ledge, and Temperance, and Patience, and Godliness, and Brotherly kindness, and Charity: for if these things be in us and abound, they make us that we shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.'

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

WORKS, NOT WORDS.

ST. MATTHEW vii. 21.

Not every one that saith unto Me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My FATHER which is in Heaven.

THE text, in striking language, contrasts two classes of professing Christians. What makes it so singularly instructive, is, that instead of establishing the difference, (which we are all so familiar with,) between good men and bad, it comes with a message to those whom the World calls good, and winnows them into two heaps. The one set of persons, it says, are destined for the heavenly garner: the other, not.

Of course, if a man be living in open and flagrant sin;—if any have a habit of profane swearing, or are under the dominion of a wicked temper which every now and then breaks out into some act of brutal violence :- again, if any despise Divine Worship on Sundays, and never say their prayers, or very seldom; nor ever read the Bible :-all, I say, who are living

lives like these, cannot, of course, seriously entertain a rational hope that they are on the road to Heaven. A man may perhaps pretend to think well of his own state: he may even persuade himself that he is in no danger; but it requires an effort. If he falls ill, he becomes aware that Hell yawns for him: he is straightway troubled with horrible apprehensions, and shews by his words the anguish of his soul. On persons of this description we need not dwell. We do not think ourselves of their number; and God grant that we may not be.

But there is a large class of persons, not flagrantly wicked, who are yet in very imminent danger: persons who may be described in language which it is to be feared that many will recognise as, in some degree, applicable to themselves. They come to Church. It is seldom but what a verse in the Psalms, a passage in the Lessons, or some remark in the Sermon, strikes them. They feel it keenly, and glow with emotion. These persons, also, say their private prayers regularly: a day never passes but what they read a chapter in the Book of Life. Moreover they are respectable livers, and are guilty of no great crimes. They are cheerful and contented; (indeed they have enough,

they enjoy good health, and are happy in their families; why should they not be contented and cheerful?) But the most striking feature of their case is the readiness with which they will talk of holy things. This is a subject in which they delight. The Holy Name comes quite readily to their lips. LORD, LORD,' say they; but that is all. To say 'LORD, LORD,' is the beginning and the end of their Religion. They do not carry it into the week; but they put it on and take it off with their holiday clothing. Nay, they put it on and take it off more rapidly. It is not worn all through the Sunday, but only during Church time. At morning and evening, also, they wear it by their bed-side, and again lay it down when they are summoned to their work. They meet a serious friend, or a pious neighbour, and the holy manner of speech is again caught up, to be again in a moment flung from them. The consequence is, that Religion is no real part of these persons. It is not a thing of the inner, but only of the outer man. And if any ask How this appears we answer, By the readiness with which persons of this class will turn from the praise of the CREATOR to the dispraise of the creature; from God's perfections to human failings, short-comings, sins.

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Again, it appears from this,-that their standard of what is right is so low, that they can reconcile their consciences to much that is undoubtedly sinful that they are not in perfect charity with all men, and feel no unhappiness in consequence. In short, the remarkable feature of the character we are describing is, that without any intentional, without any conscious dishonesty, these persons are really great hypocrites. They do nothing for CHRIST's sake. They give up nothing, adopt nothing, alter nothing. Religion is one of their habits, and Worldliness is another. Each has its time. Religion requires ten minutes in the morning, and as many in the evening about three hours and a half on Sunday. In society, Religion (or something calling itself by that name) will also claim a place in the conversation. But this is all. The World, the Flesh, and the Devil, must really be allowed to have the rest of a man's life. Was it not this, or some such character as this, that our LORD described and condemned? This is surely to say 'LORD, LORD,' and not to do the things which CHRIST commands. These are they of whom it is declared, 'Not every one that saith unto Me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.'