hear any one assert, that the law, which is moral, spiritual, and holy, is no rule to the Christian, and that practical exhortations, are no part of the gospel, then open your eyes to the danger which is before you. "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird."* But should you be told, that you are to stop where you are, (in case you have believed) that no progress in sanctification is to be expected; and that all that goodness, which, according to the scripture, it is a part of the Holy Spirit's undertaking to work in us, can be found no where but in Christ; then I say, you have heard too much already; "Escape for your lives,neither stay ye in all the plain,-lest ye be consumed."+ Some antinomians, I am informed, have advanced even farther than this, and, acting in a sort of horrid consistency with their sentiments, have declined prayer, and other means of grace, as unsuitable to persons of their attainments in divine knowledge!! They doubtless furnish us with arguments against their doctrine, the force of which must be evident to all, who are not under the same fascination; for they themselves are a living, or rather a dead comment on the ruinous tendency of their principles.

The gospel is "made known for the obedience of faith;" or that such as have believed through grace may serve God according to his own revealed will. We obey because we have believed. Faith wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit is the great moving incitement to diligence and activity in the service of God. When Christ says, Follow me, it is implied, that we are to imitate his moral conduct; that we must be followers of God as dear chil

* Prov. i. 17. + Gen xix. 17. Rom. xvi. 26.

dren, and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us;"* for he has left us an example, that we should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." To the same purport is the description of the real Christian, who has a well-grounded hope that he shall appear with Christ in glory. "Every man, that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure." He studies the character of Christ, that he may copy his example; and enquires what the will of the Lord is, that he may separate from sin, and, as a faithful servant, perform the duties to which he is called. He cannot say, that he has yet" attained to the resurrection of the dead,”—to a complete deliverance from sin, and a perfect conformity to Christ; for should he say this, it would prove him ignorant of sin and the law, and that the truth is not in him. Yet the work of sanctification is in progress, and he can say with the Apostle, "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.-I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."§ And no reserves can be admitted; for the ministers of Christ must teach the people "to observe all things whatsoever he has commanded them;" and the allowed breach of any one of his commands would be a conviction of unbelief, and an evidence of insincerity. What then is the real state of the antinomian professor? It is, alas! most wretched and forlorn; for at Eph. v. 1. + 1 Pet, ii. 21. † 1 John, iii. 3. § Phil. iii. Mat. xxviii. 20.

present he has neither repentance, faith, nor holi

"but has need that one teach him again what are the first principles of the oracles of God."* His specious views of grace, and lofty pretensions to superior knowledge, when brought to the test of divine truth, are dispersed as mist before the rising sun; or are chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind." Moral duties form a constituent part of the religion of Christ; and that equally, as I apprehend, with correct views, and spiritual graces. The latter may be considered as the springs; and the former are the motions and effects, when they are seen at work, and in full action. The salvation of the gospel is a salvation from our sins, The grace of God, which brings this salvation, "teacheth us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." "Herein," says our gracious Lord, "is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."§ Consequently, if the duties belonging to Christian obedience be slighted, then God is refused the glory which he claims from their performance. Some moral duties will be considered amongst the particulars which I have yet to urge on this important occasion; and you may learn them all from the word of grace, to which I earnestly commend you.

I shall now call your attention to a duty of peculiar importance, in which you are all immediately concerned, whatever may be the denomination to which you belong, or the religious profession you make, and to which even they, who

*Heb. v. 12. Isa. xvii. 13. Titus ii. 12. § John xv. 8.

H

profess no religion at all, may find it their interest to attend. It is the great duty of self-examination; needful to ascertain what our present state is, and whether we are in the way of life, or of death? All therefore that is most dear and valuable ; all that is necessary to the happiness of man in time and eternity must be involved in the inquiry."To this duty we are solemnly exhorted in the two following passages: "Examine yourselves, whe ther ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves. Know ye your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways.”*

not

In this divine charge there are three points of enquiry which claim your attention: first, whether you be in the faith? Secondly, whether Christ be in you? And, thirdly, what are the ways, in which you are walking? Bear with me whilst I endeavour to assist you to bring these points to an issue, and that, not with flattering words, but with plainness of speech and faithfulness;-"not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts," And let us all remember, that the scripture is profitable for reproof and correction, as well as other uses; and that he that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with

the tongue,"

First. Are you then in the faith? Do you believe in the only true God, and in his only-begotten Son, and that according to the word of his grace? Is the holy scripture the only ground and subject matter of all you believe as essential to 'true religion, and do you believe the whole of it? What

* 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Hag. i. 7. + 1 Thes. ii. 4.

+ Prov. xxviii. 23.

think ye of Christ? Is your knowledge of him and of his salvation, derived from the sources of wisdom which he himself has opened; and is it accompanied with peace and love, and a persevering dependence on him? Have you, at least, taken due care, that your faith agrees with the only perfect standard you possess, and which, when it is uprightly followed, cannot mislead, or deceive you? Or are you so indifferent to the scripture as to take up, without farther inquiry, with what you are told by men, though you know they are all fallible, and their opinions various, and ever subject to change? Is God, or man, the Bible, or the world, the teacher you have chosen in this allimportant concern? Do you submit those noble faculties, which distinguish you as rational creatures, to his guidance, who is the Light of the world, or to the pretensions of those, who, unless, and until they follow him, are themselves in darkness? Have you felt the necessity of thinking for yourselves, in what belongs to your salvation,I mean, in dependance on the aid, and in humble subjection to the testimony of God; and have you determined to follow no man any farther than he follows Christ? In your worldly concerns you are ready enough to assert this right. You must judge, you say, for yourselves, as the gain, or loss will be your own, And why not in matters of infinite moment, where the gain, or loss is incalculable and everlasting? Mark the words of Christ to the worldly-minded and refractory Jews: "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour