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Let us now, in conclusion, consider what improvement we ought to make of the subject before us.

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First, then, we should learn not to be satisfied with ourselves, because men approve They are at the best, but poor and insufficient judges. The wisest of them is prone to error-to approve what is wrong, and to condemn what is right. And of the world at large, it is affirmed in holy scripture, that "the things which are highly esteemed among men, are abomination with God." So that if we trust to human opinion, and neglect the word of God, we shall alway be in danger of going far astray, even in our outward conduct. Besides, men are not discerners of spirits. They cannot at all look at our motives. But God searcheth the heart, and, whatever men may think of us, if our hearts are not right with him, he will reject us with indignation. Our business, then, is with God, and with his word. We ought to see to it that, in every circumstance of life, we act as under his eyefrom regard to his authority-from love to him from a desire to please him-and, from an earnest aspiration after his most gracious favour. And, influenced by these motives, we should look daily into his word: that, by comparing ourselves with our perfect rule of duty,

we may see wherein we have been defective: may learn what there is in us which needs to be amended: and may become more fully instructed in all that it concerns us both to know and to do.

But, if in order to our being approved of God, it is necessary that we should have such a constant regard to him; is it not clear, my brethren, that the retrospect of our lives will shew us, that we have been lamentably defective in his sight? In looking back upon the past, do we not discover that many days-yea, perhaps many years, have passed over us, in which we have scarcely thought upon God? Have we not lived rather to please ourselves, than to please Him that made us? And is it not true, that through thus forgetting God, we have done 'the things which we ought not to have done, ' and have left undone the things that we ought 'to have done?' Do not our consciences charge us with duties that we have neglected, and with crimes that we have committed, because God was not in all our thoughts? If so, our subject may serve to remind us, (as indeed every practical subject must do,) of our exceeding sinfulness, and of our need of the mercy and grace of God, as revealed in the gospel of his Son. To this purpose, let me

call you to apply it. Look back upon your own ways, and see wherein you have been defective-wherein you have done amiss; and that, not merely with regard to your conduct towards your fellow men, but especially with regard to the love and the fear of the great and gracious God, your Maker, your Redeemer, your Preserver, and your Judge. Humble yourselves, in deep repentance, for all your transgressions against him. Betake yourselves to his mercy, in Christ Jesus, for pardon and reconciliation to him; and beg the renewing, sanctifying grace of his Spirit, to cleanse the 'thoughts of your hearts;' that, henceforth you may perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy name'-that, you may "set "the Lord alway before you"-may have him in all your thoughts-that the recollection of his presence may be your defence against temptation-your preservative from sin-your incitement to activity in duty—your support in the hour of trial: and that delighting in meditation upon him here, you may be prepared, in the whole temper and spirit of your mind, to enter that world, where contemplation of all the mysteries of his grace and love, shall be your delightful employment, through the ages of a blessed eternity.

SERMON IV.

THE BENEFIT OF SERIOUS REFLECTION.

PSALM CXIX, 59, 60.

I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not, to keep thy commandments.

THERE probably is no christian duty in which men are in general more grievously deficient, than in the practice of serious self-examination and impartial comparison of themselves with the word of God. They are ever ready to take it for granted, that their conduct is such as their Maker approves, and that their state is safe, when, perhaps, they are living in direct opposition to his commands, and are treading a path which must lead to final destruction. Their natural self-love, induces them to say to themselves," peace," when the scripture says, "there is no peace." They

are easily persuaded to believe what they wish to be true; and therefore even where their eternal safety is concerned, they prefer selfdeception, to that real security, which must originate in the knowledge of their errors. This is the universal propensity of men; and perhaps, no other cause whatever operates so unfavourably upon their immortal interests, or so much advances the designs of the great enemy of our race. But, if men are ever brought out of those devious paths, in which by nature they all are walking, and turn into that road which leadeth to everlasting life, the happy change must begin, by their being induced to "consider their ways"-by their being excited to examine their lives, to compare themselves with the law of God, and to inquire how far they are acting in a manner calculated to promote their real happiness. We, therefore, in the scriptures, find multiplied admonitions upon this subject; and a great variety of examples are set before us, to excite and animate us to the discharge of so necessary a duty. "Let us "search and try our ways, and turn unto the "Lord."1 "Examine yourselves whether ye "be in the faith; prove your ownselves." 2 " I "communed with my own heart, and my spirit "made diligent search." "I thought upon

1 Lam. iii, 40. 2 2 Cor. xiii, 5.

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3 Psalm lxxvii, 6.

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