trines coincide with these, and with the plain precepts of the gofpel; whatever doctrines give weight to the eternal laws of morality, to righteoufnefs, temperance, and univerfal charity, lead us to love God and goodness, and to do the will of our father which is in heaven; these we may admit for true: they fpeak the language, and breathe the fpirit of the gospel. On the contrary, whatever doctrines difpenfe with the practice, or may be applied to evade the force of the gofpel precepts; whatever doctrines loofen the obligations of duty, fpeak peace to the finner, or flatter him in his fins; these cannot be of God, or of Christ, and are carefully to be avoided as dangerous fnares to our confciences. Let us ever interpret the more difficult paffages of fcripture by those that are clear and evident, remembering that what is neceffary to all, must be level to the capacities of all. Let us not wreft thefe into articles of faith, or with this obfcure light in our hands, presume to enter into the counfels and decrees of providence, and matters of fpeculation which are too high for us. The fecret things be-. long unto the Lord our God: but those things

which

1

"

which are revealed, which are laid open to every understanding, these are the things which belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. The myfteries of religion, as far as they are revealed to us in the gospel, the doctrine of redemption, and the great falvation wrought for us by Jefus Chrift, are myfteries of godlinefs; aré designed to raise our ideas of the divine goodness and mercy, to excite our love and gratitude, and to engage all the generous affections of the heart in his fervice; to give us a due fenfe of our high calling in Chrift Jefus, of the dignity and honours belonging to our chriftian profeffion, and of that eminence in piety and virtue which they require from us. These therefore we should contemplate with reverence, and give them their due influence on our minds, till the love of God rule in our hearts, and the love of Chrift conftrain us to all holy obedience, and to abound in every good word and work. When our faith is thus made perfect in holiness, when it has fpiritualized our affections, and raised them from the things on earth to things above, when it has captivated

* Deut. xxix. 29.

tivated every thought into obedience, and made us ftedfaft and immovable in the work of the Lord, we may then hope to be accepted in the beloved, and through his merits to be received as good and faithful fervants into the joy of our Lord. But till this good work is wrought or begun in us, our faith is vain, we are yet in our fins. Our faith in Christ, instead of justifying us, will aggravate our guilt, and increase our condemnation. In a word, let us imitate the life before we presume to truft in the merits of Christ, and bear ever in our minds that caution of the Apostle: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he who fulfilled all righteousness is righteous.

* 1 John iii. 7.