right nor pretence to their ancient spirit? And could we suppose further, that, after this information, some of these remote people were to land at Dover, and make the tour of this kingdon, can you think they would be long in determining which of these is indeed the case?

Numbers are deceived by restraining many passages in the New Testament the times in which they were delivered, though it seems to have been the great care of the apostles to prevent, if possible, our making this mistake. St. John having expressly said, "If any

man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," immediately explains what he means by the world, namely, "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the

eye, and the pride of life," 1 John ii. If high distinction, vain show, and sensual pleasure, make no part of the world at this day, I must allow, that we have no part in the apostle's decision, nor any cause to observe his caution; but if these things are as highly prized, as eagerly, and almost as universally pursued, now in Britain, as they were sixteen hundred years since at Rome and Antioch, surely we bear the name of Christians in vain; if our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows, our comforts and our cares, are not very different from those of the generality among whom we live. "If any man," says St. Paul, "have not the spirit of "Christ, he is none of his," Rom. viii. Now, whatever more is meant by the phrase of "having the "spirit of Christ," it must certainly mean thus much at least, a disposition and turn of mind, in some degree conformable to the mind that was in Christ Jesus, to be evidenced by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example. "He was holy, harmless, "undefiled, separate from sinners: he went about

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He was gentle and com

doing good," Heb. vii. passionate, meek and patient under the greatest provocations: so active for the glory of God, that his zeal, by a strong and lively figure, is said to have "eaten "him up," John ii.: so affected with the worth of souls, that he wept over his bitterest enemies: so intent on his charitable designs towards men, that an opportunity of helping or instructing them, was as meat and drink when he was hungry, John iv. and made him forget weariness and pain: so full of devotion towards God, that when the day had been wholly consumed in his labours of love, he would frequently redeem whole nights for prayer! Luke vi.-But I must stop. No pen can describe, no heart conceive, the life of the Son of God in the flesh! Yet, in all these things he was our great exemplar; and no profession or appellation can benefit us, unless we are of those who copy closely and carefully after him. For thus saith the beloved apostle, "He that saith he "abideth in hin, ought himself so to walk even as he "walked. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth "not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not " in him," 1 John ii.

I shall conclude with a short address to three sorts of persons. And, first, If there are any such here, (would to God this part of my labour may prove needless,) I would recommend this subject to the consideration of those who have almost, if not altogether, cast off the honourable name into which they were baptized; who, trusting to what they call the light of nature, and the powers of human reason, venture to determine the fitness of things by their own standard, and declare in their words, as well as by their actions, they will not have this man to rule over them,"

Luke xix. Is not this an unaccountable event upon your plan, that the name which first went out from Antioch, under the greatest disadvantages, should so soon overspread the world, without arts or arms, without any force, or any motive of an external kind? Is it possible, that any kind or degree of enthusiasm could influence, not a few, at one time, or in one place, but multitudes, of all ages, sexes, tempers, and circumstances, to embrace a profession which, in proportion to the strictness wherewith it was followed, was always attended with reproach and suffering? Those places which were most noted for opposition to this way, have been long since buried in the dust: but a succession of those whom the world counted "not worthy to live," and "of whom the world was not worthy," Acts xxv. Heb. xi. has always subsisted, and still subsists. Had you lived in those days when Jesus Christ assured a company of poor disregarded fishermen, that neither the power nor the policy of the world, nor the " gates "of hell should ever prevail against them," Matth. xvi. you might have been less inexcusable in refusing to believe him. But now, when you have the accomplishment of this promise before your eyes, and well know, (for you are book read,) what various attempts have been made, with what steadiness and formidable appearances they have been for a while carried on, to render these words vain, but how at length all such attempts have totally failed, and ended in the confusion and ruin of those who engaged in them-what tolerable reason can you assign for the part you act? Does the tendency of the Gospel displease you? Is it an enemy to that virtue you are so fond-to talk of: On the contrary, we are ready to put it to the proof, that here are not only the sublimest maxims of true

virtue, but that the practice, or even the real love of virtue, are quite unattainable upon any other scheme; and that the most specious pretences, independent of this, are no more than great" swelling words of 'vanity," 2 Pet. ii. I speak the more freely upon this point, because I speak from experience. I was once as you are. I verily thought that I "ought to do," (or at least that I might do,) "many things against "Jesus of Nazareth," Acts, xxvi. None ever went further than I, according to the limits of my years and capacity, in opposing the truths of the Gospel. But the mercy of God spared me; and his providence having led me through various changes and circumstances of life, in each of which I had a still deeper conviction of my former errors, has at length given me this opportunity to tell you, (O that I could speak it to your hearts,)" that at the name of Jesus every knee," sooner or later, "must bow," Phil. ii.; before him every heart must either bend or break: that he is full of mercy, love, and pardon, to all that submit themselves to him; but that, ere long, he shall be " re"vealed from heaven in flaming fire, to execute judg

ment, and to convince ungodly sinners of all the "hard speeches they have spoken against him," Jude.

I would, 2dly, address those who, while they profess to believe in the Lord Jesus do, in their works, manifestly deny him, Tit. i. This is, if possible, a worse case than the other; yet how frequent! You believe that Jesus Christ came into the world, both to be a propitiation for sin, and also to give us an example of a godly life, and yet continue contentedly in the practice of those sins for which he poured forth his soul, in the pursuit of those vices which the Gospel disallows, and in the indulgence of those desires which

Think, I intreat

your own consciences condemn. you, of these words in the 50th psalm: "Unto the "wicked God saith, What hast thou to do, that thou "shouldst take my covenant into thy mouth seeing "thou hatest instruction, and castest my words be"hind thee?" This question is now proposed to our consciences, that we may be aware in time of the danger of insincerity; and not "perish with a lie in our right hands," Isa. xliv. If we cannot answer it now, what shall we say in that awful hour, when God shall speak it in ten thousand thunders, to all who, in this life, presumed to mock him with an empty outside worship, drawing near him with their lips, when "their hearts were far from him?" Isa. xxix. For the day is at hand, "the day of the Lord," when God shall bring (6 every hidden thing to light," when every man's work shall be tried and weighed; tried in the fire of his purity, weighed in the balance of his righteousness; and as the issue proves, so must the consequence abide to all eternity: a trial and a scrutiny which no flesh could abide, were it not for the interposing merits of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our Judge. But he has already told us, that he will then own none but those who were faithfully devoted to his service here. To the urgent cries, and strongest pleas of others, he will give no other answer, but " I know you not; I

never knew you," Matth. vii.; "depart from me ye accursed, into everlasting fire," Matth. xxv.—— What will it then avail to plead our privileges, when, if this be all, we may read our doom already? "And "that servant who knew his master's will, and pre"pared not himself, neither did according to his will, "shall be beaten with many stripes: for unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required; VOL. II. 2 R