have maintained, becomes burthenfome, and is laid afide. Small temptations they repel; and take credit to themselves for their victory. Then comes a fomewhat more difficult trial: and they excuse them, felves for yielding under it by exaggerating its magnitude. Then they fall into some greater offence, which calls forth many expreffions, and fome real feelings, of forrow, and is followed by temporary reformation, Afterwards they fall again, and become tired of contending, and lament that the obftacles in the paths of religion are almost infuperable. Thus life paffes away in heartlefs wishes, lukewarm prayers, fhort-lived refolves, unsteady efforts, imaginary penitence, and real fin. If this be your character, know that Jefus Chrift demands the whole heart. He requires fervent fupplication, ftrenuous exertion, faithful fervice. The whole man must work: the whole man muft work out his falvation with fear and trembling. If grace is extended in vain, Chrift will refume his wafted gift. How long balt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him.

To those who have hitherto manifefted by regular fruits of righteousness that in fincerity

fincerity they have left all to follow Christ, let me, in the last place, direct fome few words of exhortation. Though your progrefs has thus far been triumphant, your warfare is not at an end. Your adversary still keeps the field, and defpairs not. His affaults will ceafe only with your life. Persevere. If you perfevere; He who has begun a good work in you, will complete it. But all depends on your perfeverance. The crown of glory is prepared. Lose it not by relaxing in your exertions. Forfeit not the reward of paft labours by prefent or future floth. The arm of your Saviour is not shortened, nor his ear turned away. Look up ftill to him, and go forth conquering and to conquer. Yet a few more days or years of conflict; and the victory is atchieved; and the recompence of victory fecured for ever. What are days and years to eternity! Having fuftained the burden and heat of the day; will you faint when the hour of rest approaches, when the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, are at hand? Ye have need, and to your laft you will have need, of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. But yet a little while,

hour

and

and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The juft fhall live by faith: but if any man draw back my foul, faith the Lord, fhall have no pleafure in him. Be not ye of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the faving of the foul (i).

(i) Heb. x. 36-39.

SER

SERMON VI.

Goodness illustrated by the Character of Barnabas.

ACTS, xi. 22-24.

They fent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch: who, when he came, and bad feen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of beart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith.

IN the management of worldly transac

tions, the foundnefs of the principles upon which we conduct ourselves is a circumftance of prime moment to our success. If the man of fcience builds his fpeculations on a groundless theory, and sustains them by an unphilofophical process; fhall not they terminate in emptinefs and dif

appoint

appointment? If the Commander embarked in a perilous enterprife, has formed an erroneous judgment concerning its nature, and measures its facilities or its difficulties by a falfe ftandard; fhall not the event be difaftrous? Is it not then of inexpreffible concern that, in pursuing the interests of eternity, you should contemplate them with difcerning eyes; and estimate, by a true criterion, every particular which is effential to the attainment of your object? The man of science may renew his labours on a firmer bafis. The Commander, reaping wisdom from defeats, may conquer in another campaign. Not fo the departed spirit, wilfully estranged, while in the body, from the path of final happiness. Difappointment in that purfuit is ruin for ever.

There are few fubjects refpecting which a more confpicuous variety of judgment prevails than exists with regard to goodness. How numerous, how difcordant are the ftandards by which it is measured! Enter the crowded circle of fociety, and advert to fome of the different characters, to which you hear the term Good continually and confidently applied.

First there is the decent and orderly
He is fo regular in his attendance

man,

on