error wantonly persisted in, can only slope the way to wretchedness and ruin: these principles will in fallibly be the promoters of iniquity; they will engender endless difficulties, confusions, miseries, for "all iniquity is as a two-edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed."

If we once suffer ourselves to relax in our affiance towards God, from whom alone "cometh our help in time of need," our own strength will be insufficient to secure us against the influence of sophistry; and there are never wanting those who would feel a malignant delight in misleading us. But "I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doc+ trine which ye have learned, and avoid them; for they are such as serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

If religion, as it really does, affords us the highest consolations which can be derived to man in this chequered existence; if it alleviates our sufferings, assuages our grief, reconciles us to calamity, supports us under an adverse, and secures us from the dangers of a prosperous condition; if it exalts our hopes, subdues our despair, promotes our joys, and corrects our sorrows; if it disarms our terrors at the prospect of death, awakens our fortitude, fortifies our patience, stifles our discontent, and establishes peace within our bosoms; if, in short, it be the only source of true happiness upon earth, as

it will ultimately be of everlasting happiness in Heaven; what shall be said of those profane and audacious theorists, who, under the mask of zeal for the reformation of mankind, would neutralize those powerful resourses of the soul under her temporal trials, and cut it off at once from all its dependencies, its consolations, and its hopes? And, perhaps, in every religious community some such impure members are to be found, but they are "false apostles, deceitful workers, whose end shall be according to their works.". "They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

It is difficult to account for the malignant-the horrible emotions which sometimes agitate the human heart, when God is excluded from its affections, and it is made the idol of its own worship. But that heart certainly betrays the most callous indifference to the welfare of its kind, and, at the same time, the most daring rebellion against the supremacy of Heaven, which seeks to involve another in its own impiety, and accumulate upon it its own self-inflicted miseries. Such, however, is the depravity of human nature, when fallen into the excess of sin, that it is ever eager to seduce others into guilt, and is best satisfied when it can involve them in its own eternal ruin. "Let no man, then, deceive you with vain words, for, because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

We may rank all those in the class of false teachers, who would, under any circumstances, draw us off from "that simplicity which is in Christ." In our social intercourse with men, we shall frequently encounter these false prophets, for all come under this denomination who encourage doubts against the authority of God's recorded word, and would taint with these doubts the minds of those "whose delight is in the law of the Lord."

Many who confess their Saviour in generals, deny him in particulars, and think themselves pri vileged to question what they only wish to disbelieve; "but ye have not so learned Christ." If there be a doubter now before me, let him pray earnestly to God to "help his unbelief," that his faith be established. His doubts will soon subside, if he devoutly seek the assistance of that Divine Guide, which alone can spiritualize the corrupted heart and enlighten the darkened understanding.

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The precepts of the gospel are intelligible to every capacity. If we take them as our directors in the practice of our lives, we shall neither be shaken by the sophistries of presumptuous innovators, nor withdrawn from our allegiance to our Creator, by the scoffs of those who have "lived without God in the world." Let us call to mind the terrible denunciation of the Apostle against perverters of the Christian faith. 66 But, though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you

than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than ye have received, let him be accursed."

May "the Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort," increase our devotions, strengthen our faith, and bring us at length, through its justifying influence, into eternal communion with Him, “who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see; to whom, with the Son and Holy Ghost, be honour and power everlasting. Amen!"

SERMON XXII.

ON THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER.

1 THESS. V. 17.

"Pray without ceasing."

Ir is evident that this injunction is not to be literally understood; because, as we are enjoined other duties besides prayer, it is clear the Apostle never intended that our whole time should be engaged in this most important occupation. We are therefore to consider the words before us only as an exhortation to frequent, regular, and earnest prayer. We find that St. Luke, at the conclusion of his gospel, says of the disciples, from whose presence Christ had just ascended into heaven-" and they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God." By which he simply signifies, that they were constantly in the Lord's tabernacle during the appointed seasons of devotion.*

See Whitby's note on the text.