«

“ Meanwhile you cannot do better than read

carefully such books of practical divinity, as will “ instruct you in the principles of a Christian life. « We are excellently furnished with works of this “ nature; and it is by the diligent study of them " that you will gradually become a proficient in the « lessons of the Gospel.”

But the holy Scriptures, and with them the Church of England, call upon those who are in the

circumstances above stated, to lay afresh Advice given to the same the whole foundation of their Religion.

In persons by concurrence with the Scripture that Church the holy

calls upon them, in the first place, grate- , Scriptures.

fully to adore that undeserved goodness. which has awakened them from the sleep of death; to prostrate themselves before the Cross of Christ with humble penitence and deep self abhorrence; solemnly resolving to forsake all their sins, but relying on the Grace of God alone for power to keep their resolution. Thus, and thus only, she assures them that all their crimes will be blotted out, and that they will receive from above a new living principle of holiness. She produces from the Word of God the ground and warrant of her counsel; “ Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt “ be saved.”—“ No man,” says our blessed Saviour, “ cometh unto the Father but by me.”—“ I am the

" « true Vine. As the branch cannot bear fruit of “ itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye.

abide in me.' “ He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much « fruit; for without” (or severed from)“ me ye can

do nothing;”—“ By grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of

God; not of works, lest any man should boast: • for we are his workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus unto good works.” Let me not be thought tedious, or be accused of running into needless repetitions, in pressing this point with so much earnestness. It is in fact

a point

a point which can never be too much Extreme insisted on. It is the cardinal point on importance which the whole of Christianity turns; now under

of the point on which it is peculiarly proper in this discussion. place to be perfectly distinct. There have been some who have imagined that the wrath of God was to be deprecated, or his favour conciliated, by austerities and penances, or even by forms and ceremonies, and external observances. But all men of enlightened understandings, who acknowledge the moral government of God, must also acknowledge, that vice must offend, and virtue delight him. In short they must, more or less, assent to the Scripture declaration, “ without holiness no man shall

see the Lord.” But the grand distinction, which subsists between the true Christian and all other Religionists, (the class of persons in particular whom it is my object to address) is concerning the nature of this holiness, and the way in which it is to be obtained. The views entertained by the latter, of the nature of holiness, are of all degrees of inadequateness; and they conceive it is to be obtained by their own natural unassisted efforts : or, if they admit some vague indistinct notion of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, it is unquestionably obvious, on conversing with them, that this does not constitute the main practical ground of their dependence. But the nature of that holiness which the true Christian seeks to possess, is no other than the restoration of the image of God to his soul: and, as to the manner of acquiring it, disclaiming with indignation every idea of attaining it by his own strength, he rests altogether on the operation of God's Holy Spirit, which is promised to all who cordially embrace the Gospel. He knows therefore that this holiness is not to PRECEDE his reconciliation with God, and be it's Cause; but to follow it, and be its EFFECT. That in short it is by FAITH IN CHrist only (a) that

he

(a) Here again let it be remarked, that faith, where genuine, is always accompanied with repentance, abhorrence of sin, &c.

The true

in grace,

trines of

he is to be justified in the sight of God; to be delivered, from the condition of a child of wrath, and a slave of Satan; to be adopted into the family of God; to become an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ, entitled to all the privileges which belong to this high, relation; here, to the Spirit of Grace, and a partial renewal after the image of his Creator; hereafter, to the more perfect possession of the Divine likeness, and an inheritance of eternal glory.

And as it is in this way, that, in obedience to the dictates of the Gospel, the true Christian must ori

ginally become possessed of the vital spirit Christian's and living principle of universal holiness; practical use so,

in order to
grow

he must also of the peculier Doce study in the same school; finding in the

consideration of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity. the Gospel, and in the contemplation of the life and character and sufferings of our blessed Saviour, the elements of all practical wisdom, and an inexhaustible storehouse of instructions and motives, no otherwise to be so well supplied. From the neglect of these peculiar doctrines arise the main practical errors of the bulk of professed Christians. These gigantic truths, retained in view, would put to shame the littleness of their dwarfish morality. It would be impossible for them to make these harmonize with their inadequate conceptions of the wretchedness and danger of our natural state, which is represented in Scripture as having so, powerfully called forth the compassion of God, that he sent his only begotten Son to rescue us. Where now are their low views of the worth of the soul, when means like these were taken to redeem it?

now their inadequate conceptions of the guilt of sin, for which in the divine counsels it seemed requisite that an atonement no less costly should be made, than that of the blood of the only begotten Son of God? How can they reconci their low standard of Christian practice with the representation of our being“ temples of the Holy

“ Ghost;

Where

“ Ghost;" their cold sense of obligation, and scanty grudged returns of service, with the glowing gratitude of those, who, having been “ delivered from " the power of darkness, and translated into the “ kingdom of God's dear Son,” may well conceive, that the labours of a whole life will be but an ime perfect expression of their thankfulness?

The peculiar doctrines of the Gospel being once admitted, the conclusions which have been now suggested, are clear and obvious deductions of reason. But our neglect of these important truths is still less pardonable, because they are distinctly and repeatedly applied in Scripture to the very purposes in question; and the whole superstructure of Christian morals is, grounded on their deep and ample basis. Sometimes these truths are represented in Scripture generally, as furnishing Christians with a vigorous and ever present principle of universal obedience: and, almost every particular Christian duty is occasionally traced to them as to its proper source. They are every where represented as warm

. ing the hearts of the people of God on earth with continual admiration, and thankfulness, and love, and joy; as enabling them to triumph over the attack of the last great enemy, and as calling forth afresh in Heaven the ardent effusions of their unexhausted gratitude.

If then we would indeed be “ filled with wisdom " and spiritual understanding,” if we would " walk “ worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing, being “ fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the "knowledge of God;" here let us fix our eyes ?

Laying aside every weight, and the sin that does

so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race " that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO Jesus, the “ Author and Finisher of our faith, who, for the joy “ that was set before him, endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is set down at the right “ hand of the throne of God *."

Here . Heb. xii. 1,2

Here best we may learn the infinite importance of Christianity; how little it deserves to be treated in that slight and superficial way, in which Use of the peculiar it is in these days regarded by the bulk Doctrines in of nominal Christians, who are apt to think it enough, and almost equally pleasing to God, to be religious in any way, Christianity, and upon any system. What exquisite folly must it be, to risk the soul on such a presumption, in direct opposition to the dictates of reason, and the express declaration of the word of God! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great sal"vation?"

enforcing the importance of

In enforcing the duty of

tional sur

render of ourselves to God,

LOOKING UNTO JESUS!

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Here we shall best learn the duty and reasonableness of an absolute and unconditional surrender of soul and body to the will and service of God.-" We are not our own;" for an uncondi- "we are bought with a price," and must therefore make it our grand concern to glorify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are God's." Should we be base enough, even if we could do it with safety, to make any reserves in our returns of service to that gracious Saviour, who "gave up himself for us?" If we have formerly talked of compounding by the performance of some commands for the breach of others, can we now bear the mention of a composition of duties, or of retaining to ourselves the right of practising little sins? The very suggestion of such an idea fills us with indignation and shame, if our hearts be not dead to every sense of gratitude.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS!

Here we find displayed, in the most lively colours, the guilt of sin; and how hateful it must be In enforcing to the perfect holiness of that Being, the guilt of who is of "purer eyes than to behold

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iniquity."