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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 excufe themfelves for yielding under it by exaggerating its magnitude. Then they fall into fome greater offence, which calls forth many expreffions, and fome real feelings, of forrow, and is followed by temporary reformation. Aftewards they fall again, and become tired of contending, and lament that the obftacles in the paths of religion are almost insuperable. Thus life paffes away in heartless wishes, lukewarm prayers, fhort-lived refolves, unfteady 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 muft work: the whole man muft work out his falvation with fear and trembling. If grace is extended in vain, Christ will refume his wasted gift. How long balt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him.

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

1

fincerity they have left all to follow Chrift, let me, in the laft place, direct fome few words of exhortation. Though your progrefs has thus far been triumphant, your warfare is not at an end. Your adversary ftill keeps the field, and despairs 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 perseverance. The crown of glory is prepared.

Lofe

it not by relaxing in your exertions. Forfeit not the reward of paft labours by future floth. The arm of 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 recompenfe of victory fecured for ever. What are days and years to eternity! Having sustained the burden and heat of the day; will you faint when the hour of reft, the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, are at hand? Ye have need, and to your laft hour you will have need, of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promife. But yet a little while, and he

that

that fhall come will come, and will not tarry. The juft fall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my foul, faith the Lord, shall have no pleasure 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.

SERMON VI.

Goodness illuftrated 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 had feen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith.

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IN the management of worldly tranfac

tions, the foundnefs of the principles upon which we conduct ourselves is a circumftance of prime moment to our fuccefs. If the man of fcience builds his fpeculations on a groundless theory, and fuftains them by an unphilofophical procefs; shall not they terminate in emptiness and dif

appoint

appointment? If the Commander embarked in a perilous enterprife, has formed an erroneous judgement concerning its nature, and measures its facilities or its difficulties by a falfe ftandard; fhall not the event be disastrous? Is it not then of inexpressible concern that, in purfuing the interests of eternity, you should contemplate them with difcerning eyes; and eftimate, 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 wifdom from defeats, may conquer in another campaign. Not fo the departed fpirit, wilfully estranged, while in the body, from the path of final happinefs. Disappointment in that purfuit is ruin for ever.

There are few fubjects respecting which a more confpicuous variety of judgement prevails than exifts 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.

Firft: there is the decent and orderly

man.

He is fo regular in his attendance

on

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