against dead works, but against a dead faith; against spiritual pride, evil tempers, evil fpeaking, love of the world, and finful compliances; if he infists that the branches of the true vine should bear grapes, and not the fame fruit as the bramble; hearers of this stamp will think they do God service, by cenfuring all he can fay, as low and legal trash. How awful! that people fhould be blinded by the very truths which they profess to believe! Yet I fear such cases are too frequent. God grant a delufion of this kind may never be found amongst us! For if the falt itself fbould lofe its favor, wherewith fhall it be falted*? May we come fimply to the light, with a defire of seeing more of ourselves, and more of our Saviour; that we may be more humble and fpiritual, more afraid of fin, more watchful and fuccessful in striving against it; and, in our whole converfation, more conformable to our glorious Head!

But to return. From what has been offered. upon this fubject, we may obferve,

1. That true Christianity is friendly to fociety, and to the common interests of mankind. It is the fource of peace, tenderness, benevolence, and every humane temper. It

is calculated to footh the fierce difpofition, to enlarge the selfish spirit, and to transform the lion into the lamb. What then must we think of those pretended friends to liberty and free enquiry, whose unhappy zeal, is em→ ployed, to rob us of the only light and balm of life? Who, by their mifrepresentations and cavils, endeavour to perfuade others, though they cannot effectually perfuade themfelves, that the gofpel, a fcheme fo wife in its constitution, so falutary in its design, so powerful in its effects, is no better than an impofition, the contrivance of fuperftitious or artful men! Why fhould they attempt to take away, the foundation of our hope, and the fpring of our comfort (if they were able) when they know they have nothing to fubftitute, in their place! Let us think of them with that compaffion which their state calls for; and pray for them, if per adventure God will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth *.

2. The change thus wrought is great, marvellous, and, if not fo frequent, might be ftyled miraculous. It is more than education, example, perfuafion, or resolution can perform. 2 Tim, ii. 25.

*

It is the work of God alone to open the blind eyes, to change the heart of ftone into flesh, and to raise the dead.

?

This thought fhould exclude boafting. The happy fubjects of this change, were no better by nature or practice, than others. They have nothing but what they have received. The glory and praise is due to the Lord alone. It fhould likewife foften their cenfure of those who are ftill in a ftate of alienation from God, or, at least, prevent the emotions of anger and refentment towards them. They know not what they do. Their danger fhould excite our pity, and our friendly endeavours to recover them from the error of their way. And, efpecially, we should be careful fo to regulate our behaviour, that if they obey not the word, they may without the word be convinced and won*, by the force of our example. If the Lord be pleased to do that for them, which he has done for us, their diflike of us, and their oppofition to us, will be quickly at an end; and though they set out after us, they may poffibly make a swifter progress in the Chriftian life, than we have done. Thus, though Saul of Tarfus ap

1 Pet. iii. I.

proached

proached Damafcus, as an enemy and a perfecutor, when the scales fell from his eyes, he not only immediately joined the difciples, but in a little time became a pattern to them.

That the change is the work of God, should likewise be confidered by thofe, who, from a fenfe of the greatness of their fins, and the ftrength of their finful habits, are ready to fink into despair. Whatever apparent difficulty there may be in your cafe, it is easy to divine power. All things are poffible with God, and all things, likewife, are posible to him that believeth. The promises invite you to apply to him who is the Author and finisher of faith, and who has faid for your encouragement, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out.

* Mark x. 27.

↑ Mark ix. 23.

SER