ite of heaven, he looks down upon his fellow-mortals with an air of indifference if not contempt"Stand at a distance, I am holier than thou." Is he meek, candid, and benevolent? So much the reverse, that the very names of these virtues sound harshly in his ear, and stand for little else in his opinion than pusillanimity, formality, and hypocrisy. Is he conscientious and circumspect in his deportment? No. Boasting of his freedom he can take liberties that border on immorality, and treat the scruples of a weak believer as indicating a legal spirit. Superior to the drudgery of duties he walks at large, in no danger of being thrown into suspense about his state towards God by what he calls human frailties, and not doubting but that his zeal, which, like the Persian scythes mows down without mercy all before him, will open his way to a triumphant crown in heaven.

Now all these things considered-what precedes -what excites-and what follows the joy our Saviour here speaks of, we shall be at no loss to distinguish clearly between the joy of an enthusiast and that of a real christian. To proceed.

Having thus received the word with joy, he professes himself a christian. And thus much must be said in his favour, that being sure he is right he is not ashamed of his faith. This ingenuity and frankness of temper secures him from all imputation of hypocrisy, and induces his friends to hope that with all his frailties he may possibly be a

good man. So he is admitted to the participation of divine ordinances, is enrolled among the number of professing christians, and for a while, allowing for the extravagancies of intemperate zeal, behaves himself in a manner not to be materially censured. But-What is the event? Sad to say!-Apostasy. But the consideration of this, with what follows, we shall refer to the next

sermon.

In the mean while, let me beseech those who answer to the character we have been describing, to consider seriously their state towards God. Consideration is, I am sensible, what you, sirs, are not accustomed to: but in a matter of such consequence as this, I would hope you will, at least for this once, yield to our request. Let me ask you then, can you sincerely believe that a religion which consists wholly in a rapturous elevation of the passions, independent of the clear dictates of the judgment, and the governing dispositions of the heart, can be acceptable to God? Surely if there be such a thing as religion, it must originate in the understanding and conscience, and so diffuse its influence over the passions. It must consist in an affectionate regard to the divine authority, springing from a clear idea of the difference between good and evil, and an ardent desire to escape the latter, and enjoy the former. And oh! how deplorable will your condition be, should you in the great day of account, after all your flaming pretensions to religion, be found utterly destitute of it!

Nothing has, I hope, dropped in the course of this sermon which may convey an idea to any mind unfavourable to religion, as if it had no concern with the passions, and were not adapted to afford joy to the heart. It is indeed most interesting to the passions, and has been found, by the experience of the wisest and best of men, to be the pleasantest thing in the whole world. Let a man speculate as long as he will upon the great truths of religion, if he does not feel them, if they neither warm his heart nor influence his life, what is he the better? Neither his profound knowledge, nor the contempt in which he holds those of the opposite character for their ignorance and credulity, will do him any real good. The Apostle Paul, with all his accurate and superior understanding of the great things of God, was a warm, lively, passionate christian. He knew what it was to be transported on occasions almost beyond himself, Whether, says he to the Corinthians, we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us. May we be such christians as he was!

To conclude. What has been said will, I hope, have an effect to relieve the humble but afflicted christian, of some uncomfortable doubts with which he may have been oppressed respecting his state towards God. You, my friends, who are of a timorous make, and through various causes of a

* 2 Cor. v. 13, 14,

sorrowful spirit; are strangers to the rapturous feelings of which these confident people we have been describing so much boast. But it does not from thence follow, that you are utterly unacquainted with the pleasures of religion, and that your hearts are not right towards God. You have seen the difference between good and evil; you have deeply lamented your sins, and hungered and thirsted after righteousness; you have cordially approved of that method of salvation divine grace has appointed, and have entrusted your immort. 1 all to the hands of Christ. Why then should you fear? Be of good courage. The blessed Jesus is your friend, and he will keep what you have committed to him against the great day.

PART II.

THE character of ENTHUSIASTIC hearers is How under consideration. Their temper and conduct are described with remarkable clearness and

precision in the text.* Some seeds fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had not root, they withered away. Our Saviour's exposition of this part of the parable runs thus, He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it: yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Now here we have proposed to consider-the character of these persons previous to their hearing the word the effect it instantly produces on their minds-their failure afterwards and the causes of it. The two first of these enquiries were the subjects of the preceding sermon, and we go

on, now,

III. To consider the lamentable Apostasy of these deluded men.

The seed that fell upon stony places and forthwith sprung up, in a little time withered away. It †ver. 20, 21

Matth. xiii. 5, 6.