Sodom and its environs. Those that make the holy God their enemy, must never expect the holy angels, who are zealous for their Master's interest and glory, to be their friends.

3. This is done by God himself; and, indeed, where men or angels are the instruments, yet he is the supreme agent. Whether it be a work of mercy or of judgment, he directs and strengthens for, and assists in it. Vengeance belongeth to the Lord, and he will repay it.. "How can thy heart endure," says he, "or thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee?" David was a good man, and he thought it better to fall into the hands of God, than into the hands of men; but wicked men will find it "a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God;" for when he begins, he will make an end; and as his mercies are great, so his wrath is terrible and insupportable. I proceed,

III. To take notice of the import of the phrase: "The axe is laid." And now this implies,

1. That God's judgments are certain and inevitable. Thus the prophet says, "Wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?" Can the tree resist the axe that is laid to the root of it? No more can stubborn sinners resist God. They can neither avert his wrath, nor bear it. They may fly to his mercy, but they can neither flee from, nor withstand his power.

2. They are near at hand-just at the door. Some say, "Where is the promise of his coming?" But let such scoffers know, "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;" when they least expect, and are least prepared for it. It is true God does not, as men often do, punish in a passion, but warns before he strikes: but it is equally true, that abused mercy is changed to provoked fury; and threatenings despised will speedily, and may suddenly, be executed. The sword unsheathed will soon

thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind," (than which nothing is more sudden or more violent, more to be feared, or less to be resisted,)" both living, and in his wrath."

3. These judgments already begin to operate. The cloud hangs over our heads. Some sprinklings of divine wrath fall upon us,-the sure presages of a future storm. We have pains and aches in our bodies, losses in our substance, distress in our families, foreboding fears in our minds. Are not these the messengers of an angry God? and is not the sound of their Master's feet behind them? "I will curse your blessings," says he; "yea, I have cursed them already, because ye lay it not to heart."

Let these words, then, accompany thee, O sinner, wherever thou goest; into the banquetting-room and the bedchamber; to scenes of dissolute indulgence; in all thy rioting profligacy and wantonness. "The axe is laid to the root of the tree;" and without repentance, and a lively faith in Christ, it shall never be taken from thence, but cut thee down as a fruitless shrub, when thou shalt be cast into everlasting burnings. Happy art thou, O believer! since thou art secure from the stroke of this axe; Christ, thy surety, having received it in thy stead. He was wounded for thine iniquities, bruised for thy transgressions; and by his stripes thou art healed. The Messiah was cut off, but not for himself. No, it was for thee he drank up that bitter cup that thou hadst mingled, and endured that wrath which thou hadst provoked; so that thou mayest now sing, and say, "Who is he that condemneth?-it is Christ that died!"

SERMON XXXIV.

PRACTICAL RELIGION MORE IMPORTANT THAN CEREMONIES.

1 CORINTHIANS VII. 19.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

In another place, the apostle says, " Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing;" and very similar is the import of the words in my text. We inquire, then, what does avail? or, what is it that really constitutes the christian character, and distinguishes the truly good man from all others?

In reply to this inquiry, I would observe,

1. The internal, nay, universal, change that is wrought in him he becomes a new creature.

2. The noble principles by which he is actuated and influenced: "Faith which worketh by love."

3. His steady and uniform conduct, as having experienced this change, and being animated by this principle: the keeping the commandments of God. I shall consider each of the propositions laid down in my text apart, and then make some remarks by way of improvement.

I. "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing." What is here said of circumcision and uncircumcision, may be applied to an established worship, creeds, and formularies, of men's inventions; voluntary or involuntary subjection to different modes of humiliation