der us righteous. A just sense of what we are, and of the necessity and worth of divine grace, will engage us to plead earnestly with God for forgiveness, and that we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. How earnestly did the Psalmist supplicate the divine favour, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." (Psalm li. 1.) With what earnestness did Peter's hearers, on the day of Pentecost, when they were pricked in their heart, inquire of him and of the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts ii. 37.) With what deep solicitude did the Jailor address himself to

Paul and Silas his prisoners, after the earthquake had burst open the doors of the prison, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts xvi. 30.)

Jesus Christ is precious to them who be lieve, as a holy Saviour. He is precious to them as a prophet, as a priest, and as a king. Christ's sheep hear his voice. They em brace the doctrines which were taught by him in person, and by those who were inspired to speak in his name. Believers

look with abhorrence upon those doctrines which rob him of his personal and mediatorial honours; and which encourage the hope of future happiness in the close of a life spent in sin. The followers of Christ feel themselves under indispensable obligations, according to their abilities, to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. In vain do any profess to receive him as their Saviour, while they neither believe his doctrines, nor rest upon his atonement, nor obey his laws.

3. To maintain the holy fear enjoined in the text, we must forsake iniquity, and obey the divine will in all things. Peter exhorteth believers in the context, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. As the religion which is from above, is pure in its nature, it influences its subjects to purify themselves. However small the degree of sanctification be in the moment of the new birth, holiness continue's

to increase in the renewed heart, until it be completely ripened for the enjoyments of the new Jerusalem. In proportion as any fear God, they hate evil, and labour to mortify their corrupt desires. If we would obtain mercy from God we must forsake, aš well as confess our sins. When salvation came to the house of Zaccheus the publican, he was ready to do justice to those whom he had injured by extortion, and his heart was opened to give of his riches to the poor. (Luke xix.) There was a very visible alteration in the real converts to christianity in the days of the apostles. The Jews renounced their Judaism, and the Gen-" tiles their idolatry, and licentious behaviour. To these last Peter saith, in 1 Epist. iv. 3, 4. "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." It appears that these converted Gentiles discovered such a striking contrast in their present behaviour to their past, that their heathen neighbours looked on and wondered."

They were offended with these Christians, because they would not mingle with them in their debaucheries and lewd idolatrous rites as in times past. How honourable is it to Christian professors when they, by the purity of their lives, bear testimony to the sincerity of their profession? And when nei ther the threats nor the scoffs of the wicked deter them from maintaining their happy singularities. The Apostle saith in his epistle to the brethren at Rome, "God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have, obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Rom. vi.

17, 18.)

If, my brethren, we are passing the time of our sojourning here in fear, we shall find much to do in watching over our treache rous hearts, and in guarding against tempta tions from without. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation," said our Saviour to his disciples. He repeated the counsel and the warning. We need often to be reminded of these duties. It becom eth us to be sober and to watch unto prayer. Who would be saved were not › believers

kept by the power of God through faith, unto salvation? Did not the promises of God secure the final perseverance of the saints, they might all sit down in despair. Are there given unto them exceeding great and precious promises, then let them give diligence to make their calling and election sure. If any take encouragement from the promises to continue in sin, they do not belong to Christ-they never were united to him by faith. If any man think that he standeth securely by his own vigilance, let him take heed lest he fall. "Be not high

minded, but fear."

What a wide field of duty opens when we take a survey of the moral law delivered at Mount Sinai, and of other particular precepts and prohibitions contained in the word of God? Whatever we are commanded to do, we are commanded to do heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Read Christ's sermon on the Mount, and you may see clearly illustrated the spirituality and extent of the divine law. He causeth it clearly to appear, that we may break the law in the eyes of God, while we may be accounted guiltless in the sight of men.

In the decalogue the worshipping of im