it is full of instruction; and it will lead every sincere and humble believer to be more patient in tribulation; more fervent in prayer; more ardent in every expression of gratitude; more cheerful in every act of obedience; more regardless of the fading honours and the empty pleasures of this life; more desirous to depart, and to partake of the spiritual, pure, and enduring joys of the heavenly state.

SERMON III.

EPHESIANS iv. 23.

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

IT is the peculiar excellence of our religion, that it is a spiritual religion. Its seat is in the heart. It is this which distinguishes it from all other religions, as much as its doctrines; and affords an internal evidence of its truth and divine origin, even stronger than its external evidence. It must, indeed, shew itself in the outward walk and conversation, in the life and conduct; for we can give no other solid and satisfactory evidence to ourselves or to others, that our heart is right with God. All other marks and evidences may deceive us, and do daily deceive numbers; this alone, rightly understood and applied, cannot. "By their fruits shall know them."

ye

1 St. Matt. vii. 20.

Still, to render an action acceptable in the sight of God, it must be performed from a right motive, such a motive as He will approve. An action may look very fair and specious in the eyes of our fellow-creatures; a man may pass for a very good man in the estimation of his acquaintance, and of the world at large; but may be very different in the sight of God: for "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."1

Such is the force and meaning of the Apostle's exhortation in the text; and such the constant language of Scripture in the Old and New Testament, whenever this important subject is brought before us. The Psalmist prays that this right heart and spirit may be renewed in him: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." From the deep view he had of his past sinfulness, of his heavy offences and transgressions against God, as well as from a distrust of his own unassisted power to amend or restore himself, he shows at once the necessity of this change and renewal of heart; and that the only way, in which it can really be effected, is by the converting and purifying influences of the Holy Spirit, combined with our own endeavours

to improve and apply those influences when granted us. To the same effect God proclaimed his promises of grace by the prophet Ezekiel: "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; and they shall be my people; and I will be their God."1 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you: a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh; and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them." God calls us to repentance in the same language: "Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

In the same manner the Gospel itself speaks.

Ezekiel xi, 19. * Ib. xxxvi. 25, 26. Ib. xviii. 31, 32.

Our Lord in his sermon from the Mount declares: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God:" and, again, in that remarkable interview which he had with the Samaritan woman, as recorded in the 4th of St. John: when she (falling into the common error of Jews and Samaritans, who had sadly corrupted the true religion, and made it consist in outward forms and observances, and uncharitable and bitter controversies and disputes, and hatred against each other,) inquired whether Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem were the favoured seat of worship, he said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship him in spirit and in truth."

In the present chapter the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians not to walk as other Gentiles walked, in the vanity of their mind, "having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them."3 He expresses a better hope of them, that they

1 St. Matt. v. 8. 2 St. John iv. 21, 23, 24.

Ephes. iv. 18.