out of all your good deeds, you will find yourfelves dreadfully disappointed at the last day. The perfons here exhorted to the performance of Chriftian duties, were already justified; confequently, their future obedience could not be any the least cause of their juftification *. Let us then enquire, in what refpects good works are profitable unto men.

In the first place, they are profitable to the party to whom they are done. Is it not profitable to the poor and neceffitous, when fome kind hand adminifters to their neceffities? I fuppofe, were fome of those poor faints of Judea here to day; unto whom those compaffion

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* Many have published their ignorance to the world, by introducing St. Jame's epiftle to prove, that juftification is by works, and not as Paul fays, by faith: but by fo doing, they fet St. Paul and St. James moft dreadfully at odds, as tho' they were fo far from being agreed about the nature of juftification, that they palpably contradict each other. Had Paul reproved James as he did Peter; or contended with him, as he did with Barnabas, they might have reprefented James, as refolving to take vengeance on him, by contradicting all that he had written to the Romans, Galatians, Ephefians, &c. but as we have no accounts of perfonal difference, certainly they were agreed in doctrines alfo. When Paul fpeaks of being juftified by grace, by the righteousness of CHRIST, by faith, &c. It is evident that he all along intends the finner's acquittal from condemnation, and his being accepted of God and in this affair, he denies that good works take even the fmalleft part, Gal. iii. 10, 11, 12. St. James is treating upon a very different fubject, he debates the cafe with a perfon who refts satisfied in profeffing himself to be a believer, tho' no way difpofed to evidence the truth of his feffion by his works. The apostle lays before the self-deceived perfon, the manner in which the fathers gave evidence that they were believers, (viz.) they were obedient to God according to his word. This was the proof, but no cause of their juftification. Abraham was juftified in the fight of God, long before he faw Ifaac: therefore could not, in that fense, be justified when he offered him on the altar.

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ate Macedonians fent their liberal contributions, they would readily tell you, "Ah! it was "well! exceeding well, that our good God fo difpofed their hearts, in fuch a generous manner, to fend us relief, when we were in perifhing circumftances !" Thus their bowels were refreshed they saw the good hand of God in the abundant fupply, and glorified him for the profeffed fubjection of the gentile converts, to the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, 11 Cor. ix. 12, 13. Humble David tells us, Pfa. xvi. that his goodness did not extend unto God, but unto the faints that were in the earth; and to the excellent in whom was all his delight. Hear what Elibu, that nervous reafoner fays unto Job, Thy righteousness may profit the fon of man, Job xxxv. 8.

Again; Good works are good and profitable to remove the odium caft upon the gospel by the ignorant and ungodly. Some, both from the pulpit, and prefs, (and many more from their two-armed chair) have roundly afferted, "That "the doctrine of falvation by grace through "CHRIST, is fubverfive of all good works-is "the most unfriendly to piety and virtue-lays a "foundation for flefhly indulgences-opens the flood-gates of licentioufnefs-delivers men "from the low drudgery of governing their spirits, or bridling their paffions, &c. &c." Thefe are no new calumnies; Paul's doctrine was fufficiently loaded with them, before he left the world, Rom. iii. 6, 7, 8. Notwithstanding, it is every true christian's comfort, that he has not fo learned CHRIST! Paul was as warm an advocate

for falvation by grace, as ever appeared on the face of the earth; yet, his upright heart bounded against the thought of living in fin that grace might abound, Rom. vi. 1. Peter exhorts believers to be obedient to God, that by their well doing, they might put to filence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Pet. ii. 15. Now as you profefs to be concerned for the profperity of our dear Immanuel's kingdom, preferve the honour of his gofpel, by your daily fubjection to his precepts -fhew your love to him, by your obedience to his commands, and constrain gain-fayers to acknowledge, that the CHRIST you worship, does not appear to be a minister of fin: let thofe around you fee, that the grace of God manifested in the gospel, has taught you to deny ungodly and worldly lufts, to live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world, Titus. ii. 12.

3d, Good works are good and profitable to engage others in the fame path. Saints ought to be building up each other in their most holy faith-exhorting one another daily, and crying out, Let us not fleep as do others, but let us watch and be fober. But it is well known; to ftir up the negligent, or rouse the supine, practice is far more prevalent than precept. There are present on this public occafion, members of perhaps twenty different congregations: I wifh, and pray; that you may return to your refpective places, full of refolution, that by the grace of God, you will henceforth be as burning and shining lights in the world; that you may, with a good confcience, call to others as Gideon to his followers, Look on me and do likewife; or as Paul to the Philippians,

Philippians, Thofe things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and feen in me, do and the God of peace fhall be with you. Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, Matt. v. 16,

Laftly, Good works are good and profitable to the party performing them. There are advantages too tedious to enumerate, which flow as confequences of believers being found walking in the path of duty!

First, They will enjoy the pleasures of a good confcience in times of affliction. When ftorms of perfecution were raised against, and all manner of evil faid of the apostles, they had this comfortable reflection, Our rejoicing is this, the teftimony of our confcience, that in fimplicity and godly fincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world, 11 Cor. i. 12.

When afflictive difpenfations find us in a trifling, difobedient path; O what a ftorm is raised in the guilty breaft! Troubles without, and guilt within, are like the angry heavens, and raging deeps in furious conflict! David proved the truth of this, when he fled from the face of his own treacherous Son Abfalom, when he went by the afcent of mount Olivet, having his head covered, and his feet bare-weeping, and almost heart-broken, the country round about bearing a part with him! never was scene. more tragical, except when JEsus, David's antitype was carrying the ponderous cross upon his furrowed bleeding back towards Calvary's top!

Had

Had you feen David's heart, while tears drenched his ruddy cheeks, in all probability you would have seen some fuch like reflections as these, "O "my fin! my fin! my fin against God hath "brought this evil upon my guilty head! Had I "hearkened to the LORD's commandments, it "had not been thus with me! He is now avenging the blood of my poor faithful servant U"riah! Take warning by me, and let my cafe be "a monitor to fucceeding ages; yea, 'till time be

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no more!"-How was it with the fons of Jacob, when they went into Egypt to buy corn, and got clapt up in prifon? They then began to remember their cruelty to Jofeph! and to say one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother. Jofeph! the very name was as a dagger in their hearts! Not all the gloom of a dungeon, or all the profpect of approaching calamities, were half fo dreadful, as the remembrance of their fin! And thus will it be, if afflictions overtake thee in a way that is not good. Is it not then profitable, to avoid fuch scenes of woe? Is it of no fervice, to enjoy tranquillity of mind, when the billows of affliction run high? Hear how the LORD laments Ifrael's cafe in language truly moving, O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then bad thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the fea David could afterwards tell, Great peace have they that love thy law; and nothing shall offend them, Pfa. cxix. 165. Good old Zacharias was fo fenfible, that the way of obedience was the way of peace, that he greatly rejoices at John's birth, and says, he was come to guide their feet into the way of peace.

Again;