If

obedient children, God will be our father. Now this is only a general manner of speaking, but it refers plainly to all the promises of every kind, which the christian religion makes to man. God be our father, and we his children, we are led to hope for every thing, which as a father he hath graciously promised to his obedient children. We hope for the forgiveness of our sins, through the atoning blood of Christ-we hope for his becoming a reconciled father to us in Christ Jesus-we hope for the assistance of his gracious spirit in all the difficulties of a christian life-we hope for a glorious resurrection from the dead-and lastly, we hope for an eternity of future happiness. So that, in short, as a child is taught to expect from its parent, so are we taught to expect from God every good, of which our nature is capable.

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These are the great promises, which the christian religion makes to man; and which the apostle refers to in the text.-But now the effect of these promises on us, it is evident, depends entirely on our believing them. Hence our Saviour always makes faith the first article of christianity. Unless therefore we really, and from our hearts believe the gospel; it is impossible we should pay any attention to its promises.

The

The things of this world are present-the promises of the gospel lie at a distance; and if you have not faith enough to bring them nearer to you, you cannot be influenced by them.— Suppose the case of a person shut out during the early part of his life from seeing any objects, except those at hand. Such a person could have no idea of distance. Bring him suddenly where he had an extended view of a country lying before him, point out to him a mountain, which you tell him is very lofty, or a lake, which is very extensive, he cannot enter into your ideas; he cannot believe that distant objects, which appear to his eye so little, were really larger, than the things which he saw at hand.-What! he would ask, is that house, which appears to me as a mere speck, in fact larger than the house, which I see close to me; and which I can walk round and examine ?-But let this person gain the thorough use of his eyes, if I may so speak, by experience; and he will soon know that distance makes no alteration in the things themselves; but will firmly believe the house in question, however small it may appear at a distance, to be in fact greater than the house, which appears so much larger on the spot.

Now

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Now this is just the case of faith. The man who has no faith, who has never examined distant objects, thinks the things of this world, which are present, much greater than the promises of the gospel, which are at a distance. While the true believer, who sees clearly with the eye of faith, which is the evidence of things not seen, knows that distance makes no alteration in the things themselves; and therefore he is fully assured, that the promises of God, though at a distance, are much greater than the things of this world, which are present before him.

These then are the only persons on whom the promises of God can have, any effect. And believing, let me tell you, is more in our own power, than we are willing perhaps to imagine. A good disposition, and a sound faith are nearly connected; and there are very few who disbelieve the gospel, who have not some secret sin, some prejudice, or some system of their own, at the bottom of their hearts, which makes them wish to disbelieve it. Well-meaning men will naturally, if I may so speak, embrace it. Its precepts are congenial to them. On them therefore, its promises will have a proper effect. us then consider, as I proposed secondly, what the effect is, which the promises of the gospel,

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will have upon well-disposed, and believing men. -Having therefore these promises, they will cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

THE filthiness of flesh and spirit, is a general expression to denote wickedness of every kind. By the filthiness of the flesh, the apostle means those sins, which are open and manifest. We have many catalogues of them in scripture; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. By the filthiness of the spirit are probably meant sins of a more secret nature. You understand, I suppose; that a sin may be committed in the heart, without going any further. All our evil thoughts, when indulged, are sins of the heart, or spirit; as are all our wicked intentions, covetous desires; and a variety of other sins, which go no further than our own conception of them; and are a kind of sins between God and our own consciences. The world knows nothing of them. The heart of man is a sink of great filthiness: and there is many a one, no doubt, who bears a decent outward character, who may in fact be any thing that is bad. He may defraud his neighbour-in his heart-he may commit a breach of trust-in his

heart

heart-he may commit adultery-in his heartthat is, if he be resolved, or even wishes to commit any of these sins, and is prevented only through the fear of discovery, or the want of opportunity, he has the guilt of those sins undoubtedly upon him: and yet the world never suspects him. He is still a decent christian, and passes for a good man.I need not however dwell longer on this part of my subject. filthiness of flesh and spirit, in all its distinctions,

The

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is a point, I fear, too well known to us all. me rather proceed to shew you, as my subject leads, the effect, which the promises of the gospel ought to have upon you.

Now if you are really persuaded of their value, the first and most natural effect, which these promises will have upon you, is to consider how you may attain them. This, you know, in all worldly matters, is the first step you always take. If you are convinced, that a thing is worth having, and is in your power, you immediately. cast about how you may get it. If you want to take a farm, for instance, and have one in your eye, which you find in all circumstances desirable; the next point is, how are you to get possession of it? Should you offer a round sum for it at once? or perhaps a smaller sum at first,

than,