《A Christian Library (Vol. 17)》(John Wesley)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Works of Hugh Binning, Sermons I-III
Works of Hugh Binning, Sermons IV-V
Life of Matthew Hale
Contemplations by Sir. Matthew Hale, Part I
Contemplations by Sir. Matthew Hale, Part II
Extracts from the Work of Simon Patrick: Extract from the Christian Sacrifice, Part I
Extracts from the Work of Simon Patrick: Extract from the Christian Sacrifice, Part II
Extracts from the Work of Simon Patrick: Extract from the Christian Sacrifice, Part III
Works of Hugh Binning, Sermons I-III

THE LIFE of MR. HUGH BINNING

JOHN BINNING, of Dalvennan, was married to MARGARET M'KELL, a daughter of MR. MATTHEW M'KELL, Minister at Bothwell: by her he had two sons, HUGH and ALEXANDER. The father was possessed of no inconsiderable estate; for MR. HUGH having died before his father, JOHN, the only son of MR. HUGH, was heir to his grandfather in the lands of Dalvennan,
The worldly circumstances of the grandfather being so good, MR. JOHN BINNING was thereby enabled to give his son HUGH a liberal education. When he was at the Grammar-School, he made so great a proficiency in the knowledge of the Latin tongue, that he outstripped some who were several years older than himself. When his schoolfellows went to their play, he chose to employ himself, either in secret duty with GOD, or conference with religious people: in this way he spent the time which he had to spare from his studies. He began to have sweet intercourse with GOD, and to live in near communion with him, before others began to lay seriously to heart their lost condition by nature, and that additional misery to which they expose themselves by walking in a wicked way. When he arrived at the thirteenth or fourteenth year of his age, he had even then attained so much experience in the ways of GOD, that the most judicious Christians in the place confessed they were much edified, strengthened, and comforted by him nay, that he provoked them to diligence in the duties of religion, being abundantly sensible that they were much outrun by a youth.
Before he was fourteen years old, he entered upon the study of Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, wherein he made very considerable progress, and with as much facility outstripped his fellow students, as he had before done those in the Latin school; by which means, he came to be much noticed in the College by the Professors and Students: and at the same time, while he made proficiency in the liberal sciences, he advanced remarkably in religion. The abstruse depths of philosophy, which are the torture of weak capacities, he dived into without any trouble: and notwithstanding his surprising attainments and improvements, and his ready apprehension of things, where by he was able to do more in one hour than others in some days by hard study, yet was he ever humble, never exalted above measure, nor swelled with pride and self-conceit, the common disease of young men of any greatness of spirit.
So soon as he had finished his course of Philosophy, he was made Master of Arts with great applause; and, having furnished his mind with an uncommon measure of the knowledge of letters, he began the study of Divinity; at which time there happened to be a vacancy in the College of Glasgow, by the resignation of Mr. JAMES DALRYMPLE, who had been MR. BINNING'S master. Mr. BINNING was determined; after much entreaty, to stand as a candidate for that post. The Masters of the College, according to the usual laudable custom, sent to all the Universities in the kingdom, inviting such as had a mind to dispute for a Professorship of Philosophy, to offer themselves for that preferment; giving assurance that, without partiality and respect of persons, the place should be conferred upon him who should be found dignior et doctior.
The Ministers of the city of Glasgow, considering how much it was the interest of the church, that well qualified persons should be put into the Professorship of Philosophy, and that Universities by this means become most useful seminaries for the church; and knowing that Ma. BINNING was eminently pious, and one of a solid judgment, as well as of a bright genius; at last prevailed with him to declare, before the Masters, his willingness to undertake the dispute with others.
MR. BINNING was not full nineteen years of age, when he commenced Regent and Professor of Philosophy; and though he had not time to prepare a system of any part of his Profession, yet such was the quickness of his invention, the tenaciousness of his memory, and the solidity of his judgment, that his dictates to the scholars had depth of learning and perspicuity of expression. And we are assured, that he was among the first in Scotland, who began to reform Philosophy from the barbarous terms and unintelligible distinctions of the schoolmen, and the many vain disputes and trifling subtilties, which rather perplexed the minds of youth, than furnished them with solid and useful knowledge.
He continued in this Professorship for three years, and discharged his trust so well, that he gained the general applause of the University. And this was the more wonderful, because, having turned his thoughts towards the Ministry, he carried on his theological studies at the same time, and made great improvements therein; which he was enabled to accomplish by his deep penetration, and by a memory so retentive, that he scarcely forgot any thing he had read or heard. It was usual for him to transcribe any sermon, after he returned to his chamber, at such full length, as that the intelligent reader, who heard it preached, should not find one sentence to be wanting. At the expiration of his third year as a Professor of Philosophy, the parish of Govan, adjacent to the city of Glasgow, happened to bevacant MR. BINNING was sometime after called and invited to be Minister of the said parish, about the twenty-second year of his age.
He was, considering his age, a prodigy of learning; for before he had arrived at the twenty-sixth year of his life, he had such a large stock of useful knowledge, that he might well have been an ornament in the most flourishing University in Europe. This will appear the more astonishing, if we consider his weakness of body, through which he was unable to read much at one time, or to undergo the fatigue of assiduous study. But this was well supplied, partly by a memory that retained every thing he heard or read, and partly by a solid and penetrating judgment, whereby he digested it well, and made it his. own; so that, with a singular dexterity, he could bring it forth seasonably, and communicate it to others, drained from the dregs he found about it, or intermixed with it; insomuch that his knowledge seemed rather to be born with him, than to have been acquired by laborious study.
From his childhood he knew the Scriptures, and had been under much deep and spiritual exercise, until a little before his entry upon the office of the Ministry, when he came to a great calm and lasting tranquility of mind, being mercifully relieved from all those doubtings, which had for a long time greatly exercised him; and though he was of a tender and weakly constitution, yet love to CHRIST, and a concern for the good of precious souls committed to him, constrained him to such diligence in feeding the flock, as to spend himself in the work of the Ministry. It was observed of him, that he was not averse at. any time from embracing an invitation to preach before the most experienced Christians: And when one of his most intimate friends took the freedom to ask him, how he came to be so easily prevailed with to preach before persons of so great experience and judgment, he made this reply, "When I have a clear call to mention my blessed Master's name in any place, I have no more to say, but ' Here am I, send me:' What am I that I should resist his heavenly call? And when He, whose name is holy and reverend, is spoken of and to, and is there present, the presence of no other person is to be regarded: under that impression, I forget who is present, and who is absent."
He married MRS. BARBARA SIMPSON, daughter to MR. JAMES SIMPSON, a Minister in Ireland. Upon the day on which he was to be married, he went accompanied with his friends, (amongst whom were some grave and worthy Ministers) to an adjacent country congregation, upon the day of their weekly sermon. The Minister of the parish delayed the sermon till they should come, hoping to put the work upon one of the Ministers whom he expected to be there; but all of them declining it, he next tried if he could prevail with the bridegroom, and succeeded, though the invitation was not expected. He went immediately to the pulpit, and preached upon 1 Pet. 1: 15: But as he who has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." " At this time he was so remarkably helped, that all acknowledged, GOD was with him of a truth.
In his sermons his matter gives life to his words, and his words add a luster to his matter. That great Divine, MR. JAMES DURHAM, gave this verdict of him; a There was no speaking after MR. BINNING; and truly he had the tongue of the learned, and knew how to speak a word in season. The subject-matter of his Sermons was mostly practical, and yet rational and argumentative, fit to inform the understanding of his hearers, and move their affections and when controversies came in his way, he showed great acuteness and judgment in determining them, and no less skill- in applying them to practice."
He was a great student in the books. of Creation and Providence; and; took much pleasure in meditating upon what is written in these volumes the wonders he discovered in both led him up to the infinitely wise and powerful Maker and Preserver of all things. Once when he carne to visit a gentleman of good learning, and his intimate acquaintance, the gentleman took him to his garden. In their walk, he discoursed with him, to his great surprise, of the declaration which every thing makes of its Almighty Creator; and talked of the wisdom and goodness of GOD, particularly in clothing the earth with a green garb, rather than with a garment of any other color: And having plucked a flower from it, he made a most savory and spiritual discourse, and so dissected and anatomized thy same, as to set forth the glorious perfections of its Maker, in a most entertaining manner.
But the main object of his pious and devout contemplations was, GOD in CHRIST reconciling the world to himself. For GOD, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, had shined into his heart to give him the light of the knowledge of GOD, in the face of JESUS CHRIST; so that he not only understood thee mysteries of the kingdom of GOD himself, but it was given to him to make others' know them. His preaching was in the demonstration of the SPIRIT, and of power. His sermons are the very transcript of what had passed betwixt CHRIST and his own soul; he spoke; and wrote his experimental-knowledge, and did both speak and write, because he believed.
He earnestly contended for the articles of faith and truths of religion. And as to the duties of Christianity, he enforced the performance of these, with all the arguments of persuasion; so that, through the blessing of GOD, his pulpit-discourses became the power of GOD to the illumination of the understandings of his hearers, the renovatibn of their natures, the reformation of their lives, and the salvation of their souls.
The difficult part of a reprover, he, acted in the most prudent and gaining manner: when he did lick with his tongue the, mote out of his brother's eye, he did it with all tenderness, and with the tear in his own. His words wanted neither point nor edge for drawing of blood, when the case of the offender made it an indispensable duty; and when the was' compelled to use, sharpness with any, they were convinced that he sincerely intended their good. His compassion on the ignorant, and on them that were out of the way, made it evident, how much he considered himself as encompassed with infirmity, and so within the hazard of being tempted.
He was, a person of exemplary moderation and sobriety of spirit, had healing methods much at heart, and studied to promote love and peace among his brethren in the ministry. He vigorously contributed to the recovery of the humanity of Christianity, which had been much lost in the differences of the times, and the animosities which followed thereupon. These virtues and graces had such an ascendancy in his soul, that, as he carried coals about him taken from the altar, to warm the souls of all with whom he conversed with love to GOD, his truths, interests, and people, so he carried sanctuary-water about with him, to cool and extinguish any thing of undue passion which he perceived to accompany the zeal of well-designing persons; a temper that is rarely found in one of his age. But ripe harvest-grapes were found upon this vine in the beginning of spring; and no wonder, since' he lived so near the Sun of Righteousness, and lay under the plentiful showers of divine grace, and the ripening influences of the He was no fomenter of faction, but studious of the public tranquility. He was a man of moderate principles, and temperate passions. He was far from being confident, or vehement, in the management of public affairs; and was never imposing or overbearing upon others, but willingly hearkened to advice, and yielded to reason.
After he had labored four years in the Ministry, serving GOD with his spirit in the Gospel of his SON, he died of a consumption, when he was scarcely come to the prime of life, entering on the twenty-sixth year of his age; leaving behind him a sweet savor after he was gone, and an epistle of commendation upon the hearts of his hearers. While he lived, he was highly valued and esteemed, having been ' a successful instrument of saving himself and them that heard him, of turning sinners unto righteousness, and of perfecting the saints; and he died much lamented by all good people, who had the opportunity and advantage of knowing him. He was a person of singular piety, and of an humble, meek, and peaceable temper; a judicious and lively preacher; nay, so extraordinary a person, that he was justly accounted a prodigy, for the pregnancy of his natural talents, and his great proficiency in human learning, and in the knowledge of Divinity.
He was buried in the church-yard of Govan, where MIA. PATRICK GILLESPIE, then Principal of the University of Glasgow, at his own expense, caused a monument to be erected for him, on which there is to this day the following inscription:
Hic situs est MAGISTEL HIIGO RINNINGUS;
Vir pietate, faeundid, doctrind clarus;
Philologus, Philosophus, Theologus prwestaus,
Privco denique Evangelii fidelis et eximius;
Qui e medio rerum cursu sublatus
Anno Etatis 26:, DOM. autem MDCLIII.,
Mutavit Patriam, non Societatem,
Eo quod vivus cum DEO ambulavit.
IV si quid inquiras, camera silco;
Cum nec to nec Marmor hoc capiat.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GODOR,SERMONSON THEFIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN,CHAP. 1: AND IL.,WHEREINTHE TRUE GROUND AND FOUNDATION OF ATTAININGFELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON,AND THE BLESSED CONDITION OF SUCH AS ATTAIN TO IT, ARE EXPLAINED.

BY HUGH BINNING.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

SERMON 1:1 JOHN 1: 1.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard; which we have seen with our eyes, which.we have looked upon, andd our hands have handled, of the, word of life.
IT is the great qualification of a disciple, or hearer, to be attentive and docile, to be capable of instruction, and to apply the mind seriously to it. It is much to get the ear of a man; if his ear be gotten, his mind is the more easily gained: Therefore those who professed eloquence, and studied to persuade men, were accustomed, at the commencement of a discourse, to fall upon something that might stir up the attention of their, hearers, or, make them more inclinable to receive instruction, or catch their favor or good will;which isof great moment to persuasion: for it is sometimes fit to open the passages of the heart by such means, that there may be the more easy entrance for instruction and persuasion. Truly, something of this art runs here in a divine channel; as indeed all these rules of human wisdom attain their perfection, when they meet with the *, who elevates them to a more transcendent use. Happy was that eloquence of PAUL, and the other Apostles, and something like the sweet inspiration of Angels, by which they prevailed with the spirits of men and he that said, I will make you fishers of men,"' taught them to present some things for the allurement of souls, and so to surround and enclose them with most weighty and convincing reasons. The beloved Apostle, JOHN, who leaned upon CHRIST'S bosom, and was likely to learn the very secrets of this art, you see how he goeth about the business; he uses an holy art in this preface. Being about to give a recapitulation of the whole Gospel, and to make a short summary of the doctrine of it, for the more effectual establishment of souls already converted, and for the powerful persuasion of others to embrace it, he uses all the skill that can be in the entry, to dispose men's hearts to receive it: like a wise Orator, he labors to stir up their attention, to conciliate their affection, and so to make them easily teachable he stirs up attention, when he shows that he-e is not to speak about trifling matters, or low things, or things that do not concern them; but about the greatest, most interesting, and most important things, even "the Word of Life," in which all their-life was wrapped up: which, though it was ancient in itself, yet, withal was anew thing to the world, and so, on all accounts, deserved to be taken serious notice of. Then he conciliates their benevolence by showing his own affection towards them, and his great design in it, that it was only for their good and salvation, and that he had nothing else in view, but to have them partakers with himself in the same happiness: he has found a jewel, and he hides it not, but proclaims: it, that; all, men may have fellowship with him, and with GOD;, and that cannot but bring in full joy to., the heart. Now a: soul being made thus attentive and willing to heart it is the best, disposition that makes them the most capable of being taught.