them to God; and various descriptions of professed Christians form a complex law of works, out of the religion of the New Testament. But, whatever system men favoured with revelation may adopt, if they put the event of the great decisive day on their own works, as the ground of their confidence; they will be judged according to the holy law of God, and fall under its awful curse. "Christ is become of none effect to them: they 66 are fallen from grace, and become debtors to do "the whole law." The advantages which such men enjoy, the crimes which they commit, their proud aversion to the humbling salvation of the gospel, and the degree of their enmity and opposition to the truth, will determine the measure of their guilt and punishment, according to the decision of unerring wisdom and infinite justice.

Some observations have already been made on the case of those who allow the doctrines of Christianity, renounce dependence on their own works, and profess to expect pardon, righteousness, and eternal life," as the gift of God through Jesus "Christ our Lord." Such persons, when the Lord shall come, will be judged according to this profession; and, if their faith be shewn to have been living and genuine, by its holy fruits, according to the discoveries which have been mentioned, they will, as justified believers, receive the reward of righteousness; and their future glory and felicity will be proportioned to the degree of their grace and obedience of faith. But, if their conduct and dispositions have proved that they were not true

believers, they will remain under the condemnation of the law, aggravated by their abuse of the gospel; and so have "their portion with hypocrites" and unbelievers.

IV. Let us then make some particular application of the subject.

It has been before remarked, that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ ;" and let this reflection sink deep into every heart. Men voluntarily break the laws of their country, but dire compulsion takes place when they are convicted and executed for their crimes. The young man, rejoicing in his vigour and flow of spirits, may give a loose to his passions; but let him remember that "for all these things God will bring him into judgment." You may now forget God; but he will not forget you, or any of your works. You may affront his justice, and despise his mercy; but he will shortly say, " It is a people of no under"It "standing; therefore he that made them will not "have mercy on them." Now is the day of the Lord's patience but the day of wrath and perdition of ungodly men approaches: now he invites you to draw near to his throne of grace; shortly he will summon you to his awful tribunal. "Seek 66 ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon "him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake "his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; "and let him return unto the Lord, and he will "have mercy on him, and to our God for he will "abundantly pardon." "Strive to enter in at the "strait gate, for many shall seek to enter in, and

1 Isa. xxvii. 11.

"shall not be able. When once the master of the "house is risen up, and hath shut to the door;" it will be for ever in vain for those that stand without, to cry, "Lord, Lord, open to us." Now the Saviour pleads with you in accents of tenderest love; "How long ye simple ones will ye love sim"plicity, and scorners delight in their scorning, " and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye at my reproof, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will "make known my words unto you." But ere long he will frown on the impenitent and unbelieving, and say, "Because I called and ye refused, I "stretched out my hands and no man regarded; "-therefore shall ye eat the fruit of your own

ways, "and be filled with your own devices." "Oh that men were wise, that they understood "these things, that they would consider their latter "end!" 1

But will any of you, with this solemn season of discovery and decision before your eyes, deliberately put the event of it upon the goodness of your hearts and lives? Is there not in your very soul an involuntary shrinking from so strict and awful a scrutiny? Do you not feel a disposition to say, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O "Lord?" "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, "O Lord, who may stand?" As you value your immortal souls, do not now insist on any plea, which feel to be inadmissible in the great day you of righteous retribution. Stand not on any distinction between your case and that of your fellow sinners. Seek above all things an interest in the

1 Prov. i. 19-31. Deut. xxxii. 29.

atonement and righteousness of Christ; and "count "all but loss, that you may win him, and be found "in him." Disregard the scorn and reproach of an unbelieving world; anticipating that day when every eye shall see the despised Redeemer, and his favour be universally allowed to be of more value than ten thousand worlds." Let every one," however, "that nameth the name of Christ depart "from iniquity." "If we say that we have faith, "and have not works, will faith save us," in the day" when the Lord shall render unto every man according to his deeds?" Alas! a dead faith, a presumptuous hope, and an unsound profession, will only increase the anguish and shame of final condemnation.

Even if we be true believers, negligence and loose walking will cloud our evidence, and weaken our warranted confidence: while the greatest possible encouragement is given to all genuine good works, by that very system which excludes boasting, and allows none of our services the least share in our justification before God. "Not a cup of cold "water given to a disciple, from love to Christ, "shall lose its reward." He will accept every kindness to those whom we look upon as his brethren, even as if we had done it to him in person and while we forgive injuries, love enemies, deny ourselves, endure hardships, or bear any cross, from love to his name, and desire to adorn and recommend his gospel; he notices our poor services, and will applaud and reward them before men and angels. Nay, if he observe, that we form plans and make attempts to promote his cause and be serviceable to his people; even though he see

good to disappoint our endeavours; he will kindly accept the zealous intention, and openly say, "Thou didst well that it was in thine heart."1 "Let us not therefore be weary in well-doing, for "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." And " may we all find mercy of the Lord in that day of retribution," and have an abundant entrance into his kingdom of everlasting glory and felicity!

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' 1 Kings viii. 18.