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generally cautious among his superiors, who afford him neither money to indulge, nor liberty to discover his inclinations. Now, if this forced discretion should, at length become habitual to him, he may in such cir cumstances esteem himself a virtuous man, because he has not, like the son of a dissolute courtier, plunged himself into every kind of impiety whereas had he enjoyed but equal liberty with the licentious rake, he might have surpasssed him in every sinful excess. On the other hand, when an infamous voluptuary, en feebled either by age or by his frequent debaucheries, finds it absolutely needful to live in more sober and orderly stile, immediately he takes himself for another Cato; not considering that necessity alone is the source of his temperance. The least excess disorders hist health, and the weakness of his stomach obliges him to abstain from those luxurious feasts, which he can still converse of with so much satisfaction. If such a one is, virtuous, because no longer able to rush into his former excesses; then we may prove the most incorrigible robber to be an honest man, while the irons are on his hands, or when, scared by the officers of justice, he flies to some secret retreat. Has that woman any reason to boast of her virtuous conduct, who has never solicited by those men, who were most likely to have triumphed over her modesty ? And yet, many such filled with self-approbation, will frequently ap plaud their own innocence, placing that to the ac count of virtue, which was merely owing to providential circumstances; or, perhaps to the want of personal attraction. Such plausible appearances no more merit the commendation due to solid virtue, than the sickly wolf, who peaceably passes by a flock of sheep, can be said to deserve the caresses, which a shepherd bestows upon his faithful dog.

7. Effectually to impose upon others by a beautiful outside, we practice a deeper deceit upon our own hearts; and very frequently we succeed as well, in hiding from ourselves our own evil dispositions, as in

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concealing from others our unworthy actions. Could we discover all that secretly passes in the world, we should not want demonstrative proofs of the depravity of the human heart. But why need we go abroad in search of a truth, which is easily evidenced at home? Had we ourselves but dared to have executed openly, what we have acted in imagination, when our irascible or concupiscible passions have been roused, where should we have hidden our guilty heads, or how should we have escaped the sword of justice? Convinced too late of our degenerate nature, we should, haply, have smitten upon our breasts, with the repentant publican, adopting long ago his humiliating confession, in the anguish of our souls. Every thinking person must allow, that had evil in! tentions fallen under the cognizance of human laws, and had the secular power possessed equal ability to punish them, as it punishes those actions, of which they are the very root and soul, the whole earth must, in such case, have become as vast a scaffold, as it is now a place of groves. Can it be necessary to multiply observations upon this head, when the Almighty, whose mercy and justice are infinite, suf. ficiently declares the universal depravity of mankind, by the variety of scourges, with which He is constrained to punish both individuals and commonwealths?

8. If the children of this world are unable to form any just conception of the human heart and its evil propensities, it is because they are in the number of those natural men, of whom the Apostle Paul makes mention. And such, having a natural antipathy to the Gospel, while they are ever ready to cast reproach upon the faithful, are equally prepared to favour those of a like disposition with themselves. Thus Herod, Caiaphas, and Pilate, mutually overlooked the faults of each other, while they united in accusing and per secuting Christ.

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It is usual with those, who are destitue of true religion, to esteem some among their sinful compa nions, as moral and well-disposed men : but, were they themselves to be converted, their error in this respect, would soon become apparent. Upon daring to oppose any torrent of impiety, with the zeal of their heavenly Master, instead of finding among their associates any natural disposition to real virtue, they would meet with indisputable proofs, in spite of a thousand amiable qualities, that all unregenerate men resemble one another, in their enmity against God. Yes; whether they inhabit the banks of the Thames, or the Seine; the lake of Genefareth, or that of Geneva; they are in the sight of God, as filthy swine trampling under foot the pearls of the Gospel, or like ravening wolves outrageously tearing in pieces the Lamb of God.

It might, perhaps, have been objected, that this Portrait is overcharged, had not Christ himself, who is immutable Truth and unsearchable Love, pencilled out the gloomiest traits observable in it. Following such a guide, though we may give much offence, yet we can never err.

THE SECOND POINT OF DOCTRINE INSISTED UPON BY THE TRUE MINISTER, IS A LIVING FAITH.

TO shew the necessity of repentance, witheut publishing the remission of sins, through faith in Jesus Christ, would be to open a wound without binding it up. It would be leading sinners to the brink of a tremendous gulph, and cutting off all possibility of their retreat. But nothing can be more contrary to the intention of the faithful minister, than to sport with the miseries of man, or ultimately to aggravate his distress.

When he has discovered to his hearers that natural propensity to evil, w which manifests its exist ence in every heart, by a variety of external transgressions: when he has convinced them by the word of God, and by an appeal to every man's conscience, that they are unable to deliver themselves, either from that fatal propensity, or its dreadful consequences: after he has thus demonstrated the need, in which they stand of a Redeemer, who hath "all power in Heaven and in earth," if they harden not their hearts; if they stand, like the first sinner, naked and trembling before God, having received the sentence of death in themselves....In a word, when they cry out, like the publicans and soldiers alarmed by the preaching of John, "what shall we do?" They are then properly disposed to receive "the glorious Gespel of Christ," and will be enabled to experience its powerful effects. From this time, the evangelical pastor affectionately preaches remis sion of sins through faith in the name of a merciful Redeemer.

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This is the very same method, which Christ and his forerunner pursued. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world," was the cry of John the Baptist. And "blessed," said our Lord," are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever be lieveth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life and he, that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Whosoever shall drink of the water, that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but it shall be in him a well of water," a source of sacred consolation, "springing up into everlasting life." Again, when it was enquired by the multitude, "what shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus said unto them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on him,

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whom he hath sent. All this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and be lieveth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." Thus it was, that our adorable Master proclaimed salvation through faith in himself and, indeed, it was for this end alone, that he appeared upon earth; as we learn from the last address he made to his disciples...." It behoved," said he “Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, that remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," the abode of his murderers.

Observe the great commission given to those messengers of peace. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature: he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." To the same purpose was the commission, with which the Apostle Paul was afterwards honoured." I have appeared unto thee," said the persecuted Jesus, "for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness to the gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified, by faith that is in me.".

The Apostles unanimously preached in obedience to the orders, and in conformity to the example, of their benevolent Lord. And all true ministers, instructed by the same divine teacher, continue to proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ; laying as much stress, in all their sermons, upon this efficacious grace, as the Apostle of the gentiles was accustomed to do, in all his epistles. Take a few instances of St. Paul's usual custom in this respect....After having convineed the Romans of their corruption and misery, he sets before them" the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation

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