so far are you from having any lot in them, that all the wrath of God abideth in you. He who hath purchased these hopes, and shall finally distribute them -he that shall pronounce the terrible sentence upon sinners, declares flatly against you, "he that loveth father or mother," and much more other things less dear to us, "more than me, is not worthy of me." And the beloved disciple, after him, saith, "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; and the friendship of the world is enmity with God." And is it a state to live at peace in, a state to be desired, to have God your enemy, to be utterly without hope; is it a state to which any other is to be compared for the fearful danger of it? You would tremble to see a man drunk or asleep upon the brink of a precipice, would tremble lest he should fall and be dashed in pieces upon the rocks below, which you have hardly courage to look down and see; but what is such a case to yours? If God be not reconciled to you, doth not his vengeance hang over your heads for all the sins you have ever committed against him; is he not able to punish you; is not the pit of destruction yawning for you; and however content you may be, is there any thing but a thread which keeps you out of it, the slender thread of life, apt to break with the least violence, and of itself insensibly growing decayed, and hardly able to hold together? Learn to tremble for yourselves while you consider what God is, and what you this day are. Humble your souls, cry to him for mercy without delay, and return unto him with all your heart.

Suffer me also to say to you, that even mercy

such as you are.

Heaven would be

cannot save you, no happiness to you, while your hearts are not given to God. You may conceit I know not what of God's goodness; but as you do not love him, you could not be happy in him. Is your greatest happiness in God now? You confess it is not. Is his presence delightful to you at present? You answer no. Would these things be otherwise hereafter even in heaven, when you could no more love God there than upon earth? It is the love of God, that fits the soul for him, gives it a capacity of finding happiness in him, endears and makes his presence delightful; and if the heart doth not love God now, doth not more than in any thing else, seek and delight in his favour and presence, it could not, in the least degree, relish the joys of heaven, and would be disconsolate and miserable in the very midst of triumphant saints and angels.

SERMON VII.

CHRISTIAN SINCERITY.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him--behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile: John i, 47.

THE character of Nathanael, you may see from the short history just before concerning him, was that of an honest downright man, open to conviction and free of prejudice; who, as he would not believe without evidence, was as ready to believe when sufficient evidence was given. Now Philip had been telling him of their having found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph. Upon this he fairly proposes his objection, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" He would reason with Philip, and offer the difficulties which suddenly rose up in his mind against the truth of what Philip had been telling him. "Nazareth is a place vicious to a proverb, no one expects any thing good from thence; besides the Messiah is not of Nazareth, but of Bethlehem." His friend's heart, we may well suppose, was too full of zeal and joy to enter into any sort of debate. He suddenly interrupts Nathanael's reasonings, and would have him come and see for himself if any good thing

could come from Nazareth, or if this were not the very Christ. Nathanael did not, as a conceited and proud mind would have been apt to have done, obstinately refuse and turn away from the invitation; he was no more prejudiced against the truth, and so careless to search it to the bottom, than he was credulous to receive it without grounds. He goes with Philip for further inquiry, and it was upon his drawing near to Jesus with this view, that the words in the text were spoken of him, "behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile." Our Lord took occasion from this simplicity and honesty of Nathanael with regard to himself, to give his general character, to shew him to those about him for a sincere upright man without any guile, deceit, or prejudice. He was an instance of sincerity, as in this his conduct with regard to our Lord, so in all other respects. It is my design from hence to speak to you of Christian sincerity, which every one knows is a qualification of our service to God, without which it is nought, hypocritical, and unacceptable. This is a most needful inquiry, to the consolation of some, and the condemnation of others. For to know whether we be sincere or not, is to know whether we be Christians or not; whether we have or have not any grounds of confidence towards God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. With the greatest plainness therefore I possibly can use, it shall be my present endeavour to set this matter before you; and here I will,

I. Give you a general notion of sincerity.

II. I will set out some of the most distinguishing marks of it.

III. I will speak of some false and mistaken marks of sincerity, endeavouring to make the whole useful as I go along.

I. I am to give you a general notion of sincerity.

Now this is nothing else but being in earnest in the service of God, honest, and downright with him, studying and endeavouring to do his will and to please him. The sincere man is a humble man; he knows the place he stands in with regard to Godthat God is the king and he the subject-God the master and he the servant; and he deals by God as a good subject does by his king, who labours to be obedient and dutiful, and to promote the honour and interests of his sovereign; or as a good servant goes to work with his master, in faithfulness and integrity. I say the sincere man knows the place he stands in with regard to God, both as a creature entirely at the disposal of his Creator, and as a sinner saved from death by God's mercy and goodness, and accordingly the great thing he hath at heart is to serve and obey God; this is the great and principal aim he hath throughout his conduct. Would any one of you know what a sincere man is; only consider what you would wish your own servant should be towards you, and you shall have his very character before you. You would wish your servant should be very sensible it is his duty to do your business faithfully; that he should be very hearty and very honest, so as with continual consideration and diligence both to consult and act for you; that he should have your interest at heart, and consult that in all your affairs. Such a one, truly convinced of the duty he owes you, hearty