the man that handleth the word of God deceitfully;" and, "Cursed is he that hath in his flock a male, and offereth to the Lord the lame and the blind."

And those among us who are still in their old condition of doubt, brooding over their sins, instead of casting their sins upon the Lord, and laying hold of His strength; who think they do God honour when they shake their heads despondingly; such ought to bethink themselves what pleasure they are giving to Satan when they cast to the winds these words of the apostle: "Set your hope wholly upon grace." I acknowledge that, whether at the beginning or afterwards, whether young or old in grace, it is impossible for man of himself to set his hope wholly upon grace; but since we have the word of the apostle, which is the word of God, ought we not to listen to this word? Shall we wait till we have some direct confirmation of it from heaven, some voice which cries aloud to us, "Do this!" Then death may seize us while we are thus waiting. Surely, when we have this apostolic word, we do God's will when we hearken to it! The devil accuses us, and he is entitled to do so; the world with its pharisaic law condemns us, and it is right in so doing, because wherefore do we not possess the virtues it counterfeits? Affliction presses on every side, and it appears as if God heard not; God sleepeth, He hath forsaken us, He is angry with the sheep of His pasture.* Death threatens us with the terrors of the future, and so does the deep and fathomless corruption in us! What vile things come forth from the *Psalm 1xxiv. 1.

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heart, as from a stagnant and poisonous pool, and even seek to tempt us to carry them out into act!

But notwithstanding all these our enemies, hovering around us, if we only listen to these apostolic words we shall obtain the victory in Christ Jesus. Let us put the girdle of this truth around the God-enlightened understanding, even when we can neither hear nor see, for deep anguish of soul. What is there for me to expect besides that which I actually perceive? Well, then, be it so; I shall still cleave to Christ, He is the wisdom of God, and the power of God; in Him have I righteousness and strength. Let us possess our souls in peace, so that when the flood comes we may calmly remember that the rock of our salvation cannot be shaken, because it rests on the heart of eternal mercy. If there is complete misery all around us, then will our hope be complete also. May our God and Father revive this hope more and more in you who believe. He comes, he comes, my Redeemer and my Surety; He brings grace from above with him; therefore though I lie devoid of grace in your midst, as one vanquished, O, ye enemies of my soul, yet will I not give up that name with which I, a lost and condemned creature from my birth, was named in my baptism; the name of Him in whom is all my salvation; who will not be ashamed before his Father and the holy angels, nor before the world, of those whom He has purchased with His precious blood, that all-sufficient ransom. Amen.

83

SERMON VII.

"Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy."-1 Peter i. 14-16.

I REJOICE in the opportunity which our faithful God affords me, to give you from this time forward many salutary hints contained in the passages now to be considered; counsels which cannot be disregarded by any one without damage to the soul. They are words which the Holy Spirit proclaims to the Church, to teach and to warn her, in order that she may correct many evils that are found in her midst.

It is not to unbelievers these words are addressed, but to believers, to those who consider the Word of God as peculiarly their own, but who yet give way to evil desires, and do not show forth the light of the gospel to those around them: who are inclined to false worship, are careless in their walk and conversation, consider not at what a price they were redeemed, mistake pharisaic holiness for real sanctification, mistrust the truth, are selfish and unjust towards their brethren and neighbours, consider but little what all flesh is, and as little remember what a gospel they have. That amidst much that is good

and praiseworthy, such things are often to be met with among you, none of you will deny.

While you gladly listen to the inspired word, you will not be unwilling to receive the admonition of the Spirit, which seeks to draw us from error, and lead us into the right way.

I need not detain you, on this occasion, with any explanation of the apostle's words, nor in what way they were applicable to the Christians to whom Peter wrote them; such as they were to them, so are they now to us; I will, therefore, proceed at once to their application.

"Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance;" or, "Do not walk according to the desires which in your former state of ignorance swayed your conduct." So says the apostle Peter.

We act as "obedient children," when we place our hope wholly upon the grace that is to be brought to us at the appearing of Jesus Christ. But if we do not set our hope entirely on this grace, then we are disobedient children: we do not fully yield ourselves up in faith, with entire self-dedication. If we do not set our hope solely on grace, then we place it on other things that have no substance nor stability. Every one knows and is conscious of this. And what are these things? The apostle names them desires, and that most truly; for the object desired by man, and hoped for through these things, is never attained by him: they satisfy not the poor craving heart. What! have God's children other than godly desires; do they long earnestly after any

was,

thing besides God? Alas! they not only have other desires, they even act in accordance with them. But what desires? Evil desires of all kinds; desires which are all contrary to the commandment: "Thou shalt not covet ;" they are the same desires which they formerly had, when they still lived in their ignorance, when they were unacquainted with God and Christ. Each one who has not forgotten what he and who will answer before God for what is done and thought in secret, as well as for that which comes to the light of day, will not deny that the admonition of the Spirit is suitable to him. Ye, who are God's elect, do still walk according to the desires which governed you in your former ignorant state. How! what! is it possible I can seek after such worthless things? I may still feel the indications of such desires in me; but surely I do not regulate my life by these, but by God's commandments. My dear friend, you may think thus of yourself; but the Holy Spirit says here that you walk according to the desires you formerly had; you think yourself holier than the believers to whom these words were addressed.

The evil desires which actuate one and another in the church, and according to which they conform their conduct, are desires which are diametrically opposed to grace; all those desires by which a man gives evidence that his mind is set on other things than eternal realities. Those to whom Peter wrote were walking according to their Judaizing inclinations, after the desire of their Jewish hearts seeking by works to establish a righteousness of their own,