awake to matters of infinite and eternal importance.

of his presence and perfections frequently possess his mind, and habitually influence his conduct; and I. In pointing out some of the in his various occupations and purleading principles of our holy reli- suits, he seeks "not to please men, gion, which especially demand our but God that trieth the hearts." unremitted and most earnest atten- It is indeed one great end of our tion, we cannot begin more pro- preaching, to convince men, that perly, than with the perfections and religion does not consist in coming authority of God, and our relations once or twice a week to public and obligations to him. However worship, or at stated seasons to the men may allow these truths, it will Lord's table; but that these are yet be found, that their conduct in merely appointed means of bringthis respect marks very strongly the ing them habitually to acknowledge distinction between the religious God in every part of their conduct; and irreligious part of mankind. that their actions, conversation, and Who can imagine, that the gay, the dispositions may be influenced by a sensual, the covetous, or the ambi- sense of his presence and authority; tious have a constant and serious that pious meditations, ejaculations, recollection of that holy, omnipre- and praises, may continually spring sent, omniscient, and almighty God, from the temper of their minds, as in whom we all profess to believe? occasion requires; and that their May we not rather conclude, that daily employments, regulated by "God is not in all their thoughts;" genuine piety, may be a constant at least, that they do not willingly succession of services to their Masand deeply consider his character ter who is in heaven. Who can and perfections, as described in the deny that the law of God requires sacred Scriptures. Do such men this at our hands? that the example habitually recollect the majesty and of Christ recommends and enforces authority of the Lord, their obliga- it? or that the apostle inculcates it, tion or accountableness to the Cre- when he says, Whether ye eat, or ator and Judge of the world? Do whether ye drink, or whatever ye they act under a constant sense of do, do all to the glory of God." his all-seeing eye? Do they endea- Perfection indeed cannot here be vour to please him in their most attained; nor can we say what measecret and common actions; or by sure of this habitual recollection is their inmost thoughts and motives? essential to genuine piety; but if Do they seek happiness in his fa- this be the nature of true religion vour, and liberty in his service? when perfected, it must proporOr do they, when conscious of hav- tionably be the same in its lowest ing offended, rely on the mercy of degrees. If we do not propose to God, and seek an interest in the ourselves a high standard, our acsalvation of his Son, as the grand tual attainments will be very low; object of their deliberate choice, and if the nature of our religion and most fervent desires? I appre-differ from all our ideas of the worhend that the most admired and ship and holiness of angels, we shall applauded characters, in Christian doubtless be finally excluded from countries, are as entire strangers to their society, as incapable of their this course of life, as the very pa- holy felicity. gans themselves. But the true believer walks with God; the thoughts

The eternal world is another subject, which demands our unremitted

attention. Death and its important disposition and practice of all that consequences; and the awful reali-cloud of witnesses which have gone ties of that solemn season, when before us. "Enoch walked with "all that are in the graves shall God and was not, for God took hear the voice of the Son of God him." Moses preferred the reand shall come forth; they that proach of Christ, and the sufferings have done good to the resurrection of God's people, to the riches, hoof life; and they that have done nours, and pleasures of Egypt: for evil to the resurrection of damna- he "had respect to the recompense tion," should be familiar to our of reward." The Old Testament thoughts, and frequently be made saints "all died in faith, not having the subject of our conversation. received the promises, but having Eternity! the shortness of time! seen them afar off; and were perthe uncertainty of life! the import- suaded of them, and embraced ance of this fleeting season of pre- them, and confessed that they were paration for the tribunal of God! strangers and pilgrims upon the the sin, the folly and infatuation, of earth." The primitive Christians wasting it in the eager pursuit of" suffered joyfully the spoiling of perishing things, or in frivolous and their goods, knowing that they had pernicious amusements! By fre- in heaven a better and a more enquently recurring to these topics, during substance." They " counted we should endeavour to excite our- not the sufferings of this present selves, and to " exhort one another, time worthy to be compared with while it is called to-day; lest any the glory that shall be revealed;" of us should be hardened by the and many of them considered death deceitfulness of sin." A misspent as their gain, that "being absent day, or even an idle hour, must, on from the body, they might be prereflection, give pain to the man who sent with the Lord." Yet, in these duly considers the words of Christ, days, this kind of life not only ap"Watch and pray always, that ye pears visionary to profane scoffers may be accounted worthy to escape and infidels; but many who profess all those things which are coming and contend for the peculiar docon the earth, and to stand before trines of the gospel, seem not at all the Son of man." 66 Let your loins aware, that one grand difference be girded about and your lamps between a believer and other men, burning, and ye yourselves like unto consists in the decided preference men that wait for their Lord." "Be which he gives to eternal things, ye, therefore, ready also: for in an above all the interests and enjoyhour that ye think not the Son of ments of this sublunary world. "To man cometh." be carnally-minded is death, but to Our chief business is not with be spiritually-minded is life and men: our grand interest is not peace." placed in earthly objects. The Lord The law of God is another of himself is "he with whom we have those interesting subjects, which to do;" and if we be indeed be- ought to occupy a large share of our lievers, " we look not at the things thoughts and conversation. This which are seen, but at the things law, which is spiritual, holy, just, which are not seen: for the things and good, is given to be the rule of which are seen are temporal, but our conduct, and the standard of the things which are not seen are our judgment, and it is written in eternal.' This was the peculiar the hearts of all true believers.

Thus David exclaims, "Oh how I ness or situation he should prefer; love thy law! it is my meditation or how he should regulate his meall the day." "I esteem all thy thods and habits of living. In short, precepts in all things to be right." he endeavours to conform himself "I love thy commandments above to the law of God, as the man of gold, yea above much fine gold;" fashion or of business does to the and, "I will walk at liberty, for I rules of the circle with which he is seek thy precepts." connected.

Numbers of men, called Chris- But when we have seriously contians, prescribe to themselves no sidered the comprehensive, spiriother rule than the law of fashion, tual, and holy requirements of this custom, honour, or trade; that is perfect standard, we shall proporthe law of their own peculiar circle. tionably be convinced of numberless Others judge of their conduct by transgressions, and of immense desome scanty maxims of morality, ficiencies even in our best services: or their own notions of right and for "by the law is the knowledge wrong and few, even of those who of sin." We shall judge very difprofess to believe, seem willing to ferently of our own characters, than use the commandments of God for other men do; or than even we these important purposes." Thou did, before we began to weigh ourshalt love the Lord thy God with selves in this balance of the sancall thy heart, thy mind, thy soul, tuary. When each successive hour, and thy strength; and thou shalt and all that passes in our imaginalove thy neighbour as thyself." tions and conduct, is tried by the These are the two great command-law of loving God with all our ments, in which the whole law is minds, and our neighbour as ourbriefly comprehended. But who can selves, the boasted goodness of our fully explain such extensive pre-hearts, the imagined innocency of cepts, or speak of them in terms of our lives, the compensating efficacy commendation equal to their excel- of our meritorious actions, and the lency? There can be no part of our whole fabric of our self-complaconduct, or desire of our hearts; cency, vanishes as a dream when no thought, word, or action what- one awaketh. Then we readily ever; which does not either agree understand that "by the works of or disagree with these two grand the law no flesh shall be justified in branches of that "holiness, without the sight of God;" and there no which no man shall see the Lord." longer appears to be either paradox With these, the believer, as far as or absurdity in this part of the aposhe acts in character, compares him- tolical doctrine. That question beself continually; and thus deter- comes important to us, which permines whether he hath acted right haps we once deemed insignificant or wrong in the various circum- or speculative, "How shall man be stances and relations of life. By just before God?" We inquire with this rule he learns to decide in increasing solicitude, "What must doubtful cases; and he keeps it in we do to be saved?" And we are constant view, while he considers prepared to welcome information on how he should spend his time, use the method, in which the most perhis substance, or employ his talents; fect justice and holiness of God can what connexions he should form; consist with his abundant mercy, in whether he should contract or ex- pardoning and saving transgressors; tend his acquaintance; what busi- without excepting even those who

have committed the most numerous right understanding of evangelical and heinous offences. Thus the truth: the man, whose views have peculiar doctrines of the blessed been described, will perceive that Gospel of God our Saviour, come the gospel exactly suits his case, regularly under our consideration, and is worthy of his most cordial and open to our view, in their na- reception. He will not object to ture, glory, and value, in propor- the truths of Christianity because tion as we judge ourselves by the they are mysterious; he will neiholy commandment; and anxiously ther despise them, under pretence seek deliverance from the wrath to of attending exclusively to practice, nor abuse the mercy of God as an

come.

It is very affecting to the serious encouragement to sin: he will permind to reflect on the supercilious ceive the connexion and harmony disdain, with which men in general of evangelical doctrines with the treat such inquiries, and those who whole system of revelation; and are engaged in them. The natural will seek the promised blessings in philosopher, with an air of self-im- the appointed way: his repentance portance, considers his experiments and works meet for repentance will on the properties of material sub-connect with the life of faith in the stances, as an employment of supe- Son of God; while his faith will rior excellency and, after having work by love, and love will sweetly spent many months in most exact constrain him to live to the glory of and minute investigations, he will" him, who died for him and rose smile, with mingled pity and con- again." These truths will be the tempt, at the folly of his neighbour, nutriment of his faith and hope; who hath occupied a few weeks in he will meditate on them from day studying the way of eternal salva- to day; thence he will derive all tion! Metaphysicians frequently his strength, motives, and encouderide all those, as discarding the ragement for obedience: nor would use of their reason, who decide such his knowledge of the rule of duty questions according to the sure tes- suffice even for practical purposes, timony of God! Cold formalists were he not influenced by the prinobviate all inquiry by saying, that ciples of the gospel.

'a good life is every thing in reli- These are some of the most imgion' and even men of business portant subjects to which we may and pleasure suspend their eager suppose, that the exhortation of pursuits to join the ridicule, to the text calls our peculiar attention, which those humble penitents are and did time permit, many others exposed, who seriously attend to might be adduced. But we must this disregarded subject! Yet sure-proceed,

ly it is most reasonable for a con

demned criminal to inquire in the II. To explain and illustrate the first place, how he may obtain a exhortion itself, and suggest the pardon and who can doubt, but most effectual methods of reducing that person will be most secure it to practice.

:

from the danger of a fatal mistake, These things must be in our own who learns the way of approach hearts, before we can properly teach and success from the Sovereign him- them to others, or make them the self?

The subjects, that have been considered, directly make way for the

subject of our frequent conversation. We should therefore apply ourselves, with persevering assiduity

to obtain a comprehensive acquaint-hearts, we shall be disposed and ance with the doctrines of revela-qualified to teach his truths and tion; that we may understand them precepts to our relations, to speak according to their connection, har- of them among our friends, and to mony, proportion, and practical diffuse the knowledge of them in tendency. Our memories should the circle of our acquaintance. be stored with the precepts, exam- This is strenuously enforced by the ples, warnings, and promises of the exhortation of our text. "Thou Bible. "Let the word of Christ shalt teach them diligently to thy dwell in you richly.". This cannot children; and thou shalt talk of be done, unless we carefully attend them when thou sittest in thy house, to our Lord's exhortation, "Search and when thou walkest by the way, the Scriptures; for in them ye and when thou liest down, and when think ye have eternal life." "The thou risest up." In reducing these hand of the diligent maketh rich :" rules to practice, much will be found and the man, whose " delight is in to depend on various external cirthe law of the Lord, and who medi- cumstances. When the Christian tates in his law day and night, possesses wealth or influence, and shall be like a tree planted by the hath extensive connexions, he ought rivers of waters, that bringeth forth to attempt great things: while a his fruit in his season; his leaf also little may be done in a more obscure shall not wither, and whatsoever situation, by edifying discourse, he doeth shall prosper." This man letters, or the distribution of books; shall be blessed, and shall be a bles-provided opportunities be watched sing to others. and diligently improved. We al

Labour then, my brethren, to low, indeed, that conceited disputaget thoroughly acquainted with the tious talkers, whose conduct does oracles of God: let your judgment not consist with their principles, or be formed according to them: pro- who grossly violate the proprieties portion your approbation of charac- of relative life, are often a disgrace ters and actions by this divine to religion: but when divine truth standard. In this manner judge of occupies the heart and influences your acquaintance, connexions, and the conduct, a man's ordinary confriends; and above all, judge thus of versation may be rendered very yourselves. Try by this rule every useful, in diffusing religious knowpursuit, attainment, or distinction ledge, and making others wise unto among men: let your fears, hopes, salvation.

desires, joys, and sorrows be regula- They, however, who are placed ted according to it; that all the affec- at the head of families, should tions of your souls may be excited deem themselves peculiarly called and influenced by the pure and ani- upon to teach their children or sermating principles of our holy reli- vants. The examples of Scripture gion. Thus when fatigued with busi- are in this respect very encouraging ness or disgusted with the world, and instructive.-The Lord had you will have a never failing source given promises of special blessings of refreshment, and a most salutary to the posterity of Abraham, and relaxation, to invigorate your weary he was made a principal instrument powers, and recruit your exhausted in preparing the way for their acspirits. complishment. "I know him,” When the word of God is thus saith God, "that he will command treasured up and ingrafted in our his children and his household after