee vel eh beaghey liorish credjue mannagh vel. My t’eh beaghey myr ayns fenish Yee, agglagh dy neu-wooiys eh, imneagh dy wooiys eh; tra ta gialdynyn as baggyrtyn y Sushtal goail greme orrin; tra ta aggle niurin dy nyn lhiettal veih geiyrt da eunyssyn mee-lowit; tra ta’n treishteil son Flaunys freayl shin veih soiaghey nyn greeaghyn er ny scaadooyn dy vaynrys ta shin meeteil roo ayns shoh; tra ta nyn gredjue mychione yn vriwnys ta ry-heet cur orrin freayl arrey harrish nyn smooinaghtyn, kiarailyn, raa, as jannoo: Ayns un ockle, tra ta shin dy rere shin hene liorish ruleyn y Sushtal, —shen y traa ta shin beaghey liorish credjue, as nee mayd son shickyrys cosney leagh nyn gredjue, eer saualtys nyn anmeenyn. | |
| We shall now consider Christians in the ordinary duties of life, and see how they follow their rule, their pattern, with respect to the commands of God; that if we find a too general departure from the rules set us to walk by, we may consider what it will end in. | Nee mayd nish consideral Creesteenyn ayns ny cur’myn cadjin dy vea, as fakin caid t’ad geiyrt da nyn rule, nyn battern, ayns biallys da saraghyn Yee; my hee mayd dy vel ad son yn ayrn smoo er n’gholl gy-lhiattee veih ny ruleyn soit roin dy immeeaght lioroo, dy vod mayd consideral cre’n jerrey gho’ys yh. | |
| Now; Christians are represented in Sacred Scripture, as a people called from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God; who having renounced the world, the flesh, and the devil, are no longer subject to them, but are holy in their lives, just in their dealings, and charitable to one another; who keep a careful watch over themselves, and against their spiritual enemies; praying continually for grace to withstand them; having their eye always upon the prize of their high calling, the joy set before them; dreading, at the same time, the dismal consequences of miscarrying. | [208] Nish ta Creesteenyn imraait ayns Goo Yee myr sleih t’er nyn eam ass dorrraghys [sic: dorraghys] gys soilshey, as veih pooar Noid-ny-anmey gys Jee; myr sleih ta er hreigeil yn seihl, yn eill, as yn drogh-spyrryd, as shen-y-fa nagh vel veg sodjey fo yn reill oc, agh casheric ayns nyn mea, cairagh ayns nyn yannoo, as dooie as giastyllagh yn derrey yeh da’n jeh elley; ta freayl arrey geyre orroo hene, as noi nyn noidyn spyrrydoil; guee dy kinjagh son grayse dy hassoo magh nyn ’oi; lesh sooill kinjagh gys leagh nyn eam veih’n yrjid, yn eunys ta soit rhymboo; as ayns aggle anmey, ec y traa cheddin, roish yn eiyrtys agglagh dy choaayl [sic: choayl] yh. | |
| It is impossible to consider this account of Christianity with any sort of seriousness, without making very melancholy reflections, with respect both to ourselves and others. | T’yh neu-phossibyl dy smooinaghtyn dy dowin er yn coontey shoh jeh’n chredjue Chreestee, fegooish smooinaghtyn trome trimshagh, chamma mychione ain-hene as feallagh elley. | |
| When one sees many Christians as ignorant of God and of their duty, as the very heathens, who are still in darkness, and under the power of satan. When one sees Christians as careless, as indifferent, and as secure, as if there were nothing to be feared, nothing to be hoped for. When one sees Christians praying for the pardon of their sins, for grace to amend their lives, for deliverance from eternal misery, and for the joys of Heaven, with the indifference of people that are not concerned to be heard. When one sees them as fond of the world, as if they had vowed never to forsake it; as if God designed, as if God could give them no better inheritance. When one considers these things, one cannot but say, that such Christians forget their pattern, and that they are in the way to ruin. | Tra ta peiagh fakin ymmodee Creesteenyn cha mee-hushtagh jeh Jee as jeh nyn gurrym as ta ny eer An-chreesteenyn, ta foast ayns dorraghys as fo reill yn Noid-anmey: Tra ta fer fakin Creesteenyn cha lhag-chiaralagh, as lesh cha beg dy imnea son nyn anmeenyn, as myr nagh row monney edyr dy ghoail aggle roish, na dy hreishteil er y hon: Tra t’ou fakin Creesteenyn guee son leih nyn beccaghyn, son grayse dy lhiassaghey nyn mea, son livrey-ys veih treihys dy bragh [209] farraghtyn, as son maynrys niau, lesh cha beg dy imnea as nagh mooar lhieu clashtyn y gheddyn na gyn. Tra ta peiagh fakin ad cha fondagh er y theihl, as myr nagh row ad rieau er vreearey dy hreigeil yh; myr nagh row Jee er chiarail, myr nagh voddagh Jee coyrt daue eiraght erbee share: Tra ta peiagh consideral ny reddyn shoh, cha vod eh agh gra, dy vel lheid ny Creesteenyn jarrood nyn samplere, as dy vel ad ayns raad y choayl-anmey. | |
| To be a little more particular; and to begin with the duties we owe to our neighbour: Would a stranger to our religion imagine, that Christians had any such command as this; thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; when he should see it every day violated in a thousand instances? And would he not be astonished, when he should be assured, that this is one of those two commands, upon the keeping of which their eternal salvation does depend? When he should see Christians, who profess to believe this, so far from being just, (for instance) that they must often be compelled to give every man what is his due, and must be hindered, by a superior power, from doing hurt to their neighbour: Who make no conscience of doing wrong; of using deceit and fraud; of taking advantage of the ignorance and necessities of others; of injuring their neighbours by false witness, by spreading reports, and passing judgments, which are contrary to truth and charity. And lastly; who, when they have done wrong, or given offence, [67] refuse to make restitution, though they know, for certain their repentance will never be accepted, without such satisfaction and amends. Christians know very well that all these things are contrary to that love which they owe to their neighbour; that it is doing to others what they would not have done to themselves; and that it is at the peril of their souls when they do them. | Dy heet ny sniassey gys y chooish; as dy ghoail toshiaght lesh ny cur’myn ta shin lhiastyn da nyn naboo: Jinnagh joarree gys y chredjue ain smooinaghtyn, dy row ec Creesteenyn lheid y sarey as shoh, Ver oo graih da dty Naboo myr dhyt hene; tra t’eh fakin yh dy chooilley laa goll er brishey ayns thousane dy chooishyn? As nagh beagh yindys mooar er tra veagh eh er ny hickyrys, dy vel shoh unnane jeh’n daa anney shen, er nyn vreayl ad ta lhie nyn saualtys dy bragh farraghtyn; Tra hee-agh eh Creesteenyn, ta goail-rish dy vel ad credjal shoh, choud shen voish ve cairagh, (myr yarragh oo) dy nheign daue dy mennic ve eginit dy chur da dy chooilley ghooinney e chair, as dy ve er nyn lhiettal, liorish ny pooaraghyn reiltee, veih jannoo assee da nyn naboonyn; —nagh lhie-agh er nyn gooinsheanse dy yannoo aggair, —dy yannoo molteyrys as kialgeyrys, —dy ghoail vondeish jeh mee-hushtey as feme [210] feallagh elley, —dy yannoo aggair da nyn naboonyn liorish feanish foalsey, liorish skeayley an-ghoo, as jannoo briwnyssyn orroo, ta noi yn irriney as giastyllys. As er-jerrey, quoi, erreish daue v’er n’yannoo aggair, na assee, ta gobbal dy yannoo lhiassaghey, ga dy vel fys oc son shickyrys nagh bee dy bragh soiagh jeant jeh nyn arrys fegooish lheid y lhiassaghey as cooilleeney. S’mie ta fys ec Creesteenyn dy vel ooilley ny cliaghtaghyn shoh noi yn ghraih shen t’ad dy lhiastyn da nyn naboo; dy vel yh jannoo rish feallagh elley cooid nagh bailliu ve jeant roo hene; as dy nee ec gaue nyn anmeenyn t’yh tra t’ad jannoo myr shen. | |
| If Christians have too often so little regard to justice, shall we suppose that they will have a greater regard to that charity, which by the laws of the Gospel, is due to their neighbour? That they will forgive, and give, and love, as becomes the disciples of Jesus Christ. And yet, no less than the salvation of our souls de pends upon this. “He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy,” saith the Apostle. And our Lord hath expressly declared, that at the day of judgment, such as have had no compassion for their poor brethren, shall have no favour from God. | My ta Creesteenyn ro-vennic as cha beg shoh dy gheill oc er cairys, vod mayd smooinaghtyn dy bee geill smoo oc da’n ghiastyllys shen, ta liorish leighyn y Sushtal cair da nyn naboo; —dy bee ad ayns graih as giastyllys roo, myr ta cooie da eiyrtyssee Yeesey Creest. As ny-yeih, cha vel veg sloo na saualtys ny anmeenyn ain lhie er shoh. “Yiow eshyn briwnys gyn myghin, nagh vel er hoilshaghey myghin,” as yn Ostyl. As ta nyn Jiarn dy foshlit er n’ockley magh, ec laa ny briwnys, nagh bee foayr erbee veih Jee ny chour ocsyn nagh vel er hoilshaghey chymmey er nyn mraaraghyn boghtey. | |
| If we descend to particular duties, we shall find them as much neglected, as if God had given no commands concerning them. | My hig mayd dy loayrt mychione lheid as lheid ny cur’myn elley, yiow mayd magh dy [211] vel cha beg soit jeu, as myr nagh row Jee er n’yannoo sarey erbee mychione oc. | |
| We shall find, for instance, too many children regardless of the authority of their parents; disposing of themselves as if they were their own masters; refusing to be corrected; hating to be advised; and too many parents utterly unconcerned for the good education of their children in the fear of God. | Yiow mayd magh, son samplere, rour cloan nagh vel arrymagh na ammyssagh da ayr as moir, goll toshiaght y theihl myr dy beagh ad nyn mainshtyr hene, shassoo magh noi smaght, dwoaiagh er ve coyrleit; as ayr as moir ny gha fo slane meerioose son troggal mie nyn gloan ayns aggle Yee. | |
| We shall find subjects obedient, not out of conscience, but for fear of punishment; defrauding the publick, speaking evil of dignities; as well as too many in authority, who discover a very little zeal for the glory of God, (whose Ministers they are) when they punish the sins against men, with much greater severity than those against God. | Hee mayd ymmodee coyrt biallys da ny fir-oik, cha nee er graih cooinsheanse, agh ayns aggle kerraghey; molteyragh ayns keeshyn, goltooaney ny pooaraghyn syrjey; as fer ny gha ayns pooar ta soilshaghey beggan geill son gloyr Yee (ny Shirveishee echeysyn t’ad) tra t’ad kerraghey ny loghtyn ta jeant noi deiney lesh geyrid smoo na peccaghyn noi Jee. | |
| We shall find pastors and their instructions despised, and the authority of Jesus Christ rejected in the persons of his Ministers; and these also, forgetting the end of their calling, to watch over their flock, to instruct, to reprove, and to pray for them. | Yiow mayd bochillyn-anmey as nyn ynsaghey beg soit jeu, as torrity Yeesey Creest er ny obbal liorish sleih shassoo magh noi e Hirveishee: as eer ad shen hene, jarroodagh jeh bree nyn oik, cooid ta dy reayl arrey er y chioltane, dy ynsagh ad, dy chur oghsan daue, as dy ghoail padjer er nyn son. | |
| We shall find husbands and wives as care less of their marriage vows, as if God, who was called to witness when they made them, was not able to punish them for their perjury. | Yiow mayd deiney as mrane poost lesh cha beg dy scansh jeh nyn mreearaghyn-poosee, as myr nagh row Jee, er’syn va feanish er ny choyrt tra hie ad er jannoo, abyl kerraghey ad son oaiys. | |
| Lastly, we shall find Christian servants un faithful to their masters; and these again forgetting that they have a master in Heaven. | [212] Er-jerrey, yiow mayd sharvaantyn Creestee neu-yeidjagh da nyn mainshtyryn; as ad shoh reesht jarrood dy vel mainshtyr oc hene ayns niau. | |
| Now; they that are thus regardless of their duty, and feel no uneasiness, no stings of conscience; they must be very ignorant, or given up to a reprobate mind. | Nish, adsyn ta myr shoh neu-imneagh mysh nyn gurrym, as nagh vel gennaghtyn angaish erbee, guin erbee chooinsheanse, sheign daue ve feer voal-hushtagh, er-nonney livreit harrish gys creoghys cree. | |
| Let us, in the last place, consider the duties we owe to ourselves, and see whether we discharge these any better than those we owe to our neighbour. Now; the first and great duty which we owe to ourselves is, to take care of our souls. Christians would not hear a man with patience, who should say, that people need not mind their salvation; and yet, if we must speak the truth, we must say, that the generality of Christians do not take any care of their souls; i.e. they do not mind those rules which are absolutely necessary to fit them for Heaven and Happiness. | Lhig dooin ’syn ynnyd s’jerree, consideral ny cur’myn ta shin lhiastyn dooin-hene, as cur-my-ner vel shin cooilleeney ad shoh veg share na ny cur’myn ta shin lhiastyn da nyn naboo. Nish, yn chied as yn ard churrym ta shin lhiastyn dooin-hene t’yh, dy ghoail kiarail jeh nyn anmeenyn. Cha voddagh Creesteenyn foillaghtyn da peiagh, yarragh, nagh lhiass da sleih cur geill da nyn saualtys; as foast, my sheign dooin loayrt yn irriney, sheign dooin gra, nagh vel yn bunnys dy Chreesteenyn goail veg y chiarail jeh nyn anmeenyn; ta shen, cha vel geill oc da ny saaseyn dy ghrayse ta dy slane ymmyrchagh dy yannoo ad cooie son niau as maynrys. | |
| For, let me ask again, are the generality of Christians to be known from infidels by their self-denial, patience, humility, purity, and charity? And yet without these graces and virtues, no man can be happy. “If any man will come after me,” (saith our Saviour) “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Is this no longer a Christian duty? | Son, lhig dou fenaght reesht, vel enney dy ve er ny choyrt er yn ayrn smoo dy Chreesteenyn shaghey an-chreesteenyn liorish yn smaght t’ad freayl orroo hene, nyn veenid, nyn imlid, nyn sheeltys, nyn ghraih as ghiastyllys? As foast, fegooish ny grayseyn as oaishyn mie shoh, cha vod dooinney erbee ve maynrey. [213] “My ta dooinney erbee aggindagh geiyrt orryms, (as nyn Saualtagh) lhig da eh-hene y obbal, as e chrosh y hroggal, as geiyrt orrym.” Vel shoh ny sodjey eisht ny churrym Creestee? | |
| The intent of our Blessed Lord in this command is, to wean our affections from this world, and to subdue them, that God may take possession of our souls, and, by his Holy Spirit, fit them for eternal happiness. And, therefore all those Christians, which are too plainly the greatest number, who give way to their inclinations, who follow not what is most pleasing to God, but to corrupt nature, are, without any doubt, in the way of perdition. | Ta nyn Jiarn bannee meanal liorish yn sarey shoh, dy harbaa nyn yeearreeyn veih yn seihl, as dy reayl ad fo smaght, dy vod ny anmeenyn ain ve dy slane goit seose liorish Jee, as liorish e Spyrryd Casheric jannoo ad cooie son maynrys dy bragh beayn. As shen-y-fa, ooilley ny Creesteenyn shen (as s’mie t’yh r’akin dy nee adsyn yn earroo smoo) ta cur raad da nyn yeearreeyn, nagh vel geiyrt da shen smoo ta booiys Jee, agh ta booiys nyn n’ghooghys peccoil, t’ad shoh, gyn dooyt erbee, ayns raad y choayl-anmey. | |
| [68] Where is that resignation to the will of God, which reason, as well as religion, has made our duty? We pray, indeed, that God’s will may be done; but we are angry when it is done, and, in effect, charge him with injustice, when he would punish us in this life, that he may not be obliged to do it in the next; or when he would prevent, or cure a disorder, which, if not done, would infallibly ruin us. | Cre vel yn viallys shen gys Aigney Yee, ta resoon chamma as credjue er n’yannoo nyn gurrym? Ta shin guee dy jarroo, dy vod aigney Yee ve jeant; agh ta shin neu-vooiagh tra t’yh er ny yannoo, as ta shin, myr dy beagh yh, cur mee-chairys ny lieh, tra saillish kerraghey shin ’sy vea shoh, nagh bee eh eginit dy yannoo shen ’sy theihl ta ry-heet; na tra baillish lhiettal na lheihys doghan-anmey erbee, yinnagh er aght elley dy shickyr tayrn orrin coayl-anmey. | |
| The promise of seeing God is made to the pure and clean of heart, and to these only. What then must become of that infinite number of people, whose hearts are full of all impurity? Who entertain such thoughts as defile the soul, and make it utterly unfit for the Spirit of God to be there. Must we not say, that all such are excluded from the promise of seeing God? And, if an impure heart will shut us out of Heaven, impure actions will make us fit for no place but hell. | Ta’n gialdyn jeh fakin Jee jeant dauesyn ta glen ayns cree, as dauesyn ny lomarcan. Cre s’erree eisht da’n earroo [214] mooar erskyn-earroo dy leih, ta nyn greeaghyn lane jeh dy chooilley neu-ghlennid; ta cur raad da lheid ny smooinaghtyn as ta solley yn annym, as jannoo ee ooilley-dy-lhearagh neu-chooie da Spyrryd Yee dy ve ayns shen? Nagh nheign dooin gra, dy vel ooilley nyn lheid giarit magh veih yn gialdyn dy akin Jee? As my nee cree neu-ghlen nyn ghooney magh ass niau, nee obbraghyn neu-ghlen ny foalley nyn yannoo an-chooie son ynnyd erbee agh niurin. | |
| We may shut our eyes and our ears against such affrighting truths; but as sure as God has made his will known to us, this will be the issue of such a life: “No unclean person shall have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God; but shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” | Foddee mayd nyn sooillyn as nyn gleayshyn y ghooney noi lheid ny firrinyssyn agglagh shoh; agh cha shickyr as ta Jee er hoilshaghey e aigney dooin, shoh vees eiyrtys lheid y vea: “Ec persoon neu-ghlen erbee cha bee veg yn eiraght ayns reeriaght Chreest, as Jee; agh bee nyn gronney ayns y lough lostey lesh aile as brimstone.” | |
| Lastly; what shall we say of those many Christians, who lead an idle, and a useless life; or of those who are, indeed, industrious; but it is only to be more rich, that they may be more miserable? Do such people consider, that they are Christians; that they have an interest to secure, on which their all depends; and that it is in this life their lot is determined either for Heaven or for Hell? You will say, perhaps, that Christians know all this; but then, it must be acknowledged, that they that do know these things, and yet live as if they did not believe them; that their condemnation and judgment will be most severe, as well as just. | Er-jerrey, cre jir mayd rish ny ymmodee Creesteenyn shen, ta leeideil bea lhiaste as gyn ymmyd; na roosyn ta dy jarroo tarroogh, agh ta nyn darrooid ynrycan er-chee dy ve ny s’berchee, dy vod ad ve ny s’treih? Vel lheid ny sleih goail oc hene dy nee Creesteenyn ad, —dy vel eiraght oc dy yannoo shickyr jeh, er ta nyn ooilley lhie, —as dy nee cordail rish nyn ymmyrkey ’sy theihl shoh, dy bee nyn gronney edyr son niau ny niurin. Jir shiu, foddee, dy vel fys ec Creesteenyn er ooilley shoh; agh eisht sheign [215] goail-rish dy bee yn deyrey as briwnys ocsyn ny s’geyrey chamma as ny s’kiart, ta fys oc er ny reddyn shoh, as ny-yeih beaghey myr nagh row ad dy chredjal ad. | |
| To prevent this, I have set before you and myself, our pattern; I have shewed you, how very little the generality of Christians do mind it: and this I have done, not to expose the weakness and corruption of human nature, but to awaken us all into a serious sense of the bad condition of those who live without God in the world. And that every one of us, seeing how sadly we come short of our pattern, may be ashamed, and afraid too, lest our repentance and amendment should come too late. | Dy haghney shoh, ta mee er hoiaghey reauish as roym-pene, nyn battern; ta mee er hoiaghey rhymbiu cre’n beggan geill ta yn ayrn smoo dy Chreesteenyn dy choyrt da; as shoh ta mee er n’yannoo cha nee dy hayrn scammylt er annoonid as marvaneys nyn ghooghys, agh dy ghoostey shin ooilley gys ennaghtyn cooie jeh’n stayd treih ocsyn ta beaghey fegooish Jee ayns y theihl. As liorish fakin cre wheesh as ta shin cheet giare jeh nyn samplere, dy vod nearey ’ve er dagh unnane ain, as aggle neesht, dy jig nyn arrys as lhiassaghey bea ro-anmagh. | |
| And lastly, that such Christians, as have made the life and the doctrine of Christ their pattern, may, by this representation, have the comfort of seeing, that they are not of the number of those unhappy people, who content themselves with the bare name of Christians, with mere shadows of religion and piety, without endeavouring after that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. | As er-jerrey, lheid ny Creesteenyn shen, as ta er n’yannoo bea as ynsagh Chreest nyn samplere, dy vod ad, liorish yn co-soylaghey shoh yn gerjagh ’ve oc dy akin, nagh vel adsyn jeh earroo yn sleih mee-vaynrey shen, ta booiys ad hene lesh yn ennym lhome dy Chreesteenyn, lesh eer scaadooyn chredjue as craueeaght, fegooish streeu son yn chasherickys shen, ny egooish cha jean dooinney erbee yn Chiarn y akin. | |
| And now, you see plainly, that to be a Christian, and a true Christian, are two very different things. | As nish, ta shiu fakin dy plain, dy vel lhiettrimys foddey eddyr Creestee, as Creestee firrinagh. | |
| A true Christian sets his pattern before his eyes; and, because his salvation depends on it, he resolves to make it the rule of his life. He studies, therefore, the truths, and the duties, of the Gospel; prefers the light he meets with there to all others: He resolves, that what the Gospel declares, that he will believe, let what will be said against it; that what it recommends, he will follow that, and avoid what it forbids. If, upon examining his conscience, he finds that he does any thing contrary to what the Gospel prescribes, he is ashamed and sorry for it; begs God’s pardon, and his grace to observe it better for the time to come; watches over his inclinations; avoiding every temptation that may lead him to sin; never consulting the world, its authority, its customs, or its frowns, for what he ought to do, or what to avoid. And by doing this, he secures the favour of God, his grace here, and eternal happiness hereafter. | [216] Ta creestee firrinagh soiaghey e hamplere roish e hooillyn; as son dy vel e haualtys lhie er, t’eh kiarit dy yannoo yh rule e vea. T’eh smooinaghtyn dy dowin er-y-fa shen, er firrinyssyn as cur’myn yn Sushtal; t’eh jannoo soiagh smoo jeh yn soilshey t’eh meeteil rish ayns shen, na jeh dy chooilley hoilshey elley: T’eh kiarit, cre-erbee ta’n Sushtal dy hoilshaghey magh, dy nee shen nee eh credjal, lhig da cre-erbee saillish ve rait n’oi; cre-erbee ta’n Sushtal dy choyrlaghey dy nee shen nee eh geiyrt da, as chea voish ny t’yh dy lhiettal. Er feysht e chooinsheanse, my t’eh feddyn dy vel eh er n’yannoo nhee erbee controllee gys ny ta yn Sushtal dy harey, ta nearey er as trimshey er y hon; t’eh guee leih er Jee, as e ghrayse dy ve ny s’kiaraalee son y traa ta ry-heet; t’eh freayl arrey er e yeearreeyn; t’eh chea voish dy chooilley violagh oddys leeideil eh gys pecca; gyn dy bragh shirrey coyrle er y seihl na cur geill da coyrleyn na cliaghtaghyn seihltagh, son ny lhisagh eh jannoo, na chea voish. As jannoo myr shoh, t’eh shickyraghey da hene foayr Yee, e ghrayse ayns shoh, as maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn ny lurg shoh. | |
| [69] On the other hand, those Christians who live, as too many do, in a general forgetfulness of God; taking no care of their souls; contenting themselves with some outward formalities, and bare shadows of religion, without feeling its power; who make the world their pattern, notwithstanding the caution Jesus Christ has given us, not to follow its ways and maxims. Such people, under the name of Christians, are very heathens, will be rejected of God, and are reserved for a punishment dreadful to be named. | Er y cheu elley, ny Creesteenyn shen ta beaghey, myr ta rour dy yannoo, ayns jarroodys cadjin dy Yee; gyn goail kiarail jeh nyn anmeenyn; booiys ad-hene lesh yn eer cummey cadjin dy chraueeaght, as yn eer scaadoo dy chredjue, fegooish gennaghtyn e vree [217] pooaral; ta goail yn seihl son nyn samplere, ga dy vel Yeesey Creest er choyrt raue dooin gyn dy eiyrt da’n seihl na e oayl as raaidyn. Ta nyn lheid, fo ennym Chreestee, nyn eer an-chreesteenyn, bee ad obbit liorish Jee, as kiarit cour kerraghey atchimagh dy ve enmyssit. | |
| Christians must not, to excuse themselves, say, that they cannot come up to their pattern, to be what the Gospel requires them to be. It is no less than blasphemy to say so. For God’s grace is sufficient; his grace may be had for asking; and he requires no more of us than what (upon our sincere prayers and endeavours) he will enable us to perform. | Cha nheign da Creesteenyn dy heyrey ad-hene gra, nagh vod ad cheet seose gys nyn samplere, dy ve ny ta’n Sushtal sarey ad dy ve. Cha vel yh veg sloo na goan mollaghtagh dy ghra shoh. Son ta grayse Yee fondagh; foddee e ghrayse ve ry-gheddyn son y hirrey; as cha vel eh shirrey ny smoo orrin, na nee eh-hene (er nyn badjeryn as streeu jeean) niartaghey lhien dy yannoo. | |
| To conclude: God has given us a law, by which he will judge us; by this law we are to judge what our condition is like to be here after, whether happy or miserable? That we may make this judgment more impartially, let us consider what our thoughts will be when we come to die. Whether, for instance, we shall not be in the utmost confusion, when, our life and pattern being set before us, it shall appear, that we have lived in a plain contempt, or neglect at least, of what we professed to believe, what we knew to be our duty, and what we were often put in mind would be the consequence of neglecting it? Or whether we shall then have the comfort of having compared our life with our pattern, seen our errors, made our peace with God by a timely repentance, and lived to bring forth fruit answerable to amendment of life? | Dy hayrn gys jerrey: Ta Jee er choyrt dooin leigh, liorish nee eh nyn mriwnys; liorish yn leigh shoh ta shin dy yannoo briwnys cre ta nyn stayd laik dy ve ny lurg shoh, edyr maynrey na neu-vaynrey. Dy vod mayd yn vriwnys share y yannoo, lhig dooin goail ain-hene cre vees nyn smooinaghtyn tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase. Son soyley, mannagh bee yn nearey smoo seaghnagh orrin, tra, erreish da nyn ymmyrkey-bea as nyn samplere ve soit roin, bee eh r’akin dy vel shin er veaghey ayns eer faghid da, na ec y chooid sloo meerioose jeh ny va shin goail-rish dy chredjal, jeh ny va fys ain dy ve nyn gurrym, as jeh ny va shin dy mennic currit [218] ayns cooinaghtyn cre veagh jerrey ve meerioosagh er? Na mannagh bee yn gerjagh ain dy vel shin er soylaghey nyn mea rish nyn samplere, er vakin nyn shaghrynys, er n’yannoo nyn shee rish Jee liorish arrys traa, as er veaghey dy ymmyrkey magh mess cooie gys lhiassaghey-bea. | |
| One of these two will be the case of myself, and of every one here present; how soon, we know not; but it highly concerns us to be prepared for it, and that forthwith, “lest the night cometh, when no man can work.” | Yn derrey yeh na yn jeh elley jeu shoh vees my chronney hene, as cronney dy chooilley unnane nish kion-fenish; cre cha leah, cha vel fys ain; agh s’mooar t’yh lhie orrin dy ve kiarit ny chour, as shen gyn lhiggey shaghey, er-aggle dy jig yn oie, tra nagh vod dooinney erbee gobbraghey. | |
| To this end, let us retire, and beg of God, who has given us our pattern, and who alone can enable us to follow it, to put his fear into our hearts, to give us the grace of repentance, to sanctify us both in body and soul, “that we may be meet to be partakers of an inheritance with the saints in light;” which God grant we may all be, for Jesus Christ’s sake. | Cour shoh, lhig dooin ayns padjer er-lheh guee er Jee, ta er choyrt nyn samplere dooin, as quoi ny lomarcan oddys nyn niartaghey dy eiyrt da, dy chur e aggle casheric ayns nyn greeaghyn, dy chur dooin yn grayse dy arrys, dy chasherickey shin, chamma annym as callin, “dy vod mayd ve cooie dy ghoail ayrn jeh’n eiraght marish ny nooghyn ’sy toilshey flaunyssagh;” cooid dy giall Jee dooin ooilley dy ve, er graih Yeesey Creest. | |
| [97] | [219] | |
| SERMON XV. | SHARMANE X. | |
| CHRISTMAS. | NODLICK. | |
| SALVATION BY JESUS CHRIST. | Saualtys liorish YEESEY CREEST. | |
| 1 TIM. i. 15 | 1 TIM. i. 15. | |
| This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. | Ta shoh raa firrinagh, as feeu ard-soiagh ve jeant jeh, dy daink Creest Yeesey gys y theihl dy hauail peccee. | |
| THAT is; there is no truth more certain, no truth more worthy of our knowledge, no truth which so much concerns us to know, or which we may more surely depend on, than this; “That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” | TA shen; cha vel firrinys erbee ny shickyree, firrinys erbee ny s’feeu, na s’ymmyrchee dooin toiggal vie y gheddyn jeh, na firrinys erbee oddys mayd ny smoo dy varrant y choyrt er, na shoh; “Dy daink Creest Yeesey gys y theihl dy hauail peccee.” | |
| But however worthy this truth is to be received of all men, yet few, God knows, receive it as they ought to do. For how many are there, who, because Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, hope for salvation, without taking any care to live as becomes the gospel of Christ? How many who believe this truth, and yet receive no comfort from it; either suspecting themselves not to be of the number of those whom Christ came to save; or that their sins are too great to be pardoned? And lastly, how very many are there, who, though they are indeed sinners, never think of the danger of being such; and are therefore as careless and unconcerned for what may come hereafter, as if there were nothing to be feared, nothing to be hoped for? | Agh cre-erbee cha feeu as ta’n firrinys shoh dy ve soit jeh liorish dy chooilley ghooinney, ny- yeih beggan t’ayn, dy vaik y Jee, ta jannoo soiagh jeh myr lhisagh ad. Son cre whilleen t’ayn, son dy daink Yeesey Creest gys y theihl dy hauail peccee, ta treishteil son saualtys, fegooish goail veg y chiarail dy leeideil nyn mea cordail rish Sushtal Chreest? Cre whilleen ta credjal yn firrinys shoh, as nagh vel ny-yeih geddyn geijagh erbee [220] liorish; edyr trooid mee-aurys jeu- hene nagh vel adsyn jeh yn earroo ocsyn haink Creest dy hauail, er-nonney dy vel ny peccaghyn oc-hene ro vooar dy ve er nyn bardooney? As er- jerrey, cre’n ymmodee seihlt t’ayn, quoi, ga dy nee ard pheccee ad, nagh vel dy bragh smooinaghtyn er y danjere ta liorish ve lheid; as, er-y-fa shen, cha mee-chiaralagh as lesh cha beg dy imnea son ny hig ny lurg shoh, as myr nagh row monney dy ghoail aggle roish, monney dy hreishteil er y hon? | |
| Now, all these being sad delusions, and a great dishonour to Christianity, it well becomes the servants of Him, who came into the world to save sinners, to use their utmost endeavours to remove them; to support the spirits of those, who fear where there is no danger; to awaken the consciences of those, who are secure and careless in the very midst of danger; and lastly, to reprove the presumption of those, who hope for salvation through Jesus Christ, without observing his laws. | Nish, myr t’ad shoh ooilley molteyryssyn treih, as ard mee-ooashley da’n Chredjue Creestee, s’jesh t’yh cheet da ny sharvaantyn Echeysyn, eh haink gys y theihl dy hauail peccee,—dy streeu gys rere nyn booar dy scughey ad;—dy niartaghey ny anmeenyn ocsyn ta goail aggle raad nagh vel oyr aggle; dy ghoostey ny cooinsheanseyn ocsyn nagh vel aggle orroo as ta meerioosagh ayns chesh-vean danjere;—as er- jerrey, dy chur oghsan da yn daanys ocsyn ta treishteil son saualtys trooid Yeesey Creest fegooish freayl e leighyn. | |
| And these are the things which I beseech you will give attention to with the greatest seriousness. And that I may set these things before you after as plain a manner as possible, we will consider, | As shoh ny reddyn ta mee guee erriu dy choyrt clashtyn daue lesh diunid imnea. As dy vod-ym soiaghey rhimbiu ny cooishyn shoh ayns aght cha plain as ta possibyl dou, nee mayd consideral, | |
| —1st. The meaning and extent of this truth, “That Christ Jesus [98] came into the world to save sinners;” that we may be able to judge, who may, and who may not, hope for salvation through his merits. | Hoshiaght; Bun as bree yn firrinys shoh, “Dy daink Creest Yeesey gys y theihl dy hauail peccee;” dy vod mayd briwnys y [221] yannoo quoi oddys, as quoi nagh vod, treishteil son saualtys trooid y toilchinys echeysyn. | |
| Secondly; We shall consider the delusion, and the danger, of those, who neglect or despise the salvation purchased for them by Jesus Christ. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; Nee mayd consideral yn cleayn, as yn danjere ta adsyn ayn, ta mee-rioosagh jeh na soiaghey beg jeh yn saualtys cosnit daue liorish Yeesey Creest. | |
| I. We will first consider the meaning, and then the extent, of this truth, that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners. | I. Ver-ym hoshiaght rhimbiu bun, as eisht slane bree as roshtyn yn firrinys shoh, Dy daink Creest Yeesey gys y theihl dy hauail peccee. | |
| Now; a sinner is one, who, having broken the laws of God, has reason to fear that God will severely punish him for so doing. He sees very plainly, that he cannot deliver himself from the wrath of an angry God. He is so far from being able to make any satisfaction for the sins he has been guilty of, that he finds in himself a proneness, an inclination to evil; and an aversion, an unwillingness, to close with what God has commanded us for our good. This is the condition of a sinner; this is the condition of every man by nature; and a sad condition it will appear to be to every one, who knows and considers, that the end of sin is not to be seen in this life; but that a day is coming, in which God will judge the world in righteousness, and give to every man according to the works done in the body. | Nish, ta peccagh fer, quoi, myr t’eh er vrishey leighyn Yee, ta oyr echey dy ghoail aggle dy der Jee kerraghey trome er son shen y yannoo. T’eh fakin feer phlain, nagh vod eh livrey eh-hene veih corree yn Jee jymmoosagh. T’eh choud shen voish ve abyl dy yannoo lhiassaghey erbee son ny peccaghyn t’eh er n’yannoo, dy vel eh gennaghtyn ayn-hene aigney as aggindys gys olk; as an-aigney as neu-arryltys dy choardail gys ny ta Jee er harey dooin son nyn voays. Shoh stayd yn pheccagh; —shoh stayd dy chooilley ghooinney liorish dooghys: As stayd treih nee yh jeeaghyn dy ve da dy chooilley unnane ta fys echey as goail huggey hene, nagh vel jerrey treih phecca dy ve ny akin ’sy theihl shoh; agh dy vel laa cheet, ayn nee Jee yn seihl y vriwnys ayns cairys, as ver eh da dy chooilley ghooinney cordail rish ny obbraghyn jeant ’sy challin. | |
| What sinner, what man living, could think of this without despair, if Jesus Christ had not undertaken to deliver us from the just displeasure of God; to make satisfaction for our sins; to restore us to God’s favour; and to put us into a way of being happy for ever? | [222] Quoi yn peccagh, quoi yn dooinney bio, oddagh smooinaghtyn er shoh fegooish tuittym ayns mee-hreishteil jeh myghin Yee, er-bey dy row Yeesey Creest er ghoail ayns laue dy livrey shin veih corree toilt Yee; —dy yannoo lhiassaghey son ny peccaghyn ainyn; —dy aa-choyrt shin ayns foayr rish Jee; as dy choyrt shin er y raad gys maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn? | |
| But what has Jesus Christ done to save sinners from this sad condition? Why; he took upon him the nature of man; he dwelt amongst men; made known to them this comfortable truth, that God, for his sake, will accept of our repentance; receive us into favour, notwithstanding our past offences; assist us with helps sufficient to do what he expects from us; and will make us eternally happy when we die, if we will suffer ourselves to be governed by his holy laws while we live. | Agh cre ta Yeesey Creest er n’yannoo dy hauail peccee veih’n stayd treih shoh? Camma; ghow eh er dooghys sheelnaue; chum eh ny mast’ oc; hoilshee eh daue yn firrinys gerjoil shoh, dy jean Jee er y ghraih echeysyn, soiagh’ y yannoo jeh nyn arrys; dy gow eh shin gys foayr, ga dy vel shin er n’yannoo n’oi; dy der eh dooin cooney corrym rish ny cur’myn t’eh er harey dooin; as dy nee [sic: jean] eh shin maynrey dy bragh beayn tra yiow mayd baase, my lhiggys mayd dooin hene dy ve er nyn reill liorish ny leighyn casheric echeysyn choud as ta shin bio. | |
| To convince us more effectually of the truth and importance of these things, after he had wrought many wonderful miracles to shew that he came from God, he willingly laid down his life for our sake, for our sins, for our offences; and that God might spare us, and not punish us as we had deserved. | Dy choyrt toiggal s’fondee dooin jeh firrinys as scansh ny reddyn shoh, erreish da ve er n’obbragh’ ymmodee mirrillyn dy phrowal dy daink eh voish Jee, ren eh dy arryltagh e vioys y chur sheese er y ghraih ainyn, son son [sic] ny peccaghyn ainyn, son ny loghtyn ainyn; as dy voddagh Jee sparail shinyn, as gyn kerraghey y ghoail orrin myr va shin er hoilliu. | |
| And God, to convince mankind how entirely he was reconciled to them, on account of his Son’s death, raised him from the dead, received him into Heaven, set him at his own right-hand, where he is continually interceding for all those that come unto God by him, that pray to God for his sake. | [223] As Jee, dy choyrt shickyrys da sheelnaue cre cha slane coardit ve roo, er coontey baase e Vac, hrog Jee seose eh veih ny merriu, ghow eh stiagh eh gys niau, hoie eh eh er e laue-yesh hene, raad t’eh dy kinjagh jannoo stiagh son ooilley ta cheet gys Jee liorishyn, ta goail padjer gys Jee er y ghraih echeysyn. | |
| And, that we may have no doubt in our minds, but that all this is done in Heaven for us, our Lord sent down the Holy Ghost to supply his place on earth; who, having appointed an Order of Men to publish these glad tidings to the whole world, enabled them to work miracles; to speak languages, which before they were ignorant of; to heal the sick with a word of their mouth; to raise the dead; in one word, to do such things, as none but such as were sent by God could do. | As nagh beagh dooyt erbee er ny aignaghyn ain nagh vel ooilley shoh jeant ayns niau er nyn son, hug nyn Jiarn neose yn Spyrryd Noo dy ve ’syn ynnyd echeysyn er y thalloo; quoi, erreish dasyn ve er phointeil as er choyrt deiney ayns oik dy ockley magh ny naightyn shoh dy voggey mooar da’n slane seihl, hug pooar daue dy obbraghey mirrillyn;—dy loayrt glaraghyn nagh hoig ad roie; dy lheihys ny doghanee lesh fockley beilley; dy hroggal ny merriu gys bioys; ayns un ockle, dy yannoo lheid ny reddyn as nagh voddagh unnane erbee jannoo agh lheid as va currit er chaghteraght veih Jee. | |
| And, lastly, these having fulfilled their ministry, before they laid down their lives for the truths they had preached, they (as Jesus Christ had commanded them) ordained others to supply their places, to preach these truths; to offer these terms of mercy to all succeeding generations, with whom he promised his presence and blessing unto the world’s end. | As er-jerrey, erreish daue shoh v’er chooilleeney nyn shirveish, roish my dug ad sheese nyn mioys son ny firrinyssyn v’ad er phreacheil, hug ad (myr va Yeesey Creest er harey daue) feallagh elley ayns oik as pooar dy yannoo ’syn ynnyd ocsyn; dy phreacheil ny firrinyssyn shoh; dy hebbal ny conaantyn shoh dy vyghin da dy chooilley heeloghe maghey shen, dauesyn ghiall eh e chione-enish maroo as bannaght gys jerrey yn theihl. | |
| To these he has given power to receive all that are willing into his family, which is his church; to reconcile such as fall, and return from their evil ways; and to represent unto God the satisfaction which his Son has made in our nature, for our sins. | [224] Da ny fir-oik shoh t’eh er choyrt pooar dy ghoail stiagh gys lught e hie, ta shen yn agglish echey, ooilley ny ta booiagh dy ve goit stiagh; dy aa-ghoaill stiagh lheid as ta tuittym, as chyndaa veih nyn ghrogh raaidyn; as dy choyrt stiagh fenish Jee yn lhiassaghey ta e Vac er n’yannoo ayns y dooghys ainyn, son ny peccaghyn ainyn. | |
| This is what Jesus Christ has done for us. He has reconciled us to God; he has put us into a way of salvation; he has given us all necessary assistance, to support our [99] weakness, to resist our enemies, to renew our nature, and to make us fit for Heaven and Happiness. | Shoh ny ta Yeesey Creest er n’yannoo er nyn son. T’eh er choardail shin rish Jee; t’eh er choyrt shin ayns raad y taualtys; t’eh er choyrt dooin dy chooilley chooney ymmyrchagh, dy niartaghey lesh nyn annoonid, dy hassoo magh noi nyn noidyn anmey, dy yannoo nyn ghooghys ass y noa, as dy yannoo shin cooie son niau as maynrys. | |
| But have all men a right to this salvation purchased by Jesus Christ? This we shall see now we come to consider the extent of these words, “That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” | Agh vel cairys ec dy chooilley ghooinney gys y taualtys shoh cosnit liorish Yeesey Creest? Hee- ys mayd shoh nish dy vel shin cheet dy chonsideral cre choud ta bree as roshtyn ny goan, “Dy daink Creest Yeesey gys y theihl dy hauail peccee.” | |
| And truly, the Scriptures are in nothing more plain than in this truth, “That God so loved the world, that he sent his Son, that the world through him might be saved.” | As dy feer, cha vel ny Scriptyryn ny ’s plain ayns cooish erbee na ayns y firrinys shoh, “Dy dug Jee lheid y ghraih shen da’n seihl, dy dug eh e Vac, dy voddagh yn seihl liorishyn ve er ny hauail.” | |
| That God had no respect of persons in thus loving the world, his will being this, that all men should be saved: [1 Tim. ii. 4.] That even such as perish, through their own wilful disobedience, are of the number of those whom Jesus Christ came to save. They denied, saith St. Peter, the Lord that bought them; that bought and would have saved them, but that they brought upon themselves destruction. | Nagh ren Jee soiagh’ y yannoo jeh persoon shaghey persoon ayns myr shoh coyrt graih da’n seihl, son yn aigney echeysyn yh, dy [225] chooilley ghooinney dy ve er ny hauail. [1 Tim. ii. 4.] Dy vel eer adsyn ta cherraghtyn trooid nyn vee-viallys [sic] roonagh hene, jeh yn earroo ocsyn haink Creest Yeesey dy hauail. Ren ad gobbal, as yn Noo Peddyr, yn Chiarn ren ad y chionnaghey; ren ad y chionnaghey, as baillish v’er sauail, agh dy dug adsyn lhieu toyrt-mouys orroo hene. | |
| Nay; to take away all manner of scruple, and to apply this comfortable truth to the minds of afflicted penitents, St. Paul speaks of this after a most convincing manner: [Rom. v.] As the sin of Adam, saith he, affected all his posterity; as by one offence, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; so the merits of Christ were designed to redeem all the posterity of Adam; forasmuch as, by the righteousness of one, that is, Jesus Christ, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. | As dy jarroo dy ghoail ersooyl dy chooilley ghooyt, as dy hickyraghey yn firrinys bannee shoh er aignaghyn arryssee seaghnit, ta’n Noo Paul loayrt jeh shoh ayns aght feer vreeoil: [Rom. v.] Myr ren pecca Adam, as eshyn, roshtyn er ooilley e luight; myr liorish pecca un er haink briwnys er dy chooilley ghooinney gys deyrey; myr shen va toilchinys Chreest kiarit dy eaysley ooilley sluight Adam: son wheesh as liorish cairys un er, ta shen, Yeesey Creest, haink yn gioot arryltagh er dy chooilley ghooinney dy heyrey ad gys bea. | |
| As sure then as I am one of those, who by Adam's transgression am become corrupt, and a sinner before God, so sure am I redeemed by Jesus Christ. This, every Christian man may say to himself. | Cha shickyr eisht as ta mish unnane jeusyn, ta liorish pecca Adam er jeet dy ve oolee, as my pheccagh kiongoyrt rish Jee, cha shickyr cheddin ta mee er my eaysley liorish Yeesey Creest. Shoh foddee dy chooilley Chreestee gra rish hene. | |
| This was the very doctrine of Christ himself; and this he taught by his own example, when he prayed for the very persons who crucified him, who had an interest in the very death they made him to suffer; otherwise he would not have prayed that God would forgive them. | Shoh va eer ynsagh Yeesey Creest hene; as shoh dynsee eh liorish e hamplere hene, tra ghow eh padjer son ny eer persoonyn shen hene ren eh y chrossey, oc va cairys gys [226] bannaght yn eer vaase shen hug ad er’syn surranse; dy beagh yh er aght elley, cha row eh er ghoail padjer gys Jee eh dy leih daue. | |
| And the church of Christ still continues to intercede with God for all mankind, holding this truth, that the love of God, and the merits of Jesus Christ, extends to the whole race of men. By this practice, endeavouring to bring the hearts of believers to that god-like temper of charity and good-will for all that bear the image of God; and, by this practice, supporting the spirits of dejected penitents, who will have no reason to despair, since the greatest sinners are in a capacity of being saved. | As ta Agglish Chreest sthill tannaghtyn dy yannoo stiagh rish Jee ass lieh ooilley sheelnaue, cummal yn firrinys shoh, dy vel graih Yee, as toilchinys Yeesey Creest roshtyn gys slane sluight sheelnaue. Liorish yn cliaghtey shoh, streeu dy hayrn creeaghyn credjuee gys y temper flaunyssagh shen dy ghraih as aigney mie da ooilley ta gymmyrkey caslys Yee; as liorish yn cliaghtey shoh neesht, niartaghey anmeenyn arryssee trome-chreeagh, oc cha bee veg yn oyr son mee-hreishteil dy vyghin, neayr as dy vel yh possibyl da ny peccee smoo dy ve er nyn sauail. | |
| We are obliged to say, in a capacity of salvation; for the truth is, All are not saved that Christ came to save. Salvation is indeed offered to all, to whom the Gospel is, or has been preached; but all are not disposed to receive it, especially on the terms on which it is offered. | Ta mee gra, neayr as dy vel yh possibyl daue dy ve er nyn sauail; son yn irriney yh, Nagh vel Ooilley er nyn sauail ny haink Creest dy hauail. Ta saualtys dy jarroo chebbit da ooilley ta nish clashtyn yn Sushtal, chamma as dauesyn v’yh er dyn toshiaght er ny phreacheil; agh cha vel ooilley aggindagh dy ghoail yh, er-lheh er ny conaantyn shen orroo t’yh chebbit. | |
| Many are not sensible of the danger they are in; others will not forsake their sins for any consideration whatever; and even too, too many despise the very offers of a Redeemer, of pardon and grace through him. | Ta ymmodee nagh vel gennaghtyn yn danjere t’ad ayn; feallagh elley nagh jean treigeil nyn beccaghyn er chor erbee; as dy jarroo ta rour, rour foddey ta soiaghey beg jeh ny eer chebbyn jeh Fer-chionnee, jeh pardoon as grayse ny hrooidsyn. | |
| In all these cases, the Saviour of the world assures us, that it is their own fault, purely their own fault, if they are not saved. "Ye will not come unto me," saith he, "that ye might have life." [John v. 40.] | [227] Ayns ooilley ny cooishyn shoh, ta Saualtagh y theihl shickyraghey dooin, dy nee nyn voill hene yh, ooilley-dy-lhearagh nyn voill hene, mannagh vel ad er nyn sauail. “Cha jean shiu cheet hym’s, (as eshyn,) dy vod yn vea y ve eu.” [Ean v. 40.] | |
| If people, when salvation is offered them, will notwithstanding unworthily slight the mercy; if men, to whom God has made himself known, will not retain God in their knowledge; if those that have been enlightened, and have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, if they are again entangled therein, and are finally lost; this is not for want of means to save them, but they will not be saved; they will not attend to the word preached unto them; they will not believe the terrors of the world to come; they will not submit to the terms of salvation. This being their case, their destruction is from themselves. | My nee sleih, tra ta saualtys chebbit daue, lurg ooilley dy mee-arrymagh soiaghey beg jeh yn vyghin;—mannagh jean sleih daue ta Jee er hoilshagey eh-hene, freayl Jee ayns nyn dushtey;—my t’adsyn ta er gheddyn soilshey, as ta er haghney broid y theihl, trooid tushtey jeh yn Chiarn as Saualtagh Yeesey Creest, my t’ad reesht goit ’sy ribbey cheddin, as caillit son dy bragh, cha nee son laccal saaseyn dy hauail ad ta shoh, agh cha jean ad goail saualtys,—cha neaisht ad rish y ghoo er ny phreacheil daue,— cha jean ad credjal atchimyn yn seihl ta ry- heet,—cha jean ad ginjillaghey ad-hene gys ny conaantyn dy haualtys. Myr dy nee shoh yn chooish oc, ta nyn doyrt-mouys vou hene. | |
| II. And this brings us to consider, how very dreadful the case is of those who deny the Lord that bought them, or neglect the offers of salvation made by him to all [100] sinners. | II. As ta shoh cur lesh shin dy chonsideral, cre cha treih agglagh as ta yn chooish ocsyn ta gobbal yn Chiarn ren ad y chionnaghey, na soiaghey beg jeh ny chebbyn dy haualtys jeant liorishyn da dy chooilley pheccagh. | |
| And indeed, when we consider what Jesus Christ has done, in order to redeem and save us, we shall have the greatest reason to believe, that the punishment of those who are not saved by Him will be unspeakably great. For, can we imagine that Christ, the Son of God, would have left the glories of Heaven, and would have lived a miserable life on earth, and died a more miserable death, but that he knew, that if sinners were not reconciled to God, but died in their sins, their punishment would be terrible, and their condition miserable, and without remedy. | As dy jarroo, tra ta shin smooinaghtyn er ny ta Yeesey Creest er n’yannoo, reih kionnaghey reesht as sauail shin, bee yn oyr smoo ain dy chredjal, dy bee yn kerraghey [228] ocsyn nagh vel er nyn sauail Liorishyn mooar erskyn-insh. Son vod mayd smooinaghtyn dy beagh Creest Mac Yee er vagail gloyr niau, as er veaghey dy seaghnagh-treih er y thalloo, as er gheddyn baase s’piandee treih, ’bey dy row fys echey, mannagh beagh peccee er nyn goardail rish Jee, agh geddyn baase ayns nyn beccaghyn, dy nee atchimagh agglagh veagh nyn gerraghey, as nyn stayd treih, as shen gyn cour. | |
| So that the greatness of the mercy, may convince us of the greatness of the punishment of those that despise the salvation offered them. The Spirit of God, from whom only we can know what becomes of men after death, assures us, that such shall be shut out of Heaven; and have their portion in a place where there is nothing but weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. | Myr shen foddee mooads y vyghin shickyrys y choyrt dooin jeh mooads y cherraghey ocsyn ta soiaghey beg jeh’n saualtys ta chebbit daue. Ta Spyrryd Yee, voishyn ny lomarcan oddys fys ’ve ain cre s’erree da sleih lurg y vaase, ta Spyrryd Yee shickyrys dooin, dy bee nyn lheid dooint magh ass niau; as dy bee nyn gronney ayns stayd raad nagh vel monney agh keayney as dobberan, as snaggeraght feeacklyn. | |
| And, whatever may become of those who have never had the Gospel preached unto them, they who have had salvation offered to them, and mind it not, must not expect to escape a severe judgment. | As cre-erbee s’erree dauesyn huc nagh row rieau yn Sushtal er ny phreacheil, cha nheign dauesyn huc ta saualtys er ve chebbit, agh nagh vel jannoo leih er, jercal dy scapail kerraghey trome-agglagh. | |
| And, lest we should think ourselves safe, because we have embraced the Gospel, let us always remember, that the Gospel requires Faith and Repentance of all that expect any benefit by it. We must not only say, we believe the Gospel, but we must live like men that do so; like men that are in the midst of enemies, with fear and care, lest we should miscarry; like those that have escaped eternal misery, with thankful hearts; and like those who hope to go to Heaven, where no impure thing can enter. | As er-aggle dy smooinagh shin dy vel shin sauchey, son dy vel shin er ghoail-rish yn Sushtal, lhig dooin dy kinjagh freayl ayns cooinaghtyn, dy vel yn Sushtal dy aggys Credjue as Arrys voish ooilley ny ta jerkal rish veg y vondeish-anmey liorish. Cha [229] nheign dooin ny lomarcan gra, dy vel shin credjal yn Sushtal, agh sheign dooin myrgeddin leeideil nyn mea myr sleih ta jannoo shen; —myr sleih ta ayns mean noidyn, lesh aggle as imnea nagh bee ad callit; —myr sleih ta er scapail treihys dy bragh farraghtyn, lesh creeaghyn booisal; —as myr sleih ta treishteil dy gholl gys Flaunys, raad nagh vod nhee erbee neu- ghlen goll stiagh. | |
| But if, instead of doing so, we lead a careless or a wicked life; if we neglect the means of grace, the ordinances of God, and turn our backs upon the word and sacraments; if we confess we are sinners, and yet take no care to amend our ways; if we are taken up with the business or pleasures of this life, so as to forget that there is another to come; why then, in truth, we are not of the number of those who shall be saved; neither will it be any blessing to such, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. | Agh ayns ynnyd jannoo shoh, my ta shin leeideil bea almoragh na mee-chrauee; my ta shin meerioosagh jeh ny saaseyn dy ghrayse, jeh oardaghyn Yee, as chyndaa nyn gooyl er e Ghoo as Sacramentyn;— my ta shin goail-rish dy nee peccee shin, as ny-yeih gyn veg y chiarail y ghoail dy lhiassaghey nyn mea;—my ta shin wheesh shen goit seose lesh preish na eunyssyn y vea shoh, as dy yarrood dy vel bea elley ry- heet;—camma eisht, dy firrinagh focklagh, cha vel shin jeh yn earroo ocsyn vees er nyn sauail; chamoo vees yh bannaght erbee da nyn lheid, dy daink Yeesey Creest gys y theihl dy hauail peccee. | |
| And now, good Christians, you see, what a merciful regard God has had for his poor creatures in this dispensation. The most' ignorant may know what God expects from them. The greatest sinner may be sure of pardon, if he repents, and brings forth fruit answerable to amendment of life. The weakest Christian may depend upon all necessary affistance. The meanest servant of Christ may be sure not to be overlooked. Lastly; every Christian may be confident, that his labour will not be in vain, but that he may be for ever happy, if it is not altogether his own fault. | As nish, Chreesteenyn vie, ta shiu fakin cre’n ghraih erreeishagh ta er ve ec Jee son e chretooryn boghtey ayns y chooish shoh. Foddee yn peiagh sloo ynsit toiggal cre ta Jee jeeaghyn er y hon voish. Foddee yn peccagh s’doogh ve shickyr jeh pardoon, my t’eh goail arrys, as gymmyrkey magh messyn cooie gys lhiassaghey- bea. Foddee yn Crees[230]tee s’annooiney jerkal dy feer rish dy chooilley chooney vees ymmyrchagh er e hon. Foddee yn charvaant s’inshley dy Chreest ve shickyr dy bee soiagh jeant jeh. Er-jerrey, foddee dy chooilley Chreestee ve slane shickyr, nagh bee e obbyr ayns fardail, agh dy vod eh ve maynrey son dy bragh, mannagh bee yh ooilley-dy-lhearagh e oill hene. | |
| These are certain truths, and worthy of all men to be received. How comes it then to pass, that we so often hear these truths without being affected with them? Why, the truth is, we are not well convinced of the danger a sinner is in, without the help of a Redeemer. | T’ad shoh nyn ard-firrinyssyn, as feeu soiagh ve jeant jeu liorish dy chooilley ghooinney. Kys eisht t’yh, dy vel shin cha mennic clashtyn ny firrinyssyn shoh, gyn ad gremmey nyn greeaghyn? Camma, yn eer irriney yh, son nagh vel shin toiggal dy cooie yn danjere ta’n pheccagh [sic] ayn, fegooish cooney yn Fer-chionnee. | |
| If one talks to a sick man about the cause of his illness, and gives him good hopes that his distemper is curable; you need not use many words to persuade him to hear you, because his life is at stake; but if you tell a man that thinks himself well, of a remedy, it is a thousand to one but he forgets it. This is our case—the case of the generality of Christians. We, in obedience to our Lord's command, preach faith, and repentance, and obedience; we publish in his name a free pardon to all who are willing to comply with the terms of salvation. They that lay things to heart; that know they are sinners, and the danger of being such; they gladly hear, and receive, and remember, and obey, the terms of salvation; whilst others are as unconcerned, as if they had nothing to fear. | My ta dooinney taggloo rish peiagh ching mychione oyr e hingys, as coyrt eh ayns treishteil vie dy choural, cha lhiass mooarane focklyn dy choyrlagh’ eh dy eaishtagh riu, er-yn-oyr dy vel e vioys ayns gaue; agh my loayrys shiu mychione medjyn rish dooinney ta jeeaghyn er-hene dy ve ayns slaynt vie, t’yh thousane gys unnane dy jarrood eh yh. Shoh yn chooish ainyn—cooish yn vunnys dy Chreesteenyn. Ta shinyn [Saggyrtyn Chreest] ayns biallys da sarey nyn Jiarn, preacheil credjue, as arrys, as biallys; ta shin fockley magh ayns yn ennym echeysyn pardoon arryltagh da ooilley ta aignagh dy yannoo soiagh jeh ny conaantyn dy haualtys. [231] Adsyn ta goail reddyn gys nyn gree,—ta fys oc dy nee peccee ad, as er y danjere ta liorish ve myr shen; t’ad shoh dy arryltagh clashtyn, as goail, as cooinaghtyn er, as cur biallys da conaantyn y taualtys; choud’s ta feallagh elley cha mee- imneagh, as myr nagh row veg yn oyr aggle oc. | |
| [101] From whence you see, Christians, that your faith and salvation depend very much upon that disposition with which you hear the Gospel. If you are serious, and concerned in good earnest for your salvation, it will be no hard matter to persuade you to look upon the Gospel as the greatest blessing. But, without these dispositions, the Gospel will be a burthen to you; Jesus Christ himself no blessing; nor Heaven worth caring for. | Voish shoh ta shiu fakin, Chreesteenyn, dy vel nyn gredjue as saualtys lane lhie er y temper- aigney shen lesh ta shiu clashtyn yn Sushtal. My ta shiu dy slane-kiarit as dy jarroo firrinagh imneagh son y taualtys eu, cha nee red doillee vees yh dy choyrlaghey shiu dy yeeaghyn er y Sushtal myr yn bannaght smoo. Agh fegooish ny temperyn-aigney shoh, bee yn Sushtal ny errey diu; cha bee Yeesey Creest eh-hene ny vannaght diu; na niau red by-feeu diu geill y choyrt da. | |
| You see who they are, who ought to rejoice upon every return of this festival; who ought to take comfort; by whom this truth is worthy to be received; even by all such as are sincere, such as resolve to serve and to please God to the best of their power. Such may be sure of pardon and acceptance, though they have been never so great sinners. All such may and will receive the terms of pardon, and him who has obtained them, with open arms, and with a glad heart; admiring the great goodness of God; adoring the love of their Redeemer; resolving to live worthy of such mighty favours. And these passions will make us all chearful, without being foolishly vain; serious, without being sad and cast down; as sober as Christians, though our hearts are full of joy. | Ta shiu fakin quoi ad hene lhisagh boggey ’ghoail tra ta imbagh ny bleayney cur lesh mygeayrt yn feailley shoh; —quoi lhisagh gerjagh y ghoail;—quoi liorish ta’n firrinys shoh feeu soiagh ve jeant jeh;—eer lioroosyn ooilley ta dy slane kiarit dy hirveish as dy vooiys Jee gys y chooid share jeh nyn booar. Foddee nyn lheid shoh ve shickyr jeh pardoon as foayr, ga dy vel ad er ve ny ard pheccee smoo. Foddee, as nee ooilley nyn lheid shoh goail lesh roihaghyn foshlit as cree boggoil, ny conaantyn dy phardoon, as eshyn ta er chosney ad; dy [232] booisal gyndys er mieys vooar Yee; ooashlaghey graih yn Fer-chionnee oc; dy shickyr kiarail dy veaghey ayns aght cooie gys lheid ny foayryn mooarey. As nee ny temperyn-aigney shoh gennallys y choyrt ayndi’n ooilley, fegooish ve dy ommijagh eddrym; ver ad orrin ve serious fegooish ve sou-aignagh na trome-chreeagh; cha sheelt as Creesteenyn, ga dy vel nyn greeaghyn lane dy voggey. | |
| Now, unto Him who had mercy upon us, when we were in darkness, and under the power of satan; who took our nature upon him; was born an infant; became subject to the law made for sinners; offered himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world; and raised up sinful men to the honour of being the children of God. To Him be all honour, and glory, and blessing, and thanksgiving, and power, ascribed, by us and by all his faithful servants, for ever and ever. Amen. | Nish, huggeysyn va myghin echey orrin tra va shin fo ghorraghys, as pooar y drogh-spyrryd; eh ghow yn dooghys ainyn er, va ruggit ny oikan, va biallagh da’n leigh va jeant son peccee, hebb eh- hene ny oural son peccaghyn y theihl ooilley, as hrog deiney peccoil gys y stayd ooasle jeh ve cloan dy Yee: Huggeysyn dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr, as bannaght, as toyrt-booise, as pooar er nyn goyrt, liorinyn, as liorish e harvaantyn jeidjagh, er son dy bragh. Amen. | |
| [233] | ||
| SERMON XVI. | SHARMANE XI. | |
| THE GOSPEL THE GREATEST OF ALL BLESSINGS TO THE OBEDIENT | Yn Sushtal ard Vannaght ny Biallee. | |
| malachi iv. 2. | Malachi iv. 2. | |
| Unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.[37] | Erriuish ta goail aggle roish my Ennym, nee yn Ghrian dy Ynrickys girree lesh Slaynt ayns e Skianyn. | |
| I Make choice of these words, from amongst many other texts of Sacred Scripture declaring the same thing, to shew you, what dispositions are necessary to make Jesus Christ and his Gospel appear to be, what they really are, the greatest blessings that God ever bestowed upon mankind. | TA mee er reih ny goan shoh veih mastey ymmodee textyn elley dy Scriptyr Casheric ta soilshaghey yn red cheddin, dy choyrt toiggal diu, —Cre ny temperyn-anmey ta ymmyrchagh dy chur er Yeesey Creest as e Hushtal dy ve er ny ghoail son, cooid t’ad dy feer, ny bannaghtyn smoo ren Jee rieau stowal er sheelnaue. | |
| It is true, all Christians are ready to own this, and pretend to rejoice and to be thankful, for so great a blessing; when, after all, it is utterly impossible, that any man should from his heart be glad, when he does not feel his own misery; who does not truly apprehend the misery of mankind, without the blessing of a Redeemer. | S’pheer yh, dy vel dy chooilley Chreestee aarloo dy ghoail-rish shoh, as lhiggey orroo dy vel ad ayns boggey as booise son lheid y vannaght mooar; tra, lurg ooilley, t’yh ooilley-dy-lhearagh neu-phossibyl, dy vod dooinney erbee ve veih e chree boggoil, tra nagh vel eh er n’ennaghtyn e hreihys hene; nagh vel slane toiggal echey jeh treihys sheelnaue, fegooish yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee. | |
| It was for this reason, that the Spirit of God, before Jesus Christ took our nature upon him, expressly foretold, who they were to whom the Messiah should preach; who would, and who would not, receive Him and his doctrine. | [234] Son yn oyr shoh ve, dy ren Spyrryd Yee, roish my ghow Yeesey Creest yn dooghys ain er, dy baghtal soilshaghey ro-laue, quoi v’adsyn daue yinnagh yn Messiah preacheil [yn Sushtal;] quoi yinnagh, as quoi nagh jinnagh goail-rish Hene as y chredjue echeysyn. | |
| [102] For instance, Isaiah lxi. i. it is said, that God anointed the Messiah “to preach good tidings to the meek,” for they only would receive his message; “to bind up the broken-hearted,” for such only would be glad of his help; “to proclaim liberty to the captives,” for they only who were sensible of their bondage, would be glad to be set at liberty. Accordingly; when our Blessed Saviour came amongst men, he invited such only to be his hearers, to whom he knew his doctrine would be acceptable: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” And when he was blamed for conversing too freely with publicans and sinners, he silenced his adversaries with this reason and answer: “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” | Son mac-soyley; ayns Isiah lxi. 1. t’yh er ny ghra, dy ren Jee ooillaghey yn Messiah “dy phreacheil naightyn mie da ny imlee,” son nyn lheid shen ny lomarcan yinnagh soiagh jeh yn chaghteraght echeysyn; “dy gherjaghey ny creeaghyn brisht,” son nyn lheid shen ny lomarcan veagh booiagh jeh e chooney; “dy ockley-magh reamys da ny cappee,” son dy nee nyn lheid shen ny lomarcan as va gennaghtyn nyn vondeeaght veagh booiagh dy ve soit ec reamys. Shen-y-fa; tra haink nyn Saualtagh mastey deiney, chuir eh nyn lheid ny lomarcan dy eaishtagh rish, daue va fys echey veagh e ynsagh booisal: “Tar-jee hym’s ooilley shiuish ta trailt [sic: troailt] as laadit dy trome, as nee’m shiu y ooraghey.” As tra va coamys currit huggey son jannoo wheesh dy heshaght rish publicanee as peccee, hug eh nyn dhost e noidyn lesh yn resoon as ansoor shoh: “Cha vel feme ocsyn ta slane er yn er-lhee, agh ocsyn ta ching. Cha daink mee dy eamagh er y sleih cairagh, agh er peccee gys arrys.” | |
| Why; are not all men, without exception, sinners? Yes. But that which is intimated in these words is this: that there are sinners who are not at all sensible of their bad condition; and their condition is the more deplorable for that: while such as are truly sensible of their own ailments, are very thankful for help, and readily comply with the advice of such as can help them. And therefore, when a certain publican, to testify the sincerity of his repentance, resolved to part with his estate rather than not do every body right, that he had before wronged, Jesus Christ assures him, that his having been a greater sinner than ordinary will be no hindrance to his salvation: “For the Son of Man,” saith he, “is come to seek and to save that which is lost.” [Luke xix. 10.] That is, such as out of a sense of their misery apply to Him for health and salvation. | Camma; nagh vel dy chooilley ghooinney er-feih ny cruinney, ny pheccagh? Ta. Agh [235] shen ny ta er ny hoiggal liorish ny goan shoh she shoh yh: Dy vel peccee ayn nagh vel ennaghtyn erbee oc jeh yn drogh stayd t’ad ayn, as dy vel nyn stayd wheesh shen s’treih er y choontey shen; choud as ta adsyn ta dy firrinagh gennaghtyn nyn ghoghanyn hene feer vooisal son cooney, as dy aggindagh geiyrt da’n choyrle ocsyn oddys cooney lhieu. As shen-y-fa, tra va fo publican dy row, reih soilshaghey firrinys e arrys, dy scarrey rish e chooid heihlt ny s’leah na gyn jannoo lhiassaghey da ooilley hur aggair liorish roie, ta Yeesey Creest shickyraghey da, ga dy row eh er ve ny pheccagh smoo na cadjin, ny-yeih nagh beagh shen lhiettal erbee noi e haualtys: “Son ta’n Mac Dooinney (as eshyn) er jeet dy hirrey as dy hauail shen ny va caillit.” [Luke xix. 10.] ta shen, lheid as ta, trooid ennaghtyn jeh nyn dreihys shirrey Huggeysyn son slaynt-anmey as saualtys. | |
| In short; wherever the Gospel was preached, whether to Jews or Gentiles, “as many as were ordained to (i.e. disposed for) eternal life, believed.” [Acts xiv. 48.] As many as feared God, and were in fear for themselves, and trembled to hear of a judgment to come, all such believed, became Christians in good earnest, and thought it a great blessing that they could be delivered from their fears upon the conditions the Gospel proposed. | Ayns fockle; raad erbee dy row yn Sushtal er ny phreacheil, edyr da ny Ewnyn na ny Aashoonee, “hyndaa whilleen gys y chredjue as va feeu as aarloo son y vea veayn.” [Jannoo xiii. 48.] Whilleen as ghow aggle roish Jee, as va ayns aggle er nyn son hene, as er-creau dy chlashtyn jeh briwnys ry-heet, ren ooilley nyn lheid shoh credjal, haink ad dy jarroo firrinagh dy ve nyn Greesteenyn, as ghow ad yh son ard vannaght dy row nyn gour livrey-ys veih nyn aggle er ny conaantyn va’n Sushtal chebbal daue. | |
| By this time you perceive the meaning of the text, which I have brought all these Scriptures to explain: “Unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise, with healing in his wings.” That is; to all that truly fear God, and are sensible how much they have provoked him by their sins; to such, Jesus Christ, and his Gospel, will both be welcome, and a blessing: whilst all the proud, (as it is in the verse going before the text) such as do wickedly, fearing no evil, shall be burnt as stubble. | [236] Ta shiu nish toiggal meanal y text, ta mee er chur dy cheilley ny Scriptyryn shoh dy explaynal: “Erriuish ta goail aggle roish my ennym’s, nee yn Ghrian dy Ynrickys girree lesh slaynt ayns e skianyn.” Ta shen; orroosyn ooilley ta dy firrinagh goail aggle roish Jee, as gennaghtyn cre wheesh as t’ad er vrasnaghey eh liorish nyn beccaghyn; da nyn lheid, vees Yeesey Creest as e Hushtal chamma boggey as bannaght; choud as vees ooilley ny mooaraalee, (myr t’yh ayns y vierse roish y text) eer adsyn ta cur rish yn olk, gyn aggle orroo, er nyn lostey myr y coau. | |
| So that the plain meaning and design of all these scriptures is, to shew how men must be disposed to receive Jesus Christ, and his Gospel, to any saving purposes. For it is but too sure, that there are an infinite number of people, to whom Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, is preached, who, notwithstanding, continue in darkness; and though he comes with healing in his wings, yet they perish for want of being disposed to be saved. “To you that fear God,” saith the Prophet, “he will arise with healing in his wings.” “Whosoever amongst you feareth God,” (say the Apostles, Acts xiii. 26.) “to you is the word of this salvation sent.” The fear of God, therefore, is the foundation of saving faith. | Myr shen dy nee shoh bun baghtal as kiarail ooilley ny Scriptyryn shoh, dy hoilshaghey cre’n aght sheign da sleih ve aarloo dy ghoail-rish Yeesey Creest, as e Hushtal, gys saualtys anmey. Son ro-hickyr t’yh, dy vel earroo mooar dy leih, daue ta Yeesey Creest, yn Ghrian dy Ynrickys, er ny phreacheil, ta ny-yeih tannaghtyn ’sy dorraghys; as ga dy vel eh cheet lesh slaynt ayns e skianyn, ny-yeih t’ad cherraghtyn son nagh vel ad aggindagh er saualtys. “Erriuish ta goail aggle roish Jee, (as y Phadeyr) nee eh girree lesh slaynt ayns y skianyn.” “Quoi-erbee ny mast’ euish ta goail aggle roish Jee, (as ny Ostyllyn, Jan. xiii. 26.) hiuish ta goo “yn saualtys shoh er ny choyrt” Ta aggle Yee, er-y-fa shen, yn undin jeh credjue bioal. | |
| People may profess Christianity, and be no gainers by it in the end; they may be called Christians, before they know the duties or the blessings of the Gospel; and if they have not the fear of God in their hearts, they may live in an outward, formal profession of the Christian religion all their days, and die in a condition not better than that of infidels. | [237] Foddee sleih goail-rish yn Chredjue Chreestee, as ny-yeih gyn veg y vondeish ve oc liorish feih-yerrey; foddee ad ve fo ennym Chreesteenyn, roish my ta fys oc er cur’myn na bannaghtyn y Sushtal; as mannagh vel aggle Yee ayns ny creeaghyn oc, foddee ad beaghey laghyn nyn seihl ayns thaghey ny saaseyn dy ghrayse, fegooish ve veg share liorish ec oor nyn maaish na an-chredjuee. | |
| Therefore, it behoves us all, as we value our souls, seriously to consider, and to know, | Shen-y-fa, imree yh dooin ooilley, myr s’deyr lhien nyn anmeenyn, dy tastagh dy ghoail ain-hene, as dy hoiggal, | |
| First; What that fear of God is, and how it is wrought in us, which is so necessary a condition and foundation of saving faith? | Hoshiaght; Cre ta yn aggle shen dy Yee, as kys t’yh er ny obbragh aynin, cooid ta ny chonaant as undin cha ymmyrchagh jeh credjue bioal? | |
| Secondly; we shall see, that we have just cause to be afraid, and that the more we know, the more we shall abhor [103] ourselves. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; Hee-ys mayd dy vel oyr vie ain dy ve ayns aggle, as myr smoo dy hoiggal t’ain, dy nee wheesh shen smoo ver mayd dwoaie dooin hene. | |
| Lastly; that the more we know and abhor ourselves, the sooner will God receive us into favour, and the more cautious we shall ever after be of losing his favour. | Er-jerrey; myr smoo dy ainjys as dwoaie t’ain orrin hene, dy nee wheesh shen s’leaie nee Jee goail shin gys foayr, as wheesh shen s’imneaee vees mayd dy bragh maghey shen nagh gaill mayd e oayr. | |
| And these shall be the particulars, which, by God's help, I shall now explain to you. | As shoh ny ynsaghyn, nee’m, liorish cooney Yee, nish explaynal diu. | |
| I. We will first consider what this fear of God is, and how it is wrought in us, which is the condition and foundation of saving faith. | I. Nee mayd hoshiaght consideral cre ta yn aggle shoh dy Yee, as kys t’yh er ny ob[238]braghey aynin, cooid ta conaant as undin credjue bioal. | |
| And first, we must be careful not to mistake the fear of man for the fear of God. Human laws, fear of shame, of reproach, and many other worldly considerations, may restrain a man from crimes that other people are guilty of; and yet, such a man may be an utter stranger to the fear of God. Whereas such as truly fear God, are not led thereto by any earthly consideration whatever; but they have seriously considered their own great corruption, and God’s infinite purity; their own sad deserts, and God’s severe justice; they cannot but acknowledge the justice and holiness of his laws, and yet they find in themselves an unwillingness to obey them. They are sure that without God’s grace they cannot do anything that is good; and yet they find in themselves a strange backwardness even to ask that favour and assistance. They know, that they live upon his bounty, and yet they cannot find in their hearts to be thankful. These are both instances of great disorder, and must needs make them liable to God’s displeasure. They profess to believe, “that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good;” and yet they are apt to sin as presumptuously as if they were indeed hid from his sight. They hear how severely he threatens those that transgress his laws. They have seen his judgments upon other sinners, and they know not how soon it may be their own case. | As hoshiaght, sheign dooin ve kiaralagh gyn dy ghoail marran aggle dooinney son aggle Yee. —Leighyn deiney, aggle roish nearey, roish oltooan, as ymmodee oyryn seihltagh elley, foddee ad shoh peiagh y lhiettal veih geiyrt da ny peccaghyn ta sleih elley foiljagh jeu; as ny-yeih, foddee lheid y dooinney ve ooilley-cooidjagh ny yoarree da aggle Yee. Agh cha vel nyn lheid as ta dy firrinagh ayns aggle Yee er nyn leeideil gys shoh liorish vondeish erbee seihltagh; agh t’ad dy dowin er ghoail gys cree yn dooghys peccoil oc hene, as ard-casherickys Yee; ny loghtyn treih oc hene, as cairys geyre Yee; sheign daue goailk-rish cairys as casherickys ny leighyn echey; as ny-yeih t’ad feddyn ayndoo hene neu-arryltys dy choyrt biallys daue. T’ad shickyr nagh vod ad fegooish grayse Yee jannoo nhee erbee ta mie; as ny-yeih t’ad feddyn ayndoo hene lane neu-arryltys eer dy yeearree yn foayr as cooney shen. Ta fys oc dy nee liorish yn feoiltys echeysyn t’ad beaghey, as foast cha vel ad feddyn ayns nyn greeaghyn dy ve booisal. T’ad shoh nyn-neesht cowraghyn jeh aslayntys mooar anmey, as sheign daue fagail ad foshlit roish jymmoose Yee. T’ad goail-rish dy chredjal dy vel “sooillyn y Chiarn ayns dy chooilley ynnyd, cur-my-ner yn sie as y vie;” as ny-yeih t’ad ullee dy eiyrt da pecca lesh wheesh dy ghaa[239]nys as dy beagh ad dy jarroo keillit veih e hooillyn. T’ad clashtyn cre cha geyre as t’eh dy vaggyrt orroosyn ta brishey e leighyn. T’ad er vakin e vriwnyssyn er peccee elley, as cha vel fys oc cre cha leah as oddys yh ve yn chooish oc hene. | |
| All these are real occasions of fear; and this fear is greatly increased, when they consider how unable they are to help themselves. They cannot fly from his presence; they dare not stand upon their innocency; they see that sorrow and tears, and asking forgiveness, will not prevail, with an earthly judge to pardon criminals, when their crimes are only against men like themselves; and why should they suppose that God will not avenge the presumptuous breach of his laws, and affronts against his Divine Majesty? | T’ad shoh ooilley oyryn fondagh son aggle; as ta’n aggle shoh dy mooar er ny vishaghey, tra t’ad smooinaght cre cha moal ta nyn vort dy chooney lhieu hene. Cha vod ad chea veih yn fenish echeysyn; cha lhoys daue shassoo er nyn onid; t’ad fakin nagh jean trimshey as jeir, as shirrey leih meighey briw hallooinagh dy phardooney kimmee, tra ta ny loghtyn oc ynrycan noi deiney myr ad-hene; as cre’n-fa ghoghe ad ass-laue smooinaghtyn nagh gow Jee cooilleen orroosyn ta dy roonagh brishey ny leighyn echey hene, as soiaghey beg jeh e Ard-ooashley Flaunyssagh? | |
| And not only their fears are increased by these considerations, but their sorrows likewise, by considering the happiness of Heaven, which they were made capable of enjoying: and knowing, at the same time, how unworthy they have made themselves of such mighty favours. | As cha nee nyn aggle ny lomarcan ta er ny vishaghey liorish ny smooinaghtyn shoh, agh nyn drimshey myrgeddin, liorish smooinaghtyn er maynrys niau, v’ad jeant lesh pooar dy ghoail soylley jeh; as liorish toiggal ec y traa cheddin, cre cha neu-feeu as t’ad er n’yannoo ad-hene jeh lheid ny ard foayryn shen. | |
| Now; people that are under such convictions of guilt, under such fears, under such concern for their everlasting welfare, (as all people must be who lay things to heart;) such people will be glad to hear, that God will forgive them upon any terms; they will thankfully own his great goodness, and resolve to comply with what he is pleased to appoint, in order to their restoration to favour; they will be afraid of losing his favour again, by any wilful neglect of their duty; and, when through frailty they had done amiss, they will most heartily bewail their misfortune and faults: and by such dispositions as these, they become fit objects of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ. For it was to people thus affected and thus disposed, that Jesus Christ spoke, when he said, “Come unto me, all that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And indeed it is purely for want of such dispositions as these, that the Gospel is preached without effect; that Jesus Christ, and salvation through faith in him, is offered even to us Gentiles, who before were in darkness, and in the shadow of death; and we scarce esteem it a favour, because we are not sensible of the sad estate we are in without the blessing of a Redeemer. | Nish; sleih ta fo lheid yn ennaghtyn geyre jeh nyn loght, fo lheid yn aggle, fo lheid yn imnea son nyn maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn, (myr sheign da ooilley ve ta goail ny reddyn [240] shoh gys nyn greeaghyn;) bee boggey er lheid y sleih dy chlashtyn, dy jean Jee leih daue er conaantyn erbee; —nee ad dy booisal goail-rish e vieys vooar, as vees foue dy choardail gys nhee erbee s’cooidsave leshyn dy phointeil, cour nyn aa-ghoail stiagh gys foayr; —bee aggle orroo reesht dy choayl e oayr, liorish ve dy daaney meerioosagh jeh nyn gurrym; as tra trooid annoonid dooghys t’ad er n’yannoo dy olk, nee ad dy feer creeoil keayney nyn dreihys as foiljyn: As liorish lheid ny temperyn-aigney shoh, hig ad dy ve cooie son myghin Yee ayns Yeesey Creest. Son she da sleih jeh yn aigney as yeearreeyn shoh, ren Yeesey Creest loayrt, tra dooyrt eh, “Tar-jee hym’s ooilley shiuish ta deinagh as trome ladit, as neem’s shiu oo [sic] y ooraghey.” As dy jarroo, she son laccal lheid ny yeearreeyn shoh t’yh ooilley-cooidjagh, dy vel yn Sushtal er ny phreacheil gys beggan-faunnoo; dy vel Yeesey Creest, as saualtys trooid credjue aynsyn, er nyn jebbal eer dooinyn Aashoonee, va roie fo dorraghys as ayns scaadoo yn vaaish; as s’coan ta shin jeeaghyn er myr foayr, er-yn-oyr nagh vel ennaghtyn ain jeh yn stayd treih ta shin ayn fegooish yn bannaght ta liorish Saualtagh. | |
| For as a man, who feels his disorder, and knows that he is in danger without the help of a physician, cannot possibly be easy, till he has done what he can to save himself from death; and will be truly thankful [104] when help is offered him; so surely should we be, did we but well understand the danger we are in. | Son myr nagh vod dooinney, ta gennaghtyn e ghoghan, as ta fys echey, dy vel eh ayns danjere fegooish cooney yn fer-lhee, cha vod eh ve ec aash derrey t’eh er n’yannoo ny oddys eh dy hauail eh-hene veih baase, [241] as vees boggey e chree er tra ta cooney chebbit da; myr shen shickyr veagh shinyn, dy beagh agh toiggal cooie ain jeh’n gaue ta shin ayn. | |
| And if people can be always easy, and can pass their days without fear and concern for what may come hereafter, it is a most sure sign they neither know themselves, nor know what is to be hereafter. | As my oddys sleih ’ve dy kinjagh ec shee, as ceau nyn draa fegooish aggle as imnea mychione shen oddys cheet ny lurg shoh, t’yh ny chowrey shickyr nagh vel edyr enn oc orroo hene, na fys cre ta dy ve ny lurg shoh. | |
| This, then, is the spring of all our misery; we are in danger, and do not know it; we are sick, and do not perceive it; we are in the way of ruin, and yet fear no evil. And while it is thus with us, no wonder that Jesus Christ and his Gospel are preached, and recommended, and pressed upon us, without any visible effect upon our faith or lives. | Shoh eisht bun ooilley nyn dreihys: Ta shin ayns gaue, as cha vel fys ain er; ta shin ching, as cha vel toiggal ain jeh; ta shin ayns raad y toyrt-mouys, as ny-yeih cha vel shin goail aggle roish yn olk. As choud as dy nee shoh nyn gooish, cha n’yrrys dy vel Yeesey Creest as e Hushtal er nyn breacheil, as moyllit dooin, as chionnit orrin, fegooish mess vie erbee ve ry-akin veih nyn gredjue, na ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea. | |
| How necessary, then, must a discourse be, which will shew us to ourselves? It may be uneasy to flesh and blood to have our weakness and miseries laid open; but it is a most necessary work; our health and welfare depend upon it. I shall therefore, in the next place, shew, | Cre cha ymmyrchagh, eisht, sheign da lheid y sharmane ve, nee soilshaghey as jeeaghyn shin dooin hene? Foddee yh goll noi feill as fuill nyn annoonidyn as nyn dreihyssyn dy ve soit kiongoyrt rooin; agh t’yh ny obbyr ard ymmyrchagh dy ve jeant, ta nyn slaynt as foays-anmey lhie er. Nee’m, er-y-fa shen, ayns yn nah ynnyd soilshaghey, | |
| II. That we are far from being safe; that imt have indeed cause to be afraid; and the more we know, the more we shall abhor ourselves. | II. Dy vel shin foddey voish sauchys; dy vel dy jarroo oyr ain dy ve ayns aggle; as myr s’ainjyssee ta shin orrin hene, dy nee wheesh shen smoo ver mayd dwoaie dooin hene. | |
| That man was created in the image of God i.e. in righteousness and true holiness; [Ephes. iv. 24.] that he lost that image, by his infidelity, and disobedience; that all men, from that day to this, are extremely corrupt before God, having their understanding darkened; [Eph. iv. 18.] their heart full of uncleanness; [Mark vii. 21.] all their members prepared for wickedness, whenever a temptation comes in the way; [Rom. iii. 13.] that being children of disobedience, [Eph. ii. 2.] they are in a great measure, governed by the spirits and powers of darkness; out of whose power it is impossible ever to recover ourselves, by any thing we can do, without the grace of God. | [242] Dy row dooinney er ny chroo ayns caslys Yee; ta shen, ayns ynrickys as craueeaght firrinagh; [Eph. iv. 24.] dy vel eh er choayl yn chaslys shen, liorish e vee-chredjue as mee-viallys; —dy vel dy chooilley ghooinney er-dyn laa shen derrey yn laa t’ayn jiu, ooilley-dy-lhearagh neu-ghlen fenish Jee, nyn dushtey fo dorraghys; [Eph. iv. 18.] nyn greeaghyn lane jeh dy chooilley neu-ghlennid; [Mark vii. 21.] ooilley ny oltyn oc aarloo son drogh yannoo, traa erbee dy jig miolagh nyn raad; [Rom. iii. 13.] myr t’ad cloan dy vee-viallys, [Eph. ii. 2.] t’ad son y chooid smoo fo reill spyrrydyn as pooaraghyn y dorraghys; ass nyn booar cha vod mayd dy bragh shin-hene y chosney, liorish nhee erbee dy vod mayd jannoo, fegooish grayse Yee. | |
| These are truths which the Spirit of God has made known to us, that we may know what we are, and what we must expect, if we die in this condition; and that if. the image of God is not renewed in us during our continuance here on earth, we shall have our portion, for ever, with those spirits which kept not their first estate, who are, therefore, “reserved in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day.” | T’ad shoh firrinyssyn ta Spyrryd Yee er hoilshaghey dooin, dy choyrt dooin toiggal cre ta shin, as cre sheign ve nyn gronney, my yiow mayd baase ’sy stayd shoh; as mannagh bee caslys Yee er ny yannoo ass-y-noa aynin choud as ta shin ayns shoh er y thalloo, dy bee nyn gronney, son dy bragh, marish ny spyrrydyn shen nagh dreill nyn gied stayd, ta er-y-fa shen freilt ayns geulaghyn dy bragh farraghtyn cour briwnys y laa mooar. | |
| This, God has been pleased to make known to us, in order to awaken us, that we may consider, and see, and feel, the disorders we labour under, and what it will end in, if we are not careful of ourselves. | Shoh, s’cooidsave lesh Jee dy hoilshaghey dooin, cour doostey shin, dy vod mayd goail ain hene, as fakin, as gennaghtyn ny doghanyn anmey ta shin lhie foue, as cre vees yn eiyrtys, mannagh bee mayd kiaralagh j’in-hene. | |
| But you will say, all people are not thus perverse and wicked, and in this wretched and sad condition. No: Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, all men are not actually so; but then it is owing to the fear of God, by which they have been converted, by which they have been taken out of the snare of the devil, who otherwise would have led them captive at his will. For, that all men are by nature enemies to God and goodness, and would all be equally wicked and miserable, if not some way or other restrained, is plain from our very children, whom we are obliged to chastise and punish, even as soon as they are able to do any thing, to keep them from doing mischief, which, if let alone, would end in their destruction; the seeds of all manner of wickedness is in them, and which would all appear and grow up, if we did not weed them out, and root them up by a careful discipline. | [243] Agh jir shiu, cha vel dy chooilley unnane myr shoh camlaagagh as mee-chrauee, as ayns y stayd treih trimshagh shoh. Cha vel: Booise dy row gys Jee, trooid Yeesey Creest, cha vel dy chooilley ghooinney dy feer myr shen; agh eisht, kyndagh rish aggle Yee ta shoh, liorish t’ad er ve chyndait gys grayse, liorish t’ad er ve feayshlit veih ribbey yn Jouyl, va er-bey shen, er ve leeidit nyn gappee ec e aigney. Son, dy vel dy chooilley ghooinney liorish dooghys noidyn da Jee as da mieys, as dy beagh ad co-like mee-chrauee as treih, er-bey dy vel ad aght ennagh er nyn lhiettal, te playn ry-akin veih nyn eer chloan, ad sheign dooin smaghtaghey as kerraghey, eer cha leah as t’ad son red erbee y yannoo, dy reayl ad veih cur rish olk, cooid my t’yh lhiggit shaghey, ghoghe jerrey ayns y toyrt-mouys oc. Ta rass dy chooilley vonney dy vee-chraueeaght ayndoo, cooid harragh er-ash, as yinnagh gaase seose, er-bey dy vel shin gartlian as gastyrt ad liorish smaght kiaralagh. | |
| And this, God knows, is but too often, by experience, made manifest; where children have been left to themselves, and the seeds of all manner of villainy, which were naturally in them, have been suffered to grow to perfection. The very first thing that appears in them, is an aversion to every thing that is good. No sooner can they speak plain, but they are apt to lie. The first use of their reason generally appears in cunning, and tricks that do not bespeak a simplicity which one could wish in them. From these faults, they follow their inclinations to greater, till at last they commit all iniquity with greediness, and bring upon themselves destruction both of soul and body. | As dy vaik y Jee, ta shoh agh ro-phlain liorish ny ta shin fakin dy chooilley laa, raad ta paachyn er ve fagit daue hene, as raad ta rassyn dy chooilley vonney dy olk, ta liorish dooghys ayndoo, er ve surrit dy heet gys slane aase. Yn eer chied red ta cronnit ayndoo t’yh, aigney controllee gys dy chooilley nhee ta mie. Scoan ta’n chengey cheet lhieu, agh t’ad ullee gys breagyn. Yn chied ymmyd t’ad jannoo jeh’n resoon oc, t’yh dy [244] mennic soilshit ayns croutyn, as clukeyn nagh vel soilshaghey yn onid shen wishagh shin fakin ayndoo. Veih ny foiljyn shoh ta nyn yeearreeyn leeideil ad gys foiljyn smessey, derrey t’ad cheet feih-yerrey dy chur rish dy chooilley vonney dy neu-ghlennid lesh yeearree jeean, as tayrn orroo hene toyrt-mouys chamma jeh annym as callin. | |
| [105] And I beseech you consider, that this is not die case of this or that wicked person; for we are all of the same make and frame of spirit; we have all the same seeds of corruption within us, and it is the grace of God, that any one man is better than another. | As gow-jee eu-hene, guee-ym erriu, nagh nee shoh cooish yn drogh pheiagh shid, na’n drogh pheiagh shoh; son ta shin ooilley jeh’n un cheint as dooghys anmey; ta yn un fraue dy phecca er cheu-sthie j’in ooilley, as liorish grayse Yee t’yh, dy vel un dooinney ny share na dooinney elley. | |
| Whoever looks into the world, or into his own heart, must own this; he must see that nature is strangely corrupt, when people must be forced by laws and punishments to do what all men own is fit to be done; when the duties of religion are looked upon as a burthen;—when men can pray with indifference for the pardon of their sins, for the favour of God, and for an happy life after death; when we know what we ought to do, and own that it is reasonable, and yet must struggle hard with ourselves, before we can consent to do what we inwardly approve of. | Quoi-erbee yeeaghys mygveayrt y mysh ’sy theihl, na stiagh ayns e chree hene, sheign da goail-rish shoh; ver eh my-ner dy vel nyn ghooghys dy mooar er ny leodaghey, tra sheign da sleih ve eginit liorish leighyn as kerraghyn dy yannoo shen ta dy chooilley ghooinney goail-rish ta cooie dy ve jeant; —tra t’ad jeeaghyn er cur’myn nyn gredjue myr errey; —tra oddys sleih goail padjer lesh beggan imnea son leih nyn beccaghyn, son foayr Yee, as son maynrys lurg baase; —tra ta fys ain cre lhisagh shin jannoo, as goail-rish dy vel yh lhie gys resoon, as ny-yeih, dy nheign dooin gleck dy creoi rooin-hene, roish my oddys mayd coardail dy yannoo shen ta shin lowal jeh ayns nyn greeaghyn. | |
| All these are sure signs of a bad condition; and it is necessary that we should know this, and be often put in mind of the danger we are in, that being convinced how miserable our condition is, we may give no rest to ourselves, till, by the grace of God, we have found out a way to escape. | [245] T’ad shoh ooilley nyn gowraghyn shickyr dy ghrogh stayd; as t’yh ymmyrchagh fys ’ve ain er, as dy mennick dy ve er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeh’n danjere ta shin ayn, liorish toiggal vie ’ve ain cre cha treih as ta nyn stayd, nagh gow mayd fea, derrey liorish grayse, ta shin er gheddyn raad dy scapail. | |
| And this brings us to the last part of our discourse: | As ta shoh cur lesh shin gys yn ayrn s’jerree jeh my harmane: | |
| III. That the more sensible we are of our own unworthiness, the more we abhor ourselves, the sooner will God receive us into favour, and the more cautious we shall ever after be of losing his favour. | III. Dy myr smoo ta shin gennaghtyn nyn neu-feeuid hene, myr smoo dy ghwoaie t’ain orrin hene, wheesh shen s’leah nee Jee goail shin gys foayr, as wheesh shen s’kiaraalee vees mayd maghey shen nagh gaill mayd yn foayr echey. | |
| “Surely,” saith the Psalmist, [lxxxv. 9.] “his salvation is nigh them that fear him.” It has been always observed by those that take notice of God’s Providences, that God, for the most part, then interposes, when things are come to extremity, and when men have no hopes of help from any thing they themselves can do. | “Shickyr,” as yn Psalmist, [lxxxv. 9]. “ta e haualtys er-gerrey dauesyn ta goail aggle roish.” Adsyn ta markal dellallyn Yee rish sheelnaue, t’ad dy kinjagh er ghoail tastey, dy my vennic lesh Jee, son yn ayrn smoo, ec y traa shen goail seose y chooish, tra ta reddyn er jeet gys y chooid sodjey, as tra nagh vel hopes erbee ec sleih son cooney voish nhee erbee oddys ad hene jannoo. | |
| It was just thus, when our blessed Saviour took our nature upon him, and manifested himself to the world. The Jews knew by the Law what sin was, and what it deserved. The rest of the world knew, by what their own consciences suggested, that sin stuck close to them; and those that were serious feared what might follow. And this perplexity of mind, in which the Gospel found men, made it very acceptable, and more readily to be embraced; and they received with thankfulness dispensation so full of goodness, which assured them—of pardon upon their repentance; of grace to renew their nature; and of eternal happiness after this life, to all such as should endeavour to purify themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. | Kiart myr shoh v’yh, tra ghow nyn Saualtagh bannee yn dooghys ainyn er, as hoilshee eh eh-hene gys y theihl. Va fys ec ny Hewnyn liorish Leigh Voses cre va pecca, as cre va pecca dy hoilloo. Va fys ec y chooid elley jeh yn seihl liorish soilshey nyn gooinsheanseyn hene, dy row pecca lhiantyn huc [246] dy chion; as liorish toiggal shoh, va aggle roish yn eiyrtys orroosyn ghow shoh gys nyn greeaghyn. As ren yn imnea aigney shoh ayn va sleih tra va’n Sushtal hoshiaght er ny phreacheil daue, cur orroo ve feer vooiagh jeh, as dy yannoo soiagh s’aggindee jeh; as ghow ad dy booisal yn chebb ghraysoil, hug shickyrys daue—jeh pardoon, er nyn arrys; jeh cooney dy chosney dooghys noa; as jeh maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn lurg y vea shoh, da nyn lheid ooilley as nee nyn baart dy ghlenney ad-hene veih dy chooilley vroid jeh’n eill as jeh’n spyrryd. | |
| Indeed, there were people then (as there are now many) who were under no apprehensions of danger; who lived at all adventures, and feared no evil, or who had an high opinion of their own goodness; and these, as the Sacred Scriptures inform us, “rejected the counsel of God,” and his offers of mercy. | Spheer yh, dy row sleih ayn ec y traa shen (as ymmodee nyn lheid nish hene) nagh row orroo veg yn imnea son nyn ghanjere; va beaghey gyn thort, as gyn aggle roish yn olk, er-nonney va ard-smooinaghtyn oc jeh nyn vieys hene; as ren ad shoh, myr ta ny Scriptyryn Casheric ginsh dooin [Luke vii. 30.] “soiaghey beg jeh coyrle Yee,” as e hebbyn dy vyghin. | |
| And is not the case the same at this day? Are not people in as much danger now? Have not they the very tokens of sin and damnation upon them? And yet are as easy as if they were to be saved without any concern of their own. Pray hear what God declares, by his Prophet Isaiah, [lxvi. 2.] “To this man will I look,” [i.e. in mercy,] “even to him that is poor, and of a contrite heart, and trembleth at my word.” | As nagh vel yn chooish yn un chooid ec y laa t’ayn jiu? Nagh vel sleih ayns chiart wheesh dy ghanjere ’sy traa t’ayn nish? Nagh vel ny eer caslyssyn cheddyn dy phecca as coayl-anmey orroo? As t’ad ny-yeih fo cha beg dy imnea as dy voddagh ad cosney saualtys fegooish veg y chiarail er nyn baart hene. Eaisht-jee, guee-ym erriu, rish ny ta Jee loayrt liorish e Adeyr Isaiah, [lxvi. 2.] [247] “Gys y dooinney shoh neem’s jeeaghyn [ta shen, ayns myghin] dy jarroo dasyn ta imlee, as dy chree arryssagh, as ta arrymagh da my ghoo.” | |
| And why are these dispositions necessary to obtain the favour of God in Jesus Christ? The reasons are plain: First; that men, reflecting upon the misery of their condition, may truly value the favour of their deliverance. Secondly; that the power of God may appear in the conversion of sinners, who had no power to help themselves. Thirdly; that those who have felt the burthen of a troubled conscience, and have been once truly afraid of the wrath of God, may ever after walk more circumspectly. And lastly; that, being truly sensible or the danger they have escaped, the duties of religion, which are otherwise uneasy to flesh and blood, may be more chearfully embraced. | As cre’n-fa ta ny temperyn-aigney shoh ymmyrchagh dy chosney foayr Yee ayns Yeesey Creest? Ta ny oyryn cronnal: Hoshiaght, dy vod sleih, liorish smooinaghtyn er treihys nyn stayd, veih nyn greeaghyn jannoo soiagh jeh foayr nyn livrey-ys. ’Sy nah ynnyd; dy vod pooar Yee ve ry-akin ayns chyndaa pheccee veih nyn ghrogh raaidyn, oc nagh row pooar dy chooney lhieu-hene. ’Sy trass ynnyd; dy vod adsyn ta er n’ennaghtyn errey chooinsheanse seaghnit, as ta er jeet dy ve fo aggle firrinagh roish corree Yee, dy vod ad dy bragh maghey shen gimmeeaght ny’s tastee. As er-jerrey; liorish ennaghtyn ’ve oc jeh’n danjere t’ad er scapail, dy vod cur’myn chredjue, ta er aght elley neu-aashagh da feill as fuill, ve ny s’aggindee er nyn eiyrt daue. | |
| [106] And now you see how necessary it is, that we should be convinced of the misery of our condition, and of our own inability to help ourselves, before we can even be disposed to look upon the Gospel as a real blessing, much less receive it with that joy and thankfulness which so great a favour requires. You see how people come to differ; some believing, and others slighting, the very same truths. The plain account of which is, that some fear God, and are afraid for themselves, and are concerned for what may come hereafter; while others live at all adventures, and fear no evil, nor are they concerned to prevent it. | As nish ta shiu fakin cre cha ymmyrchagh t’yh, slane toiggal dy ve ain jeh treihys nyn stayd, as jeh nyn veggan pooar dy chooney lhien hene, roish oddys mayd wheesh as bwishal dy yeeaghyn er yn Sushtal myr bannaght dy jarroo, foddey sloo my vod mayd jannoo soiagh jeh lesh yn boggey as booise shen ta lheid y foayr bannee dy hirrey orrin. Ta shiu fakin kys t’yh dy vel lhiettrimys eddyr peiagh as peiagh; paart credjal, as [248] paart elley soiaghey beg jeh, ny eer firrinyssyn cheddin. Ta’n oyr playn; ta paart ayns aggle roish Jee, as ayns aggle er nyn son hene, as fo imnea mychione shen oddys cheet orroo ny lurg shoh; choud as ta feallagh elley leeideil nyn mea gyn thort, gyn aggle roish yn olk, as gyn imnea dy haghney yh. | |
| Hence it appears, that it is not always for want of reasons that men do not believe, but very often from an unwillingness to receive the truth. Therefore, Jesus Christ is said to be a stumbling-block, because men of wicked lives and principles could not receive his doctrine. “Hearing, ye shall hear, and not understand,” because of their obstinacy, pride, worldly-mindedness, &c. Now; this the Sacred Scripture assures us, [John iii. 19.] was their condemnation, which could not have been, unless the will of God had been sufficiently made known to them, so as that a well-disposed person might have easily perceived it. | Voish shoh t’yh ry-akin, nagh nee dy kinjagh son laccal tushtey nagh vel sleih credjal, agh feer vennic son yn neu-arryltys t’orroo dy ghoail-rish yn irriney. Shen-y-fa, ta Yeesey Creest rait dy ve oyr pecca son nagh jinnagh sleih dy ghrogh ymmyrkey-bea as dy ghrogh chredjue soiagh jeh’n ynsagh echeysyn. “Ayns clashtyn, clynnee shiu, agh cha jean shiu toiggal,” kyndagh rish nyn roonid, moyrn, seihltys, &c. Nish; va shoh, ta yn Scriptyr Casheric dy hickyraghey dooin, [Ean iii. 19.] oyr yn vriwnys oc, cooid nagh voddagh er ve, mannagh row aigney Yee er ve dy fondagh soilshit daue, as er lheid yn aght as dy voddagh peiagh, va booiagh ve ynsit, dy aashagh v’er doiggal yh. | |
| And the conclusion of all will be, that nothing in nature is so proper to beget a true faith in Jesus Christ as a true and lively sense of our condition, —a feeling and an assurance that things are most wretchedly amiss with us: for when we are once indeed convinced, that our sins make us altogether unworthy of God’s favour; that our weakness, without his grace, will expose us to all manner of wickedness; that our sins make us liable to a severe account, which, unless his mercy interposes, will sink us into everlasting ruin; why, then, Jesus Christ will be thought a blessing, because he only can cure us of these fears, he only can help our infirmities, he only can teach and enable us to please God while we live, and make death a blessing to us when we die. | As shoh vees jerrey yn slane chooish; nagh vel nhee erbee ’sy theihl cha cooie dy ghientyn aynin credjue firrinagh ayns Yeesey Creest as ta ennaghtyn firrinagh as bioal jeh nyn stayd, —ennaghtyn as shickyrys dy vel lheh-chiartys treih ennagh jannoo orrin: Son keayrt dy vel shin dy jarroo toiggal, dy vel nyn beccaghyn jannoo shin ooilley cooidjagh [249] neu-feeu jeh foayr Yee; —dy jean annoonid nyn n’ghooghys, fegooish yn ghrayse echeysyn, fagail shin foshlit roish dy chooilley vonney dy vee-chraueeaght; —dy vel coontey geyre orrin dy choyrt son nyn beccaghyn, cooid, mannagh bee e vyghin er nyn jeu, nee deyrey shin gys coayl-anmey dy bragh-farraghtyn; —camma, shen y traa, bee Yeesey Creest goit son ard vannaght, er-yn-oyr dy nee eshyn ynrycan oddys castey ooilley yn aggle shoh, —eshyn ynrycan oddys gynsaghey dooin as niartaghey lhien dy vooiys Jee ooilley laghyn nyn seihl, as jannoo e vaase ny vannaght dooin tra phaartys mayd y vea shoh. | |
| In one word; he only can cure all our fears, except such as are necessary to keep us awake, and ease all our burdens. | Ayns un ockle; Eshyn ny lomarcan oddys castey ooilley nyn aggle, er-lhimmey jeh lheid yn aggle shen as ta ymmyrchagh dy reayl shin er nyn arrey, as dy yannoo ooilley nyn erraghyn eddrym. | |
| After all, I beseech you do not imagine that the only end of Christ’s coming into the world was to ease us of our fears. For assuredly, one great end of his taking our nature upon him was, to free the world from wickedness, and that blindness and gross ignorance which occasioned it. “For this purpose,” [saith St. John, iii. 8.] “was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” | Lurg ooilley, guee-ym erriu, gyn dy smooinaghtyn dy nee dy chastey nyn aggle va yn ynrycan oyr er haink Creest gys y theihl. Son dy firrinagh focklagh, va un ard oyr jeh e ghoaill nyn n’ghooghys er, dy livrey yn seihl veih mee-chraueeaght, as veih yn dellidys as mee-hushtey mooar shen va yn oyr jeh. “Son yn oyr shoh,” as y Noo Ean [I Screeuyn iii. 8.] “va Mac Yee er ny hoilshaghey, dy voddagh eh cur mou obbraghyn y drogh-spyrryd.” | |
| Whoever are not disposed to let the Gospel have this effect upon them, “to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God,” will have no reason to rejoice that the Gospel is preached unto them; which contains threatenings, and much severer punishments, than ever the Law of Nature could suggest, or the Law of Moses made mention of. Weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, for ever and ever, are punishments not to be spoken of, not to be thought of, without fear and trembling. | [250] Quoi-erbee nagh vel aignagh lheid y vree shoh ’ve ec y Sushtal orroo, “dy hyndaa ad veih dorraghys gys soilshey, as veih pooar yn drogh-spyrryd gys Jee,” oyr cha bee ocsyn dy ghoail boggey dy vel yn Sushtal er ny phreacheil daue; ayn ta scruit lheid ny baggyrtyn, as kerraghyn foddey s’trimmey, na oddagh Leigh Ghooghys dy bragh y chur rhimbi’n, na ren Leigh Voses genmys. Cha vel keayney, as dobberan, as snaggeraght feeacklyn son dy bragh as dy bragh, nyn gerraghyn dy yannoo imraa jeu, na dy ve smooinit orroo, fegooish aggle as atchim. | |
| God Almighty fill all our hearts with such an holy fear of his judgments, that we may look upon the Gospel as a blessing, since by it we are shewn a way to escape, and enabled to work out our own salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. | Dy jean yn Ooilley-niartal Jee lhieeney ny creeaghyn ain ooilley lesh lheid yn aggle crauee roish e vriwnyssyn, dy vod mayd jeeaghyn er yn Sushtal myr ard vannaght, neayr as dy nee liorish ta raad foshlit dooin dy scapail, as dy nee liorish ta shin er nyn niartaghey dy obbragh’ magh nyn saualtys hene, trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Saualtagh. | |
| To whom, &c. be Glory both now and for ever. Amen. | Huggeysyn, &c. dy row gloyr chamma nish as dy bragh. Amen. | |
| [251] | ||
| SERMON XVIII. | SHARMANE XII. | |
| DISOBEDIENCE OF THE GOSPEL INEXCUSABLE. | Mee-viallys da’n Sushtal gyn leshtal. | |
| John xv. 22. | Ean xv. 22. | |
| But now they have no cloak [or, excuse] for their Sin.[38] | Agh nish cha vel leshtal oc son nyn becca. | |
| IT is most natural for people, when they have done amiss, to lay the blame anywhere but on themselves; and it is as natural, when they would follow their inclinations against their conscience, to hope, that God will accept of what excuse they can make. | S’DOOGHYSSAGH t’yh da sleih, tra t’ad er n’yannoo shen nagh lhisagh ad, dy cheau yn oill raad erbee agh orroo hene; as t’yh chiart cha dooghyssagh, tra bailloo noi nyn gooinsheanse geiyrt da nyn aignaghyn hene, dy hreishteil dy gow Jee leshtal erbee oddys ad y yannoo. | |
| Our first parents did so: the man blamed the woman; the woman blamed the serpent; when the fault was plainly in themselves: and accordingly they were both punished, notwithstanding their apology. | Ren nyn gied shenn shannyryn shoh: — Cheau yn dooinney yn oill er y ven; —cheau yn ven yn oill er yn ard-nieu; —tra ve playn dy nee ayndoo-hene va yn oill: As shen-y-fa v’ad nyn-neesht er nyn gerraghey, son ooilley nyn leshtal. | |
| It was just so with the people of the Jews. They had impatiently expected the Messiah, whom God had promised by his prophets from the beginning of the world. When the Messiah came, they utterly rejected him, though he had most undeniable proofs of his being sent from God; particularly his doctrine, which was most worthy of God, and his miracles, which were such as none other ever had done. To these Jesus Christ appeals, and declares, that after this “they had no cloak for their sin.” That such as should reject him, and the gracious message he brought them from God, whatever they had to lay for themselves, they would be punished as most wicked opposers of God's good-will towards them. | Kiart myr shoh va cooish pobble ny Hewnyn. V’ad dy jeean jeeaghyn son cheet yn Messiah, va Jee er n’ghialdyn liorish e Adeyryn er dy hoshiaght y theihl. Tra haink yn Messiah, d’ob ad seose eh, ga dy row ny ny [sic] prowallyn s’fondee echey dy row eh [252] er ny choyrt liorish Jee; d’ob ad er-lheh e ynsaghey, va smoo feeu jeh Jee, as e virrillyn, va lheid shen as nagh row rieau fer erbee elley er n’yannoo. Huc shoh ta Yeesey Creest pealal, as cur briwnys, lurg shoh “nagh row leshtal oc son nyn becca.” Dy beagh nyn lheid as obbagh eshyn, as yn chaghteraght graysoil hug eh lesh hucsyn veih Jee, cre-erbee ny leshtallyn oddagh ad jannoo er nyn son hene, dy beagh ad er nyn gerraghey myr ny olkyssee smessey noi aigney-mie Yee. | |
| Now; as unexcusable as these people were in denying their Lord and Saviour, notwithstanding the abundant proofs of his authority, it will appear, that this is the very case of all such Christians as profess to know God, but in works deny him. That men are as apt now, as ever they were, and with as little reason, to offer excuses for those sins which they commit against the Light of Nature and the Laws of God. But that this sentence of Jesus Christ, “they have now no cloak for their sin,” is as righteous and true against us, if we obey not the Gospel, as ever it was against the Jews, who crucified the Son of God; and we shall as certainly be punished (whatever we can say for ourselves) as ever they were. | Nish; gyn leshtal as va’n pobble shoh ayns gobbal nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh, lurg ooilley ny prowallyn stroshey jeh e haghteraght, ny-yeih bee yh r’akin, dy nee eer shoh hene cooish ooilley lheid ny Creesteenyn shen as ta goail orroo dy vel tushtey oc dy Yee, agh gobbal eh ayns nyn obbraghyn; —dy vel sleih cha aarloo nish as v’ad rieau, as lesh cha beg dy resoon, dy yannoo leshtallyn son ny peccaghyn shen t’ad dy yannoo noi Soilshey Ghooghys as Leighyn Yee; As, dy vel yn vriwnys shoh dy Yeesey Creest, “nagh vel nish leshtal oc son nyn becca,” cha cairagh as cha firrinagh noi ainyn, mannagh der mayd biallys da’n Sushtal, as ve rieau noi ny Hewnyn, ren Mac Yee y chrossey; as dy bee mainyn cha shickyr cheddin er nyn gerraghey (cre-erbee oddys mayd gra er nyn son hene) as v’adsyn rieau. | |
| [114] Now; that this may appear with all the plainness that a matter of this importance should do, and may more sensibly affect all our hearts, I shall first lay before you such excuses as men are apt to offer for their living in ignorance and sin: and then I shall endeavour to satisfy you, that God has most effectually made void all pretences and pleas whatever, by making his will and purposes known to us, after so gracious and convincing a manner. And then it will appear, whether we can have any cloak for sin; any that can hide us from the wrath of God, revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. | Nish; dy vod shoh ve ry-akin lesh ooilley yn baghtallys cooie gys cooish jeh yn scansh [253] vooar shoh, as dy vod yh greme s’diuney y ghoail er ny creeaghyn ain ooilley, ver-ym hoshiaght rhimbiu lheid ny leshtallyn as s’mennic lesh sleih lhiassaghey son nyn dannaghtyn ayns mee-hushtey as pecca: As eisht, nee’m my chooid share dy chur toiggal diu, dy vel Jee dy bollagh er rassey dy chooilley vonney dy leshtal as lhiassaghey, liorish soilshaghey dooin e aigney-mie nyn gour, ayns aght cha graysoil as breeoil. As eisht bee yh ry-akin vod leshtal erbee ’ve ain son pecca, —veg oddys coodaghey shin veih jymmoose Yee, er ny hoilshaghey noi dy chooilley vee-chraueeaght as neu-ynrickys deiney. | |
| I. And first, I shall lay before you such pleas and excuses as men usually offer for their living in ignorance and sin. | I. As hoshiaght, ver-ym rhimbiu lheid ny leshtallyn as s’mennic lesh sleih cur stiagh son beaghey ayns mee-hushtey as pecca. | |
| It is certain, no man chooses to live in sin on purpose to displease God. It is as sure, that few people think they shall die in their sins unrepented of, and that they shall have eternal torments for their portion. But here is the case —We are but too apt, through the corruption of nature, to be very fond of many things, which God (knowing they would hurt us) has forbidden us, upon pain of his everlasting displeasure. His everlasting displeasure we cannot think of without horror: neither can we, without some trouble and pains, deny ourselves, or do what God has commanded us. | Spheer yh, nagh vel peiagh erbee goail myr reih dy veaghey ayns pecca er chee dy neu-wooiys Jee. T’yh cha shickyr cheddin, nagh nhimmey t’ayn ta smooinaghtyn dy vou ad baase ayns nyn beccaghyn gyn arrys jeu, as dy bee torchagh dy bragh farraghtyn nyn gronney. Agh shoh yn chooishː —Ta shin agh ro aarloo, trooid marvaneys nyn ghooghys, dy hoiaghey nyn gree er ymmodee reddyn, ta Jee er lhiettal, toiggal dy jinnagh ad assee dooin, er gaue e yymmoose dy bragh farraghtyn. Yn jymmoose dy bragh farraghtyn echeysyn cha vod mayd smooinaght er fegooish atchim: chamoo oddys mayd, [254] fegooish red ennagh dy hrubbyl as pian, gobbal shin-hene, na jannoo ny ta Jee er harey dooin. | |
| We have therefore found out some excuses, which for the present serve to make our minds easy, though we live in a careless neglect of God’s commands, and consequently of our own salvation. | Ta shin, er-y-fa shen, er gheddyn magh leshtallyn ennagh, ta shirveish son y traa t’ayn dy chur nyn aignaghyn gys fea, ga dy vel shin beaghey ayns lane meerioose jeh saraghyn Yee, as shen-y-fa, jeh nyn saualtys hene. | |
| For example: | Son sampleyr: | |
| First; There are people who think, that if they have not faith, it is for want of sufficient evidence; and that they are not bound to obey the Gospel, till they confess they have reason to do so. | Hoshiaght; Ta sleih ayn ta smooinaghtyn, mannagh vel credjue oc, dy vel yh son laccal prowallyn fondagh; as nagh vel ad kainlt dy chur biallys da’n Sushtal, derrey t’ad goail-rish dy vel oyr oc dy yannoo shen. | |
| Secondly; There are others who excuse themselves upon the account of worldly business, which takes up most of their thoughts and time. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; Ta feallagh elley ayn ta jannoo leshtal er nyn son hene er coontey nyn obbyr seihlt, ta goail seose yn chooid smoo jeh nyn draa as smooinaghtyn. | |
| Thirdly; And there are very many who doubt not but that their want of capacity to know their duty, will excuse their not doing it. | ’Sy trass ynnyd; As ta ymmodee vooar ayn nagh vel ayns dooyt agh dy bee nyn veggan feesh dy hoiggal nyn gurrym, ny leshtal daue son gyn jannoo yh. | |
| Fourthly; It is often said, that temptations are so many, and the difficulties of religion so great, that an allowance must be made, or few would be saved. | ’Sy chiarroo ynnyd; T’yh dy mennic er ny ghra, dy vel ny miolaghyn whilleen shen, as doilleedyssyn y chredjue wheesh, dy nheign da lowance ve jeant, ’nonney cha nhimmey veagh er nyn sauail. | |
| Lastly; If no other excuse will do, people are most apt to shelter themselves under the mercy of God, and hope (through his goodness) all will be well with them at last. | Er-jerrey; Mannagh jean leshtal arragh mie, s’mennic lesh sleih goail fastee fo myghin [255] Yee, as treishteil (trooid e vieys) dy jig ad jeh dy mie ec y jerrey. | |
| Now; it is most certain, that none of these (and these are the most common excuses) will save us from the wrath of God, if we obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Nish; smoo shickyr t’yh, nagh jean veg jeu shoh (as t’ad shoh ny leshtallyn smoo cadjin) sauail shin veih jymmose [sic: jymmoose] Yee, mannagh der mayd biallys da Sushtal nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest. | |
| I. And first, they that would make the want of faith a cloak for their disobedience, are either such as pretend they want evidence to convince them of the truth of the Gospel; or they are such as complain they want a degree of faith sufficient to incline their hearts to obedience. | I. As hoshiaght, adsyn bailloo jannoo nyn laccal credjue ny chloagey son nyn vee-viallys [sic], t’ad edyr lheid as ta lhiassaghey dy vel laccal prowallyn dy chur shickyrys daue jeh firrinys yn Sushtal; er-nonney t’ad lheid as ta gaccan dy vel ad laccal towse dy chredjue fondagh dy chroymmey nyn greeaghyn gys biallys. | |
| The first are such as are by Jesus Christ himself condemned in this place. They would not, and they pretended they could not, believe “that he was sent from God;” they despised his message; they would not receive his doctrine; they gave no heed to his miracles; nor would they have patience, or be at the pains, to see whether this was He whom the prophets did say should come. In short, they could not say what would convince them, if neither a doctrine worthy of God, nor works which none but God could do, were not sufficient. Jesus Christ, therefore, without giving them more proofs, or the sign they demanded, positively pronounces their judgment in these words, “now they have no cloak for their sin.” | Ta’n chied eallagh lheid shen as ta Yeesey Creest hene dy gheyrey ayns y text. Cha jinnagh ad, as lhig ad orroo nagh d’od ad, credjal “dy row eshyn er ny choyrt veih Jee;” hoie ad beg jeh’n chaghteraght echeysyn; cha jinnagh ad soiaghey jeh yn ynsaghey echesyn; cha dug ad geill da ny mirrillyn echey, chamoo ghoghe ad traa, na trubbyl, dy yeeaghyn nee shoh va Eshyn dooyrt ny Phadeyryn va reih ry-heet. Ayns fockle, cha row fys oc hene cre yinnagh shickyrys y choyrt daue, mannagh row edyr ynsagh feeu jeh Jee, na obbraghyn nagh row pooar da fer erbee agh Jee dy yannoo, mannagh row shoh fondagh dy chur shickyrys daue. Ta Yeesey Creest, er-y-fa shen, fegooish cur prowallyn sodjey daue, na yn cowrey v’ad dy hirrey, dy [256] baghtal fockley magh yn deyrey oc ayns ny goan shoh, “nish t’ad gyn leshtal son nyn becca.” | |
| And truly, it is to little purpose to argue with unbelievers of this sort, where the fault is not the want of evidence, but the want of an heart disposed to receive it. And, therefore, the Spirit of God is never solicitous to prove such things as all people ought to know, and may know if it is not their own fault. Thus Moses begins the history of the creation: —In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” Supposing, most truly, that he who has his eyes open, and does [115] not, from the greatness and beauty of the creatures, acknowledge the Maker of them, all the arguments in the world will not convince him. And the Apostle saith expressly, all such are without excuse. | As dy feer, gys beggan ymmyd t’yh dy resooney rish lheid ny mee-chredjuee shoh, raad nagh nee laccal prowallyn ta’n oill, agh laccal cree aggindagh dy ghoail ad. As shen-y-fa, cha vel Spyrryd Yee dy bragh imneagh dy phrowal lheid ny reddyn as lhisagh fys ’ve ec dy chooilley pheiagh orroo, na oddagh ’ve er fys daue mannagh vel yh nyn voill hene. Shoh myr ta Moses goail toshiaght er history yn chroo: “Ayns y toshiaght chroo Jee niau as thalloo.” Smooinaghtyn, as shen dy firrinagh, nagh jean eshyn e hooillyn foshlit cur-my-ner mooads as aalid ny cretooryn, as nagh vel goail-rishyn ren ad y chroo, nagh jean ooilley ny resoonyn ’sy theihl cur er’syn credjal. As ta’n Ostyl dy firrinagh focklagh gra, dy vel ooilley nyn lheid fegooish leshtal. | |
| Unbelievers, therefore, of this sort we must leave (as our Saviour has done) to the judgment of God. | Shen-y-fa, shegin dooin fagail mee-chredjuee nyn lheid shoh (myr ta nyn Saualtagh er n’yannoo) gys briwnys Yee. | |
| But then there are others, who hope they may with more reason plead their want of faith, i.e. such a lively faith as may oblige them, in good earnest, to live as becometh the Gospel of Christ. Now; they being told [Eph. ii. 8.] “that faith is gift of God,” they are apt to conclude, if they have it not, it is not their own fault; and this is their cloak, this their excuse; and indeed it will be a good excuse, provided a man can honestly say, that he hath seriously considered the danger of living in disobedience to God’s commands; that he hath heartily acknowledged, before God, his own inability to keep them without his grace; that he has prayed for God's grace, and followed the motions of his Spirit, as far as he was able; that he has at least done what was in his own power, and kept out of the way of temptations; that when he has done amiss, he has been sorry for it, begged God's pardon, and resolved not to do so again. If a man cannot say this with truth, it is plain he is not in earnest, and therefore want of grace will be no excuse before God, who knows that this is the least of his concern. | Agh eisht ta feallagh elley, ta treishteil dy vod adsyn lesh ny smoo dy resoon pleadeil nyn laccal credjue, ta shen, lheid y chredjue bioal as oddys kiangley ad, dy jarroo firrinagh, dy veaghey cordail rish Sushtal Chreest. Nish myr t’yh inshit daue, [Eph. ii. 8.] “dy vel credjue gioot Yee.” t’ad aarloo dy [257] chredjal, mannagh vel yh oc, nagh nee yn oill oc hene yh; as shoh yn cloagey ocsyn, shoh nyn leshtal. As dy jarroo bee yh ny leshtal vie, my oddys dooinney dy onneragh gra, dy vel eh dy dowin er smooinaghtyn er y danjere jeh beaghey ayns mee-viallys gys saraghyn Yee; —dy vel eh veih e chree er ghoail-rish, fenish Jee, e veggan phooar hene dy reayl ad fegooish yn ghrayse echeysyn; —dy vel eh er ghuee son grayse Yee, as er n’eiyrt er leeideilys e Spyrryd Casheric, gys rere e phooar; —dy vel eh ec y chooid sloo, er n’yannoo ny va ayns e phooar hene, as er vreayl ass y raad veih miolaghyn; —tra t’eh er n’yannoo ass y raad, dy vel eh er ve trimshagh er y hon, er hirrey leih er Jee, as fo gyn dy yannoo shen arragh. Mannagh vod dooinney gra shoh lesh firrinys, t’yh playn nagh vel e leshtal fondagh, as shen-y-fa nagh bee soiagh jeant liorish Jee, ta fakin dy nee laccal grayse va yn chooid sloo jeh e imnea. | |
| The Word of Truth saith, “Ask, and ye shall have, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” We will do none of these, and yet we wonder that God does not give us a convincing witness of the truth in our hearts. In short, we faintly wish, that God would “touch our hearts,” while we are in good earnest afraid lest he should do so, and force us to lead a new life. | Ta Goo ny Firriney gra, “Yeearree-jee as yiow shiu, shir-jee as nee shiu feddyn, shir-jee fosley as bee yh er ny osley diu.” Cha jean mayd veg jeu shoh, as ny yeih ta yindys orrin nagh vel Jee dy choyrt dooin fenish fondagh jeh yn irriney ayns nyn greeaghyn. Ayns fockle, ta wishal faynt ain dy jinnagh Jee “chyndaa nyn greeaghyn,” choud as dy jarroo firrinagh ta aggle orrin dy jinnagh eh shen, as geginagh’ shin dy leeideil bea noa. | |
| While it is thus with us, it is no wonder that God does not more effectually touch our hearts. The wonder, indeed, is, that people should ever hope that this will excuse their disobedience. | [258] Choud as t’yh myr shoh marin, cha nee yindys yh nagh vel Jee ny s’breeoil greinnaghey nyn greeaghyn. Agh dy jarroo yn yindys smoo ooilley t’yh, sleih dy bragh dy hreishteil dy jean shoh leshtal son nyn mee-viallys. | |
| After all, we are too apt to think this, and believe that we are in no danger, because we do not fear any; as if people could not harden their hearts, and be in danger, without perceiving it, when the whole Bible is a history of men ruining themselves, without fear or wit, even after they had sufficient warning of what would follow. | Lurg ooilley, ta shin ro-aarloo dy smooinaghtyn dy nee shoh myr t’yh, as dy chredjal nagh vel shin ayns danjere erbee, er-yn-oyr nagh vel aggle orrin roish veg; myr nagh voddagh sleih creoghey nyn greeaghyn hene, as ve ayns danjere, fegooish toiggal v’oc jeh, tra ta yn slane Bible cur coontey dooin jeh sleih criu ad hene fegooish aggle na keeayl, eer lurg da raue fondagh ve oc jeh’n eiyrtys. | |
| To give but one instance: The people of the Jews were forewarned by Christ, (whose miracles justified his authority) that their obstinacy and wickedness would, in a short time, bring such a destruction upon their temple and city, “that there should not be left one stone upon another.” Now; were they any farther from this dissolution, or did God excuse them, or defer his judgment, because they did not fear this, or because they would not believe Christ’s words? The application is plain. | Dy chur diu agh un sampleyr jeh shoh: Va raue er ny choyrt da pobble ny Hewnyn liorish Creest, (e virrillyn va prowallyn jeh e haghteraght) dy jinnagh nyn roon as olkys, ayns traa giare, tayrn lheid y toyrt-mouys er y chiamble as ard-valley oc, “nagh beagh un chlagh fagit er clagh elley.” Nish, row adsyn veg sodjey veih yn traartys shoh, na ren Jee nyn leshtal y ghoail, na lhiettal e vriwnys, son nagh row aggle orroo roish shoh, na son nagh greidjagh ad goan Chreest? Lhig dooinyn smooinaghtyn er shoh, as goail yh gys nyn greeaghyn. | |
| II. But if want of faith will not excuse our disobedience, we are apt to think that worldly business will excuse us from making the care of our fouls the great concern of our lives. | II. Agh mannagh bee laccal credjue ny leshtal son nyn vee-viallys [sic], s’mennic lhien smooinaghtyn dy jean preish seihltagh nyn [259] leshtal son gyn jannoo kiarail nyn anmeenyn ard obbyr nyn mea. | |
| —Our blessed Lord saith the direct contrary. He saith, for instance, that a man makes a very ill bargain for himself, “who gains the whole world, and loseth his own soul.” To this, people think it is enough to say, it is a burthen laid upon us— “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” We must live, and we must take care for those that come after us. As if the wise and good God had made the difficulties of this life so great, that men cannot take due care of their bodies and souls too. | Glen controllee gys shoh ta raa nyn Jiarn bannee. T’eh gra, son sampleyr, dy nee bargane feer olk ta dooinney dy yannoo er e hon hene, “ta cosney yn seihll ooilley, as coayl e annym hene.” Gys shoh, ta sleih gaurys dy vel ad cur ansoor fondagh tra jir ad, “Ta shoh ny errey chionnit orrin—ayns ollish dty vaaish nee oo gee dty arran. Sheign dooin beaghey, as shegin dooin jannoo son nyn gloan nyn yeih.” Myr dy row yn Jee creeney as mie er n’yannoo doilleedyssyn y vea shoh wheesh shen, nagh vod sleih goail kiarail jeh nyn anmeenyn as callinyn cooidjagh. | |
| After all, it is a most plausible pretence, and such as we are most apt to think a good one; and therefore Jesus Christ has used a great many arguments to hinder us from making the cares of this life a cloak for not minding the next. “Consider the fowls of the air; consider the lillies of the field;” your Heavenly Father feeds, and clothes, the one and the other. “Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow;” leave that to Heathens, who know not God; “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” | Lurg ooilley, ta shoh ny leshtal feer shawoil, as lheid as s’mennic lhien cur stiagh son leshtal mie; as shen-y-fa ta Yeesey Creest er choyrt lane resoonyn roin dy nyn lhiettal veih jannoo kiarailyn y vea shoh ny leshtal son gyn jannoo kiarail cour yn vea ta ry-heet. “Smooinee-jee er eeanlee yn aer; gow-jee tastey jeh lilleeyn y vagheragh;” ta nyn Ayr Flaunyssagh beaghey as coamrey yn derrey yeh as y jeh elley jeu. “Ny bee-jee er-y-fa shen imneagh son y laa mairagh;” faag-jee shen da ny Ashoonee, nagh nione daue Jee; “agh shir-jee hoshiaght reeriaght Yee as e chairys, as bee shiu jeant magh lesh ooilley ny reddyn shoh.” | |
| [116] These arguments are so plain, and so full to the purpose, that there are few Christians who do not believe it their duty to think of another world, and prepare for it. | [260] Ta ny resoonyn shoh cha playn, as wheesh gys y phurpos, nagh nhimmey Creestee nagh vel credjal yh nyn gurrym dy smooinaghtyn er seihll elley, as dy yannoo aarloo er y hon. | |
| But then we have another pretence for not doing it at present. When we have provided for ourselves, for old age, and for our families, then we shall, by the grace of God, in good earnest leave off all our evil ways, and become new creatures. But pray, what promise have we that God will then give us his grace? These are the words of the promise: “To day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Will not our conversion then be too difficult a work? Shall we not be more likely to despair than undertake it? We know what the Sacred Scripture saith of such a change: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then shall ye also, that are accustomed to do evil, learn to do well.” | Agh eisht ta leshtal elley ain son gyn jannoo shen ec y traa t’ayn. Tra ta shin er n’yannoo stoyr nyn gour hene, cour nyn shenndeeaght, as cour nyn gloan; eisht nee mayd dy jarroo firrinagh ceau gy-lhiattee ooilley nyn ghrogh raaidyn, as hig mayd dy ve cretooryn noa. Agh guee-ym erriu, cre’n gialdyn t’ain dy der Jee ec y traa shen e ghrayse dooin? Shoh goan y ghialdynys: “Jiu my nee shiu clashtyn e choraa, ny creoi-jee nyn greeaghyn.” Nagh bee yh obbyr ro-ghoillee ec y traa shen dy yannoo caghlaa? Nagh bee mayd ny s’licklee dy huittym ayns mee-hreishteil, na dy ghoail ayns laue yh? Ta fys ain cre ta yn Scriptyr Casheric gra mychione lheid y caghlaa: “Vod yn Ethiopian daah e chrackan y chaghlaa, na’n Leopard e spuitt? eisht foddee shiuish jannoo dy mie, ta thaghit er yn olk.” | |
| In one word; Industry in our several callings is a Christian duty; the care of our souls is a duty also, and much the more necessary. We may mind them both, if we please. And our fault is this: we are sent a while into this world to fit us for a better, and instead of doing so, we resolve to set up our rest here, and scarce think of the other. | Ayns un ockle; Ta tarrooid ayns nyn aghtyn beaghee hene ny churrym Creestee; ta kiarail son nyn anmeenyn ny churrym neesht, as currym foddee s’ymmyrchee. Foddee mayd goail kiarail jeu nyn neesht my saill mayd. As shoh yn oill: Ta shin er nyn goyrt son tammylt gys y theihl shoh dy yannoo aarloo son seihl share, as ayns ynnyd [261] jannoo shen, ta fo’in dy ghoail seose nyn soylley ayns shoh, as s’coan smooinaghtyn er y seihl elley. | |
| III. And now we come to those who think that their want of capacity to know their duty will excuse their not doing it. | III. As nish ta shin cheet hucsyn ta smooinaghtyn dy bee nyn laccal roshtyn dy hoiggal nyn gurrym ny leshtal son gyn jannoo yh. | |
| There is nothing more common than for people to cry, —What can be expected from the like of us? —We know no better: —“To whom much is given, from him much will be required:” —But that is not our case; our talents are few, and our accounts are soon made up. And upon the strength of this way of arguing, many people make themselves tolerably easy. | Cha vel nhee erbee ny s’cadjin na son sleih dy eam, —Cre oddys ve jerkit rish veih nyn lheid ainyn? —Cha nione dooinyn ny share: “Da quoi-erbee ta mooarane er ny choyrt, er’syn vees mooarane er ny hirrey:” —Agh cha nee shoh yn chooish ainyn; ta ny talentyn ain fardalagh, as nyn goontaghyn dy leah jeant seose. As er bree yn aght shoh dy resooney, ta ymmodee sleih jannoo ad hene lane-vie aashagh. | |
| Now; it is certainly true, the account we shall give will be according to the talents we have received. But then, as, when we compare ourselves with others, we are apt to over-value ourselves; so when we think of the account we must give, we are as apt to under-value what we have received. | Nish; yn chiart irriney yh, dy bee yn coontey ta orrin dy choyrt cordail rish ny talentyn ta shin er gheddyn. Agh eisht, myr, tra ta shin soylaghey shin-hene rish feallagh elley, ta shin ro-aarloo dy choontey rour j’in hene; myr shen tra ta shin smooinaghtyn er y choontey shegin dooin coyrt, ta shin cha aarloo cheddin dy yannoo beggan coontey jeh ny ta shin er gheddyn. | |
| Is it knowledge you want, and hope that that will excuse you? Why, let me tell you, that the learnedst man you know has just as much knowledge, and is just as much better for it, as he keeps more strictly the commandments of God; which you may do (if it is not your own fault) as well as the most learned. | Nee tushtey t’ou laccal, as vel oo treishteil dy jean shen dy [sic: dty] leshtal? Camma, lhig dou ginsh dhyt, dy vel ec y dooinney s’ynsit shione dhyt, just chiart wheesh dy hushtey, as t’eh wheesh shen share liorish, rere myr t’eh ny s’geyre ayns freayl annaghyn Yee; [262] cooid foddee uss y yannoo (mannagh nee dty oill hene yh) chiart cha mie as yn er smoo ynsit. | |
| Hear what Christ saith to this purpose, —“Whosoever heareth my words, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man.” This is true wisdom, all the rest is folly, let a man be never so knowing in his own or other people's opinion. | Eaisht rish ny ta Creest gra ’sy chooish shoh, —“Quoi-erbee ta clashtyn my ghoan’s, as jannoo ymmyd mie jeu, soylee-ym eh gys dooinney creeney.” Shoh creenaght firrinagh, ta ooilley yn chooid elley ommijys, lhig da wheesh dy cheeayl as saillish ’ve echey ayns e smooinaghtyn hene, na ayns smooinaghtyn feallagh elley. | |
| But how shall we know what is expected from us? Why, just as you know any thing else, by enquiry, by consideration, and by taking the advice and direction of those whose business it is to inform you. | Agh kys yiow mayd fys cre ta er ny hirrey orrin? Camma, eer myr ta fys ayd er red erbee elley, liorish briaght, liorish smooinaghtyn dy dowin er, as liorish goail coyrle as ynsagh vouesyn nyn oik as currym t’yh dy choyrt toiggal dhyt. | |
| To be plain, —there is not one of those ignorant people who hope their want of knowledge will help to excuse them, but will give a very suitable answer when they are asked any thing about their worldly concerns. They know, for instance, very well the difference betwixt an estate which they can leave to posterity, and one which is at the will of another. If such a man's estate is in danger, you will soon see how sensible he is, and that he will lay all business aside to secure what he thinks the main chance. He will consider with himself, he will advise with others wiser than himself, he will ask to be informed, be impatient if he is put off, very thankful when he is told what he ought to do; he will do all this with seriousness and a concern answerable to what lies at stake. | Dy ve playn: —Cha vel unnane jeh’n vooinjer vee-hushtagh shoh ta treishteil dy bee nyn laccal tushtey ny leshtal daue, nagh der ansoor feer chiart tra ta red erbee er ny enaght jeu mychione nyn gooishyn seihlt. Shione daue, son mac-soyley, feer vie cre’n difference ta edyr cooid ta ’sy phooar oc hene dy aagail nyn sluight, as cooid ta lurg aigney peiagh elley. My ta thalloo lheid y dooinney shoh ayns danjere, hee-ys shiu jeeragh cre cha dooishtagh as t’eh, as dy der eh dy lhiattee dy chooilley vissness dy yannoo shickyr jeh ny t’eh dy smooinaghtyn yn ard phoint. Nee eh resooney rish hene, shirree eh coyrle er sleih s’creeney na eh-hene, nee [263] eh geearree dy ve currit er y raad, gho’ys eh dy olk rish y obbal, bee eh feer vooisal tra vees currit roish cre lhisagh eh jannoo; nee eh dy chooilley red dy tastagh, as lesh imnea cooie gys ny ta lhie ec sthaak. | |
| Tell one of these ignorant people of a good bargain, which is in his power to make for himself, you will soon see with what chearfulness and good understanding he will go about it. | Insh-jee da unnane jeh’n sleih mee-hushtagh shoh mychione bargane mie ennagh ta ayns e phooar dy yannoo er e ho hene; hee-ys shiu dy leah cre cha aggindagh as keeaylagh hed eh mysh. | |
| So for cases of conscience, such people very well know, when they are wronged, what justice they ought to expect. They can tell other peeple [sic] their duty plain enough; and is it not mere perverseness to pretend [117] not to know their own? | Shoh neesht, son cooishyn chooinsheanse, ta nyn saie fys ec lheid y sleih shoh tra ta coayl as assee jeant daue cre’n lhiassagh lhisagh ’ve jeant daue. Foddee ad ginsh nyn gurrym da sleih elley playn dy liooar; as nagh nee eer camlaagys chree yh dy lhiggey orroo nagh nione daue nyn gurrym hene? | |
| But let people pretend what they please, every body knows what is meant by adultery, drunkenness, perjury, lying, backbiting, and such like. Now; we have a plain declaration of God’s will and purpose, concerning all such as commit any of these sins, I Cor. vi. 9. “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” | Agh lhig da sleih gra cre sailloo, ta fys ec dy chooilley pheiagh cre ta toiggit liorish maarderys, meshtallys, oaiys, breageraght, cooyl-chassid, as lheid shen. Nish; ta aigney as kiarail Yee dy baghtal er ny chur roin mychione nyn lheid ooilley as ta jannoo veg jeh ny peccaghyn shoh, ayns i Cor. vi. 9. 10. “Ny bee-jee mollit: chamoo yiow maarderee, na adsyn ta cur ooashley da jallooyn, na adsyn ta brishey-poosey, na ny soailtee, na maarlee, na ny sayntoilee, na meshtallee, na oltooanee, na tranlaasee, eiraght ayns reeriaght Yee.” | |
| Will people, after such a plain declaration as this, live in any of these sins, and hope that God expects no better of them? Verily even they, who think that God has given them the poorest capacities, if one should tell them that it is their duty to live as they generally do, would soon see the wickedness of such a doctrine, and would profess that they know better things themselves. | [264] Jean sleih, lurg lheid ny goan playn shoh, beaghey ayns veg jeh ny peccaghyn shoh, as treishteil nagh vel Jee shirrey ny share orroo? Dy firrinagh focklagh nee eer adsyn, ta smooinaghtyn dy vel Jee er choyrt daue yn towse sloo keiley, my inshagh peiagh daue dy nee nyn gurrym yh dy leeideil nyn mea myr t’ad dy cadjin jannoo, nee ad chelleeragh fakin mee-chraueeaght lheid yn ynsaghey, as yarragh ad dy boan daue hene reddyn share na shen. | |
| After all, it is a question, whether the unlearned lie under greater difficulties than those that are more knowing. The favours of God to men are more equal than is usually thought of; and therefore, where he has given more slow capacities, he will (if they do not resist his will) give more grace. “I thank thee, O Father,” saith Jesus Christ, “that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” | Lurg ooilley, t’yh ny wheshtion, vel y vooinjer lesh y veggan ynsagh lhie fo ny smoo dy ghoilleedyssyn na adsyn ta lesh ynsagh smoo? Ta foayryn Yee gys deiney ny s’corrym er nyn rheynn na ta dy cadjin smooinit; as shen-y-fa, dauesyn t’eh er choyrt ny sloo dy roshtyn-briwnys, ver eh (mannagh shass ad magh noi e aigney) ny smoo dy ghrayse. “Ta mee cur booise dhyt, O Ayr (as Yeesey Creest) dy vel oo er chieltyn ny reddyn shoh vouesyn ta creeney as tushtagh, as dy vel oo er hoilshaghey ad da oikanyn.” | |
| Accordingly, as too many can make a shift to go to hell with a great deal of knowledge; so we find many poor people, and of low capacities, as conscientious in their dealings; as true lovers of God; as fearful of offending him, as thankful for his favours; as careful of their ways—as those that have a great deal more knowledge, and better opportunities of knowing their duty. | Agh, myr oddys rour jannoo shute dy gholl gys niurin lesh lane tushtey oc; myr shen ta shin feddyn lane sleih boghtey, as lesh y veggan tushtey, cha cooinsheansagh ayns nyn ghellal; cha firrinagh graihagh er Jee; cha agglagh dy chur corree er; cha booisal son e oayryn; cha kiaralagh jeh nyn raaidyn, [265] as adsyn ta foddey smoo dy hushtey oc, as caaghyn share dy hoiggal nyn gurrym. | |
| So that want of capacity (and in a Christian country) will never be accepted as an excuse for not keeping the commands of God; especially when it is considered, they who know least know enough to make them serious and careful of their ways; that they might know a great deal more than they commonly do; and that they seldom live up to that measure of knowledge which they have. | Myr shen nagh bee beggan tushtey (as ayns cheer Chreestee) dy bragh goit son leshtal son gyn freayl saraghyn Yee; er-lheh tra t’yh te [sic] considerit, dy vel eer adsyn sloo dy hushtey t’oc, tushtagh dy liooar dy ve tastagh as kiaralagh jeh nyn raaidyn; dy voddagh foddey smoo dy hushtey ’ve oc na ta dy cadjin oc; as nagh nee mennic t’ad beaghey corrym gys y tushtey ta oc. | |
| Such, therefore, as love darkness rather than light; such as may know their duty, and will not; and such as know their duty, and yet neglect it, are (without more words) inexcusable. | Nyn lheid, er-y-fa shen, as ta ny s’graihee er dorraghys ny er y thoilshey; nyn lheid as oddys toiggal nyn gurrym, as nagh jean toiggal yh; nyn lheid as shione daue nyn gurrym as ta jannoo meerioose er, t’ad shoh (gyn arragh jeh) ooilley cooidjagh gyn leshtal. | |
| IV. Another excuse is, that the temptations we meet with are so many, and the difficulties so great, that an allowance must be made, or few can be saved. | IV. Ta leshtal elley goll er jannoo, as shoh yh, dy vel ny miolaghyn ta cheet nyn raad whilleen shen, as ny doilleedyssyn wheesh, dy nheign lowance ve jeant, ’nonney stiark oddys ve er nyn sauail. | |
| Well then—are they who make this excuse, resolved to take the broad way? You know there are but two; the narrow, which leadeth unto life; and the broad, which leadeth to destruction: so saith our Saviour expressly, [Matth. vii. 13.] and tells us, moreover, that they are but few, in comparison, who take the narrow way, which leadeth unto life, because it is unpleasing to flesh and blood; while the other, because it is easy, is most chosen and thronged. | Well eisht—vel adsyn ta jannoo yn leshtal shoh, kiarit dy ghoail yn raad lhean? Ta fys eu nagh vel agh jees; yn raad coon, ta leeideil gys bea; as yn raad lhean, ta leeideil gys coayl-anmey: shoh ta nyn Saualtagh gra dy playn, Mian vii. 13; as ginsh dooin, ny sodjey, nagh nhimmey t’ayn, ayns soylagh, ta goail yn raad coon ta leeideil gys bea, son nagh vel yh booiys feill as fuill; choud as [266] ta’n raad elley, son dy vel yh aashagh, ny s’men’key er ny reih, as er ny haaghey. | |
| It is but too plain, that such as make this excuse are in that way which leadeth to destruction. The only question is, whether they are resolved to go on in it? Especially when they consider, that it certainly leadeth to that place, “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” | T’yh agh ro phlayn, dy vel nyn lheid as ta jannoo yn leshtal shoh ayns y raad ta leeideil gys toyrt-mouys. Ta yn ynrycan queshtion, vel ad kiarit dy gholl er nyn doshiaght ayn? Erskyn ooilley tra t’ad goail huc hene, dy vel yh son shickyrys leeideil gys yn ynnyd shen, “raad nagh vel nyn veishteig geddyn baase, na yn aile er ny vooghey.” | |
| Is it for nothing that God has made this known to us? Is it not that we may awake out of sleep? That we may see the danger we are in, and overcome all difficulties, for a few days, that we may escape being miserable for ever? And that we may be encouraged to do so, the Spirit of God has assured us, that our reward shall be great hereafter; our comfort in the mean time such as cannot be expressed; and that we shall have such assistance as shall enable us to overcome all difficulties. We have, therefore, but this choice, either to follow our own inclinations for a while, and be miserable for ever; or to obey the will of God (though we meet with uneasiness) that we may obtain his favour, and be eternally happy. And it is mere [118] folly to expect any other issue of our obedience or disobedience. For thus God has dealt with men since the world began: Such as obeyed him, with their whole hearts, found their advantage in it; and such as followed their own wicked imaginations, were rejected of God, and delivered up to destruction. | Nee son veg ta Jee er hoilshaghey shoh dooin? Nagh nee dy vod mayd doostey ass nyn gadley? Dy vod mayd fakin yn danjere ta shin ayn, as geddyn laue yn eaghter harrish dy chooilley ghoilleedys, son nyn draa giare ayns shoh, dy vod mayd scapail treihys vraa ny lurg shoh? As dy ghreinnaghey shin dy yannoo shoh, ta Spyrryd Yee er hickyraghey dooin, dy nee mooar vees nyn leagh ny lurg shoh; —dy bee nyn gherjagh ’sy traa t’ayn nish lheid as nagh vod ve focklit magh, ad dy vou mayd lheid y chooney as nee niartaghey shin dy chosney barriaght harrish dy chooilley ghoilleedys. Cha vel ain, er-y-fa shen, agh yn reih shoh, edyr dy eiyrt da nyn yeearreeyn hene son tammylt, as ve treih son dy bragh; er-nonney dy choyrt biallys da aigney Yee (ga dy vod yh ve neu-aashagh dooin) dy vod mayd cosney e oayr, as ve maynrey son dy bragh. As eer ommijys yh dy yerkal rish eiyrtys erbee elley er nyn [267] miallys na mee-viallys. Son shoh myr ta Jee er ghellal rish deiney er dy hoshiaght y theihl. Lheid as hug biallys da lesh ooilley nyn gree, hooar ad nyn vondeish liorish; as lheid as deiyr da nyn yeearreeyn olk hene, v’ad er nyn obbal liorish Jee, as livreit harrish gys toyrt-mouys. | |
| Lastly; When no other excuse will do, people are apt to shelter themselves under the mercy of God, and hope through his infinite goodness, all will be well with them at last, though they should not do their best to please him. | Er-jerrey; Tra nagh jean leshtal erbee elley mie, ta sleih aarloo dy ghoail fastee fo myghin Yee, as dy hreishteil trooid e vieys erskyn-earroo dy bee ooilley dy mie maroo ec y jerrey, ga nagh vel ad jannoo nyn gooid share dy vooiys eh. | |
| It is most certain, that mercy of God in Jesus Christ is the only hope of sinful men; but then, it is strange presumption to hope, that, because God is good, I may therefore be more bold to provoke him; especially, after God has expressly declared how far, and to whom, his mercy shall extend; who may, and who must not depend upon it. In particular, he has declared, that to the impenitent and unbelievers no mercy shall be shewn, whatever they may hope for. And that we may not mistake his meaning, he has plainly told us, true penitents are such as “bring forth fruits meet for repentance;” and that true faith is such as purifieth the heart. So that if this word be the rule by which God will judge us, and by which we may judge whether we are out of danger or not, we see plainly, that the mercy of God will be of no advantage to us, while we knowingly transgress his laws. | Smoo shickyr t’yh, dy vel myghin Yee ayns Yeesey Creest yn ynrycan treisht t’ec deiney peccoil; agh eisht, t’yh daanys mooar dy hreishteil, er-yn-oyr dy vel Jee mie, dy vod-ym’s er-y-fa shen ve ny s’daaney dy vrasnaghey eh; erskyn-ooilley, erreish da Jee v’er ghra dy playn caid as quoi er nee e vyghin roshtyn; —quoi oddys, as quoi nagh vod treishteil huggey. Er-lheh, t’eh er hoilshaghey, nagh bee da ny mee-arryssee as mee-chredjuee myghin erbee er ny hoilshaghey, cre-erbee oddys ve nyn yerkal. Agh er-aggle dy goghe shin e veanal marran, t’eh dy plain er n’insh dooin, dy vel arryssee firrinagh nyn lheid as ta gymmyrkey magh messyn cooie dy arrys; as dy vel yn credjue firrinagh lheid shen as ta glenney yn chree. Myr shen my ta yn goo shoh yn rule liorish nee Jee briwnys shin, as liorish oddys mainyn briwnys vel [268] shin ass danjere na mannagh vel, ta shin fakin dy playn, nagh bee myghin Yee jeh veg y vondeish dooin, choud as ta shin jeh nyn yoin brishey e leighyn. | |
| Nay; that this may be no cloak for our sin, the Spirit of God has told us with what contempt God will treat those that, being often reproved, and called upon, do still harden their hearts till affliction comes upon them: “I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.” | Dy feer, er-chee nagh voddagh shoh ve ny choodagh erbee son nyn becca, ta Spyrryd Yee er n’insh dooin lesh cre’n faghid nee Jee dellal roosyn ta, erreish daue v’er gheddyn eamyn as raue mennic, sthill goll er nyn doshiaght dy chreoghey nyn greeaghyn derrey hig seaghyn orroo: “ Neem’s garraghtee ec ny seaghyn eu, neem’s craid tra hig yn aggle erriu.” | |
| And now you see how much people may be mistaken; how apt they are to deceive themselves; how rash, and how presumptuous, in concluding all may be well with them, without any warrant from God's word. And this should make us more cautious of trusting to a false peace, —a peace of mind, without reason, and without promise. | As nish ta shiu fakin, cre wheesh as oddys sleih ve mollit; —cre cha aarloo as t’ad dy volley ad hene: cre cha gyn thort, as cre cha daaney, ayns gaurys dy vod ooilley ’ve dy mie maroo, fegooish veg yn oyr oc er y hon veih Goo Yee. As lhisagh shoh cur orrin ’ve ny s’tastee gyn dy hreishteil gys shee foalsey, —gys shee aigney, fegooish oyr as fegooish gialdynys. | |
| What I mean is this: —Let us carefully examine ourselves, whether we do not depend upon some of these, or some such like pretences, for our future happiness? Always remembering, “that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” That the duties of Christianity are indispensable; that God did never excuse any one of his servants, from the beginning of the world to this day, from observing them faithfully. “That no man can serve two masters;” so that it is in vain to call myself a servant of God, when I do not the things which he has commanded | Ta my veanal shoh: —Lhig dooin dy kiaralagh feysht shin hene, nagh vel shin treishteil huc shoh, na lheid ny leshtallyn ennagh elley, son nyn maynrys ny lurg shoh. Dy kinjagh cooinaghtyn, fegooish casherickys nagh jean dooinney erbee yn Chiarn y akin. Nagh nheign ny cur’myn Chreestee er chor erbee ve lhiggit sheese. Nagh ren rieau Jee er dy hoshiaght y theihl gys y laa jiu, leshtal veg jeh e [269] harvaantyn y ghoail, son gyn jannoo ad dy jeidjagh. Cha vod dooinney erbee daa vainshter y hirveish; myr shen dy nee ayns fardail t’yh dy enmys mee-hene sharvaant dy Yee, tra nagh vel mee jannoo ny t’eh er harey dou. | |
| Let us consider farther, that if we meet with temptations, it was designed we should do so, that we might thereby be obliged to depend more entirely upon God. That if we are sometimes at a loss, it is so ordered, that we may look up to God for light and salvation. That “if we love darkness rather than light,” it is no wonder if we miss our way, and are bewildered. That if we want hearts to set about the work of our salvation in good earnest, it is because we know, in our consciences, that we never sincerely prayed to God to give us grace to do so. That if we are careless because the rest of the world are so, and hope to come off as well as others, it is because we do not consider, that it will be no comfort to be damned for company, no more than it would be pleasure to be poor, or sick, or tormented here, for company. | Lhig dooin consideral ny sodjey: — | |
|
[The bulk of this paragraph is missing in the Manx; the initial phrases of this and the next are very similar. No doubt the translator’s eye skipped from one to the next.]
| ||
| Let us consider a little farther: | ||
| —That want of time can be no excuse in a Christian country, where one day in seven is set apart for this business and none else. That want of capacity cannot be pretended, when we understand things much more difficult to be known. That to put off the concern of our souls to the last, is plainly to value them less than anything else. That to think ourselves safe, because we do not fear any danger, is to be ignorant of a great truth, which is—that people [119] may be given over to a reprobate mind, i.e. a mind void of judgment. Lastly; that such pretences as these will rather increase our guilt, than serve to obtain our pardon, when we appear before God. And the conclusion will be, that he who seeks out excuses for not living as becomes the Gospel of Christ, is only contriving how to shut himself out of Heaven. | Nagh vod laccal traa ve ny leshtal ayns cheer Chreestee, raad ta un laa ayns shiaght soit er-lheh son yn obbyr shoh, as gyn obbyr erbee elley. Nagh vod mayd lhiggey orrin dy vel beggan tushtey ain, tra ta shin toiggal reddyn foddey s’doillee dy ve toiggit. Dy chur shaghey kiarail nyn anmeenyn gys y jerrey, dy vel shoh dy playn dy yannoo ny sloo dy scansh jeu na jeh nhee erbee elley. Dy smooinaghtyn shin-hene sauchey, son nagh vel aggle orrin roish danjere erbee, ta shoh dy ve mee-hushtagh jeh firrinys mooar, as ta shen—dy vod sleih ve currit seose gys creoghys cree, ta shen, gys aigney gyn briwnys. Er-jerrey, dy jean lheid ny leshtallyn shoh ny s’leah mooadaghey nyn loght, na shirveish dy gheddyn nyn bardoon, tra nee mayd shassoo fenish Jee. As shoh vees jerrey yn chooish, dy vel eshyn ta shirrey son leshtallyn gyn dy veaghey myr ta cooie da yn Sushtal, ynrycan shirrey magh kys dy ghooney eh-hene magh ass flaunys. | |
| In one word; a man that is heartily concerned for his salvation will ask himself this one short question, why do I hope to be saved? He that dares not do this may depend upon it, he is not in the way of salvation. And he that is once fully persuaded, that without a sincere repentance, a lively faith, and an unfeigned charity, he cannot be saved, will never think of making excuses to free himself from these duties, and the fruit of them—holiness of life. For a man to be at ease upon any other account, or to hope that any thing in the world will atone for want of true piety, is to hope without reason and without scripture. | Ayns un ockle; nee dooinney ta dy jarroo firrinagh fo imnea son e haualtys, fenaght yn queshtion giare shoh jeh hene, Cre’n-fa ta [270] mee treishteil dy ve er my hauail? Foddee eshyn nagh lhoys da jannoo shoh ’ve shickyr nagh vel eh raad y taualtys. As keayrt dy vel dooinney dy firrinagh credjal nagh vod eh ve er ny hauail fegooish arrys firrinagh, credjue bioal, as graih gyn foalsaght, cha smooinee eh dy bragh er jannoo leshtallyn dy eaysley eh-hene veih ny cur’myn shoh, as veih yn mess oc—casherickys bea. Son dooinney dy ve ec aash er coontey erbee elley, na dy hreishteil dy jean nhee erbee ’sy theihl jannoo seose son laccal craueeaght firrinagh, ta shoh dy hreishteil noi resoon, as noi scriptyr. | |
| This is what was necessary to be said, to keep us from false hopes, and an unsafe peace of conscience; which that it may do, I commend it, and you, to the good blessing of God. And I beseech you, my beloved, remember this one thing, that all is vanity, besides taking care of your souls. | Ta shoh ny va ymmyrchagh dy ve raait, dy reayl shin veih treishteil gyn undin, as veih shee neu-sauchey chooinsheanse; cooid dy vod yh jannoo, ta mee dy hymney yh as shiuish gys bannaght mie Yee. As ta mee guee erriu my chaarjyn ennoil, dy chooinaghtyn er yn un red shoh, dy nee fardail dy chooilley nhee, agh goail kiarail jeh ny anmeenyn eu. | |
| Now to God, &c. | Nish gys Jee yn Ayr, yn Mac, as y Spyrryd Noo, dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr, seihl gyn jerrey. Amen. | |
| [125] | [271] | |
| SERMON XX. | SHARMANE XIII. | |
| CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE, AND THE NECESSITY OF A REDEEMER. | Marvaneys Dooghys Sheelnaue, as yn Feme ta ain er Fer-chionnee. | |
| LUKE V. 5. We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing. | Luke v. 5. Ta shin er hooilleil fud ny hoie, as cha vel shin er ghoail monney. | |
| AND so we shall ever do, without thy grace and help, O Jesus. Enable me, therefore, I beseech thee, to speak to the hearts and to the capacities of those that hear me; let me learn, and be able, from the sense of my own corruption and frailties, to pity such as are ignorant of the danger they are in; to warn such as are careless; and to comfort and direct such as are weary with the burthen of their sins, and lead them to Thee, their Redeemer; for thy merits’ sake, O Blessed Saviour! Amen. | As shen myr nee mayd dy bragh, fegooish dty ghrayse as cooney’s, O Yeesey. Niartee mee, er-y-fa shen, ta mee guee Ort, dy loayrt gys creeaghyn as gys roshtyn y tushtey oc shoh ta geaishtagh rhym. Lhig dou hene gynsagh, as ve abyl, veih ennaghtyn annoonid my ghooghys as my ailleilyn hene, dy ghoail chymmey jeusyn ta mee-hushtagh jeh’n danjere t’ad ayn; dy chur raue da ny meerioosee; as dy gherjaghey as leeideil adsyn ta deiynagh fo errey nyn beccaghyn, as dy leeideil ad Hood’s, nyn Ver-chionnee; er graih dty hoilchinys, O Haualtagh vannee! Amen. | |
| ROMANS vii. 24, 25. | ROM. vii. [24,] 25. | |
| O wretched Man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Why; the grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.* [* See John iii. 16. xv. 4. Acts iv. 12. xiii. 26. Rom. iii. 23. v. 8. vii, 18, &c. Eph. ii. 4. Gal. iii. 1 Tim. i. 15. 1 John iv. 16. Psalm lxxxv. 9. Baruch iv. 4.] | O s’treih yn dooinney mee! quoi nee m’y livrey veih corp y vaase shoh? Camma; nee grayse Yee shoh, trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn. | |
| THE meaning of these words will be fully understood, if we look back to some verses going before; particularly to verse 18: “I know,” (that is, I feel by sad experience) “that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will” (that which is good) “is present with me,” (i.e. I easily perceive it) “but how to perform that which is good I find not;” (i.e. of myself I am not able to do it.). | YIOW mayd slane toiggal jeh meanal ny goan shoh, my nee mayd agh jeeaghyn back gys paart jeh ny vierseyn ta goll rhymboo; [272] er-lheh gys yn hoghtoo vierse yeig: “Ta fys aym,” (ta shen, ta mee toiggal liorish my ennaghtyn treih hene) “nagh vel aynym’s (ta shen, ayns my eill) red erbee mie cummal: son ta my aigney wishal dy eiyrt da shen ny ta mie,” (ta shen, ta mee dy aashagh goail baght jeh) “agh dy yannoo shen ny ta mie, cha vel cheet lhiam;” ta shen, jeem pene cha vel bree aynym dy chooilleeney yh, | |
| Now, it being thus with me, The good that I would, (i.e. that which my reason approves) this I do not, but the evil which I would not (which my conscience tells me I ought not to do) this I do. This troubles me, grieves me, and makes me afraid for myself, and even forces me to cry out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?” (who shall free me from these bodily appetites, which enslave me, and expose me to ruin?) who shall deliver me? why; the grace of God, (vouchsafed unto mankind) through Jesus Christ our Lord; this will deliver every man, who sincerely lays hold of it, from the slavery of those sins which do so easily beset us. | Nish, myr she shoh myr t’yh rhym, yn vie shen baillym, (ta shen, ta my resoon lowal jeh) shoh cha vel mee jannoo; agh yn olk nagh naillym, (ta my chooinsheanse dy insh dou nagh lhisin jannoo) shen ta mee dy yannoo. Ta shoh dy my heaghney, t’yh jannoo lane trimshey dou, as cur orrym ve agglagh er my hon-hene, as eer geginagh’ mee dy eam, “O s’treih yn dooinney mee! quoi nee m’y livrey veih corp yn vaase shoh?” (quoi nee m’y livrey veih ny yeearreeyn foalley shoh, ta freayl mee fo dreihrys daue, as fagail mee foshlit roish coayl anmey?) quoi nee livrey mee? camma, nee grayse yee, (ta er ny ghiootal er sheelnaue) trooid yeesey creest nyn jiarn; nee shoh livrey dy chooilley ghooinney, ta dy creeoil gremmey yh, veih dreihrys ny peccaghyn shen ta cha geyr dy nyn jionney mygeayrt. | |
| Now; I shall take occasion, from these words, to lay before you—First; The great corruption of human nature. Secondly; The great danger we are in on that account. Thirdly; This will shew the necessity and blessing of a Redeemer. Fourthly; We shall then see plainly, the great love of God in sending his Son to redeem us: and, in the next place, we shall consider, the great obligations this love of God lays upon Christians. And, lastly, The dreadful condition of all such as neglect or despise this great mercy of God vouchsafed unto men. | Ayns y chooish shoh, as veih ny goan shoh, nee’m soiaghey rhimbiu—Hoshiaght; [273] Marvaneys hreih dooghys sheelnaue. ’Sy nah ynnyd; Yn gaue mooar ta shin ayn er y choontey shen. ’Sy trass ynnyd; Nee shoh soilshaghey dooin yn ard feme ta rish Saualtagh, as yn bannaght mooar ta liorish. ’Sy chiarroo ynnyd; Bee eisht toiggal firrinagh ain, jeh graih mooar Yee ayns coyrt e Vac dy hauail shin: as eisht, Nee mayd consideral ny kianglaghyn chion ta’n ghraih shoh dy Yee lhie er Creesteenyn. As, er-jerrey; Stayd atchimagh ooilley nyn lheid as ta meerioosagh jeh, na soiaghey beg jeh yn ard vyghin shoh ta Jee er stowal er sheelnaue. | |
| [126] Believe it, Christians, that what I am going to say to you upon these heads, will be worthy of your most serious attention. They are truths on which our salvation depends, and therefore I would press them upon your hearts with all imaginable plainness, as well as earnestness. | Cred-jee yh, Chreesteenyn, dy vel ny ta mee nish goll dy ghra riu er ny cooishyn shoh toilloo nyn gheill as nyn dastey smoo. T’ad firrinyssyn orroo ta nyn saualtys lhie, as shen-y-fa, baillym chionney ad er ny creeaghyn eu myr share oddym, as lesh jeeanid chree. | |
| I. Let us first consider the great corruption of our nature; the knowledge of this being the foundation of all true religion. “They that be whole,” saith our Redeemer, “need not a physician, but they that are sick;” these, and these only, will desire, and value the help that is offered them. | I. Lhig dooin ’sy chied ynnyd goail baght jeh marvaneys vooar nyn n’ghooghys hene; son ta’n toiggal jeh shoh eer undin dy chooilley chredjue firrinagh. “Cha vel ocsyn t’ayns slaynt (as nyn Fer-chionnee) feme er y fer-lhee, agh ocsyn ta ching;” ad shoh, as adsyn ny lomarcan, nee geearree as soiaghey mooar jeh’n chooney ta chebbit daue. | |
| Jesus Christ, (said the Prophet Isaiah, lxi. 1.) when he cometh, will preach glad tidings but to whom? why, to the meek; for such only would be disposed to receive his message: he would bind up the broken-hearted, for such only would be glad of help: he would proclaim liberty to the captives, for such only as are sensible of the bondage of sin will be glad to be set at liberty. | Tra hig Yeesey Creest (as yn Phadeyr Isaiah lxi. 1.) nee eh preacheil naightyn mie—agh quoi da? camma, da ny imlee; son adsyn ny lomarcan [274] veagh ullee dy yannoo soiagh jeh’n chaghteraght: Nee eh lheihys ny creeaghyn brish, [sic] son ynrycan nyn lheid veagh booiagh er cooney: Nee eh fockley magh reamys da ny cappee, son ynrycan nyn lheid as ta gennaghtyn bondeeaght phecca vees booiagh dy ve soit ec reamys. | |
| It was such as these, that our Lord invited, when he said, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden” with the burthen of your sins, “and I will give you rest.” | She nyn lheid shoh v’ad, ren nyn Jiarn cuirrey, tra dooyrt eh, “Tar-jee hyms ooilley shiuish ta deiynagh, as fo errey trome” nyn beccaghyn, “as neems shiu y ooraghey.” | |
| In short; wherever the Gospel was preached, all such as feared God, and were in fear for themselves, when they were told of a judgment to come; these received the Gospel with a glad heart, as shewing them the way to obtain pardon and happiness. Whilst all the proud, as the same Prophet speaks, and such as do wickedly, fearing no evil, to such the Gospel would be preached without effect. | Ayns fockle; raad erbee dy row yn Sushtal er ny phreacheil, ren adsyn ooilley as va aggle orroo roish Jee, as fo imnea er nyn son hene, tra cheayl ad jeh briwnys ry-heet, shoh ad ren soiaghey jeh yn Sushtal lesh cree gennal, myr jeeaghyn daue yn raad dy chosney pardoon as maynrys. Choud as da ooilley ny mee-viallee, myr ta’n Phadeyr cheddin loayrt, as nyn lheid as ta jannoo dy peccoil, gyn aggle orroo roish yn olk, da nyn lheid shoh veagh preacheil yn Sushtal jeh’n veggan vree. | |
| Now; my design, in the first place, is, to raise in your hearts the same concern and fear, which the Apostle supposeth every man will have, who sets himself seriously to consider his condition by nature, and without a redeemer. | Nish; t’yh my chiarail, ’sy chied ynnyd, dy ghreesaghey ayns ny creeaghyn eu yn un imnea as aggle cheddin as ta’n Ostyl goail-ass-laue vees ec dy chooilley ghooinney, ta dy imneagh goail gys e chree e stayd liorish dooghys, as fegooish Fer-chionnee. | |
| Our first parents were, most certainly, created innocent and upright, able and disposed to obey any command that God should think good to give them. We are very sure it is not so with us now. Every one for himself knows, that matters are wretchedly amiss with us, until by the grace of God our nature is changed for the better. Whoever will be at the pains to look into his own heart, will find this corruption of nature discovering itself upon all occasions. For instance: We readily acknowledge the justice of the laws of God, and yet we find an unwillingness in ourselves to obey them. We know that we want both knowledge, and grace, and help, from God; and yet we ask them but seldom, and with indifference. We cannot but own, that we live upon God's bounty and blessing, and yet we can hardly find in our hearts to be thankful. We profess to believe, that God sees all our actions, and yet we are too apt to sin as presumptuously as if he were an idol, who could neither reward nor punish us. In one word; we hear what he has threatened without fear, and see his judgments upon others, without so much as thinking, how soon it may be our own case. | Va nyn gied ayr as moir son shickyrys er nyn groo ayns onid as ynrickys, abyl as aignagh [275] dy choyrt biallys da sarey erbee baillish Jee dy choyrt daue. Ta shin feer shickyr nagh nee shoh yn stayd ta shinyn ayn nish. Ta fys ec dy chooilley ghooinney er e hon hene, dy vel lheh-chiartys treih ennagh bentyn rooin, derrey liorish grayse Yee ta nyn n’ghooghys caghlait son y chooid share. Quoi-erbee gho’ys payns dy yeeaghyn stiagh ayns e chree hene, nee eh feddyn yn marvaneys shoh dy ghooghys soilshaghey yh hene er dy chooilley hyndaa. Son mac-soyley: Ta shin dy arryltagh goail-rish cairys leighyn Yee, agh ta shin ny-yeih gennaghtyn neu-arryltys aynin-hene dy choyrt biallys daue. Ta fys ain dy vel shin feme chamma tushtey as grayse, as cooney veih Jee; as ny-yeih dy an-vennic ta shin dy hirrey ad, as lesh y veggan jeeanid. Cha vod mayd agh goail-rish, dy nee er feoiltys as bannaght Yee ta shin beaghey, as ny-yeih s’coan ta shin feddyn ayns nyn greeaghyn dy ve booisal. Ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal, dy vel Jee fakin ooilley nyn n’yannoo, as ny-yeih ta shin ro aarloo dy yannoo pecca lesh cha beg dy scansh as dy beagh eh ny eer yalloo, nagh voddagh coyrt dooin edyr leagh na kerraghey. Ayns un ockle; ta shin clashtyn ny t’eh er vaggyrt fegooish aggle orrin, as cur-my-ner e vriwnyssyn er feallagh elley, fegooish wheesh as smooinaghtyn cre cha leah as oddys yh ve yn chooish ain hene. | |
| These are desperate disorders, whatever people think of them. But these are not all the proofs of a corrupt nature. We are forced to struggle hard with ourselves to do what we know to be not only our duty, but our interest, to do. The Lord our Maker, we confess, has a right to be loved, to be feared, to be depended upon. Can we say with any truth, that we are naturally disposed to love, to fear, and to put our whole trust in him? Do not we find in ourselves too great an indifference for the glorious promises God has made us; and do not we discover a very little fear for his terrible threatenings. | [276] Ta ad shoh aslayntyn anmey dewilley-trome, cre-erbee ta sleih dy choontey jeu. Agh cha nee shoh ooilley ny prowallyn ta ain jeh dooghys peccoil. Ta shin eginit dy ghleck dy creoi rooin hene dy yannoo shen ta fys ain dy ve cha nee nyn gurrym ny lomarcan, agh myrgeddin nyn vondeish dy eiyrt da. Ta shin goail-rish dy nee nyn gurrym yh dy choyrt graih da yn Chiarn nyn Fer-chroo, dy ghoail aggle roish, as dy choyrt barrant huggey. Vod mayd ayns firrinys gra, dy vel shin liorish dooghys aignagh dy choyrt graih da, dy ghoail aggle roish, as dy choyrt nyn slane treishteil ayn? Nagh vel shin feddyn aynin hene beggan scansh son ny gialdynyn gloyroil ta Jee er n’yannoo dooin; as nagh vel shin soilshaghey feer veg dy aggle roish e vaggyrtyn atchimagh? | |
| Our own experience may convince us, that we are apt to have a much greater concern for our bodies than for our souls; for this life, than that which is to come; for Earth, than for Heaven | Foddee nyn oayl hene slane toiggal y choyrt dooin, dy my vennic lhien ve ny s’imneaee son nyn gallinyn na son nyn anmeenyn[;] son y vea shoh, na son y vea ta ry-heet; son y Thalloo, na son Flaunys. | |
| [127] If our reason does sometimes get the better of our corrupt affections, and we resolve to do what we believe will please God, yet, how soon do we forget our good resolutions? One day condemning ourselves for having done amiss; and the next day running into the same miscarriages, and falling into the sins we so lately repented of. | My ta nyn resoon ny cheayrtyn geddyn y varriaght harrish nyn yeearreeyn mee-reiltagh, as ta fo’in dy yannoo ny ta shin credjal nee booiys Jee, ny-yeih, cre cha leah as ta shin jarrood nyn giarailyn vie? Un laa deyrey shin-hene son dy vel shin er n’yannoo ass y raad, as yn laa er-giyn roie ayns ny foiljyn cheddin, as tuittym gys ny peccaghyn [277] va shin cha gerrit roish shen er ghoail arrys jeu. | |
| If we look into the world, we see nothing, in a manner, but sin and disorder. We see too many who live without God in the world, committing all iniquity with greediness; upon whom no reason, no arguments, will prevail, to hinder them from ruining themselves to all eternity. | My yeeaghys mayd mygeayrt y mooin fud y theihl, s’coan hee-ys mayd veg agh pecca as mee-reiltys. Ta shin fakin rour ta beaghey fegooish Jee ayns y theihl, as cur rish dy chooilley vee-chraueeaght lesh jollys; orroo nagh jarg resoon, na raa, dy lhiettal ad veih cur mou ad hene seihl gyn jerrey. | |
| Even amongst those, who pretend to live in the fear of God, how many do we see, upon whom his laws have little or no influence? Do not we see, for example, that many—too many—must be forced by human laws, and the punishments that attend them, to do what they know in their consciences they ought to do; to do justice to their neighbour; to make satisfaction to those that they have wronged. | Eer ny mast’ ocsyn ta goail-rish dy veaghey ayns aggle Yee, cre whilleen hee-ys mayd, s’coan ta veg y vree ec e leighyn orroo? Nagh vel shin fakin, son sampleyr, dy nheign da ymmodee—rour foddey, ve eginit liorish leighyn deiney, as ny kerraghyn ta goll maroo, dy yannoo shen ta fys oc ayns nyn gooinsheanse hene dy lhisagh ad jannoo; dy yannoo cairys da nyn naboo; dy yannoo lhiassaghey da ooilley daue t’ad er n’yannoo aggair. | |
| How many are there, who make a mock of sin, though they know that it must be most displeasing to God; and make a jest of damnation, which ought to make the stoutest heart to tremble? Who are not content to be wicked themselves, but take pains to corrupt others? And (without giving any more proofs of the corruption of nature) do not too, too many live, as if they did not believe there is a God, either to reward or punish them? | Cre whilleen t’ayn, ta jannoo craid jeh pecca, ga dy vel fys oc dy nheign da ve erskyn-towse eajee da Jee; as ta jannoo craid jeh coayl-anmey, cooid lhisagh cur er y chree s’roonee ve er-creau;—nagh liore daue ve drogh yantee ad-hene, agh ta goail payns dy chleayney feallagh elley gys olk? As (gyn dy chur stiagh reue prowallyn sodjey jeh marvaneys nyn ghooghys) nagh vel ymmodee, ymmodee seihlt beaghey, myr nagh row ad credjal dy vel Jee ayn, edyr dy choyrt leagh na kerraghey[?] | |
| All these pretend to reason; and indeed God has given all men reason. But lusts and passions will corrupt and blind our reason; what then would become of the wisest of men, if God did not help us by his Spirit, and by his grace? | [278] T’ad shoh ooilley pretendal gys resoon; as dy jarroo ta Jee er choyrt resoon da dy chooilley ghooinney. Agh nee sayntyn as drogh yeearreeyn milley as dolley nyn resoon; cre b’erree eisht da ny deiney s’creeney, ’bey dy vel Jee cooney lhien liorish e Spyrryd, as liorish e ghrayse? | |
| You see, Christians, what we are by nature, what men are capable of, what they would be, when God leaves them to themselves, and to their own natural corruption. You shall now see— | Ta shiu fakin, Chreesteenyn, cre ta shin liorish dooghys, cre cha olk as oddys sleih ve, cre veagh ad, tra ta Jee fagail ad daue hene, as da’n dooghys peccoil oc hene. Soilshee-ym diu nish, | |
| II. the very great danger we are in on that account, if God should leave us to ourselves, and to our own natural powers. | II. Yn ard danjere ta shin ayn er y choontey shen, dy n’aagagh Jee shin dooin hene, as da nyn niart dooghyssagh hene. | |
| When one looks into the world, and sees the generality of people without any concern and fear for themselves, and for what may come hereafter, one cannot but conclude, surely, they do not know the danger they are in. | Tra ta peiagh jeeaghyn fud y theihl, as fakin yn bunnys dy leih fegooish imnea na aggle er nyn son hene, na son cre oddys ve ny lurg shoh, cha vod peiagh agh gra, shickyr, cha vel toiggal oc shoh jeh yn danjere t’ad ayn. | |
| This is, indeed, the root of all our misery. We are in the way of ruin, and do not mind it. We are afraid of laying things to heart, lest they should make us uneasy; and our misfortune is, that we are not so uneasy as they (the generality of Christians) should be. | Ta shoh, dy jarroo, fraue ooilley nyn dreihys.— Ta shin ayns raad y toyrt-mou, as gyn geill ain da. Ta shin neu-vooiagh dy ghoail ny reddyn shoh gys cree, er-aggle dy jinnagh ad shin neu-aashagh; as nyn dreihys yh nagh vel shin cha neu-aashagh as lhisagh yn ayrn smoo dy Chreesteenyn ’ve. | |
| For who can, who ought, to be easy, that knows, that considers, the danger to which his corrupt nature exposes him? For as such, in the first place, he is under the displeasure of God, and, without God’s help and grace, he must continue so, unto his life’s end; forasmuch, as no man can change, can mend a corrupt nature, by a reason and will, that are both corrupt. | Son quoi oddys, quoi lhisagh ve ec aash chree, as fys echey, as goail huggey hene, yn danjere roish t’eh foshlit liorish marvaneys e [279] ghooghys? Son liorish shoh t’yh, ’sy chied ynnyd, fo jymmoose Yee, as, fegooish cooney as grayse Yee, sheign da tannaghtyn fo laghyn e heihl; er-yn-oyr nagh vod dooinney erbee caghlaa, nagh vod dooinney erbee lhiassaghey e ghooghys peccoil, liorish resoon as aigney ta ad-hene nyn neesht marvaneagh. | |
| Now; God can take no pleasure in any man, until his nature be mended; till then he is an enemy to God, and under the government of satan; this we learn from the commission which the Apostles had from Christ himself, [Acts xxvi. 18.] which was, “To preach the Gospel to the heathens, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God.” | Nish; cha vod Jee goail veg y taitnys ayns peiagh erbee, derrey ta e ghooghys er ny lhiassaghey; derrey shen, t’eh noid da Jee, as fo reiltys y drogh-spyrryd. Shoh ta shin gynsaghey veih yn phooar hug Yeesey Creest hene da ny Ostyllyn, [Jannoo xxvi. 18.] va shoh, “Dy phreacheil yn Sushtal da ny Ashoonee, reih chyndaa ad veih dorraghys gys soilshey, as veih pooar noid-ny-anmey gys Jee.” | |
| What the power of satan is, we learn from many instances of Sacred Scripture; and we see with our own eyes the sad effects of his power upon those who are under his government, and who are led captive by him at his will. | Cre ta pooar yn noid-ny-anmey, ta shin gynsaghey veih mooarane sampleyryn ayns Scriptyr Casheric; as tra ta shin fakin lesh nyn sooillyn hene bree treih e phooar harroosyn ta fo e reill; as ta er nyn leeideil nyn gappee liorishyn ec e aigney. | |
| In short; these are the evils which, as fallen creatures, we are, every soul of us, subject to: A corrupt heart; the malice and power of wicked spirits; a proneness to evil continually; the temptations of an evil world; a weakness of nature which cannot withstand [128] them; a certain prospect of death; the fears of a judgment to come; the continual dread of the sentence then to be passed upon sinners; and, lastly, the assurance that we cannot possibly deliver ourselves out of this sad condition. | Ayns giare; ad shoh ny oilk ta shin, myr cretooryn ta er skyrrey, dy chooilley annym j’in lhie foue:—Cree peccoil;—goanlys as pooar drogh-spyrrydyn;—arryltys kinjagh gys yn olk;—miolaghyn drogh heihl;—annoonid ghooghys nagh vod shassoo magh n’oi oc;—shickyrys jeh yn vaase;—aggle roish briwnys ry-heet;—atchim kinjagh roish yn [280] deyrey ta ec y traa shen dy ve focklit magh er pecce[e];―as, er-jerrey, yn shickyrys nagh vel yh possibyl dooin dy livrey shin-hene ass yn stayd treih shoh. | |
| The thoughts of these things are enough to make the stoutest heart to tremble; and to distract the wisest man living, if the God of mercy had not proposed a way to deliver us out of the dangers that threaten us. | Ta smooinaghtyn ny reddyn shoh dy liooar dy chur er y chree s’dunnal dy ve er-creau, as dy voirey keeayl yn dooinney s’creeney bio, ’bey dy vel yn Jee dy vyghin er hoilshaghey dooin aght dy nyn livrey ass ny danjereyn ta baggyrt orrin. | |
| These dangers, I have set before you, —not to drive you to despair, but—to awaken us all into a just sense of the unhappy state we are in, without the blessing of a Redeemer. | Ny danjereyn shoh ta mee er hoiaghey rhimbiu,—cha nee dy eiyrt shiu gys mee-hreishteil—agh dy ghoostey shin ooilley gys ennaghtyn cooie jeh yn stayd treih shen ta shin ayn, fegooish yn bannaght mooar ta liorish Fer-chionnee. | |
| III. the necessity and blessing of a redeemer, we now come to consider. | III. Yn feme ta rish, as yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee, ta shin nish cheet dy hoiaghey rhimbiu. | |
| Now; every thoughtful person may be convinced, that, as fallen creatures, we must have forfeited all the favours which God designed us at our creation. That we lost that Holy Spirit by which our souls were united to God, and by which we had power to know, and to do, whatever God should require of us. That by the loss of that Holy Spirit, our reason became insufficient to guide us; our will and our affections became ungovernable, so that of course we became subject to all manner of wickedness. That while this was our condition, God could take no pleasure in us, and we had nothing to expect but the punishment due to our offences. And, lastly, that we could not, by any thing we could do, help ourselves out of this sad condition. | Nish; foddee dy chooilley pheiagh smooinaghtagh goail baght, dy nheign dooin, myr cretooryn ta er duittym veih foayr Yee, ve er choayl nyn gairys gys ooilley ny bannaghtyn chiare Jee nyn gour ec nyn chroo. Dy vel shin er choayl yn Spyrryd Casheric shen liorish va ny anmeenyn ain er ny lhiantyn gys Jee, as liorish va pooar ain dy hoiggal, as dy yannoo cre-erbee yinnagh Jee goardrail dooin. Liorish coayl yn Spyrryd Casheric shen, haink nyn resoon dy ve neu-fondagh [281] dy leeideil shin; haink nyn aigney as yeearreeyn dy ve mee-reiltagh, myr shen dy daink shin, ayns cooyrse, dy ve aggindagh gys dy chooilley cheint dy vee-chraueeaght. Nagh voddagh Jee, choud as va shin ayns y stayd shoh, goail veg y taitnys aynin, as nagh row monney ain dy yerkal rish agh yn kerraghey va cair da nyn loghtyn. As, er-jerrey, nagh voddagh shin, liorish nhee erbee va shin abyl y yannoo, livrey shin-hene veih treihys yn stayd shoh. | |
| Now, does not all this shew us the absolute necessity of a Redeemer? of one, who could undertake to make satisfaction for our offences to the Divine Justice; of one, who could plead with God for his lost creatures, who could prevail with him to forgive us, and to receive us again into his favour? | Nish, nagh vel ooilley shoh soilshaghey dooin yn ard-feme ta rish Fer-chosnee?—jeh fer, oddagh goail er dy yannoo lhiassaghey gys y chairys Flaunyssagh son ny peccaghyn ainyn;—jeh fer, oddagh jannoo stiagh rish Jee son e chretooryn cailjey, oddagh cosney er dy leih dooin, as dy ghoail shin reesht stiagh gys e oayr? | |
| Who does not see the necessity of some one, who could let us know upon what terms God would forgive us; who could shew us the way and means of salvation; who could give us that Holy Spirit which we had lost, to help us to regain our former happy state? Of one, who could help us to subdue all our enemies, spiritual and temporal; who could set us an example how we ought to live soas to please God? And lastly, one who should be able to deliver us from the wrath to come? | Quoi nagh vel fakin yn feme va rish fer ennagh, oddagh fys y choyrt dooin er cre ny conaantyn yinnagh Jee leih dooin;—oddagh soilshaghey dooin raad as saaseyn y taualtys;—oddagh coyrt dooin yn Spyrryd Casheric shen va shin er choayl, dy chooney lhien dy aa-chosney nyn gied stayd maynrey?—rish fer, oddagh niartaghey lhien dy chur fo-chosh ooilley nyn noidyn spyrrydoil as seihltagh; oddagh cur rhimb’in sampleyr kys dy immeeaght myr shen as dy wooiys Jee; as er-jerrey, fer veagh abyl livrey shin veih yn chorree ta ry-heet? | |
| Now, all this our Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ, has done for us. He has given us the greatest assurance, that, for his sake, God will be reconciled to us. That he will accept of our repentance when we have done amiss. That he will treat us, as he would have done our first parents, had they not so grievously offended him, if we will but be governed by him. That he will give us his Holy Spirit, to sanctify and mend our corrupt nature; and, what is the most astonishing mercy, he has prevailed with God, to make us everlastingly happy, if, during this short life of trial, we will but do our best to fit ourselves for that happy state. | [282] Nish, ooilley shoh ta nyn Fer-chionnee, nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest, er n’yannoo er nyn son. T’eh er choyrt dooin slane shickyrys, er y ghraih echeysyn dy bee Jee coardit rooin;—dy jean eh soiagh’ jeh nyn arrys tra ta shin er n’yannoo ass y raad;—dy dell eh rooinyn myr v’eh kiarit dy yannoo rish nyn gied Ayr as Moir, mannagh row ad er n’yannoo lheid y pecca trome n’oi, my nee mayd geiyrt da’n leeideilys echeysyn;—Dy der eh dooin e Spyrryd Casheric, dy chasherickey as dy lhiassaghey nyn n’ghooghys peccoil;—as cooid ta yn vyghin s’yindyssee ooilley, t’eh er chosney voish Jee dy yannoo shin maynrey son dy bragh, my nee mayd ayns earish yn vea ghiare shoh dy hrial, agh dy jeidjagh gys rere nyn booar dy yannoo shin hene cooie son y stayd maynrey shen. | |
| And, lastly, to magnify this blessing, every one, from the first man to the last, that shall be born, may have an interest in this blessing, if he loseth it not by his own fault. | As er-jerrey, dy chur dooin toiggal cooie jeh mooads erskyn-earroo yn ard-vannaght shoh, dy chooilley unnane, veih yn chied dooinney gys y dooinney s’jerree vees ruggit, foddee cairys ’ve echey ayns y vannaght shoh, mannagh jean eh coayl yh trooid yn oill echey hene. | |
| IV. Now let us consider the great love of god, in sending his own son to be our redeemer. “God (saith our Redeemer) so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | IV. Lhig dooin nish consideral graih mooar Yee ayns coyrt e Vac hene dy ve nyn Fer-chionnee. “Lheid y ghraih shen v’ec Jee (as nyn Fer-chionnee) lheid y ghraih shen v’ec Jee er y theihl, dy dug eh e ynrycan er-ny-gheddyn Mac, quoi-erbee chredjagh [283] ayn nagh jinnagh eh cherraghtyn, agh dy beagh yn vea dy bragh farraghtyn echey.” | |
| That our hearts may be touched with a sense of this mighty blessing, let us consider ourselves as poor, wretched, sinful creatures, in the certain way to ruin, utterly unable to help ourselves. Then let us look unto God, who has millions of millions of creatures better than the best of us, who never offended him, always ready to serve and glorify him. What can we think could move this great God not to overlook this vile part of his creation, but to give his own Son for their redemption? Why, verily, this love of God passeth our comprehension; nor could we have believed it, had not this his Son laid down his life to assure us of his Father’s love for his poor creatures. | Dy vod nyn greeaghyn ’ve meighit lesh ennaghtyn jeh yn ard vannaght shoh, lhig dooin jeeaghyn orrin-hene myr cretooryn boghtey, treih, peccoil, ayns y raad shickyr gys coayl anmey, dy bollagh gyn fort dy chooney lhien hene. Lhig dooin eisht jeeaghyn quaiyl Yee, echey ta millaghyn dy villaghyn dy chretooryn ny share na’n chooid share j’inyn, nagh ren rieau pecca n’oi, dy kinjagh aarloo as arryltagh dy hirveish as dy ghloyraghey eh. Cre oddys mayd smooinaghtyn oddagh meighey yn Jee mooar shoh gyn dy hoiaghey beg jeh yn ayrn fardalagh shoh jeh e obbraghyn, agh dy choyrt e Vac hene son y taualtys oc? Camma, dy feer, ta’n ghraih shoh dy Yee erskyn y tushtey ainyn; chamoo oddagh shin v’er chredjal yh, er-bey dy row shoh e Vac er choyrt sheese e vioys dy choyrt shickyrys dooin jeh graih e Ayrey son e chretooryn boghtey. | |
| [129] This Love of God, this tender concern for lost mankind, will appear still more surprising, when we consider, that he made this his only Son to become subject to the law made for sinners, and to all the miseries and afflictions which sinners deserve, and are subject to; to poverty, to contempt, to sorrow, to pain, and to death after all, in order to deliver us from eternal death. | Nee yn ghraih shoh dy Yee, yn chenjallys ghooie shoh gys sheelnaue chailjey, sthill jeeaghyn ny s’yindyssee dooin, tra gho’ys mayd ain hene, dy dug eh er shoh e ynrycan Vac dy hurranse fo yn leigh va jeant son peccee, as ooilley ny lhieh-chiartyssyn as seaghyn ta peccee dy hoilloo as lhie foue; gys boghtynid, gys faghid, gys trimshey, gys pian, as gys baase lurg ooilley, reih shinyn y livrey veih’n baase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| I know there can be no case on earth to be compared to this Love of God, in order to raise our value for so great a blessing. | [284] Ta fys aym nagh vod cooish erbee er y thalloo ve soylit rish y ghraih shoh dy Yee, reih troggal nyn mooise son lheid y bannaght mooar. | |
| However, let us imagine, how we should value one who had delivered us out of a cursed slavery, and paid our ransom; or one, who had hazarded his own life, to save any one of us from certain death? And has not our gracious God done this, and much more than this, for us? But how few are affected, as they ought to be, with this amazing instance of love, mercy, and goodness! | Ny-yeih, lhig dooin goail ain hene cre’n ard soiagh mooar yinnagh shin jeh peiagh va er livrey shin veih slaveraght custey, as er n’eeck sheese price nyn livrey-ys; na jeh fer, va er choyrt ayns gaue e vioys hene dy hauail unnane erbee ainyn veih baase shickyr? As nagh vel Jee, nyn Yee graysoil er n’yannoo shoh, as foddey smoo na shoh er nyn son ainyn? Agh cre cha beg dy Chreesteenyn ta goail gys nyn gree, myr lhisagh ad, yn sampleyr yindyssagh shoh dy ghraih, dy vyghin, as dy vieys! | |
| I will but just hint to you some instances of his mercy in this dispensation, in which he has had a merciful regard to all our disorders. | Cha jean-ym agh just genmys diu ghaa ny three dy phrowallyn jeh e vyghin ’sy chooish shoh, ayn hoilshee eh e erreeish chymmoil son ooilley nyn ghoghanyn anmey. | |
| God knew that our reason, corrupted by our passions, was not able to lead us in the way we should go; for as the Spirit of God assures us, and we find it by sad experience, “There is a way, which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. God has therefore given us safe and infallible rules to walk by, to lead us to Heaven and Happiness. He knew how apt we are to go astray; he has therefore promised, for our Redeemer’s sake, to accept of our repentance. He knew the weakness of our nature, and the difficulties, and enemies, we had to struggle with; he therefore offers us the assistance of his Almighty Spirit. | Va fys ec Jee nagh row nyn resoon, cassit myr ve liorish nyn yeearreeyn, abyl leeideil shin ’sy raad ayn lhisagh shin gimmeeaght; son myr ta Spyrryd Yee dy hickyrys dooin, as ta shin feddyn dy nee shen myr t’yh liorish ennaghtyn treih, Dy vel raad ayn, as “er-lesh dooinney dy vel yh jeeragh, agh ta’n jerrey echey raaidyn y vaaish.” Jee er-y-fa shen er choyrt dooin ruleyn sauchey as slane fondagh dy immeeaght lioroo, dy leeideil shin gys niau as maynrys. Va [285] fys echey cre cha ullee as ta shin dy gholl er shaghryn, t’eh er-y-fa shen er n’ghialdyn, er graih nyn Fer-chionnee, dy yannoo soiaghey jeh nyn arrys. Va fys echey er annoonid yn dooghys ain, as yn doilleedys, as noidyn t’ain dy ghleck noi; t’eh er-y-fa shen chebbal dooin cooney e Spyrryd Ooilley niartal. | |
| In short: The greatest sinner may be sure of pardon, if it is not purely his own fault; the weakest Christian may depend upon all the assistance that he can possibly want; the meanest servant of Christ may be assured that he will not be overlooked; and every Christian has a sure promise that his labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.—This will lead us to another particular: | Ayns fockle; Foddee yn peccagh smoo ve shickyr jeh pardoon, mannagh bee yh ooilley-dy-lhearagh e oill hene;—foddee yn Creestee s’annooiney ve shickyr dy vou eh dy chooilley chooney oddys eh dy bragh shassoo ayns feme jeh;—foddee shickyrys ve ec y charvaant s’inshley dy Chreest nagh bee eh er ny yarrood;—as ta gialdyn shickyr ec dy chooilley Chreestee, nagh bee e laboragh ayns fardail ayns y Chiarn. Nee shoh leeideil shin gys banglane elley: | |
| V. To consider what obligations this great love of god lays upon christians. | V. Dy chonsideral cre ny kianglaghyn ta yn ghraih mooar shoh dy Yee cur er Creesteenyn. | |
| Do not imagine, Christians, that God intended, that all this love should be lost upon us; or that he expects no other fruits of his Son’s labours and sufferings, besides a bare profession of gratitude. Woe be to that man who acts as if he thinks so! | Ny smooinee-jee, Chreesteenyn, dy nee kiarail Yee ve, dy beagh ooilley yn ghraih shoh caillit orrin; na nagh vel eh jerkal rish cooilleen erbee arragh son ooilley obbraghyn yindyssagh as surranse e Vac, agh ynrycan booise lhome. Smerg da yn dooinney shen ta e yannoo soilshaghey dy nee shoh myr t’eh dy smooinaghtyn! | |
| We do, indeed, in our daily devotions, give God thanks in a very particular manner, for his inestimable love, in the redemption of the world, by our Lord Jesus Christ; a love, which passeth all possible expressions and acknowledgment on our part. But what will this signify, if in our works we deny him; if in our lives we are like heathens, not knowing, or not valuing, the blessing of a Redeemer? | Ta shin dy jarroo, ayns shirveish gagh-laa ny killagh, coyrt booise da Jee ayns goan feer [286] vaghtal, son e ghraih erskyn-earroo ayns kionnaghey-reesht yn seihl liorish nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest;—graih, erskyn pooar goan dy ockley magh, as dy feeu dy ghoail-rish er y cheu ainyn corrym myr lhisagh shin. Agh cre sheeu shoh, my ta shin gobbal eh ayns nyn n’yannoo; my ta shin myr an-chreesteenyn ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea, fegooish toiggal na jannoo scansh jeh yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee? | |
| What then does God expect from us, on account of this mighty love? Why; that we should act like reasonable creatures, like people who know they are upon their trial, and that this is for eternity; who may be happy if it is not their own fault, and who will be miserable beyond redemption, if they close not with this offer of mercy. | Cre eisht ta Jee dy yerkal rish voinyn er coontey yn ghraih mooar yindyssagh shoh? Camma; dy jinnagh shin nyn mea y leeideil myr cretooryn resoonagh, myr sleih ta fys oc dy vel ad er nyn drial, as shen neesht son y vea dy bragh beayn; sleih oddys ’ve maynrey mannagh bee yh nyn voill hene, as vees treih gyn cour, mannagh jean ad coardail gys yn cheb shoh dy vyghin. | |
| God expects, therefore, that we should glorify him in our lives, for this his great goodness; that we should convince the world, that we do really believe the things we profess to believe, by working out our salvation with fear, with a concern answerable to what we hope for, or what we fear. He expects that we should remember what manner of love he had for us, that we should be called the sons of God. That we should resolve, with those mentioned in the Book of Wisdom, [xv. 2.] “We will not sin, knowing that we are accounted thine.” That we should not debase ourselves, by becoming the servants of Satan, from whose dominion we have been redeemed by the precious blood of his dear Son , but should [130] let the love of God constrain us to shew our gratitude, by fruits worthy of so great a mercy; especially in these dangerous days, wherein the name of Christ is blasphemed, and his sufferings not valued by unbelievers, occasioned chiefly by the bad lives of Christians;—but then, they are such Christians as are certain to be shut out of Heaven, for being as bad as infidels. | Ta Jee, er-y-fa shen, jeeaghyn son lheid yn ymmyrkey ayninyn as vees gys y ghloyr echeysyn, son shoh e vieys vooar; dy vod mayd shickyrys y choyrt da’n seihl, dy vel shin dy jarroo credjal ny reddyn ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal, liorish gobbraghey magh nyn saualtys lesh aggle, lesh imnea corrym gys shen ta shin treishteil er y hon, na goail aggle roish. T’eh jerkal dy jean mayd freayl ayns cooinaghtyn cre’n monney dy ghraih v’echey orrin, dy beagh shin enmyssit nyn gloan dy Yee. Dy kiar mayd, [287] maroosyn ta imraa jeu ayns Lioar y Chreenaght [xv. 2.] “Cha jean mainyn pecca, as fys ainyn dy vel shin goit son dty vooinjer hene.” Nagh dayrn mayd scammylt orrin hene liorish ve nyn sharvaantyn da Satan, veih e reiltys ta shin er ve feayshlit liorish fuill e Vac ennoil, agh dy lhiggagh shin da graih Yee dy eginaghey shin dy hoilshaghey nyn mooise, liorish messyn feeu jeh lheid y vyghin mooar; erskyn ooilley ayns ny laghyn danjeragh shoh, ayndoo ta ennym Chreest er ny oltooaney, as beg soit jeh e hurranse liorish an-chredjue; as shoh, son y chooid smoo kyndagh rish drogh vea Chreesteenyn;—agh eisht, t’ad lheid ny Creesteenyn as ta shickyr dy ve dooint magh ass niau, son dy vel ad cha olk as an-chreesteenyn. | |
| There is one other obligation which the Spirit of God has laid upon all such as value the blessing of a Redeemer: [I John iv. 11.] “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” This is to be the motive and the pattern of our love for our neighbour. “This command we have from God, that he who loveth God do love his neighbour also.”—This leads us to consider, in the last place, | Ta un chiangley elley ayn ta Spyrryd Yee er choyrt er ooilley ta soiaghey jeh yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee: [I Ean iv. 11.] “My hug Jee lheid y ghraih shoh dooinyn, lhisagh shinyn myrgeddin graih y choyrt yn derrey yeh da yn jeh elley.” Ta shoh dy ve oyr as sampleyr dooinyn jeh nyn ghraih er nyn naboo. “Shoh yn sarey t’ain veih Jee, Eshyn ta graihagh er Jee, dy der eh graih da e naboo myrgeddin.” Ta shoh leeideil shin dy chonsideral, ayns yn ynnyd s’jerree, | |
| VI. the sad condition of those, who neglect, or despise, this mercy of god. | VI. Yn stayd treih ocsyn ta meerioosagh na soiaghey beg jeh’n vyghin shoh dy Yee. | |
| It is the Spirit of God who hath declared, “That there is none other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved, but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So that whoever does not lay hold of this means of salvation, must undoubtedly perish to all eternity. | [288] She Spyrryd Yee ta er vockley magh, “Nagh vel ennym erbee elley fo niau, er ny choyrt mastey deiney, liorish oddys ad ve er nyn sauail, agh ynrycan ennym yn Chiarn Yeesey Creest.” Myr shen quoi-erbee nagh vel goail greme er y saase shoh dy haualtys, sheign daue gyn dooyt cherraghtyn er son dy bragh. | |
| If you wonder how it is possible for any man who knows this to hazard his soul to all eternity, the Apostle will give you the true reason: [ 2 Cor. iv. 4.] “The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.” | My ta yindys erriu kys t’yh possibyl da dooinney erbee ta fys echey er shoh dy chur e annym ayns gaue cherraghtyn son dy bragh, ver yn Ostyl rhimbiu yn resoon cair: [1 Cor. iv. 4.] “Ta Jee yn seihl shoh er choyrt fo ghorraghys ny smooinaghtyn oc, nagh vel ad credjal.” | |
| Little do wicked men and unbelievers think, that satan, the god of this world, is he who is perpetually suggesting to them such things as weaken and destroy their faith; such pleasures as blind their understandings; such ways of living, as lead them directly to hell. And yet, it is certainly so; he hath blinded their eyes, so that they cannot see the consequence of abused mercy, nor the sad condition of being given over to a reprobate mind; though there be no condition more dreadful, than for a man to be subject to the justice of God, without any interest in his mercy. This made David, (though in the main a good man) this made him mourn so bitterly, when, through the corruption of his nature, he had grievously offended God: “I am sore troubled, mine iniquities are an heavy burthen, I go mourning all the day long.” What a dreadful condition had he been in, even to eternity, if there had been no sacrifice for sin? And, indeed, there was none under the law for such sins as his was, as he himself acknowledges; nor would his troubled spirit, his broken and contrite heart, have been accepted for his pardon, but only for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of all, from the foundation of the world. | S’beg ta sleih mee-chrauee as mee-chredjuee dy smooinaghtyn, dy nee Satan, Jee yn Seihl shoh, dy nee eshyn eh ta dy kinjagh gientyn ayndoo lheid ny smooinaghtyn as ta leodaghey as cur mou nyn gredjue, lheid ny eunyssyn as ta dolley yn tushtey oc, lheid ny aghtyn-beaghee as nee ad y leeideil jeeragh gys niurin. As ny-yeih, shoh myr t’yh son shickyrys; t’eh er gholley ny sooillyn oc, myr shen nagh vod ad fakin yn danjere jeh soiaghey beg jeh lheid y vyghin, na yn stayd treih jeh ve livreit harrish gys creoghys chree; ga nagh vod stayd s’treih y ve na son dooinney dy huittym fo cairys Yee, fegooish claim erbee gys e vyghin. Shoh hug er David (ga ny ghooinney mie son y chooid smoo) dy [289] yannoo lheid y dobberan sharroo, tra, trooid broid e ghooghys ve er choyrt jymmoose vooar er Jee: “Ta mee dy mooar seaghnit, ta my pheccaghyn ny errey trome, ta mee dobberan fey-ny-laa.” Cre’n stayd treih veagh eh er ve ayn, eer son dy bragh, er-bey dy row oural kiarit cour pecca? As dy feer, cha row lhiassaghey erbee fo yn leigh son lheid ny peccaghyn as ren eshyn, myr t’eh hene goail-rish; cha beagh soiagh er ve jeant jeh e spyrryd seaghnit, jeh e chree brish [sic] as arryssagh cour e phardoon, agh ynrycan er graih Yeesey Creest, yn Fer-chionnee ain ooilley er dy undin y theihl. | |
| In one word: We may, if we will but consider, we may judge, how sad our condition and danger is, without a Redeemer, by the way which God has made use of to save us from ruin. Nothing, in the decrees of God, nothing could save us, but the sending of his own Son to lay down his life for us. | Ayns un ockle: Foddee mayd, my nee mayd agh smooinaghtyn orrin hene, foddee mayd briwnys cre cha treih as ta nyn stayd as danjere, fegooish Fer-chionnee, liorish yn saase ta Jee er fordrail dy hauail shin veih coayl-anmey. Cha voddagh nhee erbee sauail shin, agh cheet Mac Yee dy chur sheese e vioys er nyn son. | |
| I have set before you, Christians, the great disorders we are by nature subject to; the great hazard we are in on that account; the only sure remedy we have to trust to; the great goodness of God in pitying our sad condition; what he requires in return for this mercy; and the sad consequence of not closing with his gracious designs for our good | Ta mee er hoiaghey rhimbiu, Chreesteenyn, camlaagys nyn n’ghooghys;—yn gaue mooar ta shin ayn er y choontey shen;—cre ta yn ynrycan saase shickyr t’ain dy hreishteil huggey; ta mee er hoiaghey rhimbiu mieys vooar Yee ayns goail chymmey jeh nyn stayd doogh;—cre’n cooilleen t’eh shirrey orrin son y vyghin shoh;—as yn eiyrtys treih ta liorish soiaghey beg jeh e chiarailyn graysoil son nyn voays. | |
| Great kindnesses, or great judgments, are the usual methods by which God reduces his poor wandering creatures. Which of these methods will you wish to be dealt with? I have set before you, the greatest instance of love, goodness, mercy, and kindness, that was ever shewed to men or angels. If this does not work upon you, and if ever you hope to be saved, you have nothing to look for, but to be reclaimed from the ways of sin, by severe judgments. But this is not what God delights in; he would have his goodness, and that only, to lead men to repentance. | [290] Ta ard chenjallys na ard cherraghey ny saaseyn s’mennic lesh Jee goail dy hayrn huggey hene e chretooryn boghtey shaghrynagh. Quoi jeh ny saaseyn shoh wishagh shiu eh dy ghoail riuish? Ta mee er hoiaghey rhimbiu ny prowallyn stroshey dy ghraiḥ, mieys, myghin, as kenjallys va rieau er nyn soilshaghey da deiney na ainleyn. Mannagh vel shoh goail greme er dty chree, as my t’ou dy bragh treishteil son saualtys, cha vel eisht d[t]y chour, agh dy ve er dty hyndaa veih raaidyn phecca liorish briwnyssyn dewilley. Agh cha vel Jee goail taitnys ayns shoh; baillishyn e vieys, as shen ny lomarcan, dy leeideil sleih gys arrys. | |
| [131] Few people can be easy, without something which they call religion.—For God’s sake remember this truth: That no religion will be of use to us, which does not mend our corrupt nature; and, by doing so, restore us to the favour of God; which does not bring us to love him for his goodness to us, and to strive to glorify him, by leading a Christian life; by an humble dependence on his providence, and submission to his will; and by doing good in our generation. | Cha nhimmey oddys ve aashagh, fegooish red ennagh ’ve oc t’ad genmys credjue. Er graih Yee, cooinee-jee er y raa firrinagh shoh: Nagh vod credjue erbee nagh vel lhiassaghey nyn n’ghooghys peccoil ve gys faunnoo erbee dooin, as liorish jannoo shen, cur shin reesht ayns foayr rish Jee; credjue nagh vel tayrn shinyn dy chur graih dasyn son e vieys dooinyn, as dy streeu dy ghloyraghey eh liorish leeideil bea Chreestee; liorish barrant imlee er e Ard-chiaralys, as beasid gys e aigney; as liorish jannoo mie ayns nyn sheeloghe. | |
| Without this, all our religion is vain, and we shall still be in the way of perdition. | Fegooish jannoo shoh, bee ooilley nyn gredjue ayns fardail, as bee mayd sthill ayns raad y choayl-anmey. | |
| Have a care, Christians, of a delusion, which too many are in danger of being ruined by; by fancying that the corruption of their nature will be some excuse for their unchristian lives. God commands us certain duties; he offers us all necessary assistance; he proposes to reward us according to our sincere endeavours to obey him. To say after this, we are all sinners, and who can help it? without resolving that moment to repent and amend, is an affront to our dear Redeemer, and a doing despite to the Spirit of Grace. | [291] Bee-jee er nyn dwoaie, Chreesteenyn, jeh molteyrys ta rour ayns gaue dy ve caillit liorish; ta shen, smooinaghtyn dy bee annoonid nyn n’ghooghys keint dy leshtal son nyn ymmyrkey bea an-chreestee. Ta Jee sarey lheid ny cur’myn Creestee shen orrin; t’eh chebbal dooin ooilley yn cooney ta ymmyrchagh; t’eh gialdynys leagh dooin rere myr ta shin ayns ynrickys streeu dy choyrt biallys dasyn. Dy ghra lurg shoh, ta shin ooilley nyn beccee, as cha vel niart er, fegooish ve kiarit ’sy tullagh shen dy ghoail arrys as dy lhiassaghey nyn mea, t’yh dy yannoo mee-ooashley da nyn Fer-chionnee ennoil, as dy hassoo magh dy olkyssagh noi yn Spyrryd dy ghrayse. | |
| We are ready enough to own the blessing of a Redeemer, when we only consider Jesus Christ as coming into the world to save sinners; as being our advocate with God, to accept of our repentance. But we should always remember, that He is also our Law-giver, and that we must obey his laws, or he will be no blessing to us. You see, therefore, Christians, to whom our Redeemer will be a blessing; even to such as, by a saving faith and a sincere obedience, do suffer themselves to be made partakers of a divine nature. | Ta shin aarloo dy liooar dy ghoail-rish yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee, tra ta shin ynrycan smooinaghtyn dy daink Yeesey Creest gys y theihl dy hauail peccee, as dy yannoo stiagh rish Jee ass-nyn-lheh, eh dy yannoo soiagh jeh nyn arrys. Agh lhisagh shin dy kinjagh freayl ayns cooinaghtyn, dy nee eshyn myrgeddin ta er choyrt yn leigh dooin, as dy nheign dooin coyrt biallys da ny leighyn echeysyn, er-nonney cha bee bannaght erbee ain liorishyn. Ta shiu fakin, er-y-fa shen, Chreesteenyn, quoi yiow bannaght liorish nyn Fer-chionnee; eer nyn lheid as liorish credjue bioal, as biallys jeidjagh, ta surranse daue-hene dy ve jeant cummee jeh yn dooghys flaunyssagh. | |
| And now, before I conclude, I must advise you of two ways, by which Satan will attempt to divert you from making a profitable use of such doctrines as these; either he tempts Christians to despair, and, out of a deep sense of their corruption, to cry out, O wretched creature that I am, who shall deliver me from the sin that does beset me? Or he tempts them to believe, that since Christ came into the world to save sinners, it is a very easy thing to be saved. These are, both of them, very dangerous delusions. | [292] As nish, my der-ym jerrey er my Harmane, sheign dou raue y choyrt diu jeh daa aght, lioroo nee yn drogh-spyrryd streeu dy chleayney shiu veih jannoo ymmyd vie jeh lheid yn ynsagh as shoh; edyr t’eh miolagh Creesteenyn dy yannoo mee-hreishteil er myghin Yee, as trooid ennaghtyn dowin jeh nyn marvaneys hene, dy phlaynt O cretoor caillit myr ta mee, quoi nee m’y livrey veih yn pecca ta chionney mee mygeayrt? Er-nonney t’eh miolagh ad dy chredjal, neayr as dy daink Creest gys y theihl dy hauail peccee, dy nee red feer aashagh yh dy ve er ny hauail. T’ad shoh nyn neesht shaghrynyssyn erskyn-towse danjereagh. | |
| Jesus Christ did, indeed, come into the world to save sinners; but what sort of sinners? Why, such as do forsake their sins, and fully purpose to lead holy lives for the time to come. But as for such as depend upon a bare outward performance of the duties of Christianity; who comfort themselves with being able say, we have eat and drank at thy table, and we are called by thy name; our Lord himself has declared, what judgment he will pass upon such Christians: [Luke xiii.] “Depart from me; I know you not.” A sentence (believe it, Christians) that should make the very best of us examine, whether our lives and, our works do answer our outward profession. | Haink Yeesey Creest dy jarroo gys y theihl dy hauail peccee; agh cre’n keint dy pheccee? Camma, nyn lheid as ta treigeil nyn beccaghyn, as ta dy slane kiarit dy leeideil bea chrauee son y traa ta ry-heet. Agh son nyn lheid as ta treishteil gys yn cooilleeney cur’myn cliaghtit nyn gredjue Creestee; ta gerjagh ad hene lesh ve abyl dy ghra, Ta shin er n’ee as er n’iu ec dty voayrd’s, as ta shin fo yn ennym ayds; ta nyn Jiarn eh-hene er hoilshaghey dooin cre’n briwnys nee eh fockley magh er lheid ny Creesteenyn; [Luke xiii. 27.] “Vo’ym shiu; cha nione dou shiu.” Briwnys (cred-jee yh, Chreesteenyn) lhisagh cur er eer yn fer share j’in feyshtey shin-hene, vel nyn mea as nyn yannoo gansoor gys nyn gredjue cadjin. | |
| As for such sinners as are truly afraid for themselves; who sincerely lament the corruption of their nature; and, out of an earnest desire to please God, cry out, who shall deliver me from this body of death? Let such always remember what follows, i thank god through jesus christ: i.e. for his sake, God will deliver me from the evil effects of the corruption of my nature, from the power of the devil, and from eternal death. | [293] Er son lheid ny peccee as ta dy firrinagh ayns aggle er nyn son hene;—ta dy creeoil dobberan marvaneys nyn n’ghooghys, as ta, ass yeearree jeean dy wooiys Jee, geam magh, quoi nee m’y livrey veih corp y vaase shoh? Lhig da nyn lheid dy kinjagh freayl ayns cooinaghtyn ny goan ta geiyrt orroo, Ta mee cur booise da Jee trooid Yeesey Creest; ta shen, er y ghraih echeysyn nee Jee livrey mee veih eiyrtyssyn treih my ghooghys marvaneagh, veih pooar noid-ny-anmey, as veih baase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| If it be so, you will be apt to ask, why then are there few that be saved? The case is sad, but plain; people will not fear for themselves; they will not part with their sins, nor lay hold of the mercy offered them. | My she shoh myr t’yh, foddee shiu ve aarloo dy eanaghtyn, Cre’n-fa eisht dy nee beggan ta er ny hauail? Ta’n chooish treih trimshagh, agh playn; cha jean sleih goail aggle er nyn son hene; cha jean ad scarrey rish ny peccaghyn oc, na goail greme er y vyghin ta chebbit daue. | |
| But may every sinner (says the desponding Christian) be confident, that God will pardon those who have so many ways offended him? Take an answer— not from me, but— from the Son of God himself, who has declared, even with an oath, [Mark iii. 28.] “Verily, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men .” | Agh, vod dy chooilley pheccagh (as yn Creestee lhag-chreeagh) ve shickyr dy jean Jee leih dauesyn ta cha mennic er n’yannoo pecca ny oi? Gow dty ansoor—cha nee vo’yms, agh—veih Mac Yee hene, ta er vockley magh, eer lesh breearrey, [Mark iii. 28.] “Dy firrinagh ta mee gra riu, Bee dy chooilley phecca er ny leih da mec gheiney.” | |
| Why should any, the most fearful Christian, imagine, that that Divine Shepherd, who with so much love and pains came to seek his lost sheep, that He will turn [132] his back upon one that cries after him for help;— that he would lay down his life for his sheep, and after that reject them. Let not the most disconsolate Christian entertain such unkind thoughts of God, and of our good Redeemer. Rather let us comfort ourselves, under the most desponding thoughts, with the argument of the Apostle: “If, when we were sinners, and enemies to God, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by him; for he ever liveth to make intercession for us.” | Cre’n-fa yinnagh unnane erbee, yn Creestee s’faitjagh, gaurys, dy jean yn Bochil Flaunyssagh shen, haink lesh wheesh dy [294] ghraih dy hirrey son e chirree cailjey, dy jean Eshyn chyndaa cooyl orroosyn ta geam huggey son cooney;—dy derragh eh sheese e vioys son e chirree, as ny lurg shen geiyrt voish ad. Nagh lhig da’n Creestee s’faase chreeagh cur raad da lheid ny smooinaghtyn an-ghooie jeh Jee, as jeh nyn Fer-chionnee bannee. Ny s’leaie lhig dooin gerjaghey shin hene fo nyn lhuiggid chree s’annooney, lesh resoon yn Ostyl: [Rom. v. 10.] “Tra va shin nyn beccee as noidyn da Jee, my va shin coardit rishyn liorish baase e Vac; foddey smoo, myr ta shin nish goit stiagh gys shee, vees mayd er nyn sauail liorish; fakin dy vel eh dy bragh bio dy yannoo stiagh er nyn son.” Heb. vii. 25. | |
| And now, let me leave this one truth upon your minds; it is a truth as certain as this [the Bible] is the word of God—That unless our corrupt nature be mended before we die, we shall never go to Heaven, never be happy. | As nish, lhig dou fagail yn un raa firrinagh shoh er ny aignaghyn eu; t’yh ny raa cha firrinagh as shickyr as ta shoh [yn Vible] Goo Yee—Mannagh bee nyn n’ghooghys peccoil er ny lhiassaghey roish my vow mayd baase, cha jed mayd dy bragh gys niau, cha bee mayd dy bragh maynrey. | |
| May the good Spirit of God fix these truths in all our hearts, for Jesus Christ’s sake. | Dy gooidsave lesh Spyrryd mie Yee dy ghrainney ny firrinyssyn shoh er ny creeaghyn ain ooilley, er graih Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom, with the Father, and that Holy Spirit, be ascribed all honour, glory, &c. Amen. | Huggeysyn, marish yn Ayr, as yn Spyrryd Casheric shen, dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr nish as er son dy bragh. Amen. | |
| [150] | [295] | |
| SERMON XXIV. | SHARMANE XIV. | |
| DANGER OF NOT LOVING JESUS CHRIST FAITHFULLY. | Yn Danjere ta liorish gyn ve dy jeidjagh graihagh er Yeesey Creest. | |
| i cor. xvi. 22. | i Cor. xvi. 22. | |
| If any Man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maran-atha, | My ta dooinney erbee nagh vel graih echey er y Chiarn Yeesey Creest, lhig da ve Anathema, Maran-atha; [ta shen, lhig da ve er ny gheyrey, na fagit mooie, tra hig y Chiarn gys briwnys.] | |
| [i. e. accursed when the Lord cometh to judgment. *] * See Matth. x. 37. John viii. 42. xiv. 15, 21, 24. Eph. iii. 16. vi. 24. Phil. iii. 8. 2 Tim. ii. 12. 2.Pet. ii. 1. 1 John ii. 15. Ps. xlv, 10. | ||
| SAINT PAUL tells us, the verse before, that he writ these words, and the salutation following, with his own hand, as a matter that it concerned them to take notice of. And, truly, it concerns all Christians to have some good assurance of this, that they do indeed love the Lord Jesus Christ, lest, when he comes to judgment, they should fall under this dreadful sentence, to be for ever separated from their Lord and Saviour. | TA’N Noo Paul ginsh dooin, ’sy vierse roish y text, dy ren eh screeu ny goan shoh lesh e laue hene, myr cooish va lhie orroosyn [er ny Corinthianee] dy ghoail tastey jeh. As, dy jarroo, t’yh lhie er dy chooilley Chreestee dy gheddyn shickyrys vie ennagh jeh shoh, dy vel dy jarroo graih oc er y Chiarn Yeesey Creest, er-aggle, tra hig eh gys briwnys, dy duitt ad fo yn deyrey atchimagh shoh, dy ve son dy bragh er nyn scarrey veih nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh. | |
| The words are plain, and positive, and full of terror. And I have made choice of them, that I may at once awaken your attention, and put us all upon a most necessary enquiry, whether our love be such as it should be? For it is very certain, people may deceive themselves, and hope that they are Christ’s faithful servants, and that they shew their love sufficiently, either by endearing expressions, or by their zeal, for their own particular way of serving him, by standing up for the truths of the Gospel; or, even by rejoicing with his church, when she celebrates the memorials of his love to mankind. | Ta sarey playn as feer atchimagh ayns ny goan shoh. As ta mee er reih ad, dy vod-ym chamma doostey nyn imnea, as myrgeddin [296] dy chur shin ooilley er jannoo yn briaght ymmyrchagh shen,—vel nyn ghraih lheid as lhisagh y ve? Son smoo shickyr t’yh, dy vod sleih molley ad-hene, as treishteil dy vel ad nyn sharvaantyn jeidjagh da Creest, as dy vel ad dy fondagh soilshaghey nyn ghraih, edyr liorish goan ghraihagh, na liorish nyn jeeanid son yn aght shen ayn t’ad hene dy hirveish eh, liorish shassoo dy chion son firrinyssyn y Sushtal; na eer son dy vel ad dy tastagh freayl ard feaillaghyn as oardaghyn yn Agglish, lioroo t’ee freayl seose cooinaghtyn jeh e ghraih gys sheelnaue. | |
| Now; though all these are worthy expressions of respect, yet they are by no means to be depended upon as infallible marks of our love to Jesus Christ, because there have been people, in all ages, who have gloried in the name of Christ, have contended for the privileges of the Gospel, have spoken of Jesus Christ in words full of love and respect ; and yet have been utter strangers to that love, which should have appeared in their lives, as well as in their professions. | Nish; ga dy vel ad shoh ooilley nyn aghtyn cooie dy hoilshagh nyn arrym; ny-yeih cha jean mie dooin er chor erbee, jerkal huc myr cowraghyn slane fondagh jeh nyn ghraih er Yeesey Creest; er-yn-oyr dy vel sleih er ve, ayns dy chooilley hraa, ta er voggyssagh jeh ennym Chreest, ta er hassoo seose ass lheh ny bannaghtyn ta liorish yn Sushtal, ta er loayrt jeh Yeesey Creest ayns focklyn feer ghraihagh as arrymagh; as ny-yeih ta er ve ooilley-cooidjagh nyn yoarreeyn da’n ghraih shen, lhisagh ve er ny akin ayns nyn ymmyrkey bea, chamma as ayns nyn ghoan. | |
| As for “such as deny the Lord that bought them,” [2 Pet. ii. 1.] charity will not suffer us to believe that there are any such present. But, then, there are too many, who (as we said just now) are under a delusion, without knowing it. | As son nyn lheid as ta gobbal yn Chiarn ren ad y chionnaghey, [2 Peddyr ii. 1.] cha sur graih braaragh dooin credjal dy vel veg nyn lheid ayns shoh kionfenish. Agh eisht ta rour ayn, (myr dooyrt mee agh just nish) ta fo shaghrynys gyn-yss daue. | |
| First; There are many, for instance, who love Jesus Christ as he is their Saviour, who do not love him as he is their Prince and Lawgiver. | [297] Hoshiaght; Ta ymmodee ayn, son mac-soyley, ta graih oc er Yeesey Creest myr t’eh nyn Saualtagh, nagh vel graihagh er myr nyn Prince as Fer-toyrt yn leigh. | |
| Secondly; There are many who love him, but not heartily, because they do not know their own misery, without the blessing of a Redeemer. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; Ta ymmodee ayn ta graih oc er, agh cha nee dy creeoil, er-yn-oyr nagh nione daue nyn dreihys hene fegooish yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee. | |
| Thirdly; There are many, very many, who hope that they may love Jesus Christ, without renouncing the love of the world. | ’Sy trass ynnyd; Ta ymmodee, ymmodee seihlt, ta treishteil dy vod graih ’ve oc er Yeesey Creest, fegooish cur cooyl da graiḥ yn theihl. | |
| Fourthly; There are too many who, mistaking the marks of a love for Christ, misspend their time in vanity, and misplace their affections. | ’Sy chiarroo ynnyd; Ta rour ayn ta, marran ayns cowraghyn ghraih Chreest, juail nyn draa ayns fardail, as graihagh er cooid nagh lhisagh ad. | |
| Lastly; It is impossible to love Jesus Christ as we should do. | Er-jerrey; T’yh neu-phossibyl dooin ve graihagh er Yeesey Creest myr lhisagh shin. | |
| [151] These, therefore, are things fit to be made plain, and these are the particulars, which, by the favour of God, I shall now insist upon. | T’ad shoh, er-y-fa shen, reddyn ta cooie dy ve dy playn er nyn doiggal; as t’ad ny cooishyn, ta mee kiarit, liorish foayr Yee, nish dy hoiagh rhimbiu. | |
| I. We shall first consider, the delusion of those who love Jesus Christ as a Saviour, but do not love him as he is their Prince and Lawgiver. | I. Nee mayd hoshiaght consideral, yn shaghrynys ocsyn ta graih oc er Yeesey Creest myr t’eh nyn Saualtagh, agh nagh vel graihagh er myr t’eh nyn Prince as Fer-toyrt nyn leigh. | |
| When the love of Jesus Christ is first announced, people look upon it as a most reasonable duty, and the most easy to be received: they consider him as a Redeemer; “that he came into the world to save sinners;” [1 Tim. i. 15.] that by his means God is reconciled to us, for he laid down his life for us, and the Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all; that he is our Advocate with the Father, our Great High Priest, making intercession for us continually; that we are all the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ;” [ Gal. iii. 26.] “and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” [Rom. viii. 17.] | Tra ta graih er Yeesey Creest hoshiaght er ny phreacheil, ta sleih jeeaghyn er myr nyn gurrym smoo resoonagh, as smoo aashagh dy [298] yannoo soiagh jeh: t’ad jeeaghyn er myr Fer-chionnee; “dy daink eh gys y theihl dy hauail peccee;” [1 Tim. i. 15.] dy vel Jee er y choontey echeysyn coardit rooin, son hug eh sheese e vioys er nyn son, as dy ren yn Chiarn lhie er’syn yn loght ainyn ooilley;—dy vel eh nyn Bleadeyr rish yn Ayr;—nyn Ard-saggyrt Mooar ta dy kinjagh jannoo stiagh er nyn son;—dy vel “shin ooilley cloan dy Yee liorish credjue ayns Yeesey Creest;” [Gal. iii. 26.] “as my she cloan shin, eisht eiraghyn, eiraghyn dy Yee, as co-eiraghyn marish Creest.” [Rom. viii. 17.] | |
| These are all such glorious privileges, purchased for us by Christ, that it seems impossible for any Christian not to love him. And we do not wonder that the Prophets, foreseeing his incarnation and appearance in the world, called him the desire of all nations, [Hagg. ii. 7.] “That all nations. should call him blessed;” [Ps. lxxii. 1.] “That all the families of the earth should be happy in him.” [Gen. xxviii. 14.] | T’ad shoh ooilley lheid ny bannaghtyn gloyroil, cosnit dooin liorish Creest, dy vod yh ve smooinit neu-phossibyl da Creestee erbee gyn graih ’ve echey er. As cha vel yindys orrin dy ren ny Phadeyryn, fakin ro-laue e ghoail foalley as cheet gys y theihl, genmys eh yeearree dy chooilley aashoon; [Haggai ii. 7.] Dy jinnagh dy chooilley aashoon genmys eh bannit; [Psal. lxxii. 17.] Dy beagh ooilley kynneeyn y theihl er nyn mannaghey aynsyn. [Gen. xxviii. 14.] | |
| But then we are apt to forget, that this Saviour, whom we love and admire, is our Prince and Lawgiver; that we are his subjects, and bound to obey all his laws; that he is to be our Judge, and will call us to a very strict account, if we pretend to be his servants, to love him, and do not the things which he commands us. And this makes a strange alteration in our affections; when we call to mind what our Redeemer expects from us; what strict laws this Prince has given for the good government of his subjects; and, upon what conditions he will be a Saviour to us. | Agh eisht ta shin apt dy yarrood, dy vel yn Saualtagh shoh er ta shin graihagh, nyn Prince as Fer-toyrt nyn leigh;—dy vel shin nyn dheah dasyn, as kainlt dy chur biallys da ooilley e leighyn dy vel eh dy ve nyn Mriw, as dy n’eie eh orrin gys coontey feer gheyre, my ta shin lhiggey orrin dy ve [299] sharvaantyn dasyn, dy vel graih ain er, as gyn jannoo ny reddyn t’eh dy harey dooin. As ta shoh jannoo caghlaa mooar ayns nyn yeearreeyn, tra ta shin tayrn gys cooinaghtyn ny ta nyn Fer-chionnee jerkal rish voin; cre ny leighyn geyre ta’n Prince shoh er choyrt dooin son reiltys vie e heah; as er cre ny conaantyn vees eh ny Haualtagh dooin. | |
| These thoughts are apt to lessen our joys, and we are almost ready to say, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, [liii. 3. [sic]] “there is no beauty in him that we should desire him.” And it is then we find that a matter of difficulty, which before we thought the easiest duty in the world. And, indeed, it is the hardest thing to flesh and blood to love him sincerely, who commands us, for his sake, to renounce all that is dear to us in this world; to deny one's self a great many things which we are very passionately fond of; to keep under the body, and bring it into subjection; not to conform ourselves according to this present evil world, for which we are sure to be reproached; and yet to esteem this reproach of Christ before all worldly advantages; to glory in nothing so much as in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which we are taught to despise all that the world doats on. | Ta ny smooinaghtyn shoh apt dy leodaghey nyn moggey, as ta shin faggys aarloo dy ghra, ayns goan y Phadeyr Isaiah, liii. 2. “cha vaik mayd ayn aalid erbee dy ghoail nyn aigney.” As shen y traa ta shin feddyn shen dy ve ny chooish doillee, va shin roie smooinaghtyn yn churrym sassey ’sy theihl. As, dy jarroo t’yh yn red s’doillee da feill as fuill dy firrinagh dy chur graih dasyn, ta sarey shin, er y ghraih echeysyn, dy hreigeil ooilley ny ta deyr dooin ’sy theihl;—dy obbal dooin hene ymmodee reddyn ta shin feer viandagh orroo;—dy reayl nyn gallin fo, as dy smaghtagh yh;—gyn dy chummey shin-hene gys cliaghtaghyn yn seihl broghe shoh, cooid mannagh gliaght mayd, ta shin shickyr dy ve er nyn oltooan; as ny-yeih dy choontey yn oltooan shoh dy Chreest jeh scansh smoo na dy chooilley vondeish seihltagh;—gyn dy voggyssagh ayns nhee erbee wheesh as ayns crosh nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest, liorish ta shin er nyn ynsaghey dy hoiaghey beg jeh ooilley ny ta’n seihl shoh doateil er. | |
| These are the commands of Jesus Christ, concerning which, hear what our Saviour himself saith: [John xiv. 15.] “Ye are my friends, ye are they that love me, if ye do whatever I command you.” | [300] Shoh faraghyn Yeesey Creest, my-nyn-gione, eaisht-jee rish ny ta nyn Saualtagh hene dy ghra, [Ean xiv. 15.] “Shiuish my chaarjyn, shiuish adsyn ta graihagh orrym, my nee shiu ny ta mee dy harey diu.” | |
| When, therefore, we read the history of our Lord’s life with a sensible pleasure; when we admire at his wonderful humility in the manner of his birth; for the Son of the Highest to be born of a poor Virgin, in an obscure town, in the worst part of that poor town; to live a private life; to want many of the conveniencies even of such a life; to see him refuse to be made a King ; content to be called an impostor, a dealer with the devil; suffering himself to be betrayed, to be scorned, to be crucified; and all this to satisfy the justice of God for his sinful creatures that had offended him. No Christian can hear these things without being sensibly affected. | Shen-y-fa, tra ta shin lesh boggey lhaih jeh ooilley ny ren as dynsee nyn Jiarn;—tra ta yindys arrymagh orrin jeh’n aght imlee ayn haink eh er y theihl;—dy row Mac yn Er-smoo-syrjey ruggit jeh Moidyn voght, ayns balley boght, ayns yn ayrn smessey jeh’n valley boght shen,—dy ren eh ceau e vea ayns lheid y stayd injil as dy ve ayns feme bee as fasthee;—dy akin eh gobbal dy ve jeant ny Ree, dy booiagh goail seose lesh ennym molteyr, as jeh dellal rish y Jouyl;—surranse da hene dy ve er ny vrah, dy ve craidit mysh, dy ve er ny chrossey; as ooilley shoh dy yannoo lhiassaghey da cairys Yee ass lheh e chretooryn boghtey va er vrasnagh’ eh gys corree. Cha vod Creestee erbee clashtyn ny reddyn shoh fegooish ve er ny veighey. | |
| But then, we should consider the meaning of this wonderful order of Providence; that it was to convince us, that this is not the world we were made for; that it is no great matter how poor we are born; how many things we want; how much we are [152] despised; what severe things we suffer, provided we do our duty in that state of life in which the Providence of God has placed us; forasmuch as the happiness which God has provided for them that love him, will make sufficient amends for whatever they want or suffer here. | Agh eisht lhisagh shin consideral cre va meanal Ard-chiaralys Yee ’sy chooish yindyssagh shoh; dy row yh dy choyrt slane toiggal dooin nagh nee shoh yn seihl va shin jeant er y hon;—-nagh nee madyr mooar yh cre cha boght as ruggyr shin, cre whilleen red ta shin nyn veme, cre cha beg as ta soit j’in, cre’n chreoghys ta shin surranse, my [301] ta shin agh jannoo nyn gurrym ’sy stayd shen dy vea ayn s’cooidsave lesh Ard-chiaralys Yee dy choyrt shin;—er-yn-oyr dy jean yn vaynrys ta Jee er chiarail nyn gour ocsyn ta graih oc er, lhiassaghey fondagh daue son cre-erbee yn ymmyrch na surranse t’ad er gholl fo ayns shoh. | |
| To love Jesus Christ, therefore, is to love his humility, his patience, his self-denial, and to imitate them; and this will dispose us to love him as our Prince and Lawgiver; to love his commands, and to obey them to the best of our power; without which all other instances and expressions of love will signify very little. “If ye love me,” saith Christ himself, “keep my commands.” This is the end of all religion. | Dy choyrt graih da Yeesey Creest, er-y-fa shen, t’yh dy choyrt graih da e imlid, e veenid, as smaght er-hene, as dy eiyrt daue; as ver shoh orrin dy chur graih da myr nyn Prince as Fer-toyrt nyn leigh; dy ve graihagh er e haraghyn, as dy choyrt biallys daue gys rere nyn booar; cooid n’egooish, cha n’eeu dy chooilley aght elley jeh soilshaghey nyn ghraih monney. “My ta shiu graihagh orrym’s,” as Creest hene, “freill-jee my annaghyn.” Shoh bun as bree dy chooilley Chredjue. | |
| We dedicate our Children to Christ in Baptism, that they may be bound betimes to keep his laws; they promise to do so themselves at Confirmation. We renew these vows every time we receive the Lord’s Supper; we pray to God in his name; we read his life, and remember his sayings; and all this, that we may be prevailed on to keep his laws. And we plainly delude ourselves; if we hope that any other expressions of our love will excuse us from obeying his commands. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” | Ta shin casherickey nyn gloan da Creest ayns Bashtey, dy vod ad dy leah ve fo kiangley dy reayl e leighyn; ta nyn gloan ad-hene gialdyn dy yannoo shen tra t’ad goll Fo-laue-Aspick. Ta shin jannoo ass-y-noa ny breearraghyn shoh dy chooilley hraa ta shin goail yn Chreestiaght casheric; ta shin jannoo nyn badjeryn gys Jee ’syn ennym echeysyn; ta shin lhaih ny ren eh, as cooinaghtyn er e raaghyn; as ooilley shoh, er-chee dy ve coyrlit dy reayl e leighyn. As ta shin dy playn molley shin-hene, my ta shin [302] treishteil dy jean aght erbee elley jeh soilshaghey nyn ghraih seyrey shin veih coyrt biallys da e haraghyn. “Cha nee dy chooilley unnane ta gra rhyms, Hiarn, Hiarn, hed stiagh ayns reeriaght niau, agh eshyn ta jannoo aigney my Ayrey t’ayns niau.” | |
| What; shall we say then that there are but few that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and that the rest are Anathema? We dare not pronounce this sentence: that must be left till the Lord comes to judgment. In the mean time, it nearly concerns us all to prevent that sentence, and to possess our hearts with such a love of Christ, as may at once affect our hearts, and influence our lives. To obtain this, it is necessary, above all things, | Cre;—Jir mayd eisht dy nee agh beggan t’ayn ta graih ynric oc er y Chiarn Yeesey Creest, as dy vel yn chooid elley Anathema? Cha lhoys dooinyn yn briwnys shoh y ockley magh: sheign shen ve fagit derrey hig nyn Jiarn gys briwnys. Derrey shen, imree yh dy mooar dooin ooilley dy haghney yn deyrey shen, as dy chosney lheid y ghraih er Creest, as oddys ve breeoil chamma er nyn greeaghyn, as er nyn ymmyrkey-bea. Cour shoh, t’yh ymmyrchagh erskyn dy chooilley nhee, | |
| II, That we be throughly convinced of our misery, without the blessing of a Redeemer. | II. Dy bee slane toiggal ain jeh nyn dreihys, fegooish yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee. | |
| To be “born in sin,” and to be “the children of wrath;” this we are taught as soon as we can speak. But who considers the meaning of these words, even while we feel the sad effects of the sin of our first parents? The words of the text offer us an instance of our misery. | Dy vel shin ruggit ayns pecca, as nyn gloan dy chorree; shoh ta ynsit dooin cha leah as oddys mayd loayrt. Agh quoi ta goail gys e chree meanal ny goan shoh, eer choud as ta shin gennaghtyn eiyrtys treih pecca nyn gied shannyryn?—Ta goan y text cur shin ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn dreihys. | |
| It is unquestionably true, that God made man to love and to serve him. Our first parents, before the Fall, did so undoubtedly; and it was their highest pleasure to love God and to obey him. Do we find it now so with us? Very far from it. We think of him with pain and difficulty; we obey him unwillingly; we are backwards in asking his blessings; and we easily forget to thank him for his favours; we boldly break his laws; and we are not sufficiently afraid when we have done so. | Yn eer ynrickys yh, dy ren Jee dooinney dy choyrt graih da as dy hirveish er Er-chroo. Ren nyn gied shannyryn roish nyn duittym [303] ayns pecca gyn dooyt shen y yannoo; as ve nyn moggey smoo dy choyrt graih as biallys da Jee. Vel shinyn gennaghtyn dy nee shoh chooish ainyn nish? Feer foddey voish. T’yh pian as doggyr dooinyn dy smooinaghtyn er’syn;—dy neu-aggindagh ta shin coyrt biallys da;—dy neu-aggindagh ta shin shirrey e vannaghtyn, as dy aashagh jarrood dy choyrt booise da son e oayryn;—dy daaney ta shin brishey e leighyn, as cha vel aggle dy liooar orrin erreish dooin v’er n’yannoo shen. | |
| What a strange disorder is this! that a creature, made to love and to depend upon God, should love every thing better than God; should find an uneasiness in God’s presence; should take delight in such things as displease God; and should think it a burthen even to ask a favour of him! | Cre’n shaghrynys treih shoh! Cretoor va jeant dy ve graihagh as barrantagh er Jee, dy ve ny s’graihee er dy chooilley nhee na ersyn;—dy ve neu-aashagh kion-e-enish;—ve taitnyssagh er lheid ny reddyn as ver jymmoose er Jee —as smooinaghtyn yh ny errey eer dy hirrey foayr er! | |
| This plainly shews, that men, by nature, do not love God; that they have lost the image of God, in which they were created; that God is angry with them; and that it is only for Christ’s sake that he should ever be reconciled to them. | Ta shoh soilshaghey dy baghtal, nagh vel sleih liorish dooghys graihagh er Jee;—dy vel ad er choayl caslys Yee, ayn v’ad er nyn groo;—dy vel Jee jymmoosagh roo;—as dy nee ynrycan er graih Yeesey Creest t’yh, dy bee eh dy bragh coardit roo. | |
| A man must be blind not to see that this is the condition of every man, and that it is a miserable one without the blessing of a Redeemer; especially if we consider, how much worse we have made our condition, by the many actual transgressions of our lives. So that we may truly say, in the words of Isaiah, [lix. 2.] “Our iniquities have separated betwixt us and our God, and our sins have hid his face from us.” The consequence of which must be shame, and sorrow, and fear, lest we should be for ever miserable. And miserable we should have been, had not Jesus Christ undertook to redeem us. It is to him we owe our redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins. “God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” [ 1 John iv. 9.1] | Sheign da dooinney ve doal nagh vel fakin dy nee shoh stayd dy chooilley ghooinney, as dy nee stayd treih yh fegooish yn bannaght jeh Fer-chionnee; er-lheh tra ta shin goail ain-hene, cre wooad smessey ta shin er n’yannoo nyn stayd liorish nyn ymmodee peccaghyn hene. Myr shen dy vod mayd dy [304] firrinagh gra, ayns goan Isaiah [lix. 2.] “ta nyn mee-chairys er scarrey eddyr shinyn as y Jee ain, as ta nyn beccaghyn er n’ollaghey e eddin voin.” Sheign da’n eiyrtys jeh shoh ve nearey; as trimshey, as atchim, er-aggle dy beagh shin treih son dy bragh. As treih beign dooin ooilley v’er ve, ’bey dy ren Yeesey Creest goail er dy hauail shin. Huggeysyn ta shin lhiastyn nyn gionnaghey-reesht, eer leih son nyn beccaghyn. “Ren Jee e ynrycan er-ny-gheddyn Vac y choyrt gys y theihl, dy voddagh shin ’ve bio ny hrooidsyn. [1 Ean iv. 9.] | |
| [153] Whoever lays these things to heart, and endeavours to possess his soul with a sense of its misery, and with the love of Christ in reconciling us to God, will easily see the blessing of a Redeemer, and will have one of the strongest motives to love him with all his heart. Our Lord would convince us of the truth of this, in that most affecting parable recorded by St. Luke, [vii. 41.] “There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors: the one owed him a very great sum, ten times as much as the other. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Which of them will love him most? Certainly he to whom he forgave most.” I shall conclude this particular with the observation of a very learned man, to this purpose: [Mr. Malbranch in his Christian Dialogue.] “Our Redemption being a work of as great mercy, at least to us, as was that of our creation, we could not but love our Redeemer even as much as God that made us. It was, therefore; absolutely necessary that God should redeem us, otherwise we should have been obliged to have loved a creature equal with God our Creator.” | Quoi-erbee ta goail ny reddyn shoh gys e chree, as streeu dy ghoostey e annym gys ennaghtyn jeh e hreihys, as jeh graih Chreest ayns coardail shin rish Jee, nee eh dy aashagh fakin yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee, as bee unnane jeh ny oyryn stroshey echey dy choyrt graih da lesh ooilley e chree. Baillish nyn Jiarn shickyrys y choyrt dooin jeh shoh, ayns y choraa-dorraghey smoo breeoil shen scruit ayns y chiaghtoo chabdil jeh yn Noo Luke, 41 vierse: “Va dooinney dy row as jees ayns lhiastynys da; va’n derrey yeh lhiastyn da sym feer vooar, jeih keayrtyn wheesh as y jeh elley. As tra nagh row oc dy eeck, leih eh daue nyn neesht. Quoi jeu s’booisal vees da? Gyn dooyt, eshyn da smoo ren eh leih.” | |
|
The latter part of this paragraph after "whom he forgave most." is not included in the Manx translation
| ||
| III. We come now to another delusion of Christians, who hope that they may love Jesus Christ well enough without renouncing the love of the world. To prevent this, our Lord has expressly told us, “that no man can serve two masters:” and all thoughtful people have found it so by experience. For, if the love of the world rules in our hearts, the love of Christ will find little entertainment there. And we are required to love him with all our heart, on purpose to cure us of an immoderate love for the world, which would otherwise take up all our thoughts, and time, and affections. | [305] III. Ta shin cheet nish gys marranys elley ta Creesteenyn fo, ta treishteil dy vod ad ve graihagh dy liooar er Yeesey Creest fegooish treigeil graih er y theihl. Ta haghney shoh, ta nyn Jiarn dy playn er n’insh dooin, “nagh vod dooinney erbee daa vainshter y hirveish:” as ta dy chooilley pheiagh smooinaghtagh er feddyn dy nee shen myr t’yh liorish nyn oayl hene. Son my ta graih yn seihl reill ayns nyn greeaghyn, cha vou graih Chreest monney dy aight ayns shen. As ta shin cur’mit dy chur graih da lesh ooilley nyn gree, er chee dy chastey shin veih graih jeean er y theihl, cooid yinnagh, er aght elley, goail seose ooilley nyn smooinaghtyn, as traa, as yeearreeyn. | |
| Was it not for this very reason, as was observed before, that our Lord made choice of a life of poverty, to convince the poor, that they are not ill dealt with; that they are free from a great many temptations, which would hinder them in their way to Heaven? | Nagh nee son yn eer oyr shoh hene ve, myr va roie rait, dy ren nyn Jiarn reih stayd dy voghtynid, dy chur toiggal da ny boghtyn nagh vel dellal creoi oc; dy vel ad seyr veih ymmodee miolaghyn yinnagh nyn lhiettal ayns nyn raad gys niau? | |
| Was it not to convince the rich, that they are in the midst of snares and dangers; that they have need of more grace to secure them from falling; and that the greatest satisfaction that this life can afford them will not make amends for the loss of Heaven? People are justly offended when they see a clergyman set his heart upon the world: and they conclude, truly, that such a man cannot love the Lord with all his heart. But then they should consider, that the same affection for the world in any other Christian, will extinguish the love of Christ; and that all Christians are equally bound to renounce the love of the world, who desire to love God as they should do. | Nagh nee dy choyrt shickyrys da ny berchee, dy vel ad ayns mean ribbaghyn as danjereyn; dy vel ad feme ny smoo dy ghrayse dy reayl ad veih tuittym; as nagh vod ooilley ny ard eunyssyn oddys yn seihl shoh fordrail lhiassaghey y yannoo son coayl Flaunys ? | |
|
The latter part of this paragraph after "the loss of Heaven" is not included in the Manx translation.
| ||
| In short it is not for nothing that Jesus Christ has said so many severe things against riches, and the love of the world; it is because he knew how hard it is to be innocent in the midst of abundance; to enjoy the good things of this world, without loving them too well; and how apt people that have them are, to trust in them, to forget God, and to set their hearts upon them. He has, therefore, assured us, that they are no mark of God’s favour; that people may want them, and be the happier for it; that such as have lost them may easily make up that loss, by securing a treasure in Heaven; and that this is the use which they ought to make of such visitations of Providence. | Ayns fockle; cha nee son veg t’yh dy vel Yeesey Creest er ghra whilleen red geyre noi berchys, as graih er y theihl. T’yh son dy [306] row fys echey cre cha doillee t’yh dy ve gyn loght ayns mean sonnys;—dy ghoail soylley jeh reddyn mie yn seihl shoh fegooish ve ro ghraihagh orroo;—as cre cha aarloo as ta sleih t’ad oc dy chur barrant huc, dy yarrood Jee, as dy hoiagh’ nyn greeaghyn orroo. T’eh er-y-fa shen er choyrt shickyrys dooin, nagh vel ad nyn gourey jeh foayr Yee;—dy vod sleih ve nyn vegooish, as ve ny s’maynrey liorish shen;—dy vod nyn lheid as ta er choayl ad dy aashagh jannoo seose yn coayl shen, liorish stoyral seose berchys ayns niau; as dy nee shoh yn ymmyd lhisagh ad jannoo jeh lheid ny smaghtaghyn dy Yee. | |
| I consider what people will say to all this. They will ask, for instance, who is it that does not love the world? It is a question that ought to be answered, because the Spirit of God says expressly, that the love of God and the world are inconsistent; and yet we are bound to live in the world, to take care of our families, and not to neglect our business. | Ta fys aym cre jirrys sleih rish ooilley shoh. Nee ad fenaght, son mac-soyley, Quoi eh nagh vel graihagh er y theihl? Ta shoh queshtion lhisagh ve ansoorit, er-yn-oyr dy vel Spyrryd Yee dy playn gra, dy vel graih er Jee as er y theihl noi ry-’oi; as ny-yeih sheign dooin beaghey ’sy theihl, as goail kiarail jeh nyn lughtyn-thie, as gyn dy yannoo meerioose er nyn obbyr. | |
| A man, therefore, may live in the world, and may live like a Christian, provided he avoids all things that are sinful, or the occasions of sin and that he does not set his heart upon what he has or labours for. | Foddee dooinney er-y-fa shen beaghey ’sy theihl, as foddee eh beaghey myr Creestee, my vees eh er e arrey dy hea voish dy chooilley nhee ta peccoil, na ta leeideil gys pecca; as nagh vel eh soiaghey e chree er ny ta echey, na ny t’eh dy laboragh er y hon. | |
| [154] Our blessed Lord lived in the world, and complied with the laws and customs of the world; and, there was nothing singular in his life but his holiness. | Ren nyn Jiarn bannit beaghey ’sy theihl, as ve biallagh da leighyn as cliaghtaghyn y [307] theihl; as ve er ny phrowal er dy chooilley aght myr ta shinyn, foast fegooish pecca. | |
| A good man, therefore, will not let the hurry of business so far gain upon him as to make him forget that this is not the world he was made for. If the world favours him, he will receive its favours with a fear and jealousy, lest he should be corrupted by them; he will not think himself one jot the better for these outward advantages, nor others the worse for wanting them; he will deny himself a great many things, which his circumstances might furnish him with; he will be always ready to do good to such as are in misery, and by a temperance in all things will be ever prepared patiently to endure what the Providence of God shall order for him . | Cha jean dooinney mie, er-y-fa shen, lhiggey da preish obbyr choud shen cosney er, as dy chur er jarrood nagh nee shoh yn seihl ve jeant er y hon. My ta’n seihl cheet lesh, bee eh er e arrey nagh bee eh ny smessey liorish shen; cha jean eh jeeaghyn er hene dy ve veg share liorish e chooid heihlt, na er feallagh elley dy ve ny smessey son dy vel ad nyn vegooish; obbee eh ymmodee reddyn da hene oddys e chooid heihlt fordrail da; bee eh dy kinjagh aarloo dy yannoo feaysley er ny ymmyrchee; as liorish sheeltys ayns dy chooilley nhee, bee eh dy kinjagh ayns am dy meen dy hurranse cre-erbee s’cooidsave lesh Ard-chiaralys Yee dy yannoo rish. | |
| These are all Christian duties, and yet they would not be required of us, if it were not possible (by the grace of God) to perform them acceptably, in the midst of worldly business. And the only fault is, when people forget, that they are accountable to God—that they depend upon him—that they are hastening to another world—and that their hearts should be there. And so they content themselves with some bare outward respects and testimonies of their love to God, with a form of godliness without ever feeling the power thereof; and this they call a love for their Saviour. | T’ad shoh ooilley nyn gur’myn Chreestee, as ny-yeih cha beagh ad er nyn shirrey orrin,’bey dy row yh possibyl (liorish grayse Yee) dy yannoo ad dy cooie ayns mean obbyr seihltagh. As ta’n ynrycan foill, tra ta sleih jarrood dy vel orroo coontey y choyrt da Jee, dy vel nyn marrant dy ve er’syn, dy vel ad er nyn yurnaa gys seihl elley—as dy lhisagh nyn greeaghyn ve ayns shen. As liorish jarrood shoh t’ad booiys ad-hene lesh cowraghyn lhome ennagh er cheu-mooie jeh nyn arrym as graih er Jee, lesh caslys dy chraueeaght fegooish dy bragh gennaghtyn yn phooar vreeoil echey; as shoh t’ad genmys graih er nyn Saualtagh. | |
| IV. We shall, therefore, be obliged to consider, what are the true marks of a sincere love for Jesus Christ? Let us hear what our Saviour has said in answer to this question: [John xiv. 15.] “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” And, ver. 24, “He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings.” | [308] IV. T’yh lhie orrin, er-y-fa shen, dy chonsideral, cre ta ny cowraghyn firrinagh jeh graih jeidjagh er Yeesey Creest? Lhig dooin clashtyn cre’n ansoor ta nyn Saualtagh er choyrt da’n queshtion shoh: [Ean xiv. 15.] “My ta shiu graihagh orrym’s, freill-jee my annaghyn.” As vierse 24. “Eshyn nagh vel graihagh orrym’s, cha vel eh freayl my ghoan.” | |
| These words are so plain, that one would think here were no room for a mistake. What other meaning can they have but this: that obedience to the laws of the Gospel is the surest sign of our respect for Jesus Christ, and the only condition of favour with God. Upon which I cannot but make this just observation: that the great difficulties of a Christian life lie in this, in mortifying our corrupt affections, in weaning our hearts from the love of the world, and uniting them to Christ: not in knowing what our duty requires of us; for this is so plain, that the wayfaring men, though never so simple, cannot err therein. Whereas Christians, for the most part, contrary to all good sense, spend the most of their thoughts, and time, and pains, in getting still more knowledge; and look upon the practice of Christianity as the easiest thing in the world. | Ta ny goan shoh cha playn shen, nagh vel room heillagh peiagh, dy ghoail marran ad. Cre’n meanal arragh oddys ’ve ayndoo agh shoh,—Dy vel biallys gys leighyn y Sushtal yn courey smoo shickyr jeh nyn arrym da Yeesey Creest, as yn ynrycan conaant jeh foayr rish Jee? As shen-y-fa sheign dou shoh y ghra; Dy vel ard doilleedysyn yn vea Chreestee lhie ayns shoh, ayns smaghtaghey nyn yeearreeyn olk as neu-ghlen, ayns charbaa nyn greeaghyn veih graih seihltagh, as ayns sniemmey ad gys Creest:—cha nee ayns toiggal cre ta nyn gurrym dy hirrey orrin, son ta shoh cha playn shen, nagh lhiass da troailtee, ga dy veggan tushtey, goll er-shaghryn ayn. Agh ta Creesteenyn son y chooid smoo, controllee gys keeayl vie, baarail nyn smooinaghtyn, nyn draa, as payns, ayns sthill geddyn toiggal smoo; as jeeaghyn er jannoo nyn gur’myn Creestee myr yn red s’aashagh ’sy theihl. | |
| This is a delusion which is found amongst all sorts of Christians. The unlearned excuse themselves from a great many duties, on account of their ignorance. And the more learned do very often place religion in being able to say a great many things about it; and in the mean while, these plain truths are not taken notice of: That the love of Christ is the shortest way of knowing our duty; and that the keeping his commands is the surest testimony of our love for him. | Ta shoh shaghrynys ta fud dy chooilley sorch dy Chreesteenyn. T’adsyn nagh vel [309] ynsagh oc gaurys nagh vel lane cur’myn lhie orroosyn, er coontey nyn mee-hushtey. As ta’n vooinjer ta ynsagh smoo oc soiagh nyn gredjue ayns ve abyl lane y ghra mychione echey; gyn cooinaghtyn ec y traa cheddin er ny firrinyssyn playney shoh; Dy vel graih er Creest yn aght s’gyrjey dy hoiggal nyn gurrym; as dy vel freayl e annaghyn yn cowrey shickyree jeh nyn ghraih er’syn. | |
| If this were well considered, Christians would be more concerned to avoid and to resist temptations; to pray often for grace to do their duty; to examine their hearts and their lives; and to amend where they have done amiss; and their knowledge would certainly increase with their obedience. So saith our Saviour, verse 21st of this chapter: “He that loveth me,” i.e. keepeth my commands, “ shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him.” | Dy beagh shoh dy cooie smooinit er, veagh ny smoo dy imnea er Creesteenyn dy hea veih as dy hassoo magh noi miolaghyn; dy mennic dy ghoail padjer son grayse dy yannoo nyn gurrym; dy eysht nyn greeaghyn as ymmyrkey-bea, as dy lhiassaghey red erbee t’ad er n’yannoo ass y raad; as eisht yinnagh nyn dushtey bishaghey marish nyn miallys. Son shoh myr ta nyn Saualtagh gra, 21 vierse jeh’n chabdil shoh; “Eshyn ta graihagh orryms,” ta shen, ta freayl my annaghyn, “ver my Ayr graih da, as veryms graih da, as soilshee-ym mee-hene da.” | |
| To conclude, therefore, this particular:—Christians are not to judge of the sincerity of their love of Christ so much by the pleasure they take in knowing his laws, in admiring his goodness, in speaking well of his ways, as by the effects these produce. If one hates that sin which cost him so dear, if we learn from his humility, his patience, his self-denial, to imitate him, to set our affections on things above; [155] if we read his Gospel with a sincere desire to know his will, and with a full purpose of heart to keep his sayings. Lastly; if we find that our love stirs us up to an honest discharge of the duties of our calling; perfecting holiness in the fear of God; why then we have the witness in ourselves, that our love is such as it should be. But if it does not do this, it is no more than an idle notion. | Dy chur jerrey, er-y-fa shen, er y phoint shoh:—Cha vel Creesteenyn dy vriwnys jeh ynrickys nyn ghraih da Creest, wheesh liorish yn boggey t’ad goail ayns geddyn toiggal jeh e leighyn, ayns goail yindys jeh e vieys huc, ayns loayrt dy arrymagh jeh e haualtys, as t’ad liorish ny eiyrtyssyn jeu shoh. My ta dwoaie ec peiagh er yn pecca shen chost cha deyr dasyn;—my ta shin gynsagh [310] veih e imlid, e veenid, e smaght er-hene, dy eiyrt da’n sampleyr echeysyn, dy hoiaghey nyn aignaghyn er reddyn flaunyssagh ;—my ta shin lhaih e Hushtal lesh yeearree creeoil dy hoiggal e aigney, as lesh slane kiarail chree dy yannoo e annaghyn;—Er-jerrey, my ta shin feddyn dy vel nyn ghraih grennaghey shin dy jeidjagh dy chooilleeney curmyn nyn aghtyn-beaghee; cooilleeney casherickys ayns aggle Yee;—camma eisht ta yn feanish ain ayndi’n-hene, dy vel nyn ghraih lheid as lhisagh yh ve. Agh mannagh vel yh jannoo shoh, cha vel yh monney arragh agh smooinaght fardalagh. | |
| But how shall we possess our hearts with such a sincere love? Why; that is what I would say in a few words. We must know that we want a Saviour ; we must beg of God to give us an inward feeling of our own misery; we must live up to that measure of grace and knowledge which God has given us; we must consider who this Redeemer is; what he has done for us; that he has merited the pardon of our sins, if we repent and forsake them; that he is continually interceding for all those that come unto God by him; and that the consequence of all this will be, (if it is not our own faults) we shall be eternally happy. | Agh cre’n aght nee mayd doostey ayns nyn greeaghyn lheid y ghraih creeoil shoh? Camma; shen y red baillym soilshaghey diu ayns aght giare. Sheign da fys ve ain dy vel shin feme Saualtagh;—sheign dooin guee er Jee eh dy choyrt dooin ennaghtyn bioal jeh nyn dreihys hene ;—sheign da nyn ymmyrkey-bea ve cordail rish y towse dy ghrayse as thushtey ta Jee er choyrt dooin;—sheign dooin goail ain hene quoi ta yn Fer-chionnee shoh, cre t’eh er n’yannoo er nyn son; dy vel eh er hoilloo pardoon son nyn beccaghyn my ta shin goail arrys jeu as treigeil ad,—dy vel eh dy kinjagh jannoo stiagh son ooilley ta cheet gys Jee liorishyn,—as dy bee yn eiyrtys jeh ooilley shoh, (mannagh nee nyn voill hene yh) dy bee mayd maynrey son dy bragh. | |
| I do not say that all this is to be done without care and pains, and a great deal of trouble. It is a difficult thing to possess our hearts with a sincere love of Christ; because we must first renounce all other affections contrary to the love of our Saviour. But then, this convinces us of the truth of Christianity, which requires of us such things as no man ever could come up to, unless assisted by a divine power. And if an infidel will say any thing against the Christian Religion, he must say one of these two things, either that there never was any man who lived up to his profession, which would be a bold saying indeed; or, that God does bless and enable those that love and serve him, to do his will. | Cha vel mee gra dy vel ooilley shoh dy ve jeant fegooish kiarail, as payns, as lane imnea. T’yh red doillee dy ghoostey ayns nyn gree aghyn graih ynric er Yeesey Creest; er-yn-oyr dy nheign dooin hoshiaght treigeil dy chooilley yeearree elley ta controllee gys graih er nyn Saualtagh. Agh eisht ta shoh cur shickyrys dooin jeh firrinys yn Chredjue Chreestee, ta shirrey lheid ny reddyn orrin as nagh dod rieau dooinney cheet seose huc, fegooish cooney flaunyssagh. As my nee An-chredjuagh gra red erbee noi yn Chredjue Chreestee, sheign da gra yn derrey yeh na’n jeh elley jeh’n daa red shoh, “edyr nagh ren rieau dooinney erbee beaghey seose gys e chredjue, cooid veagh raa feer daaney dy jarroo;” er-nonney, “dy vel Jee bannaghey as niartaghey adsyn ta graihagh er as shirveish eh, dy yannoo e aigney.” | |
| In short; when we consider who it is that has redeemed us, no less a person than the Son of God; what it is he requires of us, namely, to avoid such things as would make us for ever miserable; what favours he has purchased for us, namely, that he has made our peace with God, and has obtained for us a title to eternal happiness. If we consider his wonderful condescension in taking our nature upon him; in submitting to all the hardships of a miserable life, and a more miserable death, in order to deliver us from death eternal. If, lastly, we consider, that we are commanded to honour the Son even as we honour the Father; that whatever we ask in his name, God will give us; that our present and future welfare depends upon his intercession with God for us. Whoever lays these things to heart will be convinced, that Jesus Christ has indeed merited our love; that we cannot think of him too highly; that we cannot speak of him too worthily; that we cannot worship him too reverently. | Ayns fockle; tra ta shin goail ain hene quoi eh ta er nyn gionnaghey-reesht,—persoon gyn veg sloo na Mac Yee;—cre t’eh dy hirrey orrin, ta shen, dy hea veih lheid ny reddyn as yinnagh treih j’in son dy bragh; cre ny bannaghtyn t’eh er chosney dooin, ta shen, dy vel eh er n’yannoo nyn shee rish Jee, as er chosney cairys dooin gys maynrys dy bragh beayn. My ta shin smooinaghtyn er e imlid yindyssagh ayns goail er’syn yn dooghys ainyn; ayns ginjillagh’ eh-hene gys creoghyssyn y theihl hreih shoh, as gys baase smoo treih, cour yn livreys ainyn veih baase [312] dy bragh farraghtyn. Er-jerrey my nee mayd goail ain hene dy vel shin cur’mit dy ooashlaghey yn Mac eer myr ta shin ooashlaghey yn Ayr;—dy der Jee dooin cre-erbee nee mayd shirrey ayns yn ennym echeysyn;—dy vel nyn maynrys ayns y theihl shoh as theihl ta ry-heet lhie er yn jannoo stiagh echeysyn rish Jee er nyn son. Quoi-erbee gho’ys ny reddyn shoh gys e chree bee slane toiggal echey, dy vel Yeesey Creest dy jarroo er hoilloo nyn ghraih; as nagh vod mayd smooinaghtyn ro ard jehsyn;—nagh vod mayd loayrt ro feeuoil jeh;—nagh vod mayd dy ro arrymagh eshyn y ooashlaghey. | |
| How unhappy then are those people, and how careful should all good Christians be not to hearken to them, who would lead us to think, and to speak, and to believe, and to act, as if there was danger of loving their Lord too much; of honouring him too highly, and of serving him too religiously. | Cre cha neu-vaynrey eisht ta’n sleih shen, as cre cha kiaralagh lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee vie ’ve gyn dy eaishtagh roosyn, yinnagh leeideil shin dy smooinaghtyn, as dy loayrt, as dy chredjal, as dy yannoo, myr dy row ad ayns danjere dy ve ro ghraihagh er Yeesey Creest; dy chur rour arrym da, as dy hirveish eh ro chrauee. | |
| Christians should beware of this, lest they should at last be tempted to deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction! | Lhisagh Creesteenyn ve er nyn dwoaie jeh shoh, er-aggle dy bee ad feih-yerrey miolit dy obbal yn Chiarn ren ad y chionnaghey, as tayrn orroo hene toyrt-mouys er mullagh ching! | |
| To conclude:—It is no wonder, that there are persons to whom Jesus Christ and his Gospel are no way acceptable: it cannot possibly be otherwise. Can a man, (for instance) who will not see his own misery, think that he has need of help? Can a man of pleasures love that Gospel which bids him not love his pleasures upon pain of damnation? Can a man of the world think that a wise doctrine, which so often tells him, that those that trust in riches, can hardly go to Heaven; and that it is hard to have riches and not to trust in them? In short; can people heartily embrace a teacher, though come from God, who forbids them a thousand things which they are passionately fond of, and which they will have, let what will follow? | Er-jerrey:—Cha nee yindys yh, dy vel persoonyn ayn daue nagh vel Yeesey Creest as e Hushtal boggoil: cha vod yh ve er aght elley. Vod dooinney, (son samplere) [313] nagh jean fakin e hreihys hene, smooinaghtyn dy vel eh feme cooney? Vod dooinney dy eunyssyn seihltagh ve graihagh er yn Sushtal shen, ta cur’magh eh gyn dy ve graihagh er e eunyssyn er peean coayl-anmey? Vod dooinney seihltagh smooinaghtyn, dy vel shen ynsagh creeney, ta cha mennic ginsh da cre cha doillee as vees yh dauesyn, ta cur barrant gys berchys dy gholl gys niau; as dy goan oddys berchys ’ve oc fegooish coyrt barrant huc? Ayns fockle; vod sleih veih nyn greeaghyn goail-rish fer-ynsee, ga dy daink eh voish Jee, ta lhietal daue thousane red t’ad feer viandagh orroo, agh cooid vees oc, lhig da cre-erbee saillish ve yn eiyrtys? | |
| And, was it not this that made Jesus Christ a stumbling-block to both Jews and [156] Gentiles, when he first appeared in the flesh? They came to see and hear him with their passions about them; and they could see nothing in him worth admiring, besides the wonders that he wrought. | As nagh nee shoh hug er chamma Hewnyn as Aashoonee dy chur cooyl da Yeesey Creest, tra hoilshee eh eh-hene hoshiaght ny mast’ oc ayns yn eill? Haink ad dy akin as dy eaishtagh rish lesh ooilley nyn yeearreeyn peccoil maroo; as nagh dod ad fakin ayn nhee erbee feeu dy ghoail nyn aigney, agh ynrycan ny mirrillyn dobbree eh. | |
| It is just so with all those at this day, who embrace a Saviour without resolving to leave their sins; they may speak of him with respect, but it is impossible they should love him. They may rejoice with his church for company, but they will have no reason for it in the end; for this same Jesus, who came to save us, and to deliver us from the wrath to come, must first deliver us from all iniquity; “from this present evil world;” [Gal. i. 4.] “from our vain conversation;” [I Pet. i. 18.] If we will not suffer him to do this, instead of a Saviour, he will be our Judge to condemn us to eternal misery. | Kiart myr shoh ta adsyn ooilley ee y laa t’ayn jiu, ta goail-rish Saualtagh fegooish kiarail dy hreigeil nyn beccaghyn. Foddee ad loayrt jeh lesh arrym, agh t’yh neu-phossibyl daue dy chur graih da. Foddee ad boggey y ghoail marish e Agglish myr dy beagh yh son sheshaght, agh cha bee oyr [314] oc er y hon ec y jerrey. Son yn Yeesey cheddin shoh, haink dy hauail shin, as dy livrey shin veih yn chorree ta ry-heet, sheign da hoshiaght livrey shin veih dy chooilley vee-chraueeaght; “veih’n drogh heihl t’ayn nish;” [Gal. i. 4.] “veih nyn gliaghtaghyn fardalagh.” [1 Peddyr 1. 18.] Mannagh surr mayd eh dy yannoo shoh, ayns ynnyd Saualtagh, bee eh nyn Mriw dy gheyrey shin gys treihys dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| Now; the short of what has been said is this: Jesus Christ has merited our sincerest love. If we desire to love him sincerely, we must endeavour to do what we believe will please him. We cannot do this, without denying ourselves in many things which we are very fond of. We shall want an especial grace to do this, for of ourselves we are not able. To this end, Jesus Christ has obtained for us this signal privilege, that we may call God Our Father, a favour which no people ever had before the coming of Christ. So that we may go to God with an assurance of being heard, as a child goes to his father. | Nish; yn bree jeh ooilley ny ta er ve rait she shoh yh:—Ta Yeesey Creest er hoilloo nyn ghraih s’firrinee. My ta shin shirrey dy firrinagh dy chur graih da, sheign dooin streeu dy yannoo shen ta shin credjal nee booiys eh. Cha vod mayd shoh y yannoo, fegooish gobbal dooin hene ymmodee reddyn ta lane graih ain orroo. Bee mayd feme ard ghrayse dy yannoo shoh, son ayndi’n hene cha vel veg y vree. Cour shoh, ta Yeesey Creest er chosney dooin yn ard reamys shoh, dy vod mayd genmys Jee Nyn Ayr,—foayr shoh, nagh row rieau ec pobble erbee roish cheet Chreest. Myr shen foddee mayd goll gys Jee lesh shickyrys dy ve er nyn glashtyn, myr ta lhiannoo goll gys e ayr. | |
| If we make use of this privilege, and pray to God in the sincerity of our souls, and a sense of our misery, he will hear us, and, for his Son's sake, he will justify us, will change all our dispositions, and we shall love him, and his Son Jesus Christ, as our only good and our portion for ever. | My ta shin jannoo ymmyd jeh’n reamys shoh, as guee gys Jee lesh jeeanid anmey, as lesh ennaghtyn jeh nyn dreihys, nee eh clashtyn rooin, as, er graih e Vac nee eh seyrey [315] shin, nee eh caghlaa ooilley nyn yeearreeyn, as ver mayd graih dasyn, as da e Vac Yeesey Creest, myr nyn ynrycan cooid as gerjagh son dy bragh. | |
| Now, unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. | Nish, huggeysyn va graihagh orrin, as ren niee shin veih nyn beccaghyn ayns e uill hene; huggeysyn dy row gloyr as ard-reiltys son dy bragh as dy bragh. Amen. | |
| And “may grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” Amen . [Eph. vi. 24.) | As “dy row grayse maroosyn ooilley shynney lhieu yn Chiarn Yeesey ayns ynrickys.” Amen. [Ephes. vi. 24.] | |
| [163] SERMON XXVI . | [317] SHARMANE XV. | |
| the necessity of coming to some certainty whether we are in the way of salvation or not. | Yn Feme ta rish cheet gys Shickyrys ennagh vel na mannagh vel shin ayns Raad y Taualtys. | |
| O Holy Spirit of Grace; I implore thy assistance, that I may speak upon this important subject, so as to be understood, so as to touch the heart, so as to edify those that shall hear me. And grant that I may never forget to try and examine my own Faith by those marks which I propose to others; and that I may be an example in Faith and Life; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. | O Spyrryd Casheric y Ghrayse; ta mee geearree dty chooney, dy vod-ym loayrt er y chooish scanshoil shoh ayns lheid yn aght shen as dy ve er my hoiggal, ayns lheid yn aght as dy veighey yn cree, ayns lheid yn aght as dy choyrt ynsagh dauesyn nee clashtyn mee. As giall nagh jarrood-ym pene dy bragh dy phrowal as dy eysht my chredjue hene liorish ny cowraghyn shen ta mee dy chummal seose roish feallagh elley; as dy vod-ym ve samplere daue ayns Credjue as Ymmyrkey-bea; er graih Yeesey Creest. Amen. | |
| 2 COR. xiii. 5. | 2 COR. xiii. 5. | |
| Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the Faith. [i.e. Whether ye be true Christians, and in the way of Salvation; whether your Lives be according to your Profession. *] | Feysht-jee shiu-hene, vel shiu ayns y Chredjue; [ta shen, Vel shiu nyn Greesteenyn firrinagh, as ayns raad y Taualtys;—vel nyn ymmyrkey-bea cordail rish nyn Gredjue.] | |
| * See Matth. vii. 20. 21. John xiv. 1, 6. Acts xxiii. 1. Rom. viii. 16. 2 Cor. v, 7. Phil. i. 27. 2 Tim. ii. 19. Jam, ii. 17. 1 John iii. 21. | ||
| My Christian brethren! I am going to lay before you the absolute necessity, as we hope for Heaven, of coming to some certainty, whether we are in the way of salvation or not. | My vraaraghyn Creestee! Ta mee goll dy hoiaghey rhimbiu, myr ta shin treishteil son flaunys, yn slane ymmyrch ta rish cheet gys shickyrys ennagh, vel shin ayns raad y taualtys mannagh vel. | |
| Every body must own, that it is a matter of great concern for a man to know, whether his Faith is such as it should be; such as will please God; such as will influence our lives, and fit us for Heaven. I need not, therefore, use many words to prevail with you to attend very seriously to what you are going to hear. | [318] Sheign da dy chooilley unnane goail-rish, dy vel yh cooish dy scansh vooar fys ’ve ec dooinney, vel e Chredjue lheid as lhisagh yh ve,—lheid as nee booiys Jee,—lheid as vees breeoil er nyn ymmyrkey-bea, as jannoo shin cooie son niau. Cha lhiass dou, er-y-fa shen, lane focklyn y yannoo dy choyrlagh’ shiu dy eaishtagh dy tastagh rish ny ta shiu nish goll dy chlashtyn. | |
| One cannot, in charity, but conclude, that any one of you would part with his life, sooner than he would renounce his Faith and his Christianity. This being the general persuasion of all Christians, that whoever renounces his Faith, renounces all hopes of salvation. And so indeed he does. We have the Word of the Son of God for it: he that believeth not shall be damned. | Ta giastyllys Creestee dy my chiangley dy smooinaghtyn, dy jinnagh dagh unnane eu scarrey rish e vioys, na s’leah na treigeil e Chredjue as e Chreesteeaght. Son ta dy chooilley Chreestee credjal, dy vel quoi-erbee ta treigeil e Chredjue, treigeil ooilley e hreishteil dy haualtys. As solley t’yh dy jarroo. Ta fockle Mac Yee ain son shoh: Eshyn nagh vel credjal bee eh er ny gheyrey. | |
| But then, let us have a great care of deluding ourselves, by fancying, that because we would not, for all the world, renounce our Christianity, that, therefore, we are such Christians as we should be. For he only is a true Christian, who believes as he should do, and leads a life agreeable to his faith. | Agh eisht, lhig dooin ve dy slane er nyn dwoaie nagh moll’ mayd shin hene, liorish gaurys, er-yn-oyr nagh jinnagh shin son ooilley yn seihl treigeil na coyrt cooyl da nyn Greesteeaght, dy vel shin, er-y-fa shen, lheid ny Creesteenyn as lhisagh shin ’ve. Son Creestee firrinagh eshyn ny lomarcan, ta credjal myr lhisagh eh, as leeideil bea cooie gys e chredjue. | |
| Now; this ought to put every one of us upon examining ourselves, in very good earnest, whether we be in the faith; i.e. in other words, whether we be Christians in deed and in truth, as well as in name? By doing this, we shall either have the comfort of knowing that we are in the way of happiness; or else we shall see our [164] danger, which, through the grace of God, may awaken us, and put us upon a new course of life. | Nish; lhisagh shoh cur er dy chooilley unnane ain dy geyre dy eysht shin-hene, vel shin dy jarroo firrinagh ayns y chredjue; ta shen, ayns focklyn elley, vel shin nyn [319] Greesteenyn ayns jannoo as ayns firrinys, chamma as ayns ennym? Liorish shoh, bee edyr yn gerjagh ain dy hoiggal dy vel shin ayns raad y vaynrys; er-nonney nee mayd fakin yn danjere, oddys trooid grayse Yee shin y ghoostey, as shin y chur er cooyrse noa dy vea. | |
| In order to [sic] this, we need not examine into the many disputes among Christians, to fettle our Faith and our Religion; we have a rule of Faith, which will infallibly lead us to heaven and happiness, if our life be but answerable to our Creed. But that which I would propose to you, is a much surer way of knowing whether you are found in the Faith; that is, by examining, whether our life and conversation be such as becometh the gospel of christ? | Cour shoh, cha lhiass dooin feysht ny ymmodee arganeyn ta eddyr Creesteenyn, dy ghruntal shin ayns nyn Gredjue as Goail-rish Chreestee. Ta rule dy Chredjue ain nee dy jarroo firrinagh leeideil shin gys flaunys, my vees nyn ymmyrkey-bea cordail rish nyn Grea. Agh ta shen baillym cur reue, aght foddey ’shickyree dy gheddyn fys vel shiu firrinagh ayns y Chredjue; as ta shen liorish feysht,—Vel nyn mea as nyn ymmyrkey lheid as ta cordail rish Sushtal Chreest? | |
| If a man’s life is bad, his Faith cannot be such as it should be; if a man's life is truly Christian, it is a good sign his Faith is so too; that, therefore, which I would most earnestly press upon you, and which I would charge myself with, is this:—First, to examine every man himself, and consider the great truths which we know, and profess to believe; and then to examine very particularly what effect this Faith has upon our lives? | My ta ymmyrkey-bea dooinney olk, cha vod e chredjue ve lheid as lhisagh yh ve; my ta dooinney leeideil bea dy firrinagh Creestee, t’yh cowrey shickyr dy vel e chredjue myr shen neesht; shen-y-fa yinnin dy jeean coyrlaghey shiu ooilley, dagh unnane eu, Hoshiaght, dy eysht eh-hene, as dy ghoail gys e chree ny firrinyssyn mooarey ta er fys dooin, as ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal. As eisht, dy eysht dy imneagh cre’n bree ta ec y Chredjue shoh er nyn ymmyrkey-bea? | |
| To begin with what we know and believe concerning ourselves; that is, that we are a race of sinful creatures, sadly fallen from the condition in which we were most certainly at first created; that we have within us the seed of every sin whatever; that we are prone to evil continually; that we are by nature the children of wrath; and that, as such, God can take no pleasure in us. | [320] Lhig dooin goail toshiaght lesh ny ta er fys dooin as credjal mychione ain hene; ta shen, dy vel shin nyn gretooryn peccoil, dy treih er duittym veih’n stayd ayn va shin dy firrinagh focklagh er nyn groo ’sy toshiaght;—dy vel aynin rass dy chooilley vonney dy phecca;—dy vel shin dy kinjagh aarloo gys olk;—dy vel shin liorish dooghys nyn gloan dy chorree;—as myr nyn lheid, nagh vod Jee goail taitnys erbee aynin. | |
| Will it not be expected, that every one, who knows and believes this, should be very humble, and very thankful to God, who did not overlook lost mankind when they had brought themselves into this sad condition. | Nagh bee yh er ny yercal rish, dy beagh dy chooilley unnane ta fys echey er as credjal shoh, dy beagh eh feer imlee, feer vooisal da Jee, nagh ren soiaghey beg jeh sheelnaue cailjey tra v’ad er chur lhieu ad-hene gys y stayd hreih shoh? | |
| In the next place, we profess to believe, that we are in this life in a state of trial, in order to mend our corrupt nature, that we may be capable of that happiness for which God at first created us. | ’Sy nah ynnyd, ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal dy vel shin ’sy vea shoh ayns stayd dy phrowal, cour lhiassaghey nyn n’ghooghys neu-ghlen, dy vod mayd ve cooie son y vaynrys shen ny y chour [sic] chroo Jee shin ec y toshiaght. | |
| Will any Christian, who professeth to believe this, and that he is utterly unfit for Heaven, until his nature be mended, will he, notwithstanding, sit still, and be unconcerned, and lose this time of trial, and defeat the gracious designs of God, and live only to make his condition worse, by contracting evil habits, and offending his Maker continually? | Jean Creestee erbee, ta goail-rish dy vel eh credjal shoh, as dy vel eh ooilley-dy-lhearagh neu-chooie son niau, derrey vees e ghooghys er ny lhiassaghey;—jean eh lurg ooilley, soie feagh, as gyn imnea, as coayl e hraa dy hrial, as cur mou kiarailyn mie Yee, as ceau seihl ynrycan dy yannoo e stayd ny smessey, liorish tayrn eh hene fo drogh oaishyn, as coyrt corree kinjagh er e Er-chroo? | |
| Every Christian must see, that such a belief, and such a life, is most hateful to God; and that such a Christian (if he will call himself a Christian) is in a much worse condition than the most abandoned Heathen. We all believe, and know for certain, that all mankind are under the righteous sentence of death; that this sentence is sure to be executed, but at a time we know not of; and that, when we die, we shall either be very happy or very miserable for ever and ever. | [321] Sheign da dy chooilley Chreestee fakin dy vel lheid y chredjue, as lheid y vea, smoo dwoaiagh da Jee; as dy vel lheid y Chreestee (my nee eh gra dy nee Creestee eh) ayns stayd foddey s’treih na yn An-chreestee smessey. Ta shin ooilley credjal, as shione dooin son shickyrys, dy vel ooilley sheelnaue fo briwnys cairal yn baase; dy bee yn briwnys shoh son shickyrys er ny chooilleeney, agh cre’n traa cha s’ain; as tra yiow mayd baase, dy bee mayd edyr feer vaynrey na feer treih son dy bragh as dy bragh. | |
| Now; will any Christian, who professeth in earnest to believe this, live as if he were never to die? or, will he think it best to endeavour to lose the remembrance of death, and of what must follow, by diverting himself with other fooleries, by the hurry of business, or by bewitching pleasures? | Nish; jean Creestee erbee ta goail-rish ayns firrinys dy chredjal shoh, beaghey myr nagh row eh dy bragh dy gheddyn baase; na, jean eh smooinaghtyn dy bee yh yn chooid share da dy streeu dy choyrt yn baase, as e eiyrtyssyn, ass ny smooinaghtyn echey, liorish ceau e hraa ayns fardalyssyn elley, ayns preish seihltagh, na eunyssyn cleaynee ny foalley? | |
| Is this the behaviour of thoughtful people? Very far from it. You will be convinced it is not, if you will go and see a serious Christian labouring under any mortal ailment, which he is sure will put an end to his life in a month’s time, or perhaps sooner: you will find such a man very serious, very indifferent for all the profits or pleasures this world can afford him; resolving to do every thing that may recommend him to the favour of God, whenever he shall die; and you would count him worse than a mad-man, if you should find him otherways disposed—if you should find him under no concern for his soul, but, by all manner of ways, diverting his thoughts from what is sure to befall him, whether he thinks of it or not. | Vel shoh ymmyrkey cooie son sleih ta goail reddyn gys nyn gree? Feer foddey voish. Bee shickyrys eu nagh vel yh, my hed shiu dy yeeaghyn peiagh Creestee serious laboragh fo dourin baaish ennagh, cooid t’eh shickyr ver jerrey er e vioys ayns mee dy hraa, na foddee ny s’leaie:—yiow shiu lheid y peiagh shen feer serious, feer lhag da dy chooilley vondeish as eunys oddys yn seihl shoh y choyrt da;—fo dy yannoo dy [322] chooilley nhee oddys moylley eh gys foayr Yee, traa erbee dy vou eh baase; as yinnagh shiu coontey eh ny smessey na dooinney ass e cheeayl, my yioghe shiu eh ayns am elley—my yioghe shiu eh fegooish veg yn imnea er son e annym, agh, liorish dy chooilley haase, streeu dy reayl e smooinaghtyn voish shen ta shickyr dy heet, edyr eh dy smooinaghtyn er na gyn. | |
| And yet, the generality of Christians will not consider, that this is their own case: they believe, they know, they are sure, they must die, and sooner, perhaps, than they imagine; the Gospel, which they say they believe, tells them what for certain must follow; either eternal happiness, if they have led good lives, or eternal misery, if they die unconverted; and [165] yet they put the thoughts of death far from them, because they will not prepare for it; at the same time they would die with fear, if they did not hope to be saved. But be assured of it, Christians, that no man must flatter himself with these hopes; he only who is convinced of his own misery and danger, through the corruption of his nature, and understanding, by his Christian faith, the way to get out of this sad condition; he only who can sincerely resolve—I must not, I dare not, I will not, be any longer indifferent how I lead my life; I will, through the grace of God, live by Faith; I will endeavour to know what God requires me to do; what I may hope for, if I strive to please him; and what I am to fear, if I continue to provoke him by my sins. Every Christian, who thus believes, resolves, and lives accordingly, is in the way of salvation. | As ny-yeih cha jean yn bunnys dy Chreesteenyn goail huc hene, dy nee shoh yn eer chooish oc hene.—T’ad credjal, ta fys oc, t’ad shickyr dy nheign daue baase y gheddyn, as shen, ny s’leaie foddee, ny t’ad dy smooinaghtyn. Ta’n Sushtal, cooid t’ad gra dy vel ad credjal, ginsh daue cre sheign son shickyrys ve yn eiyrtys; edyr maynrys dy bragh beayn, my t’ad er leeideil bea vie, er-nonney treihys dy bragh farraghtyn, my t’ad geddyn baase ayns nyn beccaghyn:—As ny-yeih t’ad cur smooinaghtyn y vaaish foddey voue, er-yn-oyr nagh jean ad geddyn aarloo er y hon; choud’s ec y traa cheddin yioghe ad baase lesh aggle, mannagh row ad treishteil dy ve er nyn sauail. Agh bee-jee shickyr jeh, Chreesteenyn, nagh nheign da dooinney erbee brynneragh rish hene lesh lheid y treishteil shoh. Eshyn ny lomarcan ta fys echey er e hreihys as danjere hene, trooid olkys e ghooghys, as ta toiggal echey liorish e chredjue Chreestee jeh’n aght dy gheddyn ass yn stayd treih shoh; eshyn ynrycan oddys [323] dy firrinagh kiarail—“Cha nheign dou, cha lhoys dou, cha jean-ym, tannaghtyn veg sodjey neu-chiaralagh kys ta mee leeideil my vea; nee’m trooid grayse Yee beaghey liorish credjue; nee’m streeu dy gheddyn fys cre ta Jee shirrey mee dy yannoo, cre oddym treishteil er y hon my ta mee streeu dy wooiys eh; as cre ta mee dy ghoail aggle roish, my he’m er my hoshiaght dy vrasnaghey eh liorish my pheccaghyn.” Dy chooilley Chreestee, ta myr shoh credjal, kiarail, as leeideil e vea cordail rish,—t’eh ayns raad y taualtys. | |
| We come now to consider what we believe concerning God, that we may know whether our Faith is such as it should be. | Ta shin nish cheet dy chonsideral cre ta shin credjal mychione Jee, dy vod fys ’ve ain vel nyn Gredjue lheid as lhisagh yh ’ve. | |
| We believe that God is infinitely great and good; and that we stand indebted to him for every thing we have, or value, or hope for. | Ta shin credjal dy vel Jee pooaral as mie erskyn-earroo; as dy nee dasyn ta shin fo lhiastynys son dy chooilley nhee ta ain, ta scansh ain jeh, na treishteil er y hon. | |
| Now; let us consider, if we were half so much obliged to any man on earth, how highly should we value him; how dearly should we love him; how much should we think of him; how should we strive to please him; and how should we be troubled, when we should be so unhappy as to offend him? Why now, Christians, if you thus believe, if you thus value, if you thus love, and desire to please God, and are careful not to offend him, your Faith hath its saving fruits; it is such as it should be. | Nish; lhig dooin goail ain hene, dy beagh shin fo lheh wheesh dy vooise da dooinney erbee er yn ooir, cre’n ard arrym yinnagh shin da; cre cha graihagh as veagh shin er; cre wheesh as yinnagh shin smooinaghtyn jeh; kys streeuagh shin dy vooiys eh; as cre’n trimshey veagh yh dooin, dy beagh shin cha neu-vaynrey as dy chur corree er? Camma nish, Chreesteenyn, my ta shiu myr shoh credjal, my ta nyn arrym, my ta nyn ghraih lheid shoh gys Jee, as nyn yeearree dy [324] wooiys eh, as shiu kiaralagh gyn corree y chur er, ta nyn Gredjue ceau messyn y taualtys;—t’yh lheid as lhisagh yh ve. | |
| To proceed: You believe of God, that he is most holy; and that, as such, he cannot but be displeased with every thing that is impure or wicked. Fix this truth in your heart; and your Faith will keep you at the greatest distance from all sins of impurity and uncleanness, and from all temptations that lead to them; especially, when the same Faith assures you, that such sins, if not bitterly repented of, will not only shut you out of Heaven, but will cause you to have your portion with unclean devils. | Dy gholl er my hoshiaght:—Ta shiu credjal mychione Jee, dy vel eh smoo casheric; as shen-y-fa dy nheign da dy chooilley vonney dy neu-ghlennid na mee-chraueeaght cur jymmoose er. Shickyree-jee yn firrinys shoh ayns nyn greeaghyn; as nee nyn Gredjue freayl shiu ec yn odjeeaght smoo veih dy chooilley phecca dy neu-ghlennid, as veih dy chooilley violagh ta leeideil huc; erskyn ooilley, tra ta’n Credjue cheddin shickyraghey diu, dy jean lheid ny peccaghyn, fegooish arrys sharroo goit er nyn son, cha nee ny lomarcan dooney shiu magh ass niau, agh myrgeddin cur er nyn gronney dy ve marish iurinee neu-ghlen. | |
| You profess to believe, that God is infinitely just, and that he hates all injustice, oppression, and wrong. Now; if you really believe this of God, you will never suffer yourself to be led, through covetousness, malice, or revenge, to injure any man living. | Ta shiu goail-rish dy chredjal dy vel Jee erskyn-earroo cairagh, as dy vel dwoaie echey er dy chooilley vee-chairys, tranlaase, as aggair. Nish, my ta shiu dy jarroo credjal shoh mychione Jee, cha sur shiu dy bragh diu hene dy ve er nyn leeideil, trooid saynt, goanlys, na shirrey cooilleen, dy yannoo aggair da dooinney erbee bio. | |
| We all profess to believe, that God sees every thing that passes in the world; that the very thoughts of our hearts, our most secret designs; are known to him; and ought not every Christian who believes this, to live, and act, as having God the constant witness of his conduct? | Ta shin ooilley goail-rish dy chredjal, dy vel Jee fakin dy chooilley nhee ta jeant ’sy theihl; dy vel eer smooinaghtyn nyn greeaghyn, nyn giarailyn smoo follit er-fys dasyn; as nagh lhisagh dy chooilley Chreestee ta [325] credjal shoh, beaghey as jannoo, myr dy beagh Jee ny eanish kinjagh jeh e ymmyrkey? | |
| Lastly; we have the liberty, through faith, to call, to apply to, this great, this good, this just, this holy God, as to a Father;—a most glorious privilege this, provided we live so as becomes the dutiful children of so good, so great, so holy a Father; provided we resolve, with those mentioned in the Book of Wisdom, [ch. xv. 2.] “We will not sin, knowing that we are accounted thine.” And are we not under the greatest obligations to do so, when, by our own confession, he can reward or punish men beyond what they can conceive? | Er-jerrey; ta kied ain, trooid credjue, dy eamagh er, dy yannoo aghin gys yn Jee pooaral, mie, cairagh, casheric shoh, myr gys Ayr. Bannaght smoo gloyroil shoh, my ta shin beaghey er lheid yn aght as ta cooie da cloan ammyssagh dy Ayr cha mie, cha pooaral, cha casheric; my nee mayd kiarail, maroosyn ta imraa jeu ayns Lioar Creenaght Solomon, [xv. 2.] “Nagh jean mayd pecca, as fys ain dy vel shin goit son dty vooinjer hene.” As nagh vel shin fo ny kianglaghyn smoo dy yannoo shen, tra, liorish nyn ghoail-rish hene, oddys eh coyrt leagh na kerraghey er deiney, erskyn ooilley ny oddys ad smooinaghtyn? | |
| So that if our Faith in God be such as it should be, we should part with any thing, as dear as a right hand, or a right eye, rather than displease, rather than provoke, this great, and good, and holy God. | Myr shen my vees nyn Gredjue ayns Jee lheid as lhisagh yh ve, yinnagh shin scarrey rish nhee erbee, ga cha deyr dooin as laue-yesh, na sooill-yesh, ny s’leaie na cur corree er, ny s’leaie na brasnaghey yn Jee mooar, as mie, as casheric shoh. | |
| We now come to examine our Faith in Jesus Christ; and that we may see whether our Faith be right, by the fruits it produceth. | Ta shin nish cheet dy eysht nyn Gredjue ayns Yeesey Creest; as dy vod mayd fakin vel nyn Gredjue kiart myr lhisagh yh ve, liorish ny messyn t’yh ceau. | |
| We profess to believe what Jesus Christ has made known to us, [John xiv. 6.] “That no man can come unto God, but by him.” He being the way, the truth, and the life; i.e. the author of the Way, the teacher of the Truth, and the giver of Life. “That God has given him power over all flesh,” [John xvii. 2.] That, therefore, as we believe in God, we must believe also in Him. For, that it would be [166] but an uncomfortable article of Faith, for a sinner to believe in a God who is holy, just, and powerful, and who hateth all iniquity, if he did not know how to make his peace with him. | Ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal shen ny ta Yeesey Creest er hoilshaghey dooin, [Ean xiv. 6.] “Nagh vod dooinney erbee cheet [326] gys Jee, agh liorishyn;” Myr dy nee eshyn yn raad, yn irriney, as y vea; ta shen, bun y Raad, fer-ynsee yn Irriney, as fer-toyrt y Vea. “Dy vel Jee er chur da pooar harrish ooilley sheelnaue.” [Ean xvii. 2.] Dy nheign dooin, er-y-fa shen, myr ta shin credjal ayns Jee, credjal myrgeddin aynsyn. Son, veagh yh agh banglane neu-gherjoil dy chredjue, son peccagh dy chredjal ayns Jee ta casheric, cairagh, as pooaral, as echey ta feoh er dy chooilley vee-chraueeaght, mannagh row fys echey kys dy yannoo e hee rish. | |
| We believe, therefore, in Jesus Christ, who took our nature upon him, and has made our peace with God, by suffering, in our stead, what we, for our sins, had deserved; he has also prevailed with God to accept of our repentance, if sincere; to give us all necessary assistance to do our duty, and to accept of our best endeavours, (instead of a perfect obedience) in order to our being made eternally happy. | Ta shin credjal, er-y-fa shen, ayns Yeesey Creest, ren yn dooghys ain y ghoail er, as ta er n’yannoo nyn shee rish Jee, liorish surranse ayns yn ynnyd ain, shen ny va shinyn son nyn beccaghyn er hoilchin. T’eh er chosney myrgeddin er Jee dy yannoo soiagh jeh nyn arrys, my t’yh firrinagh; dy choyrt dooin dy chooilley chooney ymmyrchagh dy yannoo nyn gurrym, as dy yannoo soiagh jeh nyn streeu gys rere nyn booar, (ayns ynnyd biallys slane ynric) cour nyn ve maynrey son dy bragh. | |
| Let us now examine our Faith upon this article of our Creed; let us consider, how our hearts and lives are affected with this exceeding great love of Christ for his poor creatures. Does this love of Christ, as the Apostle speaks, [2 Cor. v. 14.] does this love of Christ constrain us? Does it constrain us to consecrate our lives to him, who, by his death, has redeemed us from eternal death? Does our love for Christ constrain us, to take him for our pattern, for our Lord, our Master, and Teacher? If it does, we shall receive his Gospel as the word of our salvation; we shall observe the laws, the rules, the ordinances, which he has given us, as the only means to secure us from perdition. Does our Faith, as the same Apostle speaks, [Gal. v. 6.] work by love? Does it appear by works of love and charity? | Lhig dooin nish feysht nyn Gredjue er y banglane shoh jeh nyn Grea; lhig dooin goail ain hene, cre’n booise chree ta shin er hoilshaghey da Creest son shoh e ghraih mooar erskyn-towse da e chretooryn boghtey. Vel yn ghraih shoh dy Chreest, myr ta’n [327] Ostyl loayrt, [2 Cor- v. 14.] Vel yn ghraih shoh dy Chreest geginaghey shin? Vel yh geginaghey shin dy chasherickey nyn mea huggeysyn, ta, liorish e vaase, er livrey shin veih baase dy bragh farraghtyn? Vel nyn ghraih er Creest geginaghey shin dy ghoail eshyn son nyn Sampleyr, son nyn Jiarn, nyn Mainshter, as Fer-ynsee? My t’yh, nee mayd goail yn Sushtal echeysyn myr Goo yn taualtys; bee mayd biallagh da ny leighyn, ny ruleyn, ny oardaghyn t’eh er choyrt dooin, myr ny ynrycan saaseyn dy hauail shin veih coayl-anmey. Vel nyn Gredjue, myr ta’n Ostyl cheddin loayrt, [Gal. v. 6.] gobbraghey liorish graih? Vel yh ry-akin liorish obbraghyn dy ghraih as giastyllys? | |
| Does the love of Christ constrain us, to imitate his sufferings, to take up the cross daily, and follow him, as he requires us to do; [Luke ix. 23.] that is, to deny our corrupt inclinations; to crucify the flesh, with its affections and lusts; to resist all inclinations to sin; and to subject our will to the will of God, by stedfastly purposing to do whatever we believe will please him? | Vel graih Chreest geginaghey shin dy ghoail seose nyn grosh gagh-laa, as dy eiyrt da’n sampleyr echeysyn, myr t’eh er chur’magh shin dy yannoo; [Luke ix. 23.] ta shen, dy obbal nyn yeearreeyn olk, dy chrossey yn eill, marish e yeearreeyn as sayntyn; dy hassoo magh noi dy chooilley yeearree gys pecca; as dy injillaghey yn aigney ainyn gys aigney Yee, liorish dy shickyr kiarail dy yannoo cre-erbee ta shin credjal nee booiys eh? | |
| Does the love of Christ, and what he has done and suffered for us, constrain us, not to be ashamed of him, his word, his humility, and sufferings, in this untoward, unbelieving generation; nor to set a greater value upon the opinion and friendship of men, than upon the friendship of God and Christ? | Vel graih Creest, as ny t’eh er n’yannoo as er hurranse er nyn son, geginaghey shin, gyn dy ghoail nearey roishyn, e ghoo, e injillid, as surranse, ayns y cheeloghe peccoil mee-chredjuagh shoh; na dy yannoo scansh [328] smoo jeh graih as aigney mie gheiney, na jeh graih as caarjys Yee as Chreest? | |
| Will our faith and love constrain us, to confess Jesus Christ, to follow his precepts and example, and to suffer for his sake, and to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel, even before those that despise it? | Jean nyn gredjue as graih geginaghey shin dy ghoail-rish Yeesey Creest, dy eiyrt da ny saraghyn as sampleyr echeysyn, as dy hurranse er y ghraih echeysyn, as dy ymmyrkey feanish gys firrinys yn Sushtal, eer kiongoyrt roosyn ta soiaghey beg jeh? | |
| Let us ask ourselves again, will our love of Christ, and our faith, constrain us, with Moses, [Heb. xi. 26.] to look upon the riches, pleasures, and idols of this world, as nothing, in regard of the recompence of reward which Christ hath purchased for us, or, with St. Paul, to count them but loss that we may win Christ? | Lhig dooin fenaght j’in hene reesht, jean nyn ghraih er Creest, as nyn gredjue, geginaghey shin, marish Moses, [Heb. xi. 26.] dy yeeaghyn er berchys, eunyssyn, as jallooyn y theil shoh, myr reddyn gyn veg, tra soylit rish yn leagh mooar dy chooilleeney ta Creest er chosney er nyn son; na, marish yn Noo Paul, dy choontey ad agh coayl dy vod mayd cosney Creest? | |
| Do we, by faith, set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth? Is our conversation such as becomes the Gospel of Christ? [Phil. i. 27.] | Vel shin, liorish credjue, soiaghey nyn aignaghyn er reddyn flaunyssagh, as cha nee er reddyn thallooinagh? Vel nyn ymmyrkey-bea lheid as ta cordail rish Sushtal Chreest? [Phil. i. 27.] | |
| If we find, upon examination, that we do indeed love the Lord Jesus Christ, and the laws which he has given us, then we may depend upon it, that we are within the covenant of grace, [mentioned Heb. viii. 10.] by which God has engaged to put his law in our minds, and write it in our hearts, to give us a new heart and a new spirit. | Erreish dooin v’er veysht shin-hene, my ta shin feddyn, dy vel shin dy jarroo graihagh er y Chiarn Yeesey Creest, as er ny leighyn t’eh er choyrt dooin, eisht foddee slane shickyrys ’ve ain, dy vel shin er-cheu-sthie jeh conaant y ghrayse, [ta imraa jeh Heb. viii. 10.] liorish ta Jee er chiangley eh-hene dy choyrt e leighyn ayns nyn aignaghyn, as dy [329] screeu ad er nyn greeaghyn, dy choyrt dooin cree noa, as spyrryd noa. | |
| If the knowledge and belief of these things do not affect our hearts and our lives, it is a sign our Faith is not such as it should be, and that our salvation is not much regarded by us. A too sure sign of this is, when we see Christians turning their backs upon that very ordinance, whenever it is administered, which Jesus Christ himself appointed on purpose to keep up the remembrance of what he has done and suffered for us. That our own death, whenever it shall happen, may be a comfort to us, and when nothing in this world, nothing but a firm faith in Jesus Christ, can support or comfort our dying spirit. | Mannagh vel yn tushtey as credjue jeh ny reddyn shoh breeoil er nyn greeaghyn as ymmyrkey-bea, t’yh ny chourey nagh vel nyn gredjue lheid as lhisagh yh ’ve, as nagh vel geill vooar ain da nyn saualtys. T’yh courey ro hickyr jeh shoh, tra ta shin fakin Creesteenyn chyndaa nyn gooyl er yn eer oardagh shen, traa erbee dy vel yh er ny hirveish, ren Yeesey Creest eh-hene pointeil son yn eer oyr dy reayl seose cooinaghtyn er ny t’eh er n’yannoo as er hurranse er nyn son; dy vod nyn maase hene, traa erbee dy jig yh, ve ny gherjagh dooin, as tra nagh vod nhee erbee ’sy theihl shoh, nhee erbee agh credjue shickyr ayns Yeesey Creest, freayl seose na gerjaghey nyn spyrryd ayns oor y vaaish. | |
| What we believe concerning the Holy Ghost, to whom, with the Father, and the Son, we are dedicated in Baptism, is this, that he is the cause of all that holiness [167] in Christians, which must fit them for heaven and happiness. And that, as we hope for these, we are, every day of our lives, to pray for his gracious assistance, his guidance, and blessing. And this we are to do in a more especial manner, that we may continue true members of the church of Christ; as becomes members of so holy a society; that believing the forgiveness of sins, we may never despair of mercy, having so powerful an advocate as Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost to assist us to perfect our repentance. That being, by the same Holy Spirit, assured of a Resurrection, we may never forget, that we shall come forth of the grave, just as we go into it, either objects of God’s wrath, or of his mercy. | Shen ny ta shin credjal mychione yn Spyrryd Noo, huggeysyn, marish yn Ayr as y Mac, ta shin er nyn gasherickey ayns Bashtey, she shoh yh, Dy nee Eshyn bun ooilley yn chasherickys shen ayns Creesteenyn, sheign jannoo ad cooie son niau as maynrys. As dy vel shin, myr ta shin treishteil son oc shoh, dy chooilley laa jeh nyn seihl dy ghuee son e chooney graysoil, e leeideilys as bannaght. As er-lheh ta shin dy yannoo shoh, dy vod mayd tannaghtyn nyn oltyn firrinagh jeh Agglish Chreest; myr ta cooie da oltyn sheshaght cha casheric; liorish leih peccaghyn, [330] nagh vod mayd dy bragh ve ayns mee-hreshteil jeh myghin, myr ta lheid y pleadeyr pooaral ain as Yeesey Creest, as yn Spyrryd Noo dy niartaghey lhien dy chooilleeney nyn arrys. As liorish yn shickyrys ta ain liorish yn Spyrryd Casheric cheddin, jeh'n Irree-seose-reesht, nagh vod mayd dy bragh jarrood, dy jig mayd ass yn oaie yn un chooid as hed mayd ayn, edyr fo corree ny myghin Yee. | |
| How shall we know that we believe these truths as we ought to do; that our Faith is such as will save us? Why, as we know a tree by its fruits. | Kys yiow mayd fys dy vel shin credjal ny firrinyssyn shoh myr lhisagh shin;—dy vel nyn gredjue lheid as nee nyn sauail? Camma, eer myr ta enn ain er billey—liorish ny messyn t’yh ceau. | |
| We profess to believe, that our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost. No man of common sense will abuse, or profane, or defile a church, because he considers it to be a place dedicated to the honour of God. Now; our bodies are more the temples of God, than our churches; they are consecrated to God, to his glory and service, in baptism. And if, after this, we defile them, by uncleanness, by intemperance, or by any other base or filthy use, the Holy Ghost will forsake them, and we shall become the temples of Satan. | Ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal, dy vel nyn girp chiambleyn y Spyrryd Noo. Cha jean dooinney erbee dy cheeayl chadjin misusal, an-chasherickey, na stroie keeill, son dy vel eh jeeaghyn er myr ynnyd er ny chasherickey gys ooashley Yee. Nish, ta ny kirp ain ny smoo chiambleyn dy Yee na ta ny kialteenyn ain; t’ad er nyn gasherickey gys Jee, gys y ghloyr as shirveish echeysyn ayns bashtey. As ny lurg shen, my nee mayd y an-chasherickey ad, liorish neu-ghlennid, liorish mee-heeltys, na drogh ymmyd erbee elley, nee yn Spyrryd Noo treigeil ad, as hig mayd dy ve chiambleyn y Drogh-spyrryd. | |
| A Christian, who lives by Faith, will make a better use of this temple of the Holy Ghost; he will, in his heart, apply to him upon all occasions; and beg of him to increase his graces; to shew him the way in which he should go; to defend him against his spiritual enemies; to make him every day more holy, that he may be capable of being more happy when he dies. He will beg this Holy Spirit to give him a love for, and an understanding of, those Holy Scriptures, which he himself caused to be written for our comfort and salvation. He will beg of him to preserve him a true and living member of that Holy Church, out of which, in the ordinary way of providence, there is no salvation. He will give him hearty thanks that he has made him a member of that holy society, where there is a communication of all good things, where we have a share of all the prayers and blessings which God vouchsafes to his church throughout the whole world. And because he is sensible of his daily sins and failings, he will pray for the forgiveness of his sins every time he is sensible that he has done amiss. And knowing assuredly, that the same Spirit, which raised up Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead, will raise up our mortal bodies; he will most earnestly and often beg that good Spirit, that he may lead such an holy life, as that he may die in peace, and rest in hope, and rise in glory. | Nee Creestee ta beaghey liorish Credjue, ymmyd share y yannoo jeh’n chiamble shoh jeh’n Spyrryd Noo; nee eh, ayns e chree, [331] shirrey huggey er dy chooilley oyr, as guee er dy vishaghey e ghrayseyn, dy hoilshaghey da yn raad ayn lhisagh eh gimmeeaght, dy endeil eh noi ooilley noidyn e anmey, dy yannoo eh dy chooilley laa ny s’casheric, dy vod eh ve cooie son maynrys smoo tra yiow eh baase. Nee eh guee er y Spyrryd Casheric shoh dy choyrt da graih er, as toiggal jeh ny Scriptyryn Casheric shen t’eh hene er n’oardagh’ dy ve scruit son nyn gherjagh as saualtys. Nee eh guee er dy hannaghtyn eh ny oltey firrinagh as bioal jeh’n Agglish Casheric shen, cheu-mooie j’ee, ayns cooyrse cadjin ard-chiaralys Yee, cha vel saualtys. Ver eh booise creeoil da son dy vel eh er n’yannoo eh oltey jeh’n cheshaght casheric shen, raad ta cairys as ayrn ain ayns ooilley ny padjeryn as bannaghtyn s’cooidsave lesh Jee dy stowal er e agglish trooid magh ooilley yn seihl. As er-yn-oyr dy vel eh gennaghtyn e pheccaghyn as failleilyn gagh-laa, nee eh guee son leih e pheccaghyn dy chooilley hraa ta fys echey dy vel eh er n’yannoo ass y raad. As toiggal son shickyrys, dy jean yn Spyrryd cheddin hrog seose Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn veih ny merriu, troggal seose ny kirp baasoil ainyn; nee eh dy mennic as lesh y jeeanid smoo guee er y Spyrryd mie shen, dy vod eh leeideil lheid y vea casheric, as dy vod eh baase y gheddyn ayns shee, as ve ec fea ayns treishteil, as girree-reesht ayns gloyr. | |
| These are the truths which we profess to believe. That we may not deceive ourselves, let us examine our Faith by the fruits it produceth in the ordinary duties of life. | [332] Shoh ny firrinyssyn ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal. Nagh moll’ mayd shin hene, lhig dooin feysht nyn Gredjue liorish ny messyn t’yh ceau ayns cur’myn cadjin y vea. | |
| Now; Christians are represented, in Scripture, as a people who, by Faith, know God, and the duty they owe him, as well as the duty they owe to themselves and others, which are all very plainly set down in Sacred Scripture. It is impossible to consider this, without some melancholy reflections, when one sees too many as ignorant of these things, and as little concerned to know them, as if nothing depended upon them. | Nish; ta Creesteenyn soilshit ayns Scriptyr, myr sleih shione liorish credjue nyn Yee, as yn currym t’ad lhiastyn dasyn, chamma as yn currym t’ad lhiastyn daue hene as da feallagh elley; cooid ta dy playn soit sheese ayns Scriptyr Casheric. T’yh neu-phossibyl dy smooinaghtyn er shoh, fegooish trimshey ennagh, tra ta peiagh fakin rour cha mee-hushtagh jeh ny reddyn shoh, as er cha beg dy imnea dy gheddyn fys orroo, as myr nagh row veg lhie orroo. | |
| When one sees people praying for the pardon of their sins, for grace to amend their lives, for deliverance from eternal misery, and for the joys of heaven, with the indifference of people who are not much concerned whether their prayers are heard or not: When one sees them as fond of the world, as if they were sure never to leave it; or that God had no better inheritance to give them hereafter. Such Christians, to be sure, do not live by Faith, nor think that they are in the way of ruin. | Tra ta peiagh fakin sleih guee son pardoon son nyn beccaghyn, son grayse dy lhiassaghey nyn mea, son livreys veih treihys dy bragh farraghtyn, as son maynrys niau, lesh cha beg dy imnea as sleih nagh moor lhieu bee nyn badjeryn er nyn glashtyn na gyn:—Tra ta peiagh fakin ad cha graihagh er y theihl, as dy beagh ad shickyr nagh vaagagh ad yh dy bragh; na nagh row eiraght baare ec Jee dy choyrt daue ny lurg shoh. Son shickyrys, cha vel lheid ny Creesteenyn shoh beaghey liorish Credjue, na smooinaghtyn dy vel ad raad y toyrt-mou. | |
| [168] Every Christian who lives by Faith, must be able to say, I will not, by the grace of God, live in any known sin whatever; I will not be careless or indifferent how I lead my life, how I spend my time, how I spend my estate ; I will not dishonour God, or my Christian profession, by an idle, useless life; in all my dealings with others, I will set this command of God before my eyes, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; because I know and believe, that this is one of those two commands on which my salvation depends. I will not, therefore, want to be compelled to give every man his due, or not to hurt my neighbour. I will, (will every faithful Christian say) I will make conscience of doing the least wrong; of using any deceit or fraud; or of taking advantage of the ignorance or necessities of others. If I have done wrong to any man, I will make him restitution; and, as for such as are my enemies, I will forgive, and give, and love, as becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ. | Dy chooilley Chreestee ta beaghey liorish Credjue, sheign ve abyl dy ghra, “Cha jean-ym liorish grayse Yee, beaghey ayns pecca [333] erbee er-fys; cha bee’m neu-chiaralagh na lesh y veggan imnea kys ta mee leeideil my vea, kys ta mee ceau my hraa, kys ta mee barail my chooid heihlt; cha dayrn-ym meeooashley er Jee, na er my Chredjue Chreestee, liorish bea lhiastey gyn ymmyd; ayns ooilley my ghellal rish feallagh elley, nee’m soiaghey yn sarey shoh dy Yee kiongoyrt rish my hooillyn,—Ver oo graih da dty naboo myr dhyt hene; er-yn-oyr dy nione dou as dy vel mee credjal, dy nee shoh unnane jeh’n daa harey shen orroo ta my haualtys lhie. Cha bee’m feme er-y-fa shen, dy ve eginit dy chur da dy chooilley ghooinney e chair, na gyn dy yannoo assee da my naboo. Nee’m, (nee dy chooilley Chreestee firrinagh gra) nee’m kiangley yh er my chooinsheanse gyn dy yannoo yn aggair na yn volteyrys sloo; na dy ghoail vondeish erbee er mee-hushtey na feme feallagh elley. My ta mee er yannoo assee da dooinney erbee, nee’m lhiassaghey da; as, son nyn lheid as ta noidyn dou, nee’m leih daue, ver-ym daue, as bee’m graihagh orroo, myr ta cooie da eiyrtyssagh dy Yeesey Creest. | |
| As to the duty which I owe to myself, I will consider, that the first and great duty is, to take care of my soul; I will, therefore, (saith a Christian who lives by Faith) I will take especial care to mind those rules of the Gospel, which are absolutely necessary to fit me for Heaven. Such are, self-denial, patience, humility, purity, and charity, how much soever they are neglected by the generality of Christians, as if they were no longer Christian duties. And, as I pray daily, that God’s will may be done, for myself I will endeavour to resign my will to the will of God in all the dispensations of his Providence. And, forasmuch as the promise of seeing God is made to the pure in heart, I will endeavour to keep my heart from every thing that may defile my soul, and grieve that Holy Spirit by which I have been sealed unto the day of redemption. Lastly; (will every faithful Christian say) I will keep a watch over myself, that I may not resist or forget those good purposes which the good Spirit of God puts into my heart . | “As son y churrym ta kainlt orrym dou-hene, nee’m goail aym-pene, dy nee yn chied as yn ard churrym yh, dy ghoail kiarail jeh my annym; nee’m er-y-fa shen (as yn Creestee ta beaghey liorish credjue) nee’m kiarail geyre y ghoail dy eiyrt da ny ruleyn shen jeh’n Sushtal ta dy slane ymmyrchagh dy [334] my yannoo cooie son niau. Lheid as, obbal mee-hene, meenid, injillid, sheeltys, as giastyllys, ga dy vel meerioose nagh nee beggan jeant orroo liorish yn bunnys dy Chreesteenyn, myr nagh row ad veg sodjey nyn gur’myn Creestee. As myr ta mee guee gagh-laa, dy vod aigney Yee ve er ny yannoo, nee’m er my hon-hene streeu dy chur seose yn aigney ayms gys aigney Yee, ayns dy chooilley nhee s’cooidsave lesh yn Ard-chiaralys echeysyn dy choyrt my raad. As son wheesh as dy vel yn gialdyn dy akin Jee jeant dauesyn ta glen ayns cree, nee’m streeu dy reayl my chree veih dy chooilley nhee oddys jannoo my annym neu-ghlen, as seaghney yn Spyrryd Casheric shen liorish ta mee er ve courit gys laa yn livreys. Er-jerrey; (nee dy chooilley Chreestee jeidjagh gra) freil-ym arrey har-ym pene, nagh jean-ym shassoo noi na jarrood ny kiarailyn mie shen ta Spyrryd mie Yee coyrt ayns my chree.” | |
| Such a Faith, and such a life as this it is, Christians, that must recommend us to the favour of God; and to be easy in our minds upon any other terms, is to be in the way of perdition without knowing it. These things we must do, or give up our hope of Heaven. For, as sure as God is true, and his word certain, none must go to Heaven but the good, the devout, the piously-disposed, the obedient, the sober, the chaste, the just, the honest, the religious Christian. | Lheid y Chredjue, as lheid yn ymmyrkey bea shoh, Chreesteenyn, sheign moylley shin gys foayr Yee; as dy ve aashagh ayns nyn aignaghyn er conaantyn erbee elley, t’yh dy ve ayns raad y choayl-anmey fegooish fys ve ain er. Ny reddyn shoh sheign dooin jannoo, er-nonney cur seose nyn dreishteil jeh flaunys. Son, cha shickyr as ta Jee firrinagh, as e ghoo feer, cha jed unnane gys niau agh yn Creestee crauee, biallagh, sheelt, cairagh, onneragh, as jeidjagh. | |
| Let us not then, my Christian brethren, let us not content ourselves with the bare name of Christians, and with shadows of religion and piety, without striving after that holiness without which no man must see the Lord . | [335] Ny lhig dooin eisht, my vraaraghyn Creestee, ny lhig dooin booiys shin-hene lesh ennym lhome Creesteenyn, as lesh scaadooyn dy chredjue as craueeaght, fegooish. streeu son y chasherickys shen ny egooish cha nheign da dooinney erbee yn Chiarn y akin. | |
| You fee plainly, that to be a Christian, and a true Christian, are two very different things. A true Christian, knowing that the want of a lively Faith is the occasion of all the wickedness we meet with in the world, therefore, begs this grace of God, with all the earnestness of his soul; he studies, he attends to, the truths of the Gospel, as that which must make him wise unto salvation; he resolves, that what he learns there, he will believe, let what will be said against it; that what it requires, he will observe and follow, and avoid what it forbids; never consulting the way of the world, its customs, its favours, or its frowns: by doing which, he secures the favour of God, his grace here, and happiness hereafter. | Ta shiu fakin dy playn dy nee daa red feer different yh, dy ve Creestee, as Creestee firrinagh. Ta Creestee firrinagh, myr t’eh toiggal dy vel laccal credjue bioal yn oyr jeh ooilley yn vee-chraueeaght ta shin meeteil rish ’sy theihl, t’eh, er-y-fa shen, guee er Jee lesh slane jeeanid e annym, dy chur da yn grayse shoh; t’eh lhaih dy kiaralagh, as dy jeean geaishtagh rish firrinyssyn y Tushtal, toiggal dy nee voish shen sheign da yn ynsagh y gheddyn, nee eh y yannoo creeney gys saualtys; ta fo, dy chredjal cre erbee t’eh gynsaghey voish shen, lhig da cre saillish ve rait n’oi; dy der eh biallys da ooilley ny ta er ny harey ayn, as chea veih ooilley ny ta er ny lhiettal liorish; nagh neiyr eh er drogh chliaghtaghyn y theihl, na geill y choyrt da e aigney mie na drogh aigney: Liorish shoh, t’eh jannoo shickyr jeh foayr Yee, as e ghrayse ayns shoh, as jeh maynrys ny lurg shoh. | |
| On the other hand; they that live at all adventures, in a general forgetfulness of God, of duty, and religion, without feeling any thing of its power; such people, under the name of Christians, are, in truth, unbelievers; and, as such, will be rejected of God, and will be reserved for a punishment dreadful to be named, however little they consider and think of it . | Er y cheu elley, adsyn ta beaghey myr sailloo hene, ayns slane jarroodys jeh Jee, jeh nyn gurrym, fegooish gennaghtyn veg jeh pooar Chredjue; ta lheid y sleih, ga dy [336] vel ad fo ennym Chreesteenyn, dy jarroo firrinagh nyn an-chredjuee; as myr nyn lheid, bee ad obbit liorish Jee, as kiarit son kerraghey, agglagh dy heet harrish, cre cha eddrym erbee as t’adsyn smooinaght jeh. | |
| In short: God has given us a law, by which he will judge us. By Faith we receive this law; and by this we are to judge what our condition is like to be hereafter, whether happy or miserable. | Ayns fockle; ta Jee er choyrt leigh dooin, liorish nee eh nyn mriwnys. Liorish Credjue ta shin goail yn leigh shoh; as liorish yn leigh shoh ta shin dy vriwnys cre ta nyn stayd laik dy ve ny lurg shoh, edyr maynrey na treih | |
| That we may make this judgment impartially, let us [169] consider what our thoughts will probably be, when we come to die. Whether, for instance, we shall not be under a most terrible astonishment, when, reflecting upon our Faith, and comparing it with our past life, it shall appear that we have lived in a plain neglect of what we professed to believe, and what we knew to be our duty. Or whether, upon comparing our life and our faith, we shall have the comfort of having lived by Faith; repented of our errors; made our peace with God; and lived to bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life. | Dy vod mayd jannoo yn briwnys shoh dy cairagh, lhig dooin goail ain hene cre ta nyn smooinaghtyn laik dy ve, tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase. Lhig dooin goail ain hene, son mac-soyley, yn atchim agglagh vees orrin, tra chooinys mayd cre cha cleer controllee ta nyn ymmyrkey-bea er ve gys nyn Gredjue, as ny va fys ain va nyn gurrym. Na er y cheu elley, yn gerjagh mooar vees ain, er soylagh nyn mea rish nyn gredjue, dy ennaghtyn dy vel ad coardail ry-cheilley, dy vel shin er ghoail arrys son nyn shaghrynyssyn, er n’yannoo nyn shee rish Jee, as er ve er-mayrn dy ymmyrkey messyn cooie son lhiassaghey bea. | |
| One of these two will be the case of myself, and of all you that hear me; how soon we know not; but it highly concerns us to think of it, lest the night cometh when no man can work, before we have finished the work we have to do. | Bee yn derrey yeh na yn jeh elley jeu shoh yn chooish aym-pene, as yn chooish euish ooilley ta geaishtagh rhym; cre cha leah cha s’ain; agh imree yh dooin ooilley dy smooinaght er, er-aggle dy jig yn oie tra [337] nagh vod dooinney erbee gobbraghey, roish my ta shin er chooilleeney yn obbyr ta orrin dy yannoo. | |
| My design, you see, Christians, has been to put you upon considering, and examining into the truth of your Faith, and the state of your souls. By the short hints which, for the sake of your memory, I am going to give you, who is, and who is not in the way of life and salvation. | Ta shiu fakin, Chreesteenyn, dy vel yh er ve my chiarail dy chur shiu er consideral as feysht shiu-hene mychione nyn gredjue, as stayd nyn anmeenyn. Liorish ny cowraghyn giarey (giare dy vod shiu freayl ad ayns cooinaghtyn) ta mee goll dy chur reue, bee yh ry-akin quoi ta, as quoi nagh vel ayns raad y vea as saualtys. | |
| All such as fear God, and are afraid for themselves, on account of the corruption of their nature;—such as are truly sorry for having offended so gracious a God and Father, and resolve to do so no more;—such as receive Jesus Christ as their Lawgiver, Saviour, and Judge;—such as strive to be holy in their lives, as God who hath called them is holy;—such as do watch and purpose in their hearts to do nothing knowingly which may displease God:—These have the principles of grace and life in them; and are in the way of life everlasting. | Nyn lheid ooilley as ta goail aggle roish Jee, as ta ayns aggle er nyn son hene, er coontey neu-ghlennid nyn ghooghys;—nyn lheid as ta dy firrinagh trimshagh son dy vel ad er choyrt corree er Jee as Ayr cha graysoil, as ta foue gyn dy yannoo shen arragh; nyn lheid as ta goail Yeesey Creest son nyn Gione-reill, Saualtagh, as Briw;—nyn lheid as ta streeu dy ve casheric ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea, myr ta Jee eh ta er n’eamagh orroo casheric;—nyn lheid as ta er nyn arrey as kiarit ayns nyn greeaghyn gyn nhee erbee y yannoo lesh nyn yione oddys corree y chur er Jee: Ta banglaneyn y ghrayse as y vea ayndoo shoh, as t’ad ayns raad yn vea veayn. | |
| While such as are wilfully ignorant of God, and of the principles and duties of Christianity;—such as are not sensible of the corruption of their nature, and the danger they are in on that account;—such as see not, nor are sensible of the blessing of a Redeemer;—such as are best pleased with such company and pleasures as divert the thoughts of what must come hereafter;—such as live under the means of grace, without being bettered by them, whose hearts are set upon the world and its idols: All these are in the way of certain ruin, though they will not think of it, though they will not believe it. | Choud as nyn lheid as ta lesh nyn yoine mee-hushtagh jeh Jee, as jeh banglaneyn as cur’myn y Chredjue Creestee;—nyn lheid as nagh vel gennaghtyn neu-ghlennid nyn ghooghys, as y danjere t’ad ayn er y choontey [338] shen;—nyn lheid as nagh vel fakin na gennaghtyn yn bannaght ta liorish Fer-chionnee;—nyn lheid as ta nyn daitnys mooar ayns lheid y cheshaght as fardalyssyn as nee tayrn nyn aignaghyn veih smooinaghtyn er shen sheign cheet ny lurg shoh;—nyn lheid as ta beaghey fo ny saaseyn dy ghrayse, fegooish ve ny share lioroo, nyn greeaghyn ta soit er y theihl as e yallooyn:—T’ad shoh ooilley ayns y raad shickyr gys toyrt-mouys, ga nagh jean ad smooinaght er, ga nagh gred ad yh. | |
| From all which it appears, how Christians are to judge of the truth and sincerity of their Faith, even by the manner of their lives. | Voish ooilley shoh t’yh ry-akin, kys lhisagh Creesteenyn briwnys jeh firrinys as ynrickys nyn gredjue, eer liorish nyn ymmyrkey-bea. | |
| If a man fears God, he will be afraid to do any thing which he believes God has forbidden him;—if he loves God, he will desire to please God;—if he believes God to be the fountain and giver of all good, he will pray to him for all the good he wants and desires;—if he believes that God ordereth all things with infinite wisdom and goodness, he will be pleased with all God's choices for himself and others. | My ta dooinney goail aggle roish Jee, bee aggle er dy yannoo nhee erbee t’eh credjal dy vel Jee er lhiettal da;—my t’eh graihagh er Jee, nee eh streeu dy vooiys eh;—my t’eh credjal dy nee Jee bun as toyrtyssagh dy chooilley nhee mie, nee eh guee huggey son ooilley ny t’eh feme na geearree;—my t’eh credjal dy vel Jee goardrail dy chooilley nhee lesh creenaght as mieys erskyn earroo, bee eh booiagh lesh ooilley ny s’cooidsave lesh Jee dy yannoo rish hene na rish feallagh elley. | |
| Let no man, therefore, flatter himself that he is a Christian, who does not do the things which Christ has commanded,—and who will not learn from the example of Christ,—from the meekness, humility, patience, and self-denial of Jesus Christ;—he who will not be persuaded that this is the only way to be restored to the favour of God, can neither be happy in this world nor in the world to come. | Ny lhig da dooinney erbee, er-y-fa shen, brynneragh rish hene dy nee Creestee eh, nagh vel jannoo ny reddyn shen ta Creest er [339] harey,—as nagh jean gynsagh veih sampleyr Chreest,—veih meenid, imlid, surranse-foddey, as smaght Chreest. Eshyn nagh gred dy nee shoh yn ynrycan aght dy ve aa-ghoit stiagh gys foayr Yee, cha vod eh ve maynrey, edyr ayns y theihl shoh na ayns y theihl ta ry-heet. | |
| To conclude all that I have to say upon this subject:—As Christians, we have the greatest obligations upon us to lead very serious, very holy lives. We are blessed with the true knowledge of God; we have his own Son for our Master, and Teacher, and Protector, and Saviour, and Mediator, and Advocate; we are received into his family by Baptism; we have the Holy Ghost to assist us, and an interest in all the prayers made in his holy church throughout the world; we know and believe that we shall rise again, (if we have passed this life of trial as we know we ought to do) we shall rise to enjoy a life of happiness unspeakable and everlasting. | Dy chur jerrey er y slane chooish shoh:—Myr Creesteenyn, ta shin fo ny kianglaghyn smoo dy leeideil bea feer sheelt, feer chrauee. Ta shin bannit lesh yn tushtey firrinagh dy Yee;—ta e Vac hene ain son nyn Mainshter, as Fer-ynsee, as Fer-coadee, as Saualtagh, as nyn Bleadeyr dy yannoo stiagh er nyn son; ta shin goit stiagh ayns lught e hie liorish Bashtey; ta’n Spyrryd Noo ain dy chooney lhien, as ta cairys ain ayns ooilley ny padjeryn ta jeant liorish e agglish casheric trooid magh yn seihl; ta fys ain as ta shin credjal dy jean mayd girree reesht, (as my ta shin er cheau yn vea shoh dy hrial myr lhisagh shin) dy n’irree mayd dy ghoail soylley jeh bea dy vaynrys erskyn-insh, as dy bragh beayn. | |
| [170] What can our hearts wish for, what can we desire more? Yes, O Jesus, this one thing we desire and beg, that we may all have the grace which thou alone canst obtain for us, that we may have grace, to lay the things which we believe most seriously to heart, and that our lives may be answerable to our Faith. | Cre smoo oddys nyn greeaghyn wishal er y hon, cre smoo oddys mayd geearree?—Foddee, O Yeesey! yn un red shoh ta shin geearree as guee, dy vod grayse ’ve ain ooilley, cooid oddys uss dty lomarcan cosney dooin,—dy vod grayse ’ve ain dy crauee dy ghoail gys nyn greeaghyn ny reddyn shen ta shin credjal, as dy vod nyn mea ve cordail rish nyn gredjue. | |
| Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercy’s sake, and for the sake of thy poor creatures, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood; that we may give to Thee, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, glory, and honour, and praise, and thanksgiving, for ever and ever. Amen | [340] Giall shoh, O Hiarn, er graih dty vyghin, as er graih dty chretooryn boghtey, t’ou er chionnaghey-reesht lesh dty uill smoo ooasle; dy vod mainyn cur Dhyts, marish yn Ayr as yn Spyrryd Noo, gloyr, as ooashley, as moylley, as toyrt-booise, son dy bragh as dy bragh. Amen. | |
| [193] SERMON XXXI. | SHARMANE XVI | |
| WORKS, NOT WORDS ONLY, NECESSARY TO SALVATION. | Obbraghyn, cha nee Goan ny lomarcan, ta ymmyrchagh gys Saualtys. | |
| MATTHEW vii. 21. | MIAN vii. 21. | |
| Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven .* | Cha nee dy chooilley unnane jir rhym’s, Hiarn, Hiarn, hed stiagh er Reeriaght Niau: agh eshyn ta jannoo aigney my Ayrey t’ayns Niau. | |
| * See Matt. vii. 23. x. 33. xxiixxiii., 29. Luke vi. 46 , 48. viii. 21. xi. 28. Rom. ii. 13. 1 Cor. iv. 20.Heb. vi. 5. 2 Tim. ii. 19. iii, 5. Jam. i. 22. Titus i. 16. 1 John i . i.Ezek. xxxiii. 31. Jerem. vii. 9. | ||
| HOW often do we hear these words of Christ!—That you may attend to what is going to be said to you upon this subject, pray take notice, that the salvation of every soul of us will depend upon our understanding this declaration of our Lord, and upon our ordering our lives accordingly. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,” i.e. who professeth himself a Christian, and observes the outward duties of Christianity, “shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father:” he that leadeth a Christian life, he, and he only, shall be saved. | CRE cha mennic as ta shin clashtyn ny goan shoh dy Chreest!—Dy vod shiu geill vie y choyrt da ny ta mee goll dy ghra riu er y chooish shoh, guee-ym erriu dy ghoail tastey, dy vel saualtys dy chooilley unnane ain lhie er toiggal dy cooie ny goan shoh dy nyn Jiarn, as er leeideil nyn mea cordail roo. “Cha nee dy chooilley unnane jir rhym’s, Hiarn, Hiarn,” ta shen, ta goail-rish dy ve ny Chreestee, as tendeil ny oardaghyn er cheu-mooie, “hed stiagh ayns reeriaght niau; agh eshyn ta jannoo aigney my Ayrey:” eshyn ta leeideil bea Chreestee, eshyn, as eshyn ynrycan, vees er ny hauail. | |
| There is a most sad mistake, which people of all religions and professions do naturally fall into; i.e. to satisfy themselves with performing the outward parts of religious worship, without considering, that the strictest observation of such duties will avail us nothing in the sight of God, if we are not by these, and through his grace, brought to lead a godly, righteous, and sober life, to his honour and glory. | [342] S’treih yn marranys ta eiyrtyssee dy chooilley chredjue tuittym ayn; ta shen, booiys ad-hene lesh jannoo cur’myn er cheumooie nyn gredjue, fegooish goail huc hene, nagh bee nyn dastey s’geyrey da lheid ny cur’myn jeh vondeish erbee dooin ayns shilley Yee, mannagh vel mayd lioroo shoh, as trooid yn ghrayse echeysyn, er nyn dayrn dy leeideil bea chrauee, cairal, as sheelt, gys yn ooashley as gloyr echeysyn. | |
| This was the false hopes of the Jews, and this was their ruin at last, when they would not be persuaded, either by their Prophets, or by Christ, or by his forerunner the Baptist, to mend their lives, but depended upon their acceptance with God, on account of their strict observance of their outward worship and ceremonies, without a change of heart and manners. | Shoh va barrantys foalsey ny Hewnyn, as shoh va nyn doyrt-mou ec y jerrey, tra nagh beagh ad coyrlit, edyr liorish ny Phadeyryn oc, na liorish Creest, na liorish yn chaghter hie roish [Ean Bashtey] dy lhiassaghey nyn mea, agh hreisht ad dy jinnagh Jee soiagh’ y yannoo jeu er coontey nyn dastey geyre da nyn ooashley as cliaghtaghyn er cheu-mooie, fegooish caghlaa chree as bea. | |
| At the same time we must not imagine, but that the public worship and ordinances of religion are an acceptable way of honouring our Creator and Redeemer; of obtaining the graces and blessings of God, and a powerful means of forwarding our salvation. But still they are only means, and intended by God to lead and enable us to perform the duties, the necessary duties, which we owe to God, our neighbour, and ourselves; i.e. to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world. | Ec y traa cheddin cha nheign dooin smooinaghtyn, agh dy vel shirveish foshlit ny killagh as oardaghyn y chredjue, aght booisal dy ooashlaghey nyn Fer-chroo as nyn Fer-chionnee; as dy gheddyn grayseyn as bannaghtyn Yee, as saaseyn breeoil dy chur nyn saualtys er y hoshiaght. Agh ny-yeih cha vel ad agh saaseyn, as kiarit liorish Jee dy leeideil as dy niartaghey shin dy yannoo ny cur’myn, ny cur’myn ymmyrchagh, ta kainlt orrin gys Jee, nyn naboo, as dooin hene; ta shen, dy veaghey dy sheelt, dy cairal, as dy crauee, ’sy drogh heihl t’ayn nish. | |
| Outward ordinances are a powerful means of bringing us to salvation, through the grace of God. For indeed, if we did not observe one day in seven, we should soon forget the God that made us, and the Saviour who redeemed us. If we did not go to church to hear God’s word, we should be ignorant of his will; if we did not often pray to God for his blessing upon ourselves and our labours, we should forget that we depend upon him for life, and breath, and all things; that is, in other words, [194] “we should live without God in the world;” we should be downright atheists. | [343] Ta oardaghyn er cheu-mooie nyn saaseyn breeoil dy chur lhieu shin gys saualtys, trooid grayse Yee. Son dy jarroo, ’bey dy vel shin freayl un laa ayns shiaght dy casheric, yinnagh shin dy leah jarrood yn Jee ta er n’yannoo shin, as yn Saualtagh ta er chionnaghey shin reesht;—Er-bey dy vel shin goll gys y cheeill dy eaishtagh rish Goo Yee, veagh shin mee-hushtagh jeh e aigney;— ’bey dy vel shin dy mennic guee gys Jee son e vannaght orrin-hene as nyn laboraght, yinnagh shin jarrood dy nee huggeysyn ta shin jerkal son bea as ennal, as dy chooilley nhee; ta shen, ayns focklyn elley, yinnagh shin beaghey fegooish Jee ayns y theihl; veagh shin ooilley-dy-lhearagh nyn An-yee-ee. | |
| But when we join with our fellow Christians in glorifying God for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings we enjoy, or hope for; this will be a powerful means of printing on our hearts a grateful reverence for God when we leave his House. | Agh tra ta shin cooidjagh marish nyn sheshee-Creesteenyn gloyraghey Jee son nyn groo, nyn goadey, as ooilley ny bannaghtyn ta ain, na treishteil er nyn son; bee shoh saase pooaral dy ghrainney er nyn greeaghyn arrym booisal da Jee tra ta shin fagail e hie. | |
| So when we hear his promises of eternal happiness to those that obey him, and the dreadful judgments that must be the portion of those that neither love, nor fear, nor worship God, as they ought to do; these truths often repeated are very proper to comfort and encourage such as are serious and good, and to awaken, and to amend the wicked. | Myr shen tra ta shin clashtyn e ghialdynyn jeh maynrys dy bragh farraghtyn dauesyn ta biallagh da; as ny briwnyssyn atchimagh sheign ve yn cronney ocsyn nagh vel edyr graihagh er, na agglagh roish, na ooashlaghey Jee, myr lhisagh ad; ta ny firrinyssyn shoh dy mennic er nyn jeet harrishdoo, feer chooie dy chur cree as gerjagh dauesyn ta crauee as mie, as dy ghoostey ny mee-chrauee, as dy chur orroo lhiassaghey nyn mea. | |
| And so for the other outward ordinances of Christianity; they are truly means of salvation, when they are observed as they ought to be. | [344] As shen da ooilley ny oardaghyn elley er cheu-mooie yn Chredjue Chreestee; as t’ad dy feer nyn saaseyn dy haualtys, tra ta tastey cooie er ny choyrt daue. | |
| What an invaluable blessing is it, to be received into the church of God by baptism; to be made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven; to be under the government of God’s Holy Spirit, and under the care of his Angels. | Cre’n bannaght erskyn-towse yh, dy ve goit stiagh ayns agglish Yee liorish Bashtey; dy ve jeant oltey dy Chreest, lhiannoo dy Yee, as eirey dy reeriaght niau; dy ve fo reiltys Spyrryd Casheric Yee, as fo kiarail e Ainleyn! | |
| These are powerful motives to such as have any thoughts and concern for their souls, to live as becomes the children of God, and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. | T’ad shoh nyn oyryn breeoil da ny lheid as ta kiarail na imnea erbee orroo mychione nyn anmeenyn, dy leeideil bea myr ta cooie da cloan Yee, as eiraghyn dy reeriaght niau. | |
| The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is another outward and powerful means of salvation. We are too apt to forget what was promised for us when we were made Christians, and too apt, God knows, to fall into the sins we have repented of. Now, in this Sacrament, Jesus Christ has provided a remedy for both these evils. We are here put in mind, and required, to examine into our lives, whether we live as becomes the Gospel of Christ; and if we have not done so, to repent and amend, as we hope for salvation, with assurance of pardon, through the merits and mediation of Christ, if we do so. | Ta Sacrament Shibber y Chiarn saase breeoil elley er cheu-mooie jeh saualtys. Ta shin ro aarloo dy yarrood cre va giallit er nyn son tra va shin jeant nyn Greesteenyn, as ro aarloo, dy vaik y Jee, dy huittym gys ny peccaghyn ta arrys er ve orrin jeu. Nish, ayns yn Sacrament shoh ta Yeesey Creest er chiarail saase noi yn daa olk shoh. Ta shin liorish shoh er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn, as er nyn gur’mey, dy eysht vel nyn ymmyrkey-bea cordail rish Sushtal Chreest; as mannagh vel shin er n’yannoo shen, dy ghoail arrys as dy lhiassaghey nyn mea, myr ta shin treishteil son saualtys, lesh shickyrys jeh pardoon, trooid toilchinys as lhiassaghey Yeesey Creest, my nee mayd shen. | |
| These are means of making us religious, and acceptable to God; but then, we must have a care of flattering ourselves, that because we observe these outward ordinances, that therefore we are truly religious and in a happy condition; for a man may have a form of godliness without the power. One may be a strict observer of the Lord’s day, a careful attender upon the publick worship, without an heart sincerely disposed to lead a Christian life, to be governed by the word we have heard, and the precepts given us in the Gospel. “They hear my words,” saith God, by his Prophet, “but will not do them.” | [345] Shoh ny saaseyn dy yannoo shin crauee, as booisal ayns shilley Yee; agh eisht sheign dooin ve er nyn dwoaie nagh jean mayd brynneragh rooin hene, er-yn-oyr dy vel shin geiyrt da ny oardaghyn foshlit shoh, dy vel shin, er-y-fa shen, dy firrinagh crauee, as ayns stayd maynrey; son foddee yn caslys dy chraueeaght ve ec dooinney fegooish yn bree. Foddee dooinney ve feer chiaralagh dy reayl Laa yn Chiarn, as dy haaghey shirveish foshlit ny killagh, fegooish ve dy firrinagh kiarit ayns e chree dy leeideil bea Chreestee, dy ve er ny reill liorish yn goo ta shin er chlashtyn, as ny saraghyn ta er nyn goyrt dooin ayns yn Sushtal. “T’ad clashtyn my ghoan,” (as Jee, liorish e Adeyr) “agh cha jean ad cordail roo.” | |
| You shall hear what God saith by another Prophet, [Jer. vii. 9.] “Will ye steal, and murder, and commit adultery, and come before me in this House, which is called by my name, and hope for pardon? Is not this to make the House of God a den of thieves, of drunkards, and of all uncleanness?” | Ver-ym reue ny ta Jee dy ghra liorish Phadeyr elley, [Jer. vii. 9] “Jean shiu geid, jannoo dunverys, as brishey-poosey, as jig shiu dy hassoo kiongoyrt rhyms ’sy thie shoh, ta enmyssit orrym’s, as treishteil son pardoon?—Nagh vel shoh dy yannno thie Yee ny ooig dy vaarlee, dy veshtallee, as dy chooilley neu-ghlennid?” | |
| You shall hear what an Apostle of Christ tells us, that in the last days, even an outward profession of Christianity shall be attended with the greatest crimes: [2 Tim. iii. 5.] “Men,” even men professing Christianity, “shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, evil-speakers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, incontinent, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God .” | Eaisht-jee rish ny ta Ostyl dy Chreest ginsh dooin, [2 Tim. iii. 2.] “Ayns ny laghyn jerrinagh dy jig traaghyn seaghnagh; son bee deiney,” eer deiney ta genmys ad-hene Creesteenyn, “er nyn son-hene, sayntoileee [sic], boggyssee, mooaraalee,[346] oltooanee, mee-viallagh gys ayraghyn as moiraghyn, neu-wooisal, mee-chrauee, fegooish graih dooghyssagh, brishey-conaantyn, casseyderyn foalsey, rouanagh, dewil, dwoaiagh er deiney mie, traitooryn, theaymagh, ard-aignagh, ny s’graihee er eunyssyn y vea shoh na er Jee.” | |
|
Bible reference in Manx is 2 Tim. III 2, English is 2 Tim. III 5. Actual text quoted is 2 Tim III 1- 4
| ||
| Need we any greater proof that we are, even now, in the last days of Christianity; when we see Christians, so called, guilty of such crimes as these, under an outward form of religion? | ||
|
This paragraph is not in the Manx translation
| ||
| Not considering, “that they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame.” | Cha vel nyn lheid shoh goail oc hene dy vel ad “crossey Mac Yee ass y noa, as dy choyrt eh gys nearey foshlit.[”] | |
| Now; in order to prevent these sad delusions, let every serious Christian, who hopes for salvation, ask himself; Why do I call Jesus Christ my Lord; or, in other words, why do I profess myself to be a Christian? Is it not because, as we are sinners, we are under the displeasure of God, and therefore can have no hopes of salvation, [195] if by the merits of Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we are not restored to God's favour, and obtain his pardon, and by his Holy Spirit be enabled to lead a holy and a Christian life? If we do not, therefore, endeavour to lead such a life, we must never hope for the Kingdom of Heaven, notwithstanding all our outward devotion and professions. | Nish, cour ny shaghrynyssyn treih shoh y haghney, lhig da dy chooilley Chreestee sheelt, ta treishteil son saualtys, fenaght jeh hene,—Cre’n oyr t’aym son genmys Yeesey Creest yn Chiarn ayms; na, ayns focklyn elley, Cre’n-fa ta mee goail-rish dy vel mee my Chreestee? Nagh nee son, myr dy nee peccee shin, ta shin fo corree Yee, as, shen-y-fa, nagh jean mie dooin treishteil son saualtys, mannagh vel shin, trooid toilchinys Chreest, as trooid Credjue ayns yn uill echey, er nyn aa-ghoail stiagh gys foayr Yee, geddyn e phardoon, as er nyn niartaghey liorish e Spyrryd Casheric dy leeideil bea crauee as Creestee? Shen-y-fa, mannagh vel shin streeu dy leeideil lheid y vea, cha jean mie dooin dy bragh treishteil son reeriaght niau, son ooilley nyn ghoail-rish as craueeaght er cheu-mooie. | |
| You observe the Lord’s Day, and attend the service of the church: This is certainly a Christian duty, and well done; but then, if you are not a better Christian for it all the week after, it is to be feared, you went to church out of shame, out of custom only, and not out of devotion to God, or to obtain such heavenly dispositions as are necessary to your leading a good life . | T’ou freayl Laa yn Chiarn, as tendeil shirveish ny killagh: Ta shoh son firrinys ny churrym Chreestee, as s’mie t’ou dy yannoo; [347] agh eisht, mannagh vel oo dty Chreestee share liorish yn chooid elley jeh’n chiaghtin, t’yh dy ve dooytit, dy nee trooid nearey hie oo gys y cheeill, trooid eer chliaghtey, as cha nee ass craueeaght gys Jee, na dy chosney lheid ny yeearreeyn flaunyssagh as ta ymmyrchagh cour dty leeideil bea vie. | |
| We come to church to glorify God, by owning our whole dependance on him, and to give him thanks for his providence and care of us; but then, we must not forget, that God will be more glorified by our good lives when we return home, than by our good words here. You have our Lord's word for this: “In this is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit.” | Ta shin cheet gys y cheeill dy ghloyraghey Yee, liorish goail-rish dy nee er’syn ta nyn slane barrant, as dy choyrt booise da son e ard-chiarail j’in; agh eisht cha nheign dooin jarrood, dy bee Jee ny smoo er ny ghloyragh’ liorish nyn ymmyrkey-bea vie erreish dooin v'er jeet dy valley, na liorish nyn ghoan arrymagh ayns shoh. Ta fockle nyn Jiarn eu son shoh: “Liorish shoh ta my Ayr er ny ghloyraghey, shiu dy chur magh lane mess.” | |
| We come hither to confess and beg pardon for our sins; now, if we come with an unforgiving temper, or without a full purpose, through the grace of God, of leading a new life, not one sin will be forgiven us, but we shall return home under the displeasure of an offended God, and fall into all the disorders of a sinful life. | Ta shin cheet ayns shoh dy ghoail-rish as dy yeearree leih son nyn beccaghyn. Nish my ta shin cheet lesh creeaghyn neu-vooiagh dy leih da feallagh elley, na fegooish slane kiarail, trooid grayse Yee, dy leeideil bea noa, cha bee un phecca hene er ny leih dooinyn, agh h’em mayd thie fo corree yn Jee jymmoosit, as nee mayd tuittym fo dy chooilley vee-reiltys jeh bea peccoil. | |
| We come here to make an open confession of our faith, and it is our duty to do so. We profess our belief in God, the Father and Creator of all things. Now if, as such, we fear, love, honour, and obey him, our faith is right; only let us not forget, that there are people “who profess to know God, but in works deny him;” and that such are reprobates. | Ta shin cheet ayns shoh dy foshlit dy ghoail-rish nyn gredjue; as nyn gurrym yh dy yannoo shen. Ta shin goail-rish dy chredjal ayns Jee, Ayr as Fer-chroo dy chooilley nhee. [348] Nish myr lheid shoh, my ta aggle orrin roish, my ta shin cur graih, ooashley, as biallys da, ta nyn gredjue cairagh. Ynrycan ny lhig dooin jarrood, dy vel sleih ayn, “ta goail orroo dy vel tushtey oc dy Yee, agh ayns nyn obbraghyn t’ad gobbal eh;” as dy vel nyn lheid mee-lowit. | |
| We profess our belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and our Lord and Saviour; but then we must know, and remember, that he is the author of eternal salvation to them, and to them only, that obey him. | Ta shin goail-rish nyn gredjue ayns Yeesey Creest, Mac Yee, as yn Chiarn as Saualtagh ainyn; agh eisht lhig da fys ’ve ain, as cooinaghtyn er, dy vel eh bun y taualtys dy bragh farraghtyn dauesyn, as dauesyn ny lomarcan, ta coyrt biallys da. | |
| We profess our belief in the Holy Ghost, as the author of all our graces, who helps our infirmities, enlightens our minds with saving truths, and is the sole principle of a Christian life, and for that end given us at our baptism. But then, we must know, that if we grieve him by our evil lives, he will leave us to ourselves, and then what will our faith profit us? | Ta shin goail-rish nyn gredjue ayns y Spyrryd Noo, myr bun ooilley nyn ghrayseyn, ta niartaghey lesh ny annoonidyn ain, ta soilshaghey nyn anmeenyn lesh firrinyssyn flaunyssagh, as ta slane bun yn ymmyrkey-bea Chreestee, as cour shen er ny choyrt dooin ayns bashtey. Agh eisht, lhig da fys ’ve ain, my ta shin cur corree er liorrish nyn ghrogh-ymmyrkey-bea, dy jean eh fagail shin dooin hene, as eisht cre’n vondeish vees ain liorish nyn gredjue? | |
| You come to church to hear God’s Holy Word read and explained, to be put in mind of your duty; to awaken you, if you have forgot it, into a sense of your danger, and of the happiness you may lose. Now, all this is lost upon you, with the loss of your souls, if you do not return home with a full purpose of leading a life answerable to what you have heard. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” | Ta shiu cheet gys y cheeill dy eaishtagh rish Goo Yee er ny lhaih as er ny phreacheil, dy ve currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym; dy ghoostey shiu, my ta shiu er yarrood yh, gys ennaghtyn jeh nyn ghanjere, as jeh’n vaynrys oddys ve dy choayl erriu. Nish, ta ooilley shoh caillit erriu, marish coayl nyn [349] anmeenyn, mannagh vel shiu chyndaa dy valley lesh slane kiarail dy leeideil bea cooie gys ny ta shiu er chlashtyn: “Son cha nee adsyn ta clashtyn y leigh ta seyr fenish Yee, agh jeantee yn leigh vees er ny heyrey.” | |
| Lastly; you return home with a solemn blessing upon you from God by his own Minister, appointed to bless the people in his name. Now; that it may be an effectual blessing to you, let it be your sincere desire and endeavour, that you may grow in grace, that you may live to God’s glory by leading an holy life; and you may depend upon it, God the Father will be your preserver, God the Son will be your redeemer, God the Holy Ghost your sanctifier, unto your lives’ end. | Er-jerrey ta shiu chyndaa dy valley lesh bannaght veih Jee, dy crauee er ny ockley magh erriu liorish e Hirveishee hene, ta pointit dy vannaghey yn pobble ayns yn ennym echeysyn. Nish; dy vod yh ve ny vannaght breeoil diu, streeu-jee gys rere nyn booar dy aase ayns grayse, as dy leeideil nyn mea gys gloyr Yee; as foddee shiu jerkal rish, dy bee Jee yn Ayr nyn Fer-choadee, dy bee Jee yn Mac nyn Fer-chionnee, as Jee yn Spyrryd Noo nyn Fer-chasherickey, gys jerrey nyn mea. | |
| In short; if the service of the church doth not create in us holy affections, sincere purposes of amending our ways where we have done amiss, and of honouring God, not only with our lips, but in our lives; all our outward devotions and prayers will stand us in no stead, neither now, nor at the hour of death, nor in the day of judgment. | Ayns giare; mannagh vel shirveish ny killagh gientyn aynin yeearreeyn casheric, kiarailyn shickyr dy lhiassaghey nyn immeeaght tra ta shin er n’yannoo ass y raad, dy ooashlaghey Jee, cha nee ny lomarcan lesh nyn meillyn, agh ayns nyn mea; cha n’eeu ooilley nyn graueeaght er cheu-mooie veg dooin, edyr nish, na ec oor y vaaish, na ayns laa ny briwnys. | |
| Our Blessed Lord warned his followers against two then reigning evils, and the same reign at this day. Take heed, and beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees; that is, of atheism and hypocrisy; of a mere formal religion, or none at all. | Hug nyn Jiarn bannee raue da e eiyrtyssee mychione daa phecca va reill ’sy lhing echeysyn, as ta ny peccaghyn cheddin reill ’sy laa t’ayn jiu. “Cur-jee twoaie, as bee-jee er nyn [350] arrey noi soorid ny Phariseeyn as ny Saduceeyn;” ta shen, jeh An-yeeys, as Craueeaght oalsey,—jeh credjue er cheu-mooie ny lomarcan, na gyn veg edyr. | |
| [196] Self-love, indeed, will be apt to be pleased, and place confidence in the outward duties of religion. The reason is plain: There is not one of these outward duties, whether it be observing the Sabbath, or attending the Church, or giving of alms, or fasting, or praying; any, or all of these, are easier to be performed, than taking care of, and changing the heart and life, which will require both prayer, and pains, and self-denial, and watching, to do it effectually. | Bee nyn mooaraalys, dy jarroo feer aarloo dy ve er nyn wooiys lesh, as dy chur barrant er jannoo ny cur’myn cheu-mooie jeh credjue,Ta’n resoon playn: Ta ooilley ny cur’myn er cheu-mooie shoh, edyr jeh freayl yn Doonaght, na tendeil y Cheeill, na coyrt jeirk, na trostey, na goail padjer; ta veg, na ooilley jeu shoh ny sassey dy ve jeant, na goail kiarail jeh as caghlaa yn cree as ymmyrkey-bea, cooid imr’ys chamma padjer as payns, as smaght orrin hene, as ve er nyn arrey, dy yannoo yh dy fondagh. | |
| Nay; let me tell you, that Satan himself will be well pleased that you should observe all the outward duties of religion, can he but prevail upon you to neglect that holiness of life, without which, he knows, no man must see the Lord. This, assure yourselves, Christians, is one of the most subtil snares of the Devil, to tempt men to be satisfied with a shadow of religion without the power. | Son, lhig dou ginsh diu, dy bee boggey er y Drogh-spyrryd hene shiu dy ve tastagh da dy chooilley churrym er cheu-mooie dy chredjue, my oddys eh agh cosney erriu gyn geill y choyrt da’n casherickys shen jeh ymmyrkey-bea, ny egooish, ta fys echey, nagh nheign da dooinney erbee yn Chiarn y akin. | |
| —Ta shoh, bee jee shickyr jeh, Chreesteenyn, unnane jeh ribbaghyn s’croutagh yn Jouyl, dy chleayney sleih dy ve fegooish yn phooar vreeoil echey. | ||
| But then, as we ought not to place religion in a strict observance of these outward duties, and lay too great a stress upon them; so ought we to be very careful not to despise them, as too many do, as if we might be good Christians without observing them. This is another snare of the devil, by which millions of souls have been ruined. | Agh eisht, myr nagh lhisagh shin soiagh nyn gredjue ayns ve dy geyre tastagh da ny cur’myn shoh er cheu-mooie, as cur rour [351] strash orroo; myr shen lhisagh shin ve feer chiarailagh gyn dy hoiagh’ beg jeu, myr ta rour dy yannoo, myr dy voddagh shin ve nyn Greesteenyn vie fegooish tastey y choyrt daue.—Ta shoh ribbey elley jeh’n Jouyl, liorish ta millaghyn dy anmeenyn er ve caillit. | |
| The publick worship is most certainly a duty, and acceptable to God; and when our hearts go along with our bodies, all the outward ordinances are steps to lead us to what is absolutely necessary in religion; that is, a good life, a devout temper, and such as is necessary to fit us for a better world than this we live in. | Ta shirveish foshlit ny killagh son shickyrys ny churrym, as booisal da Jee; as tra ta nyn anmeenyn goll marish nyn gallinyn, ta dy chooilley oardagh er cheu-mooie nyn saaseyn ta leeideil shin gys shen ta ooilley-cooidjagh ymmyrchagh ayns credjue; ta shen, bea vie, tempyr crauee, as lheid as ta ymmyrchagh dy yannoo shin cooie son seihl share na’n seihl shoh ta shin cummal ayn. | |
| Jesus Christ has appointed these ordinances, and his Ministers to take care of them, in order to preserve his elect, whom he hath redeemed with his most precious blood. And dreadful, very dreadful, will be the judgment of all those who enjoy these means of grace and salvation, and are not bettered by them. | Ta Yeesey Creest er phointeil ny oardaghyn shoh, as e Hirveishee dy ghoail kiarail jeu, cour coadey e vooinjer reiht, t’eh er chionnaghey-reesht lesh e uill smoo ooasle. As atchimagh, feer atchimagh, vees yn deyrey ocsyn ooilley ta ny saaseyn shoh dy ghrayse as saualtys oc, as nagh vel gaase ny share lioroo ——Ayns un ockle: Foddee deiney ve caillit ayns yn ymmyd jeh ny eer oardaghyn shen ta pointit cour nyn saualtys. | |
| In one word: Men may perish in the use of those very ordinances which are appointed for their salvation. | ||
| I will therefore conclude what I have already said, with a few necessary truths, which I would hope you will remember, and carry home with you. | Ver-ym jerrey, er-y-fa shen, er ny ta mee hanna er ghra, lesh ghaa ny three dy irrinyssyn feer ymmyrchagh, cooid ta mee treishteil nee shiu freayl ayns cooinaghtyn, as cur lhieu thie meriu. | |
|
Pages 350 and 351 of Manx text transcribed from book as is missing from Google Books scan.
| ||
| Remember then, that the end of coming to church ought to be a continual advance in piety, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. | [352] Cooinee-jee eisht, dy lhisagh yn oyr ta son cheet gys y cheeill ve, dy kinjagh dy aase ayns craueeaght, ayns grayse, as ayns tushtey jeh nyn Jiarn as Saualtagh Yeesey Creest, cooilleeney casherickys ayns aggle Yee | |
| Outward duties are a proper means of leading to conversion itself; therefore, let us see what effects these have upon our lives, otherwise we may go on in a round of outward duties all our life long, and be no nearer Heaven when we come to die. | Ta cur’myn er cheu-mooie nyn saaseyn cooie dy hyndaa shin eer veih pecca gys Jee; shen-y-fa, lhig dooin jeeaghyn cre’n bree t’oc shoh er nyn ymmyrkey-bea; er aght elley foddee mayd goll er nyn doshiaght laghyn nyn seihl, ayns cooyrse dy chur’myn er cheu-mooie, as gyn ve veg sniassey gys niau tra hig mayd dy gheddyn baase. | |
| You hear the commands of God read to you, you beg him to write them in your hearts, to pardon you when you have been so unhappy as to break any of them. Now, if all this is forgotten as soon as you leave the church, what can you expect, but that God will leave you to yourselves? | Ta shiu clashtyn annaghyn Yee lhaiht diu, ta shiu guee er Jee dy screeu ad er nyn greeaghyn, dy leih diu tra ta shiu er ve cha neu-vaynrey as dy vrishey veg jeu. Nish, my ta shoh ooilley er ny yarrood cha leah as ta shiu fagail y cheeill, cre oddys ve nyn yerkal, agh dy naag Jee shiu diu hene? | |
| If you have confessed your sins with a true penitent heart, it will be seen by your life afterwards, that you did so. You have given God thanks for his mercies and blessings; take heed that you do not use any of them to his dishonour. | My ta shiu er ghoail-rish nyn beccaghyn lesh cree dy firrinagh arryssagh, bee yh ry-akin liorish nyn mea maghey shen, dy ren shiu myr shen. Ta shiu er chur booise da Jee son e vyghinyn as bannaghtyn; bee-jee er nyn dwoaie nagh jean shiu ymmyd jeh veg jeu gys y vee-ooashley echeysyn. | |
| We bless ourselves, and we bless God, that we have the liberty of hearing his word, and our duty, one day in seven. But pray take the words of Christ along with you; “Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.” “Every tree,” saith our Lord, “is known by its fruit,” and every Christian by the manner of his life. | Ta shin bannaghey shin-hene, as ta shin bannaghey Jee, dy vel yn reamys ain dy chlashtyn e ghoo, as nyn gurrym hene, un [353] laa ayns shiaght. Agh guee-ym erriu gow jee goan Chreest meriu; “Bannit ta adsyn ta clashtyn Goo Yee, as freayl yh.” “Ta enney” as nyn Jiarn “er dy chooilley villey liorish e vessyn,” as er dy chooilley Chreestee liorish e ymmyrkey-bea. | |
| Every Christian may know whether he is in the way of salvation by such proofs as these following:—He will carefully observe the outward duties of religion ; he will, at the same time, take care that his heart go along with his outward actions; for by these he is known, by his heart, and by his life. In this, the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil; whoever doth not righteousness is not of God; that is, if we are not upright, we are not of God. | Foddee fys v’ec dy chooilley Chreestee vel eh ayns raad y taualtys, liorish lheid ny prowallyn as shoh:—Nee eh dy kiaralagh geiyrt da cur’myn er cheu-mooie yn chredjue; as bee eh, ec y traa cheddin, er e hwoaie dy jed e chree marish e yannoo er cheu-mooie; son lioroo shoh t’eh er ny chronnaghey,—liorish e chree as liorish e vea. “Liorish shoh,” as yn Noo Ean, “ta cloan Yee er nyn gronnaghey voish cloan y Drogh-spyrryd; quoi-erbee nagh vel jannoo cairys cha vel eh jeh Jee;” ta shen, mannagh vel shin ynric, cha vel shin jeh Jee. | |
| [197] And now to conclude what I have to say upon this subject. I have been obliged to mention very often the necessity of good purposes, of a good life, of good works, of good resolutions. Let me not lead you into a mistake, as if these were in our own power, and owing to ourselves; so far from it, that they are the free gift of God, merited by our Lord Jesus Christ, for all such as in the sincerity of their hearts do pray for them. | As nish dy chur jerrey er y slane chooish. Ta mee harrish as harrish er n’yannoo imraa jeh’n feme ta rish kiarailyn vie, rish bea vie, rish obbraghyn mie. Ny gow-jee marran mee, myr dy row ad shoh ayns nyn booar hene, as bentyn dooin hene; choud shen voish, dy nee gioot arryltagh Yee ad, toillit liorish nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest, son nyn lheid ooilley as ta ayns ynrickys nyn greeaghyn guee er nyn son. | |
| To this place we come one day in seven, to pray for these graces and blessings. These, and all other blessings which we stand in need of, God will surely grant ùs, if we ask them with a sincere purpose of glorifying him in our lives and conversation; ever remembering, that a Christian profession without a Christian life, is like a tree that makes a great shew, and flourisheth with leaves, but beareth no fruit, and therefore is fit only to be cut down and burned. | Gys yn ynnyd shoh [yn Cheeill] ta shin cheet un laa ayns shiaght, dy ghoail padjer [354] son ny grayseyn as bannaghtyn shoh. Ad shoh, as dy chooilley vannaght elley ta shin feme, nee Jee son shickyrys stowal orrin, my ta shin geearree ad lesh slane kiarail dy ghloyraghey eh ayns nyn mea as nyn ymmyrkey; dy kinjagh freayl ayns cooinaghtyn, dy vel yn ghoail-rish Chreestee fegooish leeideil bea Chreestee, goll-rish billey ta aalin gys y thooill, as lane dy vlaa, agh nagh vel ceau veg y vess, as shen-y-fa cooie ynrycan dy ve giarit sheese as losht. | |
| May we all lay these things to heart, that, when we come to the House of God, we may so hear, so pray, so praise his holy name, and so purpose to live, as that we return home every Lord’s Day with his blessing; and this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake. | Dy der y Jee vie dooin dy ghoail ooilley ny reddyn shoh gys cree, tra hig mayd gys y thie echeysyn, dy vod mayd myr shen clashtyn, myr shen goail padjer, myr shen moylley e ennym casheric, as myr shen kiarail dy leeideil nyn mea, as dy vod mayd goll thie dy chooilley Laa Chiarn as e vannaght marin; as shoh ta shin guee er graih Yeesey Creest. | |
| To whom, &c. | Huggeysyn, marish yn Ayr as y Spyrryd Noo, dy row dy chooilley ooashley as gloyr, nish as er son dy bragh. Amen. | |
| [356] SERMON LVII | [355] SHARMANE XVII. | |
| ON THE DUE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH | Yn Aght cooie dy reayl yn Doonaght. | |
| Exodus xx. ii. | Exodus xx. ii. | |
| The Lord blessed the Sabbath-Day, and hallowed it. | Vannee yn Chiarn Laa yn Doonee, as ren eh yh y chasherickey. | |
| THE meaning of these words is this:—The Lord having commanded one day in seven to be kept holy, and having made it a Sabbath, that is, a day of rest from bodily and unnecessary labour, he hath blessed that day; that is, he hath joined a blessing to the due observation of it. How then comes it to pass, that this day is not observed with great strictness, devotion, and thankfulness? Why, because people do not consider either the necessity, or the reason, or the advantage, of such a command. I will therefore, before I go any farther, endeavour to make you sensible of the reason and necessity of observing one day in a week according to the commandment. | MEANAL ny goan shoh she shoh yh:— Myr va yn Chiarn er harey un laa ayns shiaght dy ve freilt dy casheric, as er n’yannoo yh ny Ghoonaght, ta shen, laa dy ea veih obbyr callinagh gyn feme, t’eh er vannaghey yn laa shen; ta shen, t’eh er lhiantyn bannaght gys freayl yh dy cooie. Kys t’yh eisht, nagh vel yn laa shoh er ny reayl lesh ard imnea, craueeaght as booise? Camma son nagh vel sleih goail gys cree edyr yn feme, na’n resoon ta son, na’n vondeish ta liorish lheid y sarey. Nee’m er-y-fa shen, my j'em veg sodjey er my hoshiaght, jannoo my phayrt dy choyrt toiggal as baght diu jeh’n oyr as feme ta son freayl un laa ’sy chiaghtin cordail rish yn anney. | |
| We are all satisfied, that we ought not to forget the God that made us; that we ought not to forget that we are needy, sinful, helpless creatures. Now, it is certain, we should soon forget these things, if one day in seven we were not put in mind of them. To shew you that we most certainly should do so, let us consider how many things every one of us have forgot, which we ought to have remembered. How many mercies do men receive from God, which they soon forget? How many judgments doth God send into the world, which are no longer thought on, than whilst the smart of them does last? Why, we should as surely forget the God who sends mercies and judgments, if we were not taught continually to remember him by his day which we keep holy. | Ta nyn saie fys ain ooilley, nagh lhisagh shin jarrood yn Jee chroo shin; nagh lhisagh shin jarrood dy vel shin nyn gretooryn ta [356] nyn ymmyrchee, peccoil, as er beggan faunnoo. Nish, shickyr t’yh, dy leah yinnagh shin jarrood ny reddyn shoh, ’bey dy row shin un laa ayns shiaght er nyn goyrt ayns cooinaghtyn jeu. Dy hoilshaghey diu dy nee shoh yn chiart irriney, lhig dooin goail ain hene cre whilleen red ta dy chooilley unnane ain er yarrood lhisagh shin v’er vreayl ayns cooinaghtyn. Cre whilleen myghin ta deiney dy gheddyn veih Jee, t’ad dy leah jarrood? Cre whilleen briwnys ta Jee dy choyrt fud y theihl, nagh vel veg sodjey cooinit orroo, agh eer choud as ta’n gheyr oc farraghtyn? Camma, yinnagh shin cha shickyr cheddin jarrood yn Jee, eh ta toyrtyssagh myghinyn as briwnyssyn, ’bey dy vel yh er chur rhimbi’n dy kinjagh dy chooinaghtyn er’syn liorish e laa ta shin freayl dy casheric. | |
| There are at this day many nations in the world, which know nothing of the true God. How comes this to pass? They were all the offspring of one man, the righteous Noah, who taught his children and posterity to know God, and to worship him aright. | ’Sy laa t’ayn jiu ta ymmodee aashoonyn ’sy theihl, nagh vel veg y toiggal oc jeh’n Jee firrinagh. Kys ta shoh? V’ad ooilley sluight yn un dooinney,—Noah cairal, dynsee da e chloan as sluight tushtey dy Yee, as dy ooashlaghey eh dy cairal. | |
| But you may learn from hence, that it is possible and natural for people, for whole nations, to forget the true God; and thus it would really happen to us, if we had not days set apart, and men appointed, to keep up the knowledge and remembrance of God in our minds. | Agh foddee shiuish gynsaghey voish shoh, dy vel yh possibyl as dooghyssagh da pobble, da slane aashoonyn dy yarrood yn Jee firrinagh; as dy feer veagh shoh yn chooish ainyn, ’bey dy row laghyn soit er-lheh, as deiney pointit, dy reayl seose yn thushtey as cooinaghtyn dy Yee ayns nyn aignaghyn. | |
| How soon do we forget our very best friends, our very children, when they have been a while dead and out of our sight? As surely should we forget, that there is a God; that we depended upon him for every [357] thing we have or hope for; that we ought to worship him, to give him thanks, and to put our whole trust in him; that we shall be judged by him at the last day:—All which we should soon forget, if we were not often called upon and put in mind of our duty. | [357] Cre cha leah as ta shin jarrood nyn eer caarjyn share, nyn eer cloan, tra t’ad er ve tammylt marroo as ass nyn shilley? Cha shickyr cheddin yinnagh shin jarrood dy vel Jee ayn; dy vel nyn marrant huggeysyn son dy chooilley nhee ta ain na treishteil er y hon; dy lhisagh shin ooashley as booise y choyrt da, as nyn slane treishteil y choyrt aynsyn; dy bee mayd er nyn mriwnys liorishyn ec y laa er-jerrey:—Ooilley shoh yinnagh shin dy leah jarrood, ’bey dy vel eam mennic er ny choyrt dooin, as shin currit ayns cooinaghtyn jeh nyn gurrym. | |
| The Psalmist tells us, that in his prosperity he himself forgot God; and do not we see every day, that people who are too much busied with the cares of this world, do almost forget that there is a world to come? | Ta’n Psalmist ginsh dooin, dy ren eh-hene ayns e staydoilys Jee y yarrood; as nagh vel shinyn fakin dy chooilley laa, dy vel sleih ta ayns rour preish mysh kiarailyn y theihl shoh, faggys jarrood dy vel ayn seihl ta ry-heet. | |
| What would they do, if they were not commanded, upon the Lord’s day, to lay aside the business and the cares of this life, and for a while think of a better? Why, they would soon forget that there is a better; they would set up their rest here; they would only provide for themselves, and their children, an earthly maintenance, and never think of Heaven. | Cre yinnagh ad, mannagh row ad er nyn sarey er Laa yn Chiarn, dy chur gy-lhiattee obbyr as kiarailyn yn vea shoh, as son tammylt dy smooinaght er bea share? Camma, yinnagh ad dy leah jarrood dy vel ny share ayn; yinnagh ad soiagh seose nyn fea ayns shoh; cha jinnagh ad arragh agh jannoo seose daue hene as da nyn gloan cooid-heihlt, fegooish dy bragh smooinaghtyn er niau. | |
| It is too plain, all men would do so, were they left to themselves, because too many do so, notwithstanding the means of grace afforded them for their instruction and remembrance. | T’yh ro phlayn dy nee shoh myr yinnagh dy chooilley ghooinney dy beagh ad fagit [358] daue hene; er-yn oyr dy vel rour dy yannoo shen, ga dy vel ny saaseyn dy ghrayse foardrit daue cour nyn ynsagh, as dy hayrn ad gys cooinaghtyn. | |
| But why one day in seven, rather than any other portion of our time? Why, because God has so ordered it. That is the best answer I can give; and every man will be satisfied with this answer, who has a mind to submit to the wisdom of God, and will believe that he does every thing for the best. | Agh kys un laa ayns shiaght, harrish ayrn erbee elley jeh nyn draa? Camma, son dy nee myr shen ta Jee er n’oardrail yh. Shoh ansoor share oddyms y choyrt; as bee dy chooilley ghooinney booiagh lesh yn ansoor shoh, ta aigney echey dy ve fo biallys da creenaght Yee, as nee credjal dy vel eshyn jannoo dy chooilley nhee son y chooid share. | |
| It may be, you may think, that every body, knowing it to be their duty to serve God, would, if they were left to themselves, chuse (sic) a time to do it. Why, do not we all know that Fasting is a Christian duty; and yet, because God has not in express words appointed us certain times of fasting, how few are there who observe any at all? And, though the church of God has appointed days of fasting, yet they are neglected, despised, and the very duty itself questioned, and almost forgotten. And so it would be with the Lord’s day, and the Lord himself, if it were not expressly the command of God, “remember that thou keep holy the sabbath-day .” | Agh foddee shiu smooinaghtyn, dy chooilley unnane ta toiggal dy vel yh e churrym dy hirveish Jee, dy jinnagh eh reih, dy beagh yh lurg e aigney hene, traa son jannoo shen. Camma, nagh vel fys ain ooilley dy vel Trostey ny churrym Chreestee; as ny-yeih, son nagh vel Jee ayns whilleen fockle shen er phointeil dooin ny eer traaghyn son trostey, nagh nee mooarane ta cur gy-lhiattee traa erbee edyr ny chour? As ga dy vel agglish Yee er phointeil laghyn troshtee, ny yeih ta slheh currit orroo, ta beggan scansh jeu, as ta’n eer currym hene dooytit jeh, as faggys er ny yarrood. As shoh myr veagh yh rish Laa yn Chiarn, as y Chiarn hene, ’bey dy row shin cur’mit ayns whilleen fockle shen liorish Jee, Cooinee dy vreil oo yn doonaght dy casheric. | |
| One might give many more reasons; but these are sufficient to shew the necessity of observing the Lord’s day to keep it holy. I will, therefore, conclude this particular with a relation which may, perhaps, be better understood by you, and better remembered, than what I have already said. | [359] Oddagh ymmodee oyryn elley ve currit stiagh; agh t’ad shoh dy liooar dy hoilshaghey yn feme ta rish freayl Laa yn Chiarn dy casheric. Ver-ym er-y-fa shen jerrey er y phoint shoh lesh cur cooish rhimbiu, oddys, foddee, ve ny share toiggit lieriu, as freilt ayns cooinaghtyn, na shen ny ta mee hanna er ghra. | |
| —There was a certain person, who had a thoughtless and extravagant young man to his son. The father, upon his deathbed, made his son solemnly promise, that he would spend one half hour every day by himself. So easy a request, from a kind father, was very cheerfully (sic) obeyed; though it was troublesome for one, who had seldom been alone, to be restrained, though for so short a time. The son at first did not see his father’s meaning, or the reason of such a command, till at last, being often alone, he began to think of himself; which, by the grace of God , ended in his conversion; and then he did not only retire because his father had commanded him, but because he found it reasonable, his duty, and pleasure so to do. | Va dooinney dy row, va stroider gyn ghrayse dy Vac echey. Ren yn ayr, er e lhiabbee vaaish, cur er e vac gialdyn casheric y yannoo da, dy jinnagh eh ceau un lhieh oor dy chooilley laa er-lheh, [ny lomarcan.] Hug eh dy arryltagh biallys da lheid yn aghin aashagh veih ayr dooie, ga dy row yh trublinagh da fer va er ve an-vennic ny lomarcan, dy ve freilt veih e aigney hene, ga dy row yh agh son traa cha giare. Cha ren yn mac ec y toshiaght fakin cre va meanal e ayr, na yn oyr son lheid y sarey, derrey feih-yerrey, myr ve mennic ny lomarcan, ghow eh toshiaght dy smooinaght er-hene, cooid, liorish grayse Yee, ghow jerrey ayns y chyndaa echey; as eisht cha jagh eh er-lhieh ynrycan son dy dug e ayr yn sarey shen da, agh son dy dennee eh dy row yh resoonagh, e churrym, as boggey da. | |
| And shall we not believe, that this command of God has very often the same blessed effect? And many thousands there are in Heaven, and many, no doubt, yet on earth, who, by being obliged by this command to wait upon God at his house, have there found the means and the reasons of their conversion and salvation! | As nagh jean mainyn credjal, dy vel yn un eiyrtys bannee er ve dy mennic lesh yn sarey shoh dy Yee ayns y text? As shimmey thousane ta ayns flaunys, as ymmodee, gyn [360] dooyt, foast er y thalloo, quoi, liorish ve kainlt liorish yn anney shoh dy waiteil er Jee ayns e hie, ta ayns shen er feddyn ny saaseyn as ny oyryn son nyn jyndaa as saualtys. | |
| And now, pray consider, whether God is not kind and merciful, in giving us a law which is of so great advantage to mankind; in commanding us to keep holy one day in seven, that, being taken off all worldly labour, we may, in a manner, be obliged to think of him, of Heaven, and of our eternal welfare? | As nish, guee-ym erriu dy ghoail eu-hene, vel na mannagh vel Jee dooie as myghinagh, ayns coyrt leigh dooin ta lesh wheesh dy vannaght da sheelnaue; ayns sarey shin dy reayl un laa ayns shiaght casheric, dy vod mayd, liorish ve goit jeh voish dy chooilley obbyr seihltagh, ve kainlt, myr yarragh shiu, dy smooinaghtyn Er’syn, er Niau, as er nyn Voays dy bragh farraghtyn ? | |
| To come, therefore, to the words of the text, “The Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it;” which we may consider either as a command, or a blessing. | Dy heet er-y-fa shen gys goan y text, “Vannee yn Chiarn Laa yn Doonee, as ren eh yh y chasherickey;” goan oddys mayd consideral edyr myr sarey, na myr bannaght, | |
| I. If we consider them as a command, it is a wonder that ever such a command should be neglected, by any man who is in his right mind. Pray do but go along [358] with me in considering two things; first, who it is that has given this command: secondly, to whom this command is given. | I. My ta shin consideral ad myr sarey, t’yh ny yindys dy beagh dy bragh slheh currit er lheid y sarey, liorish dooinney erbee ayns e cheeayl chairagh. Guee-ym erriu agh dy gholl marym ayns consideral yn daa red shoh; hoshiaght, quoi eh ta er choyrt yn sarey shoh; ’sy nah ynnyd, quoi da ta yn sarey shoh er ny choyrt. | |
| First; The Lord of Heaven and earth, whose blessing alone maketh rich, who commandeth the Heavens and they obey him; by whose providence the world is governed and preserved; who holdeth our soul in life; who alone can forgive sins; who giveth food to all flesh; who causeth grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of men; in whose hands our breath is; and whose are all our ways; who is able to do exceedingly abundant for us, more than we can ask or think;—this great and good God has commanded us to observe religiously one day in seven. | Hoshiaght; Yn Chiarn jeh niau as thalloo, e vannaght ny lomarcan ta jannoo berchagh, ta sarey ny Niaughyn as t’ad biallagh da; liorish yn ard-chiaralys echeysyn ta’n seihl er ny reill as er ny choadey; ta freayl nyn annym ayns bioys; quoi ny lomarcan oddys [361] leih peccaghyn; quoi ta coyrt beaghey da dy chooilley eill; ta coyrt magh faiyr son maase y vagheragh, as messyn y thallooin son ymmyd dooinney; ayns ny laueyn echeysyn ta yn ennal ain; as leshyn ta ooilley nyn raaidyn; quoi ta abyl dy yannoo er nyn son foddey erskyn ooilley ny oddys mayd geearree ny smooinaghtyn;—ta’n Jee mooar as mie shoh er choyrt sarey dooin dy crauee dy reayl un laa ayns shiaght. | |
| Secondly; But what are we to whom this is commanded? Why, we are creatures who cannot live one hour without God’s blessing; we are poor, weak, frail, perishing creatures, liable to a thousand miseries; to ignorance, to want, to sickness, to sin, to death. | ’Syn nah ynnyd; Agh cre ta shinyn dooin ta’n sarey shoh er ny choyrt? Camma, ta shin nyn gretooryn nagh vod ve bio un oor fegooish bannaght Yee; ta shin nyn gretooryn boghtey, annoon, donney, cherraghtagh, liabyl gys thousane lhag-haghyrt;—gys mee-hushtey, gys feme, gys chingys, gys pecca, gys baase. | |
| But what is it which God has commanded us? Why, that one day in seven we should leave all our worldly concerns in his hands; that we should go to the public congregation, where, meeting many such helpless creatures as ourselves, we should acknowledge our own unworthiness, our own weakness, and the little power we have to help ourselves: We should there confess, that God only can succour and preserve us; that without his great mercy, we are, and are like to be, miserable; and, therefore, we are all to join our prayers, beseeching God to pardon our sins, to pity our infirmities, to enlighten our minds with saving truth, to give us grace and strength to serve him acceptably, and for his own goodness sake, for his promise sake, and for the sake of Jesus Christ, to save our souls in the life to come. | Agh cre t’yh ta Jee er harey dooin? Camma, dy jinnagh shin un laa ayns shiaght fagail ooilley nyn gooishyn seihltagh ayns ny laueyn echeysyn;—dy ragh shin gys y chaglym-cooidjagh foshlit, raad, meeteil rish whilleen cretooryn donney nyn lheid hene, lhisagh shin goail-rish nyn neu-feeuid hene, nyn annoonid hene, as yn veggan bree ta aynin dy chooney lhien hene:—Lhisagh shin ayns shen goail-rish, dy nee Jee ny lomarcan oddys kemmyrk y choyrt dooin, as nyn goadey;—fegooish yn vyghin vooar echeysyn, dy vel shin, as dy vel shin laik dy ve, [362] treih; as shen-y-fa ta shin ooilley lesh-y-chielley dy ghoail padjer, guee gys Jee dy phardooney nyn beccaghyn, dy ve chymmoil da nyn annoonidyn, dy hoilshaghey nyn aignaghyn lesh firrinys y taualtys, dy choyrt dooin grayse as niart dy hirveish eh ayns aght vees booisal da; as er graih e vieys hene, er graih e ghialdyn, as er graih Yeesey Creest, dy hauail nyn anmeenyn ’sy vea ta ry-heet. | |
| In the mean time, we are to pray to him constantly, that he would be pleased to remove from us all such public calamities as we shall at any time labour under, or that he would make them useful for our eternal welfare, and give us such common blessings as we should most stand in need of; all which he has encouraged us to ask for, and has promised to be found of them that diligently seek him. | Eddyr ny traaghyn shoh dy veeteil foshlit, ta shin dy kinjagh dy ghuee huggey, dy gooidsave lesh dy scughey voin ooilley ny treihyssyn cadjin as nee ec traa erbee lhie orrin, na dy derragh eh orroo chyndaa magh gys nyn voays dy bragh beayn, as dy der eh dooin lheid ny bannaghtyn cadjin as smoo ta shin feme: Ooilley shoh t’eh er chuirrey shin dy hirrey er’syn, as t’eh er n’ghialdyn dy ve er ny gheddyn lioroosyn ta dy jeidjagh shirrey eh. | |
| Lay these things together:—God, who stands not in need of our service, has, for our own good, commanded us to keep holy one day in seven; he has commanded us on that day to leave our business in his hands; and, instead of working for our daily bread, only to pray for it, and for whatever else we want. We are satisfied, that without his blessing, it is to no purpose to rise early, and take late rest; that his blessing upon one day’s labour is of more value than the whole week’s work without his blessing; that, therefore, it is necessary we should observe this command of God, to serve him upon his own day, if we look for success in this world, or happiness in the next. | Cur-jee ny reddyn shoh dy cheiley:—Ta Jee, eh nagh vel shassoo ayns feme jeh’n chirveish ainyn, son nyn voays hene, er choyrt sarey dooin dy reayl casheric un laa ayns shiaght;—t’eh er harey dooin dy aagail er y laa shen nyn gooishyn [seihltagh] ayns ny laueyn echeysyn, as ayns ynnyd gobbragh son nyn arran laaoil, ynrycan dy ghoail padjer er y hon, as son cre-erbee elley ta shin feme. Ta slane toiggal ain, dy nee ayns [363] fardail t’yh, fegooish yn bannaght echeysyn, dy irree dy moghey, as dy anmagh dy ghoail fea, dy vel yn bannaght echeysyn er laboragh un laa jeh ny smoo dy feeagh, na obbyr yn slane shiaghtin fegooish e vannaght,—dy vel yh er-y-fa shen ymmyrchagh shin dy choyrt biallys da’n sarey shoh dy Yee, dy hirveish eh er e laa hene, my ta shin jerkal son aigh vie dy ve lhien ayns y theihl shoh, na maynrys ayns y theihl ta ry-heet. | |
| In short; God has commanded this good day to be observed, that men may never forget to whom they ought to go for help and salvation; that men may not forget God; and God has promised not to forget them. “Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him, or the son of man, that thou shouldst so regard him?” But what is man, if he despise such love, such consideration, such happiness? | Ayns fockle; ta Jee er harey dy bee yn laa mie shoh er ny reayl, er chee nagh jarroodagh sleih dy bragh quoi gys lhisagh ad goll son cooney as saualtys;—nagh jean sleih Jee y yarrood;—as ta Jee er n’ghialdyn gyn dy yarrood adsyn. “Hiarn, cre ta dooinney, dy vel oo coyrt lheid y gheill da, na mac dooinney, dy vel oo jannoo wheesh jeh?” Agh cre ta dooinney, my t’eh soiaghey beg jeh lheid y ghraih, jeh lheid y ooashley, lheid y vaynrys? | |
| II. We have now considered the command. Let us proceed to consider the blessing that attends it, where it is conscientiously observed. | II. Ta shin nish er chonsideral yn Sarey. Lhig dooin nish goll er nyn doshiaght dy chonsideral yn Bannaght ta goll marish, raad t’yh dy cooinsheansagh er ny reayl:— | |
| And first, it will be a means of bringing a blessing upon every man’s private affairs; which will prosper the better, the more religiously the Lord’s day is observed. Christ has expressly promised, that if we “seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” all the necessary things of this life shall be added unto us: And if we truly believe what the Scriptures have made known to us, and indeed what we find by experience, that “except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it,” we shall never look for success, nor a blessing, to come [359] upon what we undertake, but when we carefully keep his command, and remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day; which, if we do, it will be a means of sanctifying the rest of the days of the week. | As hoshiaght, bee yh ny haase dy hayrn bannaght er jannoo dy chooilley ghooinney ayns e stayd hene dy vea; cooid hig ny smoo dy vishagh lesh myr s’crauee ta Laa yn Chiarn er ny reayl. Ta Creest ayns whilleen fockle shen er n’ghialdyn, my nee [364] mayd “reeriaght Yee, as e chairys y hirrey,” dy bee dy chooilley nhee ta ymmyrchagh son son y vea shoh er ny choyrt myr dooraght dooin: As my ta shin dy firrinagh credjal shen ny ta ny Scriptyryn er hoilshaghey dooin, as dy jarroo shen ny ta nyn oayl hene dy chur rhimbi’n, “mannagh vel y Chiarn troggal y thie, nagh vel yn obbyr ocsyn agh ayns fardail ta dy hroggal yh;” cha jean mayd dy bragh jeeaghyn son aigh vie lesh, na bannaght dy heet er ny ta shin dy ghoail ayns laue, agh tra ta shin dy jeidjagh freayl e anney, as cooinaghtyn dy reayl Laa yn Chiarn dy casheric; cooid my nee mayd, bee yh ny haase dy chasherickey laghyn elley yn chiaghtin. | |
| And indeed we have no right to the rest of the week, unless we first employ this day in the service of God. He that permits us to labour six days, (and who alone can make our labours prosper) has reserved one in seven to himself, that men may know to whom they are to be thankful, for their time, for all their days, for all they enjoy. And as, under the Law, a man had no right to eat the fruits of his labours, until he had offered the first-fruits to God, and acknowleged (sic) the Lord to be the giver of all good things; until he had praised God for his bounties in blessing the earth; no more ought any man to look upon six days as his own, until he has first acknowledged, that it is the Lord who gives us all our time, blesses all our labours, who alone can prosper our handywork. | As dy jarroo cha vel veg y chairys ain gys y chooid elley jeh’n chiaghtin, mannagh vel shin hoshiaght barail yn laa shoh ayns shirveish Yee. Eshyn ta lowal dooin shey laa son laboragh, (as quoi ny lomarcan oddys bishagh y choyrt er nyn laboragh) t’eh shoh er vreayl un laa ayns shiaght ny e chour hene, dy vod fys ve ec sleih quoi gys t’ad dy ve booisal son nyn draa, son laghyn nyn seihl, as son ooilley ny t’oc. As myr fo Leigh Voses, cha row cairys ec dooinney dy ee jeh mess e laboragh, derrey ve er hebbal ny chied messyn jeh gys Jee, as er ghoail-rish dy nee yn Chiarn va fer-toyrt dy chooilley nhee mie,—derrey ve er voylley Jee son e eoiltys ayns bannaghey yn thalloo; chamoo [365] lhisagh dooinney erbee jeeaghyn er ny shey laa myr e chooid hene, derrey t’eh hoshiaght er ghoail-rish, dy nee yn Chiarn ta coyrt dooin ooilley nyn draa, ta bannaghey ooilley nyn laboragh, quoi ny lomarcan oddys bishaghey obbyr nyn laueyn. | |
| And good men have made this observation in their own private business, that God has been favourable to them, or their ways, according to the conscientious observation of the Lord’s Day, or their neglect of it. | As ta deiney mie er ghoail tastey jeh shoh ayns nyn gooishyn hene, dy vel Jee er ve foayroil daue-hene, na da nyn n’yannoo, rere myr t’ad dy cooinsheansagh er reayl Laa yn Chiarn, na er choyrt slheh er. | |
| And it is worth our notice, that the greatest offenders, when they come to suffer for and are sensible of their crimes, do generally confess, that the neglect and abuse of the Lord’s Day was that which first led them into the greatest wickedness: And indeed, how should it be otherways, when it is plain the further we go from God, the greater power the devil gets over us, and the nearer we are to our ruin? | As t’yh feeu nyn dastey, dy vel ny drogh-yantee smoo, tra t’ad cheet dy hurranse son, as dy ve ennaghtagh jeh nyn loghtyn, dy cadjin goail-rish, dy row coyrt slheh er, as jannoo ymmyd neu-chooie jeh Laa yn Chiarn yn chied red ren y leeideil ad gys y vee-chraueeaght smoo: As dy jarroo, kys oddagh yh ve er aght elley, tra t’yh dy playn ry-akin dy myr sodjey ta shin goll voish Jee, wheesh shen smoo dy phooar t’ec y Jouyl harri’n, as wheesh shen sniassey ta shin gys nyn goayl-anmey? | |
| And every person, who has carelessly spent this day, ought to fear, that without repentance some ill may befall him or his affairs the following week. | As dy chooilley phersoon ta dy almoragh er varail yn laa shoh, lhisagh ard aggle ve er, fegooish arrys y ghoail, dy duit lhag-haghyrt ennagh er hene, na er e chooishyn seihlt ’sy chiaghtin er-giyn. | |
| On the other side, whoever, to the best of his abilities, shall spend the Lord's day in the service of God, and in taking care of his soul, may confidently hope, that things will go better with him for so doing; that the favour of God will attend his honest labours, and be with him through the following week. | Er y cheu elley, quoi-erbee gys y chooid share jeh e phooar, nee baarail Laa yn Chiarn ayns shirveish Yee, ayns cooishyn anmey, [366] foddee eh lesh shickyrys treishteil, dy jig ny share lesh son shen y yannoo; dy bee bannaght Yee er e laboraght onneragh, as dy bee eh marish yn shey laa er-giyn. | |
| In the second place, we shall find, that the public welfare of the church and state will prosper the better, when this command is conscientiously observed. For, to shew that an especial providence watches over the land, when its inhabitants, trusting in God, serve him after his own way, we have this memorable instance written for our example:—The whole nation of the Jews were obliged to go three times a year to Jerusalem, there to worship God. God, who foresaw that worldly-minded men would say in their hearts, that their enemies might come and seize upon their houses and goods, in their absence, assures them, that their enemies should not assault them at such times; which promise was made good to them, even to a miracle. | Ayns yn nah ynnyd, nee mayd feddyn dy bee bannaght smoo er chamma theah as agglish, tra ta’n anney shoh dy cooinsheansagh er ny reayl. Son dy hoilshaghey dy vel ard-chiaralys er-lheh freayl arrey harrish y cheer, tra ta y chummaltee, liorish coyrt barrant gys Jee, shirveish eh ’syn aght t’eh hene er phointeil, ta ain yn sampleyr cronnal shoh dy eiyrt da:—Va slane aashoon ny Hewnyn kainlt dy gholl three keayrtyn ’sy vlein gys Jerusalem, ayns shen dy ooashlaghey Jee.—Jee, honnick ro-laue dy jirragh deiney dy aigney seihltagh ayns nyn greeaghyn, dy voddagh nyn noidyn cheet as spooilley nyn dhieyn as nyn gooid choud as v’ad ersooyl, ta Jee coyrt shickyrys daue, nagh darragh lesh nyn noidyn soiaghey orroo ec lheid ny traaghyn shen; yn gialdyn cheddin va jeant mie daue, eer dy mirrilagh. | |
| But thirdly, this day was chiefly commanded for the good of our souls.— | Agh ’sy trass ynnyd, va’n laa shoh er-lheh pointit son foays nyn anmeenyn.— | |
| If you are sensible of your wants, here is the proper time to lay them before the Throne of Grace; for on this day we meet a number of necessitous creatures like ourselves, wanting instruction, grace, and strength: If we humbly join with these, and ask in faith, we are sure to be heard, and our petitions will be granted. For this is God’s own day, and he makes it honourable by the greater measure of blessings which he bestows upon it. | My ta shiu gennaghtyn nyn veme, shoh yn traa cooie dy hoilshaghey yh fenish sthoyl-reeoil y Ghrayse; son er y laa shoh ta shin meeteil ymmodee cretooryn ymmyrchagh nyn lheid hene, feme ynsagh, grayse, as bree [anmey]: My ver mayd dy imlee seose [367] nyn badjeryn maroo shoh, as geearree ayns credjue, ta shin shickyr dy vou mayd clashtyn, as dy bee nyn aghinyn ain. Son shoh Laa Yee hene, as t’eh jannoo eh onnoroil liorish towse s’feoiltey dy vannaghtyn t’eh dy stowal er. | |
| Have we received any mercy from God, (and do not we live by his mercies?) why, this is the proper time to give him thanks, to whom we owe all we have and enjoy. | Vel shin er gheddyn myghin erbee veih Jee, (as nagh nee liorish e vyghinyn ta shin bio!) camma, shoh yn traa cooie dy choyrt booise dasyn, huggey ta shin fo lhiastynys son ooilley ny t’ain. | |
| In a word; this is God’s day of giving pardon to sinners; of giving grace to the humble; of giving comfort to the afflicted; of giving strength to the weak; of giving blessing to all that call upon him. | Ayns fockle; shoh yn laa dy Yee—son pardooney peccee,—son coyrt grayse da ny imlee,—son coyrt gerjagh da ny seaghnee,—son coyrt niart da ny annooinee,—son coyrt bannaght da ooilley ta geam huggey. | |
| What then have they to answer for who make it a day of idleness; a day of drunkenness; a day of doing odd business; of making unnecessary visits; or loitering [360] about, as if it were a curse imposed upon them, to be kept one day in seven from their worldly labour? | ’Smooar t’ocsyn eisht dy ansoor er y hon, ta jannoo yh ny laa dy lhitcheragh, ny laa dy veshtallys, ny laa son jannoo car-visnessyn, ny laa son goll veih thie dy thie gyn feme rish, laa dy wagaantys, myr dy beagh yh myr mollaght va currit orroo, dy reayl un laa ayns shiaght veih geiyrt da obbyr seihltagh! | |
| But if any person is so much unacquainted with the power and goodness of God, as to think he loses time by serving God, let him but read the xvith chapter of Exodus, where he shall find Almighty God dealing with men, (like ourselves) who were with very great difficulty brought to trust in God: To convince them of their ignorance, God was pleased to send them, on the evening of the sabbath, twice as much manna as he sent them on other days; both to lead them into an entire dependance upon him, and to be an everlasting instance of his care to those that serve him, and that the time, and the days which men spend in honouring their Creator, are not lost, whatever worldly men may think. | Agh my ta peiagh erbee cha mee-hushtagh shen jeh pooar as mieys Yee, as dy smooinaghtyn dy vel eh coayl e hraa liorish shirveish Yee, lhig da agh lhaih yn cheyoo chabdil yeig jeh Exodus, raad nee eh feddyn yn Ooilley-niartal Jee della rish deiney, (nyn lheid hene) va dy doillee er nyn dayrn dy choyrt nyn dreishteil gys Jee:—Dy [368] choyrt slane toiggal daue jeh nyn veggan keeayl, by-chooidsave lesh Jee dy choyrt huc er oie ghoonee, ghaa wheesh dy vanna as hug eh daue er laghyn elley; chamma dy leeideil ad dy choyrt slane barrant er’syn, as dy ve sampleyr beayn jeh e chiarail jeusyn ta shirveish eh; as nagh vel y traa, as ny laghyn ta deiney dy cheau ayns ooashlaghey nyn Fer-chroo caillit, cre-erbee saillish deiney smooinaght jeh. | |
| I know not what I can add more, to lead you into a due regard for this good day, unless I just mention the ill-consequences of not observing it according to the command. | Cha ’saym cre smoo oddym y ghra, dy choyrlaghey shiu dy reayl yn laa mie shoh dy jeidjagh, mannagh jean-ym just imraa jeh ny huilk vees nyn eiyrtyssyn jeh gyn freayl yh cordail rish yn anney. | |
| Need I tell you, that one of the greatest occasions of that ignorance, which we meet with among Christians, is the neglect of the Lord’s day; insomuch that there are too many who know little or nothing of God, of themselves, or of the world to come? | Lhiass dou ginsh diu, dy nee unnane jeh ny oyryn smoo jeh’n mee-hushtey shen ta ry-akin mastey Creesteenyn, dy nee veih cur slheh er Laa yn Chiarn t’yh cheet; ayns wheesh as dy vel rour ayn ta lesh eer cooid y veggan tushtey oc dy Yee, jeu-hene, na jeh’n seihl ta ry-heet? | |
| People may have very slow understandings; they may have little time to think of another world; but still they may, nay they would, know what is absolutely necessary to be known, if they did but constantly keep to church on the Lord’s day. They would learn to know, that we worship God because we cannot be happy without his blessing; they would learn to know, to whom they ought to be thankful for what they enjoy: because they see people meet at church to give him public thanks for his mercies. Lastly, they would come to understand what a dangerous thing it is to be a sinner, and at enmity with God, since they see people do not scruple to confess their faults and to ask pardon for them, even before all men. | Foddee sleih ve lesh beggan beg dy roshtyn keayley; foddee nagh vel oc cooid vooar dy hraa dy smooinaghtyn er seihl elley; agh sthill foddee ad, dy jarroo yinnagh ad, toiggal shen ny ta ooilley-cooidjagh ymmyrchagh dy ve toiggit, my yinnagh ad agh dy kinjagh thaaghey’n cheeill er Laa’n Chiarn. Yinnagh ad gynsagh dy hoiggal, dy vel shin ooashlaghey Jee er-yn-oyr nagh vod mayd [369] ve maynrey fegooish yn bannaght echeysyn; yinnagh ad gynsagh dy hoiggal, quoi da lhisagh ad ve booisal son ny bannaghtyn ta oc,—son dy vel ad fakin sleih meeteil ec y cheeill dy choyrt booise foshlit son e vyghinyn. Er-jerrey, harragh ad dy hoiggal cre’n red danjereagh t’yh dy ve ny pheccagh, as ayns noidys rish Jee, neayr as dy vel ad fakin nagh vel nearey er sleih dy ghoail-rish nyn loghtyn, as dy hirrey leih er nyn son, eer dy foshlit. | |
| In short, if the Lord’s day ever comes to be more neglected than it is, (which God in his providence prevent) Christians will grow more ignorant, more careless of themselves, and more wicked than they are at present; and then we may justly expect, that God’s judgments will be multiplied, and will be more severe amongst us. | Ayns fockle; my vees ny sloo dy gheill er ny choyrt da Laa yn Chiarn ny ta er ny choyrt da (cooid dy shaghyn Jee ayns e ardchiaralys vie) nee Creesteenyn gaase ny s’mee-hushtagh, ny s’almoree jeu hene, as ny s’mee-chrauee na t’ad ’sy traa t’ayn nish; as eisht foddee mayd dy cairal jerkal rish, dy bee briwnyssyn Yee er nyn mooadaghey, as ny s’trimmey ny mast’ ain. | |
| And now, if, by what I have said, I have persuaded you to have reverend thoughts of this good day; if I have raised in your souls a desire and a resolution of keeping it holy; let me further instruct you, in a few words, how to do it worthily. | As nish, my ta mee, liorish ny ta hanna rait, er choyrlaghey shiu gys smooinaghtyn arrymagh jeh’n laa mie shoh,—my ta mee er ghoostey ayns ny anmeenyn eu yeearree as kiarail jeean dy reayl yh dy casheric;—lhig dou coyrle yiare sodjey y choyrt diu, kys dy yannoo yh dy cooie. | |
| Remember then, to “keep holy the sabbath-day;” first, by laying aside all worldly business. That must not be the employment either of your hands or your hearts.—The Lord’s day has its proper work, which will take up our time, if we resolve to mind it. And therefore, when the Prophet requires the observation of the sabbath as a means of preserving the house of Israel, he directs them not to do their own work: A work there is to be done, but it is not to be our’s, but the service of God. Only thus far it is our work, that it is for our good; and if it is called the Lord’s service, and serving the Lord, it is because God is graciously pleased it should be called so, that he may reward our service as done to him. | Cooinee-jee eisht, dy “reayl laa yn doonee dy casheric;” hoshiaght, liorish coyrt gy-lhiattee dy chooilley chooish seihltagh. Cha nheign da edyr nyn laueyn na nyn greeaghyn [370] ve goit seose mysh shen. Ta e obbyr cooie hene cour laa yn Chiarn, cooid nee goail seose ooilley nyn draa, my ta shin kiarit dy choyrt geill da. As shen-y-fa, tra ta’n Phadeyr cur’magh dy reayl yn doonaght myr saase coadee da thie Israel, t’eh pointeil daue gyn dy yannoo nyn obbyr hene:—Obbyr ta dy ve jeant, [er,] agh cha nee nyn obbyr hene, agh shirveish Yee. Ynrycan choud shoh t’yh nyn obbyr hene, dy vel yh son nyn voays; [anmey ;] as my t’yh enmyssit shirveish y Chiarn, as jannoo shirveish da’n Chiarn, t’yh son dy gooidsave lesh Jee dy graysoil dy ghoail yh myr shen, dy vod eh leagh y choyrt da’n shirveish ainyn myr jeant dasyn. | |
| Indeed, the Gospel has freed us from that superstitious observation of this day which the Jews had run into; for works of necessity and charity are to be done on all days, because mercy is better than sacrifice; that is, acts of mercy are the best ways of serving God. But then we must be careful not to call that necessary which is not so; which is the extreme we are run into. | Dy jarroo, ta’n Sushtal er livrey shin veih yn aght faase-chredjuagh shen jeh freayl laa shoh va ny Hewnyn er ghoail seose; son ta obbraghyn ymmyrchagh as giastyllagh dy ve jeant er dy chooilley laa, er-yn-oyr dy vel “myghin ny share na oural;” ta shen, ta obbraghyn dy vyghin ny aghtyn share dy hirveish Jee. Agh eisht sheign dooin ve er nyn dwoaie gyn dy enmys shen cooish ymmyrchagh nagh vel myr shen; red ta shin ro-aarloo dy ve marran ayn. | |
| If servants are freed on this day from bodily labour, and worldly business, it is that they may know they have a master in Heaven,—a master far greater than any master on earth,—whom they are to serve, to honour, and to [361] pray to and not that they may be let loose to idleness and to serve the Devil, as the manner of too many is. | My ta sharvaantyn er y laa shoh seyr veih obbyr callinagh, as bisness seihltagh, t’yh son dy vod ad tushtey y gheddyn jeh nyn mainshter t’ayns niau,—mainshter foddey erskyn mainshter erbee er y thalloo,—eh t’ad [371] kainlt dy hirveish, dy ooashlaghey, as dy ghuee huggey; as cha nee nyn aigney hene y ve oc dy ve wagaanagh, dy hirveish y Jouyl, myr ta rour dy chliaghtey. | |
| In short; all that own God for their Creator and Preserver, all that own Jesus for their Redeemer, all that expect the assistance of God’s good Spirit, to enlighten their minds with saving knowledge, to strengthen them against temptations, to comfort and deliver them in the hour of death and in the day of judgment, will observe this good day religiously that they will be sure to go to God’s house, and confess that they altogether depend upon him, both for this world and the next. | Ayns fockle; ooilley ta goail-rish Jee son nyn Fer-chroo as Fer-choadee, ooilley ta goail-rish Yeesey Creest son nyn Fer-chionnee, ooilley ta jerkal rish Spyrryd mie Yee, dy hoilshaghey nyn aignaghyn lesh tushtey yn saualtys, dy niartaghey ad noi miolaghyn, dy gherjaghey as livrey ad ayns oor y vaaish as ayns laa ny briwnys, nee ad freayl yn laa mie shoh dy crauee; ta shen, bee ad shickyr dy gholl gys thie Yee, as dy ghoail-rish dy nee huggeysyn t’ad ooilley-dy-lhearagh jerkal, chamma son y theihl shoh as y theihl ta ry-heet. | |
| They will acknowledge their own weakness and sinfulness, and desire his pardon; they will hear his Holy Word, and beg his grace to observe it; and they will give him thanks for the mercies they every day receive at his hands. | Nee ad goail-rish nyn annoonid as peccoilys hene, as geearree yn pardoon echeysyn; nee ad clashtyn e Ghoo Casheric, as guee son e ghrayse dy ve biallagh da; as ver ad booise da son ny myghinyn t’ad dy chooilley laa dy gheddyn veih e laueyn. | |
| And because that it is greatly for God’s glory that the number of his servants should increase, all good men will endeavour, as much as may be, to instruct those of their own families in the ways of righteousness; or, at least, take care that they go where they may be instructed. | As son dy vel yh dy mooar gys gloyr Yee dy jinnagh earroo e harvaantyn bishaghey, nee dy chooilley ghooinney e chooid share, wheesh as oddys y ve, dy ynsaghey mooinjer nyn lughtyn-thie hene ayns raaidyn y chairys; na, ec y chooid sloo, nee eh goail kiarail dy jed ad boayl ennagh raad oddys ad ve er nyn ynsaghey. | |
| To this end, they will breed up their children in a sense of the blessing and sacredness of days of public worship; considering that all people are just what they are bred; for they that are kept strictly to church will be uneasy not to be there, and they that are bred in a profane neglect of holy days never care for the return of such days. | [372] Cour shoh nee ad troggal nyn gloan lesh toiggal jeh’n bannaght ta liorish as jeh casherickys laghyn y chirveish foshlit; goail oc hene dy vel dy chooilley phersoon rere myr t’ad er ve troggit; son bee adsyn ta freilt dy kinjagh gys y cheeill neu-aashagh mannagh vel ad ayns shen, as adsyn ta troggit ayns meerioose mee-chraueee jeh laghyn casheric, cha vel dy bragh leih oc son ny laghyn shen tra hig ad cour nyn draa. | |
| But then let us have an especial care, that custom do not bring us to observe this good day only by outward and bodily attendance and service: “This people draw nigh to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me,” was God’s complaint against the Jews; and so it will be with us, if we are not careful of our hearts, and do not endeavour to keep them near to God, by considering that he knows the very secrets of our hearts. | Agh eisht, lhig dooin ve dy slane twoaiagh, nagh nee trooid cliaghtey ny lomarcan ta shin freayl yn laa mie shoh liorish shirveish er cheu-mooie nyn gallinyn: “Ta’n pobble shoh tayrn er-gerrey dooys lesh nyn meillyn, agh ayns nyn greeaghyn t’ad foddey voym[”], va plaiynt Yee hene noi ny Hewnyn; as bee’n plaiynt cheddin noi ainyn, mannagh vel shin kiaralagh jeh nyn greeaghyn, as streeu dy reayl ad faggys da Jee, liorish cooinaghtyn dy nhione dasyn eer folliaghtyn nyn greeaghyn. | |
| And indeed, if people did but set their hearts to serve the Lord, the business of the Lord's day would be a delight, and not a burthen. | As dy jarroo, dy jinnagh sleih agh soiagh’ nyn greeaghyn dy hirveish y Chiarn, veagh obbyr Laa yn Chiarn eunyssagh, as cha nee deiynagh | |
| The works of the Creation may, in some good measure, be seen and thought on with pleasure, even by the meanest person; and the blessing of a Redemption is what all are concerned in, and all may know, who do but know that they are sinful helpless creatures. And these are the two proper subjects for our thoughts on these days; and which none are excused from, either on account of business, or for want of knowledge. | Foddee obbraghyn y Chroo, ayns towse mie ennagh, ve er nyn vakin as er nyn smooinaght orroo lesh boggey, eer liorish yn persoon s’boghtey; as ta’n bannaght jeh Kionnaghey-reesht cooid ta bentyn rish ooilley, [373] as cooid oddys ooilley toiggal, ta agh fys oc dy vel ad nyn gretooryn peccoil gyn cooney. As t’ad shoh yn daa chooish cooie dy ghoail seose nyn smooinaghtyn er ny laghyn shoh; cooishyn nagh bee leshtal unnane erbee er ny ghoail son cur slheh orroo, edyr er coontey obbyr, na son laccal tushtey. | |
| And God grant that we may ever esteem it a privilege and a happiness to have a day set a part for his service. May we call it a delight, and truly make it so, that we may at last come to the rest that remaineth for the people of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom, & c. | As dy giall Jee dy vod mainyn dy bragh smooinaghtyn yh dy ve ny vondeish as maynrys lheid ny laghyn dy ve ain soit er-lheh son y chirveish echeysyn. Dy giall eh dooin dy enmys yh laa eunyssagh, as dy firrinagh dy yannoo yh myr shen, dy vod mayd ec y jerrey cheet gys yn fea ta cour pobble Yee, trooid Yeesey Creest nyn Jiarn. Huggeysyn, &c. | |
| [434] SERMON LXX. | [375] SHARMANE XVIII. | |
| Yn Chaisht. | ||
| The knowledge and belief of the resurrection an encouragement to forsake sin. | Credjue ayns Irree-seose-reesht Yeesey Creest greinnagh’ ymmyrchagh dy hreigeil Pecca. | |
| Ephes. ii. 4, 5. | EPHES. ii. 4, 5, 6. | |
| But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, &c.* | Agh Jee, ta berchagh ayns myghin, er e ghraih vooar liorish bynney lesh shin, dy jarroo tra va shin marroo ayns peccaghyn, t’eh er vioghey shin cooidjagh marish Creest, (liorish grayse ta shiu er nyn sauail) As t’eh er hroggal shin seose cooidjagh, as er hoiaghey shin ayns ynnydyn flaunyagh ayns Creest Yeesey. | |
| * See Luke xv. 24. John v. 24, 25. xi. 25. Rom . v. 6. vi . 4. Colos. ii . 13. iii. 1. 1 John iii. 14. Eph . ii . 1. v. 14. Rev. xx. 6. | ||
| The resurrection of the body is that article of our Christian Faith, which the Church does at this time, [Easter] recommend to our meditation. And that we may receive it with all assurance, the resurrection of Christ is set before us in such circumstances as are sufficient to convince all such as are willing to be convinced, that Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep in him. | Ta Irree-Seose-Reesht y challin yn banglane shen jeh nyn Gredjue Chreestee ta yn Agglish ec yn imbagh shoh [yn Chaisht] dy hionney er nyn greeaghyn. As dy vod mayd credjal yh lesh slane barrantys, ta irree-seose-reesht Chreest soit rhimbi’n ayns lheid yn aght shen as ta fondagh dy choyrt ard-shickyrys da ooilley ta booiagh ard-shickyrys ’ve oc, dy vel Creest er n’irree veih ny merriu, as er jeet [376] dy ve yn chied vess jeusyn ta cadley aynsyn. | |
| [435] And indeed, it was necessary that Christ’s resurrection should be ascertained, beyond any reasonable exception, to men who were to lay down their lives for affirming the truth of it. He, therefore, told his disciples, before he suffered, that he was to suffer, “and that after three days he would rise again.” [Mark ix.31.] “I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.” [John xiii. 19.] A way of reasoning which our Saviour made use of on many occasions, and therefore thought it a sufficient argument. | As dy jarroo ve ymmyrchagh dy beagh irree-seose-reesht Chreest dy fondagh er ny phrowal, gys resoon deiney va dy scarrey rish nyn mioys son shickyraghey yn firrinys echey. Dinsh eh er-y-fa shen da e ostyllyn, roish my hur eh, dy row eh dy hurranse, “as lurg three laa dy n’irragh eh reesht.” [Mark ix. 31.] “Ta mee ginsh diu ro-laue, tra hig yh gy-kione, dy vod shių credjal dy nee mish eh.” [Ean xiii. 19.] Aght dy resooney shoh ren nyn Saualtagh ymmyd jeh er oyr ny gha, as shen-y-fa daurys eh dy row yh fondagh ’sy chooish shoh hene myrgeddin. | |
| And so did his disciples: For after they had seen him when he was risen, and he had given them all the satisfaction their scruples could suggest; and especially after he had sent down the Holy Ghost, (according to his true promise) to supply his place on earth, by which they were enabled to work the same miracles which he himself had done when amongst them. This was, to them, a sure argument, that the hand of God was in all this;—that Jesus Christ was the beloved Son of God;—that they had not been deceived in any thing that he had said, or done, or told them. For they were very sure, that God could not give his testimony to a lie;— or require them to lay down their lives for an untruth. And, therefore, when they affirmed, “That Jesus Christ was risen from the dead,” they only said what they knew for certain, what all their senses assured them of;—and therefore they did not stick to seal the truth of it with their own blood. | As heill e ostyllyn shen neesht: Son lurg daue v’er vakin eh lurg e irree-reesht, as lurg da v’er scughey ooilley nyn ghooyt my-e-chione; as er-lheh erreish da ve er choyrt neose yn Spyrryd Noo, (cordail rish e ghialdyn) dy ve ’syn ynnyd echeysyn er y thalloo, liorish v’adsyn er nyn niartaghey dy yannoo ny mirrillyn cheddin ve hene er n’yannoo tra ve ny mast oc:—Va shoh prowal shickyr dauesyn dy row laue Yee ayns ooilley shoh;—dy nee Mac ennoil Yee va Yeesey Creest; nagh row ad er ve mollit ayns nhee erbee dy row eh er ghra, na er n’yannoo, na er n’insh daue. Son v’ad feer shickyr, nagh voddagh Jee cur e eanish gys breg;—na [377] shirrey orroo dy choyrt sheese nyn mioys son cooish neu-firrinagh. As shen-y-fa, tra ren ad shickyraghey, “Dy row Yeesey Creest er n’irree veih ny merriu,” cha dooyrt ad agh ynrycan shen va ard-shickyrys oc hene jeh,—liorish loaghtey, fakin, as clashtyn eh;—as shen-y-fa, cha dob ad sealal yn firrinys jeh lesh nyn vuill hene. | |
| Thus the belief of the Resurrection was established. But for what end?—Was it only to convince us, that we shall be raised from the dead? Why, truly, so we may, without being the better for it. For the Spirit of God tells us, [Dan. xii. 2.] “That they that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” So that, in truth, the Resurrection of the Body is like to be no blessing to such as shall rise only to be for ever miserable. | Shoh myr va credjue ayns yn irree-seose-reesht er ny hickyraghey. Agh son cre’n ymmyd?—Nee ny lomarcan dy choyrt shickyrys dooin ve, dy bee mainyn er nyn droggal veih ny merriu? Camma, dy feer, foddee yn shickyrys shoh ve ain fegooish shin ve veg share liorish. Son ta Spyrryd Yee ginsh dooin, [Dan. xii. 2.] “Dy jean adsyn ta cadley ayns joan ny hooirey doostey, paart gys bea dy bragh farraghtyn, as paart gys nearey as oltooan dy bragh farraghtyn.” Myr shen, dy feer, cha vel irree-seose-reesht y challin laik dy ve bannaght erbee da nyn lheid as nee girree ynrycan dy ve treih son dy bragh. | |
| The knowledge and belief of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, therefore, is necessary upon another account; namely, to convince us “of the exceeding greatness of the power of God to us-ward that believe.” [Eph. i. 19.] That we may be encouraged to forsake all our evil ways, and to overcome the corruption of our nature;—since we have a power to assist us which is able to raise our dead bodies, and therefore to whom nothing is impossible.—“God , who is rich in mercy, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.” In which words, a great many very important truths are contained or implied. | Ta tushtey jeh as credjue ayns irree-seose-reesht Yeesey Creest, er-y-fa shen, ymmyrchagh er oyr elley; ta shen, dy choyrt shickyrys dooin “jeh mooads erskyn- towse pooar Yee dooinyn ta credjal.” [Ephes. i. 19.] dy vod mayd ve er nyn ghreinnaghey dy hreigeil ooilley nyn ghrogh raaidyn, as dy gheddyn barriaght harrish broid nyn [378] ghooghys;—neayr as dy vel pooar er nyn cheu dy niartaghey lhien, ta abyl troggal seose nyn girp marroo, as shen-y-fa nagh vel nhee erbee neu-phossibyl da’n phooar shen.—“Jee ta berchagh ayns myghin, dy jarroo tra va shin marroo ayns peccaghyn, t’eh er vioghey shin cooidjagh marish Creest.” Ayns ny goan shoh ta ymmodee mooar ard firrinyssyn. | |
| First; that there is a death of the soul as well as of the body. | Hoshiaght; Dy vel ayn baase anmey chamma as baase y challin. | |
| Secondly; that sin is the death of the soul, and, consequently, righteousness is its life. | ’Sy nah ynnyd; Dy nee pecca baase yn annym, as shen-y-fa dy vel casherickys yn vioys ec. | |
| Thirdly; that there must be a spiritual Resurrection, or else the soul will remain under the power of everlasting death. | ’Sy trass ynnyd; Dy nheign da irree-seose-reesht anmey ’ve ayn, er-nonney nee yn annym tannaghtyn fo geulaghyn yn vaase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| Fourthly; that this spiritual Resurrection can only be wrought by the mighty power of God, answerable to that which raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. | ’Sy chiarroo ynnyd; Dy vod yn irree-seose-reesht anmey shoh ve er ny obbragh’ liorish pooar niartal Yee ny lomarcan, lheid y phooar shen hene as ren troggal nyn Jiarn Yeesey veih ny merriu. | |
| And the conclusion of the whole will be,— | As bee slane bree yn chooish shoh,— | |
| Fifthly; that it is through faith in this power, that a sinner is raised from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness. | ’Sy wheiggoo ynnyd; Dy nee trooid credjue ayns y phooar shoh t’yh, dy vel peccagh er ny hroggal veih’n baase dy phecca gys bea noa dy chraueeaght. | |
| And these are the particulars, which I pray God I may explain to your and to my own edification. | As t’ad shoh ny reddyn, ta mee guee gys Jee dy vod-ym bun y chur orroo gys yn ynsagh euish as aym-pene. | |
| I. And, first, you will observe, that there is a death of the soul as well as of the body. St. Paul tells us of those that live in pleasures, “they are dead while they live.” [1 Tim. v. 6.] The Father saith of his Prodigal Son, [Luke xv. 24.] “This my son was dead, and is alive again.” The Sacred Scriptures speak of wicked men, as past feeling; that is, having no sense of good or evil, no more than if they were dead; as being in darkness; not knowing whither they are going, or what will become of them. Nay, as being actually dead—"Even you being dead in your sins;” saith the Apostle. | [379] I. As hoshiaght, gow-jee tastey, dy vel ayn baase anmey chammah as baase y challin. Ta’n Noo Paul ginsh dooin mychione nyn lheid as ta beaghey ayns eunyssyn seihltagh, na reamys neu-lowal, “dy vel ad marroo eer choud as t’ad bio.” [1 Tim. v. 6.] Ta’n Ayr gra mychione e Vac Stroialtagh, [Luke xv. 24.] “V’eh shoh my vac marroo, as t’eh bio reesht.” Ta ny Scriptyryn casheric loayrt mychione sleih mee-chrauee, myr er choayl nyn mioyr; ta shen, nagh vel ennaghtyn oc jeh mie na sie, ny smoo na dy beagh ad marroo;—myr ayns dorraghys; gyn fys cre gys t’ad goll, na cre s’erree daue. As cha nee shoh ny lomarcan, agh myr dy row ad dy jarroo firrinagh marroo—“Va shiu eer marroo ayns nyn beccaghyn,” as yn Ostyl. | |
| [436] Now, all these expressions are made use of to convince us of this truth,—That the soul is subject to death as well as the body; or rather, that the very natural state of the soul, since the fall, is a state of death. For we are not able of ourselves to do any thing for which we were created. | Nish ta ooilley ny raaghyn shoh dy Ghoo Yee kiarit dy choyrt slane shickyrys dooin jeh’n irriney shoh,—Dy vel yn annym fo reill y vaase chamma as y challin; na dy jarroo, dy vel stayd dooghyssagh yn annym, neayr as skyr Adam as Aue, ny stayd dy vaase. Son cha vel pooar ain j’in hene dy yannoo nhee erbee va shin crooit er y hon. | |
| We can neither love God who made us,—nor fear him, though he can make us miserable;—though happiness is set before us, offered to us, pressed upon us, yet we value it no more than a dead man does dainties. | Cha vod mayd edyr graih y choyrt da Jee nyn Fer-chroo,—na aggle y ghoail roish, ga dy vod eh shin y cherraghey lesh treihys;—ga dy vel maynrys soit kiongoyrt rooin, chebbit dooin, as er ny gharral orrin, ny-yeih cha vel [380] shin jannoo ny smoo dy scansh jeh na ta dooinney marroo jeh bee blaystal. | |
| God publisheth his laws, threatens those that shall break them, executes his judgments upon transgressors—and yet people are as insensible, and as secure, as if there were neither God nor danger. | Ta Jee fockley magh e leighyn, baggyrt orroosyn nee brishey ad, cooilleeney e vriwnyssyn er drogh-yantee;—as ny-yeih ta sleih cha mee-ennaghtagh, as wheesh gyn aggle, as myr nagh row ayn edyr Jee na danjere. | |
| It is for this reason, and because that men in this condition are not able to help themselves, that the Scripture speaks of men in their natural state, as of those that are dead— Dead to all the purposes for which they were created. | Son yn oyr shoh t’yh, as son nagh vel sleih ta ayns y stayd shoh abyl cooney lhieu-hene, dy vel y Scriptyr loayrt jeh deiney ayns nyn stayd dooghyssagh, myr jeusyn ta marroo,—marroò gys dy chooilley nhee mie er y hon v’ad er nyn groo. | |
| II. And now, if we consider what has occasioned this great disorder, we shall find, that sin, and sin only, has done it. “By sin,” (saith St. Paul, Rom. v. 12.) “death entered into the world;” not only natural, but spiritual death. And this is what we are most concerned to know and to lay to heart; for if we continue in a state of death, which sin has brought us into, we shall be for ever miserable without redemption. We shall neither foresee nor fear any evil, till it will be too late to prevent it. | II. As nish, my ghoys mayd ain-hene cre ta er ve oyr yn vee-reiltys vooar shoh, yiow mayd magh, dy nee pecca, as pecca ny lomarcan, ta er n’yannoo shoh. “Liorish ресса (as y Noo Paul, Rom. v. 12.] haink baase stiagh ’sy theihl;” cha nee ynrycan baase y challin, agh baase anmey. As shoh cooish smoo ta kainlt orrin dy hoiggal as dy ghoail gys cree; son my nee mayd tannaghtyn ayns y stayd dy vaase ta pecca er hayrn shin fo, bee mayd treih son dy bragh, as shen gyn cour. Cha jean mayd edyr fakin ro-laue na goail aggle roish olk erbee, derrey vees yh ro anmagh dy haghney yh. | |
| We have too many examples of this before our eyes continually, of people who are as little concerned for what may be their lot hereafter, as those are who are in their graves. They confess that they are sinners, and yet are not sensible of any danger. They are told, that God, “who can destroy both body and soul in hell,” is their enemy, and yet they mind it not. | Ta rour sampleyryn ain jeh shoh dy kinjagh kiongoyrt rish nyn sooillyn, jeh sleih ta fo cha beg dy imnea son ere oddys ve nyn [381] gronney ny lurg shoh, as t’adsyn ta ayns nyn oaighyn. T’ad goail-rish dy nee peccee ad, as ny-yeih cha vel aggle orroo roish danjere erbee. T’yh inshit daue dy vel Jee, “oddys annym as callin neesht y stroie ayns niurin,” dy vel eh nyn noid, as ny-yeih cha moor lhieu shen. | |
| Such is the bewitching nature of sin, to those that are under the dominion of it, that it makes a man careless of his true interest; blind so that he cannot see before him; nay, as dead to all the purposes for which God made him, as if he had neither breath nor life. | Lheid shen ta dooghys cleaynee phecca, dauesyn ooilley ta fo yn reill echey, dy vel yh jannoo dooinney lhag-chiaralagh jeh e vondeish firrinagh; cha doal shen nagh vod eh fakin roish; dy feer, cha marroo shen gys dy chooilley chiarail chroo Jee eh ny chour, as myr nagh row uddyr ennal na bioys ayn. | |
| And this is the condition of every man by nature; this is what sin has brought upon us. And it is fit we should know it, that when the Spirit of God awakens us, and raiseth us from the death of sin, we may be thankful for the mercy,—not resist his dealings with us,—but be ever after fearful of falling again into that sad state. | As shoh stayd dy chooilley ghooinney liorish dooghys; shoh ny ta pecca er hayrn orrin. As t’yh cooie dy beagh fys ain er, tra nee Spyrryd Yee nyn ghoostey, as nyn droggal veih’n baase dy phecca, dy vod mayd ve booisal son y bannaght,—nagh jean mayd shassoo magh noi e ghellalyn rooin,—agh dy ve kinjagh ayns aggle jeh tuittym reesht gys y stayd treih cheddin. | |
| III. And this brings us to a third particular, which I proposed to explain to you. And that was the Spiritual Resurrection, without which the soul must remain in a state of eternal death. And here I am very sensible that I must say very many things which many that hear me will not at all understand. | III. As ta shoh cur lesh shin gys y trass red, chiare mee dy chur baght diu jeh; as ta shen yn Irree-seose-reesht spyrrydoil, ny egooish sheign da’n annym tannaghtyn ayns stayd dy vaase dy bragh farraghtyn. As ayns shoh ta fys vie aym dy nheign dou lane reddyn y ghra, nagh jean ymmodee ta geaishtagh rhym toiggal uddyr. | |
| There are carnal Christians, (as well as there were carnal Jews ) who, when they hear of rising from the dead, think of nothing but of the death and resurrection of the body. | [382] Ta Creesteenyn seihltagh ayn, (chamma as va ayn Ewnyn seihltagh) quoi, tra t’ad clashtyn jeh irree-seose-reesht veih ny merriu, nagh vel smooinaghtyn er monney arragh agh jeh baase as irree-seose-reesht y challin. | |
| Now, the death of the body is soon over. It is eternal death that we ought to be most concerned to escape. And, in order to this, the soul is to be raised from the death of sin unto a life of righteousness, or else both will be miserable. This is what the Holy Scripture presses upon us in very many places, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; that is, from the death of sin. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.” [ Coloss. iii.] | Nish, ta baase y challin dy leah harrish. She yn baase dy bragh farraghtyn s’imneaee lhisagh shin ve dy haghney. As, cour shoh, ta yn annym dy ve troggit veih yn baase dy phecca gys bea dy chraueeaght, er-nonney bee ad nyn neesht treih son dy bragh. Shoh yh ta’n Scriptyr Casheric chionney orrin ayns ymmodee seihlt booill: “Dooisht uss ta dty chadley, as irree veih ny merriu, as ver Creest soilshey dhyt.” Bannit as sheeant ta eshyn ta ayrn echey ayns y chied irree-seose-reesht; ta shen, veih baase phecca. “My ta shiuish eisht er n’irree marish Creeft, shir-jee ny reddyn shen ta er yn yrjid.” [Col. iii. 1.] | |
| In short; this is the end of all religion,—to restore men to the likeness and similitude of God, from which they are fallen. | Ayns fockle; shoh kiarail yn slane chredjue:—Dy aa-yannoo sleih ayns caslys Yee, veih v’ad er duittym. | |
| But, that you may better understand what is meant by a spiritual resurrection, I must put you in mind of the condition we are in, and how we came into this condition. Man was at first created in the image of God,—in righteousness and true holiness; that is, he was able to act conformably to any law which God should [437] think fit to give him. We are very sure that it is not so now with us. The Holy Scriptures, and they only, can inform us how this came to pass; and they tell us, [Gen. ii. 16.] that man being thus created, there was a covenant of life immortal made with him, by which his natural appetites being restrained, he might the better improve himself in all virtue, until God should think fit to translate him from earth to heaven. | Agh dy vod shiu goail baght share jeh ny ta toiggit liorish irree-seose-reesht spyrrydoil, sheign dou coyrt shiu ayns cooinaghtyn jeh’n stayd ta shin ayn, as cre’n aght haink shin ayns y stayd shoh. Va Dooinney ec y toshiaght er ny chroo ayns caslys Yee,—ayns ynrickys as casherickys firrinagh; ta shen, v’eh abyl jannoo cordail rish leigh erbee dy [383] gooidsave lesh Jee dy choyrt da. Ta shin feer shickyr nagh nee shoh myr t’yh rooinyn nish. Ny Scriptyryn Casheric, as adsyn ny lomarcan, oddys ginsh dooin kys haink shoh gys kione; as t’adsyn ginsh dooin, [Gen. ii. 16.] erreish da dooinney ve myr shoh er ny chroo, dy row conaant jeh bea dy bragh farraghtyn jeant rish, liorish yn conaant cheddin myr va e yeearreeyn foalley fo smaght, oddagh eh bishaghey ny bare ayns dy chooilley chraueeaght, derrey baillish Jee dy ghoail seose eh veih’n thalloo gys niau. | |
| Now, man having free will, and consequently a power of choosing evil as well as good, instead of improving in virtue, he gave way to his appetites, he broke the Covenant, by which he and his posterity became subject to sin and death;—for the Spirit of God forsook him, and instead of an immortal race, we are assured [Gen. v. 3.] “that he begat a Son after his own image,” not after the image of God, “but in his own likeness;” that is, with such a corrupt and depraved nature as his own was now become. | Nish, myr va reamys-aigney ec dooinney, as liorish shen pooar dy reih olk chamma as mie, ayns ynnyd goail toshiaght ayns craueeaght, hug eh raad da e yeearreeyn foalley, vrish eh yn conaant, as myr shen haink eh hene as e luight dy ve er nyn injillaghey gys pecca as baase;—son ren Spyrryd Yee treigeil eh, as ayns ynnyd sluight dy bragh beayn, ta shickyrys ain [Gen. v. 3.] dy “dooar eh mac ayns e chaslys hene,” cha nee ayns tuarastyl Yee, agh “ayns e chaslys hene;” ta shen, lesh lheid y dooghys olk as neughlen as va e ghooghys hene nish er jeet dy ve. | |
| Now, that this is the very condition of all the posterity of Adam, is plain from experience. And we are so far departed from original righteousness, that we are utterly incapable of conforming to any the most reasonable law that God has set us. And those that think—that reason is sufficient to lead us to, and keep us in the right way, are guilty of a double error. | Nish, dy nee shoh eer stayd ooilley sluight Adam, t’yh playn veih ny ta shin fakin as gennaghtyn. As ta shin choud shen er skyrrey veih nyn chied ynrickys, dy vel shin ooilley-dy-lhearagh neu-abyl dy choyrt biallys da’n eer leigh s’resoonee ta Jee er choyrt dooin. [384] As adsyn ta gaurys—dy vel resoon fondagh dy leeideil shin gys, as dy reayl shin ayns y raad cair, t’ad fo marranys dooble. | |
| They suppose, for example,—first, that men are generally governed by reason, whereas they are rather governed by their passions. Secondly; they must suppose that men are capable of attending constantly to what is fit to be done: Now, it is found by experience, that they are not;—that we do not always follow the dictates of our understanding;—and that we violate laws which we are convinced are good. | T’ad gaurys, son mac-soyley,—Hoshiaght, dy vel sleih son y chooid smoo er nyn ghurneil liorish resoon, agh cha nee shoh myr t’yh, agh t’ad son y chooid smoo fo eer reiltys nyn sayntyn. ’Sy nah ynnyd; Sheign daue gaurys dy vel sleih dy kinjagh bial da ny ta cooie dy ve jeant: Nish, t’yh ry-gheddyn liorish ny shione dooin, nagh nee shoh myr t’yh;—nagh vel shin dy kinjagh geiyrt da ny ta nyn dushtey dy chur roin;—as dy vel shin brishey leighyn ta slane toiggal ain ta mie. | |
| We must, therefore, take the Scripture account of our fall,—of our weakness,—of our blindness,—of our utter incapacity of being restored to the image of God, by any thing we can do. | Sheign dooin, er-y-fa shen, goail yn coontey Scriptyragh jeh nyn skyrraghtyn,—jeh nyn annoonid,—jeh nyn ghellid,—jeh nyn meggan bree dy ve aa-chrooit ayns caslys Yee, liorish nhee erbee oddys mayd jannoo. | |
| For this is the spiritual resurrection we are speaking of, and without which God can take no pleasure in us, until his image, his likeness, is recovered in the soul; that is, “until Christ be formed within us;” [Gal. iv. 19.] until we have got the mastery over our corrupt affections, so as not to be led by them;—until we delight in doing that which is good;—until the love of God become a law to us. | Son shoh yn irree-seose-reesht spyrrydoil ta shin loayrt jeh, as ny egooish cha vod Jee goail taitnys erbee aynin, derrey vees yn annym aa-yeant ayns y chaslys echeysyn; ta shen, “derrey vees Creest er ny chummey aynin;” [Gal. iv. 19.] derrey ta shin er gheddyn yn vainshteragh harrish nyn yeearreeyn neu-ghlen, myr shen as nagh bee mayd er nyn leeideil lioroo;—derrey ta shin goail taitnys ayns jannoo shen ny ta mie;—derrey ta graih Yee er jeet dy ve ny leigh dooin. | |
| This, I say, is the spiritual resurrection; this is the life of righteousness, to which we must be restored before we leave this world, or we shall remain under the power of everlasting death, of everlasting misery. | [385] Shoh, ta mee gra, yn irree-seose-reesht spyrrydoil; shoh yn vea dy ynrickys huggey sheign dooin ve aa-hroggit roish my vaag mayd yn seihl shoh, er-nonney sheign dooin tannaghtyn fo pooar yn vaase dy bragh farraghtyn, fo treihys vraa. | |
| IV. But how is this to be effected? Why, only by the mighty power of God, answerable to that which raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. “God , who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with him, and has raised us up together.” For he that raised up Jesus from the dead can restore whom he will to life, whether they be dead in a natural or in a spiritual sense. | IV. Agh kys ta shoh dy ve jeant? Camma, ynrycan liorish pooar niartal Yee, pooar corrym rish shen hrog seose nyn Jiarn Yeesey veih ny merriu. “Jee, ta berchagh ayns myghin, er e ghraih vooar liorish bynney lesh shin, dy jarroo tra va shin marroo ayns peccaghyn, t’eh er vioghey shin cooidjagh marishyn, as t’eh er hroggal shin seose cooidjagh.” Son foddee eshyn hrog seose Yeesey veih ny merriu aa-vioghey quoi-erbee saillish, edyr ad dy ve marroo ayns meanal dooghysagh, na meanal spyrrydoil. | |
| In order to this, every Christian has the earnest of the Spirit given him in baptism; even the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead. But, forasmuch as we are to be dealt with as reasonable creatures, and are not to be carried to Heaven against our will, therefore we have this rule given us;—To him that hath; (that is, who hath made use of the grace of God) he shall have still more grace; and from him that hath not made use of God’s grace, from him shall be taken what he had at first. | Cour shoh, ta yeearlys y Spyrryd er ny choyrt ayns bashtey da dy chooilley Chreestee,—eer yn Spyrryd cheddin hrog seose Creest veih ny merriu. Agh son wheesh as dy vel shin dy ve er nyn ghellal rish myr cretooryn resoonagh, as nagh vel shin dy ve er nyn goyrt lhien gys Niau noi nyn aigney, shen-y-fa ta’n rule shoh er ny choyrt dooin; Dasyn ta echey, (ta shen, ta er n’yannoo ymmyd vie jeh grayse Yee) bee sthill ny smoo dy ghrayse er ny choyrt; as veihsyn nagh vel er n’yannoo ymmyd vie jeh grayse Yee, [386] voishyn vees er ny ghoail shen hene ny va echey ec y toshiaght. | |
| This shews the reason why some, notwithstanding the earnest of God’s Spirit, continue still amongst the dead, whilst others are raised to life and happiness. | Ta shoh cur rhimbi’n cre’n-fa ta paart, ga dy row yeearlys y Spyrryd er ve currit daue, ny-yeih tannaghtyn mastey ny merriu, choud as ta feallagh elley er nyn droggal gys bea as maynrys. | |
| This shews the necessity of applying constantly to God for new supplies of grace, as well as for pardon of the sins we commit, which might otherwise provoke him to withdraw his Spirit from us. | Ta shoh soilshaghey yn feme ta rish kinjagh shirrey gys Jee son tooilley grayse, chamma as son pardoon son ny peccaghyn ta shin dy yannoo, cooid oddagh er aght elley brasnagh’ eh dy hayrn ersooyl e Spyrryd voin. | |
| [438] Lastly; this shews the necessity of walking warily, lest Satan get an advantage over us, and bring us back into a state of sin and death. | Er-jerrey; ta shoh soilshaghey yn feme ta rish gimmeeaght dy tastagh, er-aggle dy vow yn Noid-anmey yn vondeish orrin, as dy der eh lesh shin back gys stayd dy phecca as dy vaase. | |
| In short; it is God that worketh in us both to will, and to do, of his own good pleasure. But then he expects, when he has wrought in us this will, and given us a power; he then requires of us, that we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling; that is, with a concern suitable to the work we are about. He requires, for instance, that we should do what we can, and that we should be sincere. | Ayns fockle; she Jee ta gobbraghey aynin chamma dy smooinaghtyn as dy yannoo jeh e aigney-mie hene: Agh eisht t’eh jerkal, tra t’eh er n’obbragh’ aynin yn aigney shoh, as er choyrt dooin pooar; t’eh eisht shirrey orrin, dy obbragh’ magh nyn saualtys hene lesh aggle as atchim; ta shen, lesh imnea cooie gys yn obbyr ta shin mysh. T’eh shirrey, son mac-soyley, dy jean mayd ooilley ny oddys mayd, as dy bee mayd jeidjagh. | |
| Our outward actions are generally in our own power. I cannot, perhaps, all at once, cure myself of envy, but I can speak well of people, and I can too take care not to speak ill of them; I cannot serve God with that love and devotion that he requires, but I can attend his service, I can hear his word, I can speak of him with reverence. My own conscience tells me that this is in my own power, and when I do this out of a sense of duty, I may depend upon it, God will give me those good dispositions which I wished for, and in order to obtain which, I performed that external righteousness before spoken of. | Ta nyn obbraghyn er cheu-mooie son yn ayrn smoo ayns nyn booar hene. Cha vodym, foddee, ooilley ec keayrt, troo y astyrt [387] ass my chree, agh fod-ym loayrt dy mie jeh sleih, as fod-ym neesht goail kiarail gyn dy loayrt dy olk jeu. Cha vod-ym shirveish Jee lesh y ghraih as jeeanid t’eh dy hirrey orrym, agh fod-ym thaghey yn shirveish echey, fod-ym clashtyn e ghoo, fod-ym loayrt dy arrymagh jeh. Ta my chooinsheanse hene ginsh dou dy vel shoh ayns my phooar hene, as tra ta mee jannoo shoh ass ennaghtyn dy nee my churrym yh, fod-ym ve shickyr, dy der Jee dou ny yeearreeyn mie shen ta mee er wishal er nyn son, as cour nyn gheddyn, ren mee yn chirveish shen er cheu-mooie roie loayrit jeh. | |
| V. But I have reserved to the last place, that which of all others is the most powerful and effectual means of recovering the image of God in us;—of raising us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness;—and that is, a stedfast faith in the power of God, which raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. | V. Agh ta mee er reayl gys yn ynnyd s’jerree, yn saase smoo pooaral as breeoil ooilley cour aa-chosney caslys Yee aynin;—jeh troggal shin veih’n baase dy phecca gys yn vea dy ynrickys;—as ta shen, Credjue shickyr ayns pooar Yee, ren troggal seose Yeesey nyn Jiarn veih ny merriu. | |
| For, in the resurrection of Christ, the omnipotence of God is set before us in the most lively manner. And Christians are exhorted to have their eye on this more especially; “That like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Or, as St. Peter expresses it, [ i Pet. i. 3.] “That we may be begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;”—for nothing is impossible to him who can raise the dead. | Son, ayns irree-seose-reesht Chreest, ta pooar ooilley-niartal Yee soit kiongoyrt rooin ayns yn aght s’breeoil. As ta Creesteenyn coyrlit dy reayl nyn sooill er shoh ayns aght er-lheh; “Naght myr va Creest troggit seose veih ny merriu liorish gloyr yn Ayr, dy jarroo myr shen lhisagh shin gimmeeaght ayns bea noa. “Na, myr ta’n Noo Peddyr dy ockley yh, [1 Ped. i. 3.] “Dy vod mayd ve er nyn gheddyn reesht gys [388] treishteil vioal liorish irree-seose-reesht Yeesey Creest veih ny merriu;”—son cha vel nhee erbee neu-phossibyl dasyn oddys troggal ny merriu. | |
| And no man who sincerely believes this article can, without great hypocrisy, say, I would be better if I could; but I am not able to overcome my corruptions. What, not by his assistance who raised up Christ from the dead? | As dooinney erbee ta dy firrinagh credjal yn banglane shoh, cha vod eh gra, fegooish yn chraueeaght-oalsey smoo,—Ve’in my ghooinney bare dy vodi’n, agh cha vel mee abyl laue yn eaghter y gheddyn harrish my yeearreeyn olk. Cre! nagh vod oo liorish yn cooney echeysyn ren troggal seose Creest veih ny merriu? | |
| Let us rather take shame to ourselves, and confess, that we have no mind to be reformed, or to have the image of God restored in us; for God (you confess with your own mouth) is able to do it. And there cannot be a greater assurance given us, that he is willing, than by the resurrection of Christ. For by that we are assured, that God is reconciled to his poor creatures, for whom Christ died, provided they will be reconciled to the means which he has appointed for their recovery. | Lhig dooin ny s’leaie goail nearey hooin hene, as goail-rish, nagh vel aigney ain dy ve er nyn lhiassaghey, na dy ve aa-yeant ayns caslys Yee; son ta Jee (ta shiu goail-rish lesh nyn meeal hene) abyl dy yannoo yh. As cha vod shickyrys smoo ve er ny choyrt dooin dy vel eh arryltagh dy yannoo yh, na liorish irree-seose-reesht Chreest. Son liorish shen ta shickyrys ain, dy vel Jee coardit rish e chretooryn boghtey, er nyn son hooar Creest baase, my nee adsyn coardail rish ny saaseyn ta eshyn er phointeil cour nyn saualtys. | |
| Now, matters being thus, as indeed they are, a sinner may with some heart set about his conversion; he knows he is dead, but God can raise the dead to life again. He cannot help himself; but he can ask help of one that is mighty to save. He meets still with new difficulties in the way of his recovery; but he knows, that God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear. | Nish myr dy nee shoh yn chooish, myr son firrinys t’yh, foddee peccagh lesh cree ennagh soiagh mysh e hyndaa gys Jee. Ta fys echey dy vel eh marroo, agh dy vod Jee troggal ny merriu gys bioys reesht. Cha vod eh cooney lesh hene; agh foddee eh shirrey cooney er fer ta niartal dy hauail. [389]T’eh meeteil sthill rish doilleedyssyn noa ayns raad e chosney reesht; agh ta fys echey dy vel Jee firrinagh, nagh sur dooin ve er nyn miolaghey erskyn ny oddys mayd gymmyrkey. | |
| In short:—If a man is sincere, he knows for certain, that the same power and goodness which raised him from the death of sin, can and will preserve him to eternal life, if he is not wanting to himself:—So that neither his own natural weakness, nor the power of his adversaries, nor the difficulties he is to undergo, nor the miscarriages he is guilty of, ought to discourage him, since his hope is in God, who raiseth the dead. | Ayns fockle; my ta dooinney agh ynric ayns cree, ta fys echey son shickyrys, dy vod as dy jean yn phooar as mieys cheddin ren troggal eh veih baase phecca, eh y choadey gys y vea veayn, my nee eh agh e phaart hene: Myr shen nagh lhisagh e annoonid dooghyssagh hene, na pooar e noidyn, na ny doilleedyssyn t’echey dy ghleck noi, na ny cooyl-skyrraghtyn t’eh oolee jeu, cha lhisagh ad eh y choyrt ass cree, neayr as dy vel e hreisht ayns Jee, ta troggal ny merriu. | |
| But then, if his faith and hope is in God, he must follow God’s directions, and make use of that power which God gives him to work out his salvation with fear and trembling; and then his faith will not fail him, but will most certainly restore him to the image of God, which consists in [439] righteousness and true holiness, and which is the life of the soul, and without which the soul must be eternally miserable. | Agh eisht, my ta e chredjue as e hreisht ayns Jee, sheign da geiyrt er saraghyn Yee, as jannoo ymmyd jeh’n phooar shen ta Jee dy choyrt da dy obbraghey magh e haualtys lesh aggle as atchim; as eisht cha n’aill e chredjue eh, agh nee yh son shickyrys y aa-yannoo eh ayns caslys Yee, ta shen ayns ynrickys as casherickys firrinagh, cooid ta bioys yn annym, as ny egooish sheign da’n annym ve treih son dy bragh. | |
| This, good Christians, is the spiritual resurrection, without which the belief of the resurrection of the body will be a very uncomfortable article. Here is life and death set before us. The death of our bodies cannot be prevented by all our care. However, Jesus Christ having conquered death, and having taken away its sting, death cannot be very terrible to any Christian who has reason to hope for a blessed resurrection. | Shoh, Chreesteenyn vie, shoh yn irree-seose-reesht Spyrrydoil, ny egooish bee credjue ayns irree-seose-reesht y challin ny vanglane feer neu-gherjoilagh. Shoh raad ta bea as baase soit kiongoyrt rooin. Cha vod baase nyn gallinyn ve shaghnit liorish nyn imnea [390] smoo. Ny-yeih, myr ta Yeesey Creest er chosney yn varriaght er y vaase, as myr t’eh er ghoail ersooyl yn gah echey, cha vod Creestee erbee ve feer agglagh roish ta oyr echey dy hreishteil son irree-seose-reesht vannee. | |
| Well then, since we cannot escape temporal death, our great concern ought to be, that, by the grace of God, we may escape eternal death. | Well eisht, neayr as nagh vod mayd shaghney baase seihltagh, lhisagh yh ve nyn ard-chiarail, dy vod mayd, liorish grayse Yee, shaghney yn baase dy bragh farraghtyn. | |
| And this is the end and design of religion; and few people can be easy without so much religion as they hope will make them happy when they die. | As shoh slane kiarail yn chredjue Chreestee. As stiark t’ayn oddys ve aashagh fegooish wheesh shen dy chredjue as t’ad treishteil nee maynrey ad tra yiow ad baase. | |
| In the mean time, it is not so well considered as it should be, that all religion is vain, which does not renew us in the spirit of our mind; which does not restore us to the image of God, in which man was at first created. We may receive the Gospel, and we may pretend to believe it:—Yes; just as the generality of the Jews did the law of Moses. They were circumcised, they kept the Passover, they offered sacrifices as the law appointed, and by these things they hoped to be justified; that is, accepted of God. This was their righteousness, of which our Saviour says expressly, that if our righteousness does not exceed theirs, we can by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. | ’Sy traa t’ayn, cha vel yh cha dowin smooinit er as lhisagh yh ve, dy vel dy chooilley chredjue ayns fardail, nagh vel jannoo shin ass-y-noa ayns Spyrryd nyn aigney; nagh vel aa-chroo shin ayns caslys Yee, ayn va dooinney ec y toshiaght er ny chroo. Foddee mayd goail-rish yn Sushtal, as foddee mayd lhiggey orrin dy chredjal yh:—Foddee; kiart myr ren yn ayrn smoo jeh ny Hewnyn goail-rish as credjal leigh Voses. V’ad er nyn yiarey-chymmylt, dreill ad yn Chaisht, heb ad ourallyn myr ren yn leigh pointeil, as liorish ny reddyn shoh v’ad treishteil dy ve er nyn seyrey; ta shen, soiagh ’ve jeant jeu liorish Jee. Shoh va’n ynrickys ocsyn, my-y-chione ta nyn Saualtagh gra dy playn, mannagh bee yn ynrickys ainyn erskyn yn [391] ynrickys ocsyn, nagh vod mayd er aght erbee goll stiagh ayns reeriaght niau. | |
| Pray, let us consider in what our righteousness does exceed theirs:—Do we love God more sincerely than they did? Do we strive to glorify him in our lives? Do we live in an humble dependance upon him without murmuring, as they did, at his dispensations? Are we more obedient to our Governors? Is our conversation such as becomes the Gospel of Christ? Do we find a principle in our minds which obliges us to do (and that willingly) whatever we believe will please God, and to avoid whatever we suspect will offend him? If it be thus with us, why then we have passed from death unto life; the new man is raised up in us, and the spirit of God is fitting us for a blessed eternity. | Guee-ym erriu, lhig dooin goail ain hene cre ayns ta’n ynrickys ainyn erskyn yn ynrickys ocsyn: Vel graih s’creeoil ainyn er Jee na va ocsyn? Vel shin streeu dy ghloyraghey eh ayns nyn ymmyrkey-bea? Vel shin beaghey ayns barrantys imlee er’syn fo ny croshyn t’eh coyrt nyn raad, fegooish ve tallagh n’oi, myr v’adsyn? Vel shin ny s’biallee da nyn Vir-reill? Vel nyn ymmyrkey-bea cordail rish Sushtal Chreest? Vel shin gennaghtyn ayns nyn aignaghyn shen ny ta cur’magh shin dy yannoo (as shen dy arryltagh) cre-erbee ta shin credjal nee Jee y wooiys, as dy hea veih cre-erbee ta shin smooinaght ver corree er? My she shoh myr t’yh marin, camma eisht ta shin caghlait veih baase gys bea; ta’n dooinney noa troggit seose aynin, as ta Spyrryd Yee jannoo shin cooie son beayntys vaynrey. | |
| But if we only mind the letter of the Gospel , and satisfy ourselves with observing its outward ordinances; if we pray out of custom only, and go to the Lord’s Table, because we would not be singular; if we do not become thereby more holy in our lives, better men, better neighbours, better Christians; why then, we are still in darkness,—in the very shadow of death,—in the very way to destruction. | Agh my ta shin cur geill ynrycan da focklyn na letter yn Sushtal, as booiys shin-hene lesh jannoo e oardaghyn er cheu-mooie; my ta shin goail padjer trooid cliaghtey ny lomarcan, as goll gys Boayrd y Chiarn er-yn-oyr nagh bailli’n imraa ve j’in;—mannagh vel shin liorish goll gys shen cheet dy ve ny s’crauee ayns nyn mea, sleih share, naboonyn share, Creesteenyn share;—camma eisht, ta shin sthill ayns dorraghys,—ayns eer scadoo yn vaaish, ayns yn eer raad gys coayl-anmey. | |
| You see then, good Christians, that as ever we hope for a blessed resurrection, we must first pass from death unto life here. He that has not a share in this first resurrection, will have but little comfort in the hopes of the second. | [392] Ta shiu fakin eisht, Chreesteenyn vie, eer myr ta shin treishteil son irree-seose-reesht vannit, dy nheign dooin hoshiaght ve caghlait veih baase gys bea ayns shoh er y thalloo. Eshyn nagh vel ayrn echey ayns y chied irree-seose-reesht shoh, cha bee agh beggan gerjagh echey ayns y treishteil jeh’n nah irrree-seose-reesht. | |
| Now, the devil will endeavour to divert you from setting about, and going through this necessary work, by two very contrary methods: Either he will try to make you presumptuous and careless, by representing it as the easiest thing in the world;—or to make you despair, by representing it to be a work far above your ability. | Nish nee yn Jouyl streeu dy hyndaa shiu veih soiaghey mysh, as goll trooid yn obbyr ymmyrchagh shoh, liorish daa aght cleer controllee:—Edyr nee eh streeu dy yannoo shiu daaney as meerioosagh, liorish cur reue dy nee yn red sassey ’sy theihl yh;—er-nonney dy cheau shiu fo mee-hreishteil, liorish cur reue dy vel yh obbyr foddey erskyn yn niart eu. | |
| Now, our Blessed Lord’s death and resurrection has a sanctifying power to cure us both of presumption and despair. | Nish, ta pooar ayns baase as irree-seose-reesht nyn Jiarn bannit ta breeoil dy lheihys shin jeh chamma daanys as mee-hreishteil. | |
| If a Christian thinks with himself God is very merciful,—I will depend upon his goodness;—Christ died for me,—I am called by his name,—I have been often at his table,—he gives me liberty to call God my Father, and as such I pray to him;—why should I not be confident of my future happiness?—I will tell you why you should not. Because our Lord himself saith, that many (at the Day of Judgment) will have all this to say for themselves, and yet he will not own them. And pray consider, that if sin is so harmless a thing, and so very [440] easy to be mastered, why did Christ undergo such agonies, such conflicts, in subduing it? | My ta Creestee smooinaghtyn myr shoh rish hene—Ta Jee feer vyghinagh,—ver-ym barrant er e vieys;—hooar Creest baase er my hon’s,—ta mee fo yn ennym echey,—ta mee er ve dy mennic ec e voayrd,—t’eh cur kied dou dy enmys Jee yn Ayr ayms, as myr da lheid ta mee goail padjer huggey;—cre’n-fa veagh dooyt orrym jeh my vaynrys braa?—Insh-ym diu cre’n-fa lhisagh dooyt ve erriu. Er-yn-oyr dy vel nyn Jiarn eh-hene gra, dy bee ymmodee (ec Laa ny Briwnys) vees ooilley shoh oc dy ghra er nyn son [393] hene, as ny-yeih nagh jean eh goail-roo. As guee-ym erriu gow-jee eu-hene, my ta pecca red cha gyn loght, as cha feer aashagh shen dy gheddyn y vainshteragh er, cre’n-fa hie Creest fo lheid yn angaish, lheid y ghlec-anmey, ayns cur fo chosh yh? | |
| And if you fancy that now Christ requires nothing of us, pray, why do his Apostles speak so much of mortification and self-denial, of taking the Cross, of crucifying the flesh, nay, of dying to sin? Do you think there is nothing like this to be undergone by a Christian before Christ is formed in him,—before he riseth from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness? You will be sadly mistaken if you think so. Hear what St. Paul saith, [ Gal. i. 4.] “Jesus Christ gave himself for us;—but to what end? Why; “that he might deliver us from this present evil world;—that he might redeem us from our vain conversation;—that we being dead unto sin, might live unto God;—that he might purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” | As my ta shiu gaurys nagh vel Creest nish shirrey veg orrin, cre’n-fa, guee-ym erriu, ta e Ostyllyn loayrt wheesh mychione smaghtaghey, gobbal, as crossey yn eill, mychione goail seose yn chrosh, dy feer, mychione geddyn baase gys pecca? Vel shiu smooinaghtyn nagh vel Creestee dy gholl fo red ennagh lheid shoh roish my oddys Creest ve er ny chummey ayn,—roish my vod eh girree veih yn baase dy phecca gys bea dy ynrickys? Bee shiu dy treih mollit my she shoh ta nyn smooinaghtyn. Eaisht-jee rish ny ta’n Noo Paul gra, [Gal. i. 4.] “Hug Yeesey Creest eh-hene er nyn son;”—agh cre va’n oyr? Camma; “dy voddagh eh livrey shin veih nyn gliaghtaghyn fardalagh;—dy voddagh shin liorish ve marroo gys pecca, ve bio gys Jee;—dy voddagh eh casherickey da hene pobble reiht, jeean ayns obbraghyn mie.” | |
| When you consider this, you will be convinced that Christianity is a very serious thing; and that Christians have something to do, besides performing a bare outward part in religion. | Tra smooinys shiu er shoh, bee slane toiggal eu dy vel Creesteeaght ny red ta dy ve dy dowin goit gys cree; as dy vel red ennagh smoo er Creesteenyn dy yannoo, na eer jannoo ny cur’myn echey er cheu-mooie. | |
| But then, some people are naturally serious and thoughtful; and there the wicked spirit does often tempt to despair, by setting before them the difficulties of a Christian life; that it is impossible to overcome our corruptions; that it is to no purpose to set about it; and if the whole world lieth in wickedness, what hopes have we to get free of it? Why, we have an Almighty power ready to help us;-the same power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead: Nothing can be impossible or difficult to Him who could do that. | [394] Agh eisht, t’yh ayns dooghys paart dy leih dy ve sheelt as smooinaghtagh; as ad shoh ta’n drogh spyrryd dy mennic miolagh’ gys mee-hreithteil, liorish soiaghey rhymboo doilleedysyn y vea Chreestee,—Dy vel yh neu-phossibyl dy gheddyn yn varriaght harrish nyn yeearreeyn olk; dy vel yh ayns fardail dy ghoail ayns laue yh; as my ta ooilley yn seihl ny lhie ayns mee-chraueeaght, cre’n jerkal ta ainyn dy haghney yh? Camma, ta pooar Ooilley-niartal ain aarloo dy chooney lhien;—yn eer phooar cheddin ren troggal Yeesey Creest veih ny merriu:—Cha vod nhee erbee ve neu-phossibyl na doillee Dasyn oddagh shen y yannoo. | |
| But if it be really so, (you will say) why are there few that be saved? Why; because they will not go unto Christ that they may have life; they will not believe because they will not part with their sins. | Agh my she shoh myr t’yh dy jarroo, (foddee shiu gra) Cre’n-fa dy nee beggan ta er nyn sauail? Camma; er-yn-oyr nagh jean ad goll gys Creest dy vod bea ve oc; cha jean ad credjal, er-yn-oyr nagh jean ad scarrey rish nyn beccaghyn. | |
| But may I be sure that his goodness will receive one who has so much offended him? Why do you think that that divine Shepherd, who with so much care and pains sought his lost sheep, and laid it on his shoulders, will refuse one that cries after him, and moans to be taken care of? Do you think that he would lay down his life for his sheep, and after that neglect them, and suffer them to be devoured by wolves? | Agh vod-ym ve shickyr dy jean e vieys goail stiagh unnane ta er choyrt wheesh dy chorree er? Camma, vel shiu smooinaghtyn dy jean yn Bochilley flaunyssagh shen, ta lesh wheesh dy imnea as tooilleil er hirrey son e cheyrrey chailjey, as er ghoail ee er e gheiltyn,—dy n’ob eh unnane ta geam ny e yeih, as jannoo gaccan treih dy ve goit kiarail jeh? Vel shiu smooinaghtyn dy jinnagh eh scarrey rish e vioys son e chirree, as [395] lurg shen jannoo almorys orroo, as surranse ad ve er nyn stroie liorish moddee-oaldey ? | |
| Hear what the Prophet Isaiah [xl. 11.] saith of this good Shepherd, so long before his incarnation: “He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” | Eaisht-jee rish ny ta’n Phadeyr Isaiah gra, [xl. 11.] mychione yn Bochilley mie shoh, choud shen dy hraa roish my ghow eh feill er: “Nee eh fassaghey e hioltane myr bochilley; nee eh chaglym ny eayin lesh e roih, as ver eh lesh ad ayns e oghrish, as dy meeley y leeideil adsyn ta trome. | |
| Here then is our comfort:—If while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us;—if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,—much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life, since he now ever liveth to make intercession for us. | Shoh eisht nyn gherjagh:—My hooar Creest baase er nyn son, choud as va shin ayns stayd dy noidys,—my va shin coardit rish Jee liorish baase e Vac;—foddey smoo myr ta shin nish goit stiagh gys shee, vees mayd er nyn sauail liorish e vioys, fakin dy vel eh nish dy bragh bio dy yannoo stiagh rish Jee er nyn son. | |
| Now, thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. To whom, &c, | Nish, booise dy row gys Jee ta coyrt dooinyn yn varriaght, trooid nyn Jiarn Yeesey Creest. Huggeysyn dy row ooashley as gloyr, nish as er son dy bragh. Amen. | |