ments.

Think not that it is religion to pafs a tolerably decent life, diverfified with a regular fprinkling of religious obfervances. Will the grace of Chrift fhare a divided empire? Will the grace of Chrift vouchsafe to occupy thofe out-fkirts of the heart, which fin is content to relinquish, in order that it may enjoy in tranquillity the favourite spots which it has fenced off for itself? Is this to become a new man? Is this to be born again of the Spirit? Is this to crucify the flesh with the affections and lufts? Is this to be Chrift's? Is this to offer your whole fpirits, fouls, and bodies, a living facrifice unto the Lord? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. Ye have brought that which is torn, and the lame, and the fick : thus have brought an offering. Should I accept this of your hand; faith the Lord? Offer it now to thy governor. Will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy perfon; faith the Lord of hofts? Curfed be the deceiver, which facrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing. For I am a great King, faith the Lord of bofts: and my name is dreadful. I have no pleasure in you, faith the Lord of hofts: neither will I accept an offering at your band (1).

ye

Ne 2. If you are already a true Chriftian; foster

the good feed fown in your heart, that the divine

(1) Malachi, i. 7, 8. 10, 13, 14.

L4

planter

planter may preserve it from being overwhelmed by furrounding tares, and may nourifh it unto timely and plentiful maturity. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Do you feel yourself difposed to be fatisfied with your present attainments? And is not fufpicion, is not alarm awakened in your bofom? With any person, whom you cordially love, you are day by day defirous of cultivating a more and more endearing intercourfe, a more and more intimate connection. When your heart is warmly engaged in any purfuit; you grudge the time which you are not able to devote to that object: you are zealous and anxious in pushing onward towards the attainment of it: you note with pleasure every degree of approach towards it: you are filled with regret if you discover that during a period of fome length you have not made ány perceptible advances. Why is it not thus with your love to Chrift? Why is it not thus with your purfuit of faith and holiness? Brethren, faid St. Paul, I count not myself to have apprehended falvation. But this one thing I do: This is my great and unceafing object: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for

the

the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus (m). Are you farther advanced than the apoftle Though he did not deem himfelf to have apprehended falvation; do you prefume that you are fecure? If you disclaim the arrogant delufion; if, representing yourfelf for a moment as a fellow-traveller with the apoftle on the way that leadeth to life eternal, you behold him already at an immeasurable diftance before you: Why is it that you imitate not his humility, his ardour, his perfeverance? Why is it that, like unto him, you count not all things but lofs, that you may win Chrift; if that by any means you may attain unto the refurrection of the righteous (n)? The Holy Ghoft, the Comforter, from whom alone, through the merits of the Lord Jefus, every Christian grace is to be derived, withdraws not his countenance from you, limits not his bounty towards you. Has he enabled you to bring forth fruit thirtyfold? He offers to enable you to bring forth fixty and an hundred fold. Afk; and you Shall receive. What shall you ask? Ask that you may be enabled to give all diligence, to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness;

(m) Philipp. iii. 13, 14. (z) Philipp. iii. 8. 11.

and

and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. Afk that you may give diligence to make your calling and election fure. For if you do these things you shall never fall. For fo an entrance fhall be miniftered unto you abundantly into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Fefus Chrift (o).

(2) 2 Pet. i. 5-7. 10, 11.

SERMON VII.

On the Duty of openly ranging ourselves on the Side of the Lord.

EXODUS, Xxxii. 26.

Then Mofes flood in the Gate of the Camp, and faid: "Who is on the Lord's Side?"

A

MONG the most evident tokens of the

natural alienation of the human heart from righteousness is the indifpofition of men to render unto God the fame measure, which they render one to another. He, who in fome few inftances has found his friend deferving of confidence, is prone to confide in him afterwards, and perhaps even to credulity. He, who has witneffed examples of the power of a fuperior, ufually afcribes to him ftill greater power. He, who has experi

encod