many in the visible church who appear afraid to be considered altogether christians. They endeavour to play a species of loose game between Christ and the world, or to reconcile, what is absolutely irreconcileable, "the friendship of this world and the friendship of God." Conscience will not permit them to deny the gospel, to turn their back upon ordinances, and altogether renounce the christian character and hopes, yet the fear of reproach and derision, or reluctance to deny themselves some fashionable amusements prevent them from avowing openly their attachment to the Saviour's cross. Their profession is of a general nature. They attend upon those ordinances where mankind promiscuously attend, but keep back from the peculiar, distinguishing institutions of religion, those institutions by which the christian character is discriminated, and by the observance of which we are obliged to come out of the world as followers of the Lamb. But this spirit betrays a cowardice unworthy of the christian name, and the claims of such to the christian character will not be acknowledged by the great Author of our salvation. None who are ashamed to own the Saviour now, shall be owned by him before his Father, and the angels hereafter. He is exhibited in the capacity of a Captain, and every true soldier must rally openly beneath his standard: He is a Prince, and will be obeyed in all his commands by all his subjects. "Who

soever shall confess me before men;" whosoever actuated by a principle of love to me his Saviour, and of submission to my authority as his Lord makes a generous, open acknowledgement of me by obeying my commandments, and walking in mine ordinances, "him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven." "But whosoever," be his occupation or rank what they may, "shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, before this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." He does not more affectionately invite, "Look unto me and be ye saved," than he imperiously commands, "take my yoke upon you, and learn of me." He is not only a Priest, but a Prince upon his throne, and as he of fers a righteousness with which his followers must be adorned he also reaches forth a sceptre to which they must bow. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour," and all who cordially rejoice in the righteousness of the Saviour will cordially revere the majesty of the Prince, and obey every law of his house. When the Eunuch was converted to the christian faith he immediately asked water that he might be baptised; he improved the first opportunity of expressing his love to the Saviour by attending to this institution of his worship. When Saul of Tarsus was brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is

in Jesus "he arose, and was baptised;" the early converts to the christian church "continued stedfast in the apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer."

3. The love of Jesus savingly shed abroad through the heart will constrain us to make any sacrifice that is requisite for holding fast our profession. It is a maxim laid down by eternal truth that "we cannot serve God and mammon," we cannot approve ourselves the faithful followers of Christ, and conform to the false opinions, or sinful practices of the world. The war between "the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent" began in Paradise, and will continue until the consummation of all things, and therefore opposition may be expected; it must be encountered by all "who live Godly in Christ Jesus." They who are enmity against God cannot be the real friends of any who bear his image, or appear openly for his cause. They will deride all religion as imposture or enthusiasm: they will vilify its professors as either deceiving or deceived, and its ministers as preaching to others doctrines not believed by themselves. But they who are sanctified by divine grace will "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth," and at all hazards: They will accompany him to the cross, if he is calling them to it, no less than to the crown; "in evil report no less than in good report:" They will adhere to their profes

sion of him, and aim at walking worthy of their profession at the hazard of feeling, or property, or reputation, or life. It is an antient and just remark that "all christians are martyrs in resolution;" they feel obligated to part with any thing rather than part with Christ; they love their character, their estates, their relations, their friends, but their love to a compassionate, bleeding Saviour is incomparably more ardent and inviolable, and rather will they resign all the former than renounce him, or be eternal outcasts from his presence. Our Lord and Master has not deceived us in this respect, and as we value our souls let us not deceive / ourselves. "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple;" he ought not to be reckoned among my followers now for he shall have "neither part nor lot" in their glory hereafter. Again, "if any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, yea, and his own life also he cannot be my disciple;" that is, if his love to them be not less than his love to me; if he is not ready to resist their intreaties and commands when they come in competition with my authority or are hostile to my interests "he cannot be my disciple." But every obstacle of this nature the constraining influence of Jehovah's grace will enable us easily to surmount. The christian while the love of Jesus is glowing in his heart and heaven with its glories is opening to his eye will reason

in the following manner, "the Saviour did not recoil at opposition or hardship when substituted in my room and accomplishing my redemption: For my sake he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself," he hid not his face from shame, and spitting;" he was vilified as an enemy to Ceasar, as a deceiver, a babbler, a blasphemer, nay, "he became obedient unto death even the death of the cross" for me, and shall I recoil at the prospect of a little reproach for him, and in promoting the interests of his kingdom? For my sake his soul was troubled through a sense of the displeasure of his Father; he bear the vengeance of Almighty God, that vengeance which like an overflowing torrent must have overwhelmed my soul forever, and shall not I in return meet the derision, or rage of feeble, mortal man; man whose breath is in his nostrils; whose friendship cannot materially profit, and whose reproach or wrath cannot materially injure me." This ardent, inextinguishable love to the Saviour; this dignified, unshaken adherence to their profession in defiance of opposition eminently appeared in the early ages of the church, and adorned the first converts to the christian faith.

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They received joyfully the spoiling of their goods;" when they were obliged either to sacrifice them, or their allegiance to the Captain of their salvation: "They loved not their lives unto the death," but rejoiced