66

not that a vain profession of attachment to Christ, will ever entitle you to the glorious distinction of being called his "friends," unless, as he himself says, ye do the things which he commands you." Think not that a formal attention to the external ordinances of religion, will ever make you the children of God, unless your whole conduct bear testimony to your having "received the spirit of adoption ;"-unless, "as obedient children," you live holily, and without rebuke, in "the midst of a perverse and crooked generation." Think not that you will ever be admitted to the presence of God in heaven, unless, during your sojourning here, you endeavour, through his grace, to be "conformed to the image of his Son :"-for, of this be assured, into whatever delusive and erroneous opinions mankind may be led, or by whatever vices the heart of fallen, sinful man may be yet farther corrupted, the everlasting law of religion declares, and it is written as with the finger of God, "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Wherefore, my beloved brethren, "as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." And may the important lesson so strongly inculcated by the Apostle, sink deep into all your hearts:—for remember, though it is true indeed, that we are "justified by faith, without the works of the law,"-(that is, the

--

works of the Mosaic law, which, under the Gospel Dispensation, are no longer necessary;)— nay, though it is the fundamental principle of the Christian religion, that it is not by obedience to any law, "not by any works of righteousness that we have done," but by embracing and resting wholly and unreservedly, on the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus, that we can hope for pardon and salvation; yet it is essentially necessary that we shew our faith by our works: -otherwise, I repeat, our faith being as barren and unfruitful as that of the accursed spirits, we must inevitably participate in their misery and despair.

Under all circumstances, then, let your faith be active and influential. Nor should the consciousness of your frailty and manifold imperfections, deter you from constantly endeavouring to "glorify God in your bodies and in your spirits, which are God's." For, weak indeed, and powerless though we are, both in the stedfastness of faith, and in the readiness of obedience, though, when assaulted by your spiritual foes, ye have in truth no power at all against them,-still, let not this consciousness of weakness, either lead you to recklessness, or drive you to despair: rather let it bring you more frequently and more fervently to the throne of Grace-to bow the knee "unto the Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ," seeking "that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man :"-that thereby you may practically find, to your unspeakable comfort, that when you are weak in yourselves, then are you "strong in the Lord:"-that thereby you may find, in every trial and temptation of life, "his grace sufficient for you;"-"sufficient" not only to "stablish your hearts by faith," but to "make you also perfect in every good word and work."

THINGS LOVELY AND OF GOOD REPORT, THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF FAITH.

2 PETER 1. 5, 6, 7.-"Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

IN a regular and beautiful gradation, St. Peter here enumerates the principal qualities which complete the character of a true Christian. These qualities are finely arranged and connected, as links in an extensive chain, descending from the very throne of God, to every order and relation in human society. The first in order, in this list of Christian graces, is faith ;declared by the Apostle to be the principle upon which all that follow, in regular succession, necessarily depend. But, as we ought to be very cautious in establishing a principle that is in truth the foundation of all Christian duties,

so it deeply concerns us to avoid all erroneous notions in our estimation of it.

That our minds, therefore, may be “stablished-strengthened-settled,"-on this important point, let us, with all humility, and in firm reliance on "the God of all grace," consider the nature of true faith ;-and that we may proceed the more safely in our investigation, the Apostle himself shall be our guide. In the first verse of the chapter from whence the text is taken, St. Peter mentions the faith that distinguishes all true Christians; to whom, he says, it is "alike precious," as it equally entitles them to its valuable privileges;—not through their own righteousness, but "through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The objects of this faith, he informs us, are "the exceeding great and precious promises" assured to us "through Jesus Christ;" by which "we are called, says he, to glory and virtue," being thereby "made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption" that so generally prevails in the world, through the lust which men are prone to indulge, to the peril and ultimate destruction of their immortal souls. He then enumerates the duties which are dependent upon this leading principle; and exhorts his converts to "use all diligence to make their calling and election sure," by the practice of those duties, the "great reward" of which will