able comfort, that the real pleasures of life, instead of being abandoned, are redoubled to him; he does not strive or labour less earnestly, than any of the chil dren of mammon, nor is he less prosperous than they; the yoke he wears is not galling, but easy; "the yoke is easy, and the burden light:" in compliance he does walk; walks rigorously, if you please to call it so; but it is a rigour in which he finds delight; and when he complies most, he is most happy. It is difficult to convince the worldly mind of this; but we appeal for the truth of it to the word of truth; and to the experience of every man, without exception, who has walked by this rule. I have thus thought proper incidentally to obviate an objection, which must naturally occur; let however the present consequences of our devotedness to God in the gospel be what they might; if they were ever so distasteful and burdensome, nothing but a spirit and a life of devotedness can serve the purpose of the Chris ter; tian; nothing else, if he believe his Saviour's word, can make him "fit for the kingdom of God." Let us not therefore deceive ourselves in this momentous mat let us not for an instant entertain the notion of being saved by any other means, than those which the author of our salvation has Himself been pleased to reveal. He is a God of mercy; or where should we be found? He is a God of truth; and where shall we be found, if we believe Him not? Have we any hope, but in the gospel? have we any hope in the gospel, unless we faithfully and fully embrace it? "Judge yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord:" search, examine, with the anxiety of those who are earnest in the work: and here are a few questions, which your con sciences may answer. Are you altogether intent upon "the prize of your high calling," or are you looking back? Is heaven your grand and real object, or are you divided between it and earth? How are your days employed? how do they begin, how do they proceed, how do they end? Is it with the world or with God, for time or for eternity? Does the love of God, does the fear of God, constrain you in your duty, or the love and fear of man? Are you content to leave all, and follow your Lord and Master? not merely all your possessions; for that, with many of us, might be an easier sacrifice; but all those earthly indulgences, all those prevailing customs, all those favourite pursuits, and fond alliances, which the Lord may require at your hand; can you lay them all down, readily and cheerfully, at the foot of the cross; and renounce the dearest of your vanities, for an inheritance in your Saviour's kingdom? Answer it to your consciences, as ye must answer at the bar of heaven. And if it should appear, that ye are not yet resolute, and courageous, and devoted in this great matter; that ye are "halting between two opinions;" seeking, struggling, tormenting yourselves with a vain desire, to "serve two masters;" O that H H the spirit of light and truth may be poured upon your understandings, may open your heart, and convince you of the impossible thing; may shew you the necessity, as well as the wisdom, of an unfeigned and unreserved service of God in the gospel; and incline you for ever, with a stedfast purpose, to the one thing needful. And if, by God's grace, ye be well-minded already; if ye have put your hand earnestly to the plough, see that ye be not wavering; see, if for any divine object your affections at any time be cooling; if there be any pious habit, in which you are tempted to relax; ; any holy vow broken, any good promise unfulfilled, any way of duty in which you are loitering. Keep a watch, keep an account; be going onward, press forward to the mark; pray as you watch, pray as you advance; thus will you preserve your whole heart in the cause, and thus you will find your salvation. SERMON XX. THE NEED OF LABOUR BEFORE REST. HEB. iv. 11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest. THE Apostle is speaking of "the rest which remaineth for the people of God," after their earthly course is run: as there was a rest appointed for Israel in the promised land, after their troublesome journeyings in the wilderness, after they had passed the stream of Jordan, so is there promised, to the faithful servant of God, a rest in the Canaan above, after his wanderings and endurings in the wilderness of life, as soon as he has passed the dark stream of separation between this |