Pharifaical Pride they" thank God that they are not as other men are ;" while, perhaps, they are deftitute of those virtues, and of that vital "holiness, without which no man fhall fee the Lord." -They think, perhaps, that Faith in Christ Jefus, or (to speak more properly) what they term Faith, will fecure to them the approbation of heaven, while they perfift in flandering their Neighbour; in concerting plans to acquire Wealth or Property unjustly; or living habitually in that ftate of "Unrighteousness, against which the wrath of God is revealed."

May fuch perfons be convinced of their Error before it be too late! before the door of Mercy is fhut, when calling upon the Name of Chrift will avail them nothing! when boafting of having been children of light, if they have not walked as children of light, will profit them no more than it did the wicked Jews to boast of their being the children of Abraham.

Let fuch perfons think, for a moment, on the nature of a Reprieve from temporal death,

death, to a condemned Criminal. A Delinquent, so fpared, would undoubtedly rejoice. But he would know, at the fame time, that if he perfifted in the Crimes for which he was condemned to fuffer, Mercy would not again be extended to him.

So are we taught to believe with refpect to our Reprieve from eternal death, procured by the Death and Merits of Chrift. We are expreffly told that "if we fin wilfully after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for fins; but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation.-If he that defpifed Mofes' law, died without Mercy, of how much forer punishment, fuppofe ye, fhall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace ?" *

Notwithstanding this plain and alarming language, a falfe and mistaken Faith.

* Heb, x. 26, 27, 28, 29.

has

has been pronounced a Cover for all Crimes obftinately perfevered in and unrepented of. It has been reprefented as an afylum to which the most vile of Sinners might flee with all their imperfections on their head; as a Bethesda which will heal a man of whatever finful difeafe he has, without any repentance and amendment of life.

This is a moft dangerous Perfuafion, and derogatory of that Saviour's Merits which they pretend to extol.-I know that he came into the world to fave Sinners; and I rely upon his efficacious Sacrifice with Comfort, with Gratitude, and humble Affurance. But did he not come alfo "to purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? "to turn men from darkness to light, -from the power of Satan unto God? -"We know, fays the Apoftle, that he was manifefted to take away our Sins, Therefore whofoever abideth in him, finneth not whosoever finneth hath not feen him, neither known him. He that committeth Sin is of the devil: for the devil finneth from the beginning.

For

this purpose the Son of God was manifefted, that he might deftroy the works of the devil."

For this purpose alfo he became obedient unto death, even the death of the Crofs. He died not only to atone for the Sins of his faithful and obedient followers, but alfo to convince us of the fatal tendency, as well as the atrocious nature of Sin.. Atrocious indeed! fince it required fuch a Sacrifice for its Atonement !-He died for our past Sins, not for thofe (as the Apostle affirms) * which we continue wilfully to commit. These "put him to an open fhame, and crucify the Son of God afrefh.' They make his wounds bleed again to no purpose: for, we are told that, for fuch Sins, there remaineth no more atoning Sacrifice. We are bought with a price ineftimable; therefore fhould we glorify God in our mortal bodies. Being justified by Faith for all past Tranfgreffions, and having Peace with God, through Jefus Christ our Lord, we fhould" add to our Faith Virtue; and to Virtue brotherly Kindness; and to

×

* See the preceding quotation from Hebrews, ch. x.

brotherly

4

brotherly Kindnefs Charity. For if these things be in us and abound, they make us that we shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old fins. Wherefore, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for, if ye do thefe things, ye fhall never fall. For fo an entrance fhall be miniftered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.”*

By fuch a conduct as this prefcribed by

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the Apostle, fhew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. As he which hath called you is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of converfation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things; but with the precious Blood of Jefus Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemish and without fpot."

Thus we fee that we are to co-operate with Chrift in the great work of our Salva: * 2 Peter, i,