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I mean not now to direct your atten tion to avowed infidels. I fpeak of persons who profefs to know Chrift, to believe in Chrift, but by their works deny him. Event of these men a minute defcription is not neceffary. They are in all points the reverse of those who believe. Their attendance on the public fervice of God, and on the other outward ordinances of Chriftianity is uncertain, languid, and formal. The Sabbath is a burden to them; and they are happy when the clofe of it releases them from their constrained abstinence, if indeed they have practifed abftinence, from worldly occupations. The Bible rests on their shelves: or the perufal of it is regarded as a task, and is performed heavily, mechanically, fuperficially. Private prayer, if not neglected, is wearifome and lifeless. Follow them through the daily occurrences of active employment, and you difcern no traces of a religious fpirit. You fee them selfish, overbearing, fenfual, contentious, worldly-minded. God is not in their thoughts. His name may fupply the tongue with unhallowed exclamations: but his fear is foreign to the heart. They think not of their baptifmal vow. They renounce not

the

the devil and all his works, the

pomps and
vanities of this wicked world, and all the

sinful lufts of the flesh. They leave not all
to follow Chrift: in fact, they leave little
for the fake of following him. Each indi-
vidual referves the indulgence of his fa-
vourite propensity, One is profane, an-
other unchafte, a third envious, a fourth
dishoneft, a fifth intemperate, a fixth co-
vetous. Some unite feveral of these ha-
bits of wickednefs. In their domeftic rela-
tions they are harsh, capricious, uninftruc-
tive; eager in every fcheme or purpose
connected with intereft, or with pleasure
lukewarm or indifferent in all the concerns.
of religion. Sin they reprefent as venial,
because natural; or as of little moment, be-
caufe God is merciful; or as fufficiently
compenfated by fome attendant good ac-
tions or amiable qualities; or as certain of
forgiveness, if not extremely heinous, be-
caufe Chrift has made an atonement. The
comprehenfive outlines of a general picture
cannot in every point follow the variety of
individual countenances. But in prominent
features all the individuals of the clafs in
view juftify this reprefentation. Why is
it that they justify it? Because they believe
not. Why is it that they do not believe?
Becaufe

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Because by carnal gratification their heart is waxed grofs; because by wilful inattention. their ears have become dull of hearing; because through averfion to the light their eyes they have closed. They are habitually unholy in their inclinations and purposes; and therefore have no real faith. They are the willing fervants of fin; and therefore belong not to God. They are Chriftians only in name; and therefore are not Christians.

To which of the two claffes does each of us belong? This is a question to which our own bosoms, if we fairly examine,them, will scarcely fail to give a true reply. Let me separately addrefs to perfons of each clafs fome few words of admonition.

If on searching your hearts, under a deep conviction of the frequency and the extreme danger of felf-deception, you receive the answer of a good confcience towards God, witneffing the fincerity of your faith; be filled with gratitude to the Author of every good gift, by whom it is given unto you, as unto the Philippians, to believe on Jefus Christ (d). Thanks be to God, exclaimed St. Paul, for his unfpeakable gift (e). Was this language merely the language of his lips? It was the language of his actions; (d) Philipp, i. 29. (c) 2 Cor. ix. 15.

the

the language of his love, of his zeal, of his patient endurance, of his unceasing toil, of his multiplied fufferings, of his triumphant death. Conftrained by the love of Chrift, he lived unto Chrift. Live ye unto Chrift, who has died for you also. Give all diligence to make your calling and election fure. Reflect what numbers have been found in all ages of the Chriftian Church, who, after they had walked for a time in the ways of righteousness, have returned unto the world which they had abandoned, have become the flaves of fin which they had renounced. Demas, faith St. Paul, bath forfaken me, having loved this prefent world (f). That Demas, who had been the companion of the Apostle in his pilgrimage and his ministry, forfook him. How many has the love of the world, the love of eafe, the love of gain, the love of power, the love of human praife, perfuaded, like Demas, to turnt heir backs upon Christ! Reflect on the peril attendant on every step, when, ceafing to climb the path which points towards heaven, the unhappy victim of temptation turns down the fteep which leads to deftruction! Reflect on the detriment to the general interefts of religion, (f) 2 Tim. iv, 10. D 3

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the fcandal to the Chriftian name, the difcouragement of the pious, the exulting fcoffs of the wicked, occafioned by the fall of those who have been confidered as establifhed examples of the faith! Be not highminded, but fear. Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall. Look back on the numberlefs inftances of tranf

greffion which your lives have exhibited fince you have profeffed to be followers in earnest of Jefus Chrift. Look back on the inftances, equally furpaffing number, of wafted opportunities, of neglected duty. Call to mind your coldness in prayer, your languid application to religious study, your leaning to the world, your proneness to give way to enfnaring cuftoms, your unchastised tempers, your fecret and besetting fins. Whatever may have been your Chrif tian progress; do you not even yet difcover within your heart fo much of the power of evil, that you have reafon daily to fhudder left you should be altogether overcome? If you have hope that you are a fervant of Chrift; rejoice in your hope; but rejoice with trembling. Diftrust yourfelf: rely wholly upon God: pray without ceafing be not weary of well-doing and shall be strengthened and upheld by all

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