Let wealth, pleasure, friends, and even life go; but never let religion go "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. xv, 58.

Perhaps some, whom I now address, have not yet set out for heaven. Now be entreated to set out in good earnest. You have neither peace nor safety where you are. Sodom was destroyed, this world will be destroyed, and you will be destroyed if you remain in your sins. Have you already begun? O, remember Lot's wife! That we all may remember her, and take warning, God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

SERMON XLIV.

THE STRENGTH OF A CHRISTIAN.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. PHIL. iv, 13.

To know our own weakness, on the one hand, and on the other, how we may obtain sufficient strength to do the will of God, is a blessing of the greatest magnitude. Influenced by this knowledge, we shall look up to Christ, from whom we derive our strength; and, as we advance from strength to strength, shall make our boast in him only. Some ignorant professors imagine they can do all things of themselves: Others, that, even aided by the grace of Christ, they can do nothing. The truth lies between these wide extremes. We can do nothing of ourselves; but we "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us." This passage teaches us two important lessons: First, that we have many things to do; and, Secondly, that we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us.

I. WE HAVE MANY THINGS TO DO.

The life of a Christian, from its commencement, is active and laborious. He finds employment, one way or other, every hour, and every moment. Life was not given to be wasted in indolence; and the moment we fall under the power of this miserable disposition, we cease to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every varying circumstance and situation calls us to the vigorous discharge of some important duty; nor must we cease to work, however far advanced in life, while any work remains for us to do. Without interfering with the affairs of other men, we should remain at our own post, "study to be quiet, and to do our own business." 1 Thess. iv, 11.

Many Christians, who stand high in the Divine favour, have to labour diligently with their hands, that they may provide for their families, and be able to render to every man his due. We see them honourably employed in the field, in the market, and in the shop. Some may imagine

that this has nothing to do with religion; but it is a dangerous mistake. The Christian is as much in his duty, when his hands are employed in business, as when he is bowed on his knees in the closet, or in the house of God. There is a time for every thing; and it is the wisdom of a Christian, to do every thing that he finds to do at a proper time.

Some, like the apostle Paul, are called to labour in the ministry. Their work is various and important. In private retirement they study Divine truth. In the pulpit they proclaim and enforce the truths of the Gospel, and zealously exert all their power to bring lost sinners back to God. They visit their flocks from house to house, instructing the ignorant, warning the careless, and comforting the distressed. They sometimes travel from place to place, exposed to various hardships and difficulties, that they may spread the savour of a Redeemer's name. The slothful pastor is self-appointed. Jesus does not now acknowledge him; nor will he acknowledge him in the last great day.

A few, possessing great talents, are called to labour in the field of controversy. Their work, though painful and laborious, is absolutely necessary. In defending the truth of the Gospel, against infidels and heretics, they diligently employ their time and talents. Their hearts, their heads, their pens, are often employed, while others are reposing on their beds of down. Such men are worthy of double honour. Their benevolence, wisdom, zeal, and firmness in the cause of Christ, are calculated to promote the happiness of future generations; and children, yet unborn, will rise up and call them blessed.

All the followers of Jesus are called to cultivate the Christian temper; to fight the good fight of faith; to walk in the paths of piety; and to do good to men. The cultivation of the Christian temper demands great exertions, and constant care. Every grace must be exercised. Faith must keep a steady eye to Christ; hope must raise the soul above difficulties; and love must extend itself to all. Patience must have her perfect work; meekness must bear affronts and injuries; and resignation must bow down to the will of God. In the Christian warfare, we have to watch against enemies; to fight manfully; and to conquer in the name of Jesus. Piety directs us to love, honour, and worship God; to offer up prayer and praise; to hear his word; to attend his ordinances; and to support and maintain his cause. Our duties to men are various. We must support our friends; love our enemies; and honour our parents. Husbands must love their wives; and wives must honour and love their husbands. Children must be trained up in the way they should go; the sick must be visited; the needy must be relieved; and the aged, if pious, must be honoured. We may add, that the body must be mortified; and the senses and lusts must be brought into subjection. But, who is sufficient for these things? We answer, Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we may have much to do in the way of suffering. Our characters may be blasted; our property may be taken away by violence; and our personal liberty may be lost. We may be called to a prison; we may suffer banishment; or we may die martyrs. Who can foresee what time may produce? What has happened to others, in the

cause of Christ, may happen to us. Can we bear affliction, temptation, persecution, and death? Perhaps it would be presumption, in a state of prosperity, to say we have power to bear adversity; but, when called to suffer, our adorable Lord will afford us necessary help. Hitherto he has helped us; and, judging of the future by the past, we conclude he will help us to the end. In all our sufferings, we calmly wait" for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. i, 7, 8. This leads us to remark, in the Second place, that, II. WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHEN

ETH US.

So.

Our natural strength, whether great or small, comes from God. We can neither think, nor speak, nor move, unless he gives us power to do Hence we infer, that what we call natural strength, is as properly his gift as the strength of grace. "God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this: That power belongeth unto God." Ps. lxii, 11. He keeps up and preserves our bodily strength, by regular supplies of nourishing food. Were these supplies to cease, but for a little time, we should be reduced to a state of complete weakness. It is obvious, to every attentive mind, that God gives us natural strength in proportion to the work which we have to do; so that we are called to no work, but what we are able to perform. This is evident as to infancy and old age; for, in those periods of life, our strength is small, and our work is easy. It is in the vigour of life that man is called to engage in laborious exertions.

Is it irrational to suppose, that spiritual strength comes from God? Or that he keeps up and maintains that strength, by regular and constant supplies of grace? This truth is clearly taught in the volume of Divine revelation, as appears from the following remarkable passages: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." 2 Cor. iii, 5. We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." Col. i, 11. And we are exhorted to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Eph. vi, 10. Let us not imagine that the Christian church is peculiar in this respect. The Jewish church always understood that its strength was from the Lord. Of this we have abundant proof; but we shall only cite the following passage from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isa. xii, 10.

The Christian believer is united to Christ, as the branch is united to the vine; and as the branch derives sap and nourishment from the root, so the Christian derives nourishment from Christ. Every grace in the heart of a believer has its root in Christ. This is particularly true of faith, hope, and love; and these graces stand connected with, and related to, all other graces. How the graces of a believer have their root in Christ, may appear a mystery to the natural man; but to us, who have the Spirit, it is plain and clear. For instance: Faith centres in Jesus, as

its proper object; hope rests upon him as its proper foundation; and love, both to God and our neighbour, arises from his sacred influences in our hearts. He is in us, and we are in him. O, let us abide in him! He hath said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: For without me ye can do nothing." John xv, 5. Our graces, fed and nourished by him, enable us both to do and suffer all the will of God.

The Spirit of Christ, by his sacred influences, communicates strength to all Christian believers. Under his Divine influences, they grow and flourish abundantly, and are filled with all the fulness of God. This appears evidently from the prayer of the apostle Paul for the church of Ephesus: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' Eph. iii, 14-19. How the Holy Spirit conveys strength to the inner man, is an impenetrable mystery; but it is a fact which is confirmed by our daily experience. O, let us humbly depend upon God for large supplies of this strength, that we may pursue our way to the holy hill of Zion with increasing delight!

Our blessed Lord communicates strength to his followers in the means of grace. Natural strength, even in the vigour of youth, is soon exhausted, by great exertions; but our spiritual strength, if we wait upon the Lord in the means of grace, never fails. "Even the youths shall be faint and weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." Isa. xl, 30, 31. Are we weak and feeble? Let us examine the cause. Perhaps we neglect the duty pointed out in this passage. Perhaps we seldom wait upon the Lord, either privately or publicly. No wonder, then, that we tire in the heavenly road: No wonder that we are as weak and feeble as other men. May we return to this duty, that we may be able to do all things that the Lord our God requires.

Christ affords strength in exact proportion to the wants of his followers. When their duties or sufferings are extraordinary, they may rely upon him for extraordinary supplies of grace; or, as it is expressed by an inspired writer, "grace to help in time of need." Are we afraid of persecution? Let us cast away our fear. We shall be able to bear it when it comes. Are we called to some great work in the vineyard of our Lord? The power comes when the work is to be done. Have we not always found it so? Why, then, are we discouraged? We should not judge of future things by present feelings. We may not now have power to die for Christ; but were he to call us to that duty, the power would accompany the call. There was a time when the apostle Paul, placed

in very trying circumstances, was forsaken by all his friends; but, he saith, "The Lord stood with me and strengthened me." 2 Tim. iv, 17. It will be the same with us. Grace will be given, both when we want it, and as we want it; so that we may go on our way with joy and gladness of heart.

If these things be so, the poor trifler is left without excuse. He does not stop, in the path of duty, for want of strength; but for want of an inclination to go forward. The fault is in himself; the blame falls on his own head; and the punishment which follows will be justly inflicted. Since the world began, no man ever failed in his duties for want of power. Let us seriously lay this to heart, put on a cheerful courage, and urge our way forward in the name of the Lord! He has helped us, he does help, and he will still continue to help. The outward man may perish; but the inward man shall be "renewed day by day." 2 Cor. iv, 16.

The doctrine honours our great Redeemer. Though highly exalted in the heavenly world, though seated at the right hand of God, he pities our frailties, and supplies us with strength to obey him in all things. All our struggles and conflicts are known to him. He is well acquainted with the number, power, subtilty and malice of our enemies; and when we need his presence most, he is always present with us. The churches are compared to golden candlesticks; and Jesus is in the midst of them. John had a view of this in the Isle of Patmos: "I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man." Rev. i, 12, 13. Änd every Christian may say, "I know both how to be abased, and how to abound: Every where, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." May God give his blessing to what we have said, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

SERMON XLV.

CAUTIONS AGAINST ERROR.

Do not err, my beloved brethren. JAMES I, 16.

MAN should carefully guard against every kind of error, because error produces sin, and sin produces misery. Our text evidently refers to an error of the greatest magnitude, namely, that of ascribing moral evil to God. Men are often tempted to sin; but to affirm that God tempts them, is horrid blasphemy. On a subject of such high importance, "do not err, my beloved brethren." If we view God as the author of moral evil, either directly or indirectly, he cannot appear lovely in our eyes. If he entice us to evil, there is an end of all goodness; for who can