2. May not the sentiment of these words be considered as applicable to that reformation and regulation of heart and life, which invariably accompany, yea, may be considered as component and essential parts of true repentance-as the necessary products of genuine. contrition? "Can "the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard "his spots? then may ye also do good, that are "accustomed to do evil."* Are inveterate habits of blasphemy, of mental impurity, of indolence, and in fine, of all evil, to be easily removed?

Despair, on natural principles, is almost justified, and precludes exertion. The attempt is indeed laborious beyond conception, demanding consummate toil, and much patient continuance. Yet animated by the hope of eventual success, these will be promptly and perseveringly engaged in by every sincere penitent.

Self enquiry, like the searching and separating ploughshare, will be driven over every part of the heart; irksome as the service may appear, no nook or corner of that barren field shall be left unbroken. Propensities, formidable as the Canaanites to the Israelites, and habits as full-grown and gigantic as the sons of Anak, shall be overturned by perseverance thus inspired by hope. Yea, like

* Jeremiah, xiii. 23.

the noxious weeds or the turned turf on land that is ploughed, they in their opposition and decay, shall prove highly advantageous, and ensure a larger crop.

Slow is the correction of unhallowed habits, gradual the progress of sanctification, especially that part which may be considered as negative— "the ceasing from evil:"-much is this mourned over by the upright" when he would do good, "evil is present with him." Sometimes indeed, he is ready to cast aside the implements of his spiritual husbandry, and exclaim, O wretched man that I am, I shall now-even on this day-perish! My hope is cut off! Woe is me! My soul desireth the first ripe fruits, but alas! all is dreary, barren, and unfruitful!. Yet, cheered by brighter and certain prospects of ultimate success, he resumes his toil; he remembers how God, in nature, acts towards his dependant creatures; he recovers from the dulness of despondency, and recollecting that the ploughman ploughs all day, that he may sow ---not reap immediately-he exults in anticipated abundance.. "He that plougheth should plough

❝ in hope."

3. There are numerous acts of self-denial required by Him, who for our sakes bare his cross and hung thereon. These, like the toils of til

lage to which our text alludes, require much skill and perseverance in their discharge, and but for a better hope would be in every case neglected.

To mortify sin; to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts; to cut off the right hand; to pluck out the right eye; to be in the world, but not of it; to be separate in heart and life from those with whom we are called daily to associate and deal: to bear unmoved, unmerited reproaches; to turn the smitten cheek to him who wantonly smote us; in fine, to take up our cross and follow him who loved his enemies and prayed for his murderers; are among the multiplied obligations of the genuine penitent: which, like the incipient labors of husbandry, are most remotely though inseparably connected with our future peace and prosperity. And what but this powerful principle can actuate to these services and sacrifices? Yes; the Christian has natural feelings as well as others; a keenness of sensation; a taste for worldly delights; a value for character; dispositions to revenge; ability often put in his power to retaliate on those who have injured him; but he foregoes these unworthy satisfactions; and though derided and sneered at by the high-spirited and haughty, as though literally plodding after a plough, he rejoices even in persecution for righteousness sake; he denies himself; he is a disciple of Jesus; he looks to the

end; he remembers, "that he who plougheth "should plough in hope."

4. Various are the duties of benevolence he performs towards his fellow immortals. These seem by the apostle's argument in the chapter before us, so obviously intended, that it would be wrong to overlook them. Not only are we called to cultivate our own hearts, but to labor for the good of others, that they may not be barren and unfruitful in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour; but frequently this toil is so irksome, and the advantage, if any, so remote, that but for the principle presented in our text, we should refuse to commence our work, or cease in the midst of our labors.

So rugged is the surface of some minds, that a life seems not long enough to smooth them for cultivation. So many and such serious difficulties present themselves, that we are almost ready to conclude, that the desert must remain a wilderness, and can never be a fruitful field; but hope, however feeble its influence may be, prompts us to commence, urges us to proceed.

In situations the most unpromising, benevolent persons have labored and been comforted at length in the work of their hands. That very plot where existed subsequently, a church which St. Paul ad

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dressed as God's husbandry,* once yielded discouragement only, to the wearied laborer. Over that. desert he wept his effort appeared unavailing; his very labors he thought worse than in vain. "Who is sufficient for these things?" he tremblingly exclaimed: but at length his perseverance was was crowned with success, and God, as he gratefully acknowledged, gave the increase to his toil, his tears, and his hopes.

t

The hope of like success animates the disheartened ploughman; who, breaking the untilled earth of childhood, ploughs for many a long and tedious day, that he may sow. Oft is the share checked and himself almost stunned, by the sudden opposition of some unperceived obstacle; some temper evinced by the ignorant, some misconstruction put прои upon his kind purposes, or some perverse disposition which like the hardness of the ground, or a hidden stone arresting the progress of the sharpened iron, presents an oft-recurring hindrance to his kindly wishes and arduous attempts. But his hope will not perish; for the certainty of success is far greater in these religious services, than in any manual exertion: indeed, in all worldly matters, probability is a sufficient warrant for endeavor; but in spiritual concerns, we neither fight or work uncertainly, as though we beat the air,

* 1 Corinthians, iii. 9.

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