us the christian on canvass-the other presents him to us alive and in motion.

Now what I want to convince you of here, is thisthat real godliness is more than a shew, a fancy, a form

it has an efficacy in it-there is a power attending it. For consider how it is produced and maintained. It is in its existence, as well as in its revelation, a divine principle. Hear how the apostle speaks of it in his epistle to the Ephesians. God is able, says he, to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask, or think-" ac"cording to the power that worketh in us." I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ— "that he would grant you according to the riches of "his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit " in the inner man." And again, he prays for them, that they may know-" what is the exceeding great"ness of his power to us-ward, who believe according "to the working of his mighty power, which he "wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the "dead, and set him at his own right hand, in the heav"enly places :" where we find-that the same almighty energy which quickened into endless life, the entombed body of our Lord, is actually put forth in the renova tion of the believer: "that like as Christ was raised up "from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we "also should walk in newness of life." Hence it is called the life of God; and the participation of the "divine nature."-What is the water which the Saviour promises to give to those that ask him? Living water. And says he, "the water that I shall give him, "shall be in him a well of water springing up into ev"erlasting life." Here is nothing stagnant and dead: but every thing is expressive of influence, and activity. Thus the apostle tells the Thessalonians, that their word came to them-not in word only, but in power: and that they received it, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, "which effectually "worketh also in that believe." you And thus, to view the subject more separately and in parts, we read of the

work of faith, the labor of love, and the patience of hope.

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Observe the subjects of divine grace. This principle distinguishes them from others; and is capable of producing a holy singularity. If you have only the form of godliness, there will be no practical difference between you and others: if servants-you will be as idle, as gossiping, as regardless of the property of your employers as others: if wives-you will be as unsubmissive if husbands-as tyrannical: if tradesmenas grasping and over-reaching as others. But if you have the power....you will resemble good Nehemiah. The former governors says he were chargeable to the people, and did so and so...." but so did not I, because "of the fear of God." Piety would not suffer him to act like them. And if you are under the influence of it, you will not in your various relations and circumstances be borne down by the errors and vices around you but you will be able to act uprightly: you will be kept from consulting custom, and be constrained to listen to conscience: you will not be permitted to sin as do others, or "sleep as do others....you will not be "conformed to this world, but be transformed by the "renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is "that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." A dead fish can swim with the stream, but a live one can swim against it.

Yea, this principle distinguishes the man from himself. Thus under the influence of it, the drunkard becomes sober the swearer learns to fear an oath, and the liar a lie. He that stole, steals no more, but labors. The churl becomes liberal, and the niggard, bountiful....and it cannot be otherwise. If the man has been moral before, he continues to avoid the same vices, to perform the same duties, and to means of grace as before....but from tives, and in a very different manner. much more to engage his attention. longer confined to externals only, but he is taken up

attend the same very different moHe has now also His regard is no

with the hidden man of the heart; and prays with David, "create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a "right spirit within me." Hence spring exercises, to which he was once a stranger; and he feels himself engaged in a warfare, which often perplexes him, and leads him to exclaim, if I am his, why am I thus ?

Behold then the life of the real christian, and trace the operation of the power of godliness there.

It appears with regard to the ordinances of divine worship. Others, who have only the form, come without expectation, and prayer, and return without reflection, and concern: they are satisfied with their attendance....but he is not. He is anxious to derive spiritual advantage from it he enters the closet before he approaches the temple, and his language is "O that I

knew where I might find him, that I might come even "to his seat. O that I may be of the circumcision who "worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

It appears, with regard to the dissipations of the world. He voluntarily resigns those amusements, in which he once placed so much of his happiness: and he returns no more to them. And why? If he were mindful of the country from whence he came, he has opportunity to return; he is surrounded with the same allurements as others....why then does he not engage in these diversions again?....Because he has found something infinitely more noble, and more satisfying. And a greater good has power to abolish the impressions of a less. When the sun arises, the stars disappear. And the grapes of Eschol, cause us to forget the leeks and onions of Egypt.

You may see it in the mortification of sin. He denies himself; he crucifies the flesh, with the affections and lusts; he plucks out a right eye, and cuts off a right hand.

You may see it in what he is willing to sacrifice, and to suffer. Read history: read the book of martyrs ; read the eleventh chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews ....and see what the force of this powerful principle can

accomplish. There you see an Abraham at the command of God, "leaving his own country, and his fa"ther's house, and going out, not knowing whither he "went:" and in obedience to the same authority, when tried, offering up Isaac; his son, his only son; "of "whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be call"ed." There you see a " Moses, when come to years, "refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of "God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than "the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the 46 recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook "Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he en"dured as seeing him who is invisible.-And what "shall I more say ? for the time would fail me to tell "of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of "Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel and of the pro"phets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought ❝righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths "of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the "edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, "waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of "the aliens, women received their dead raised to life "again; and others were tortured, not accepting deli"verance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. "And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourg"ings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were "tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered "about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins; being destitute, "afflicted, tormented: of whom the world was not "worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, ❝and in dens and caves of the earth.”

But we are not called to such scenes as these.

Bles

sed be God you are not. But every christian, says Luther, is a piece of a Martyr; yea, says the apostle and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. There is the same malignity in human na

VOL. II.

ture, against vital religion as formerly, and it will operate as far as it is permitted by circumstances. And when religion is vital, it will enable a man to abide the test; and resolve to go forward, notwithstanding the ridicule of infidels, the sneer of worldlings, and the reproaches of relations and friends. And this requires a degree of the same grace as martyrdom.

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The vigor of this principle, appears also in other sufferings. How many are there at this moment enduring a variety of grief in private, whose names will never be published in history, but who, in the eye of God, are greater than the admired heroes of the age. They act nobly, without the prospect, or the desire of notice, or of fame: they breathe no revenge towards instruments : they neither charge God foolishly, nor unkindly in any of the disappointments and afflictions which have befallen them they are strangers to impatience, and repining; and all you hear is, "I mourn, but I do not mur"mur. I pray, but I do not prescribe. The Lord gave, "and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the "name of the Lord. I have more reason for thankful"ness, than complaint. I know not what he is doing "with me but he knoweth the way that I take. "Whether the trial be removed or continued; increas"ed or diminished, it is with him to determine-so it "should be-and so it shall be. Behold, here I am, "let him do to me as seemeth good unto him."

Yea, we have seen and heard the saints joyful in glory, and shouting aloud upon their dying beds: raised above the fear of the king of terrors himself, and exulting, "Oeath, where is thy sting; O grave, where is "thy victory! The sting of death is sin, and the "strength of sin is the law: but thanks be unto God "that giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus "Christ." Surely therefore in the religion of the blessed Jesus, there is an excellency, an efficacy-a power.

But this power derived from a divine influence, aud distinguishing the christian from others, and from himself this power which enlivens him in ordinances, raises him above the world, subdues his corruptions, and