neither to holiness, nor heaven. Only consider this plain scripture truth; "man is dead in sin by nature." What real good works can be expected from him in this state? How can he even be saved by his deeds, who is incapable of good? Common sense requires that there be first a root, a stock of a tree, before there can be fruit from it. Thus the gospel requires that men be first pardoned, and risen with Christ, and have a new heart and principle wherewith to love God, before they can keep his commandments.

The whole that I mean on this all-important affair, is thus expressed by the author of the Epistle to the Ephesians. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ye then that are "risen with Christ," practise what the Apostle exhorts you to. Desire

heavenly things. Shew by your charity and liberality that earthly things engage not your affections. Humble yourselves, and be ever looking up to Jesus, your life, for strength, and expect with patience and joy his last appearance, that will crown your felicity.

To those who know not, nor seek to know, what union with Christ is, I would say with the Apostle, "awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Let the time past suffice to have lived in gross wickedness, or unavailing formality.

mality. Depend on no moral good qualities, be they never so many, to gain heaven. Christ is the door, and the life. Begin, at length, to seek an experimental union with him, and to be invested with his righteousness. The curse of a broken law hangs over you. This curse attends all you do. Seek for a new state and heart; nothing you do is accepted of God in your present state. It is an awful state you are in. Life is uncertain. If death find you out of Christ, you are lost for ever. Seek him, nor rest till you have brought your soul concerns to this issue. "Christ is my life, and I am in Christ." See he stands ready with open arms to receive you, whenever you turn to him, notwithstanding all that is past. "He that is athirst, let him come to me and drink." This is his own invitation. By refusing it you perish in your sins. By complying with it your souls shall live and be happy. "He that cometh

to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."*

John vi. 35.

SERMON

SERMON XXVII.

THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF CHRISTIAN HUMILITY,

1 PETER 5, 6.

LIKEWISE YE YOUNGER SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO THE ELDER; YEA ALL OF YOU BE SUBJECT ONE TO ANOTHER, AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY; FOR GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, AND GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. HUMBLE YOURSELVES THERFORE UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD, THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME.

THE

HE chapter begins with an exhortation to the Pastors of the Church, which it highly concerns us to consider, who are called to minister in holy things. But this application of the text I shall omit, because I preach to the Laity, not to the Clergy. Were I called on to address an assembly of the lat ter, nothing could, indeed, be more weighty and pertinent. I have only to beseech you, brethren, to pray for us seriously and charitably, that we may be found faithful in the

very arduous office to which we are called, and may both save our own souls and those who hear us. St. Peter exhorts to humility in the text, a virtue peculiarly christian. Let us briefly illustrate his meaning, and then apply it, in some observations, to our consciences.

Young persons are directed to submit themselves to the elder: The benefit of society in general, and of the church of God in particular, requires it: And so useful a thing is humility, that he recommends a mutual submission to all. It is the true way to preserve peace and unity in the Church of Christ, and to prevent those confusions which pride is ever apt to produce. Indeed the nature of man is so weak and fallible, and we have all so much need to humble ourselves for various evils, that it becomes us to be "clothed with humility." It should cover and involve us in every thing, and from a principle of the fear of God, who "resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." He who is higher than the highest, regards not any of those distinctions by which men are so apt to value themselves one above another. Before him all are equal; because none have any thing superior to others, but what is his gift, and all are be fore him" less than nothing and vanity." They are "nothing," if considered as creatures who owe their all to him, and "less than nothing," considered as sinful creatures who deserve to be reduced to a state worse than nothing for their iniquities.

What then is the frame of heart which becomes such a creature towards his Maker?

Evidently

Evidently to be lowly before him, ever sensible of infinite distance from him, obligations to him, and unworthiness of the least of his mercies. To swell with pride, to depend on himself, to boast of his excellencies, to take to himself any part of the honour which belongs to his Maker is to fight against God, and to affront him in the most provoking manner that he is capable of. It is therefore a maxim of the divine government, which he pursues in all his dealings to abase the haughty and exalt the lowly. If there is one thing more generally taught through the bible than another, it is this, being indeed the great practical lesson of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that "God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." If men are lifted up, he brings them down, he opposes, baffles, confounds, and crosses them: He makes them feel that he is stronger than they, and that they shall not prevail in their schemes of self-exaltation. But where men lie low before him; yield to his power, wisdom, and authority; give place to him in all things, and cease from all self-dependance, such souls he delights in; on such he loves to bestow the riches of his grace, and he comforts and exalts them as his children and favourites; so that the sentiment is the same, which the Psalmist thus expresses, though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect to the lowly; as for the proud he beholdeth them afar off."

How weighty, how seasonable then the exhortation in the text, "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God." You areDdd

poor