Mount Sion, see that ye do not now refuse him that speaketh; but stand fast in the faith, and let all the things which are shaken be removed, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. So may you abide in the kingdom which cannot be moved, and have grace to serve God with reverence and godly fear. Walk in the way cast up for you, and go on from strength to strength; and, being led by the Spirit of him in whom is everlasting strength "to mount upwards as on wings of eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting," until you arrive at that blessed state, where the crown of righteousness is laid up for them that strive lawfully, and love the appearance of Jesus Christ, who, by his Holy Spirit of life, setteth free from the law of sin and death.

b

My belief is, that the apostles of Christ prayed with the Spirit, and with the understanding also; believing that all things for which they prayed, and to which they exhorted others, were to be obtained. I therefore conclude, that the apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Thessalonians, believed that God would do that for them which he prayed for, if they kept faithful to his exhortation in the epistle. Read it, my brethren, and be instructed, as I believe these zealous converts were, and as we may be, if, like them, instead of pleading for continuance in sin, we are desirous to be quickened, from time to time, by that power which entered

a

Isa. xl. 31.

b 1 Cor. xiv. 15.

into these people. "For this power caused the word of the Lord to sound out from them, so that in every place their faith toward God was spread abroad, that the apostles had no need to say any thing; for these converts' works shewed forth the power which the gospel had in them. And the apostles shew forth their anxious desire, that, through the power of the Spirit, they may be kept under the spirit and power of that gospel which they had received, as may be seen in the epistle. A few of the striking sentences I transcribe to your view. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." And then the great apostle adds, "And I pray God, your whole spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

Now here is a high state of Christian perfection prayed for, and believed to be attainable, by an inspired apostle. I have no doubt in my mind, that the same causes will ever produce the same effects; and that the apostle's conclusion of the faithfulness of the Caller, did by no means ex

1 Thess. i. 8.

1 Thess. v. 16.

clude the called from that to which they were called. On the contrary, it encouraged them to look for help from him on whom it is laid, that they might continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and not be removed from the hope of the gospel which they had received.

I could bring many proofs of the apostle's praying for the perfection of the primitive Christians; and none to authorise ministers to persuade people, that Christ will not give a believer power to avoid sinning. In short, I believe it the duty of every minister, to hold out to believers, that "the weapons of a Christian's warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Here is power proclaimed by the apostle, and this is the only power for which I plead. I know that no other can regenerate a man, and restore the perfect image which is lost by the fall. I believe that it is incumbent on every believer to desire to have this perfected in him, and to labour in the power of the Spirit, to bring his body in subjection, and keep it so. One great step towards this, is to keep in mind, that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in us; and that we are not our own, but bought

with a price. This price appears precious, when we first feel ourselves ransomed; then we are made willing to surrender ourselves, and cleave to our Redeemer. Why should time make us cold and careless? the Lord is with us, while we are with him; and when we turn from him, still he abideth faithful, and cannot deny himself.

But we must not set these degenerate briars and thorns in battle array against the Lord; we must take hold of his strength, and make peace with him, for sure it is, that every deviation from a holy life, after we are brought into the covenant of grace, is a breach of the covenant on our part : and I am well assured, that we must partake of the wormwood and gall again before we can come to feel the peace of God to rule in our hearts. Therefore, my dear Christians, let me entreat you to watch and be sober, and fear to presume that you cannot avoid sinning against the Lord, who hath all power in heaven and in earth, and whose Spirit dwelleth in the heart of every believer, as a light and a leader. Let us then believe, that it is possible to walk in the light, and be cleansed from all sin. We should not grow cold and careless, after being blessed with the dawning of the gospel day: we cannot lay full claim to all the precious promises therein, unless the love of the truth, and the hope of inheriting them, produce the life to which they belong. Now this, I conceive, can be effected, only by and through that Omnipotent and Omnipresent power, dwelling and walking with

us. This the apostle applied to the Corinthians, quoting from two of the prophets, who alluded, no doubt, to gospel times; and whose predictions consequently apply to us, in the present day, who are brought into a gospel state. And from these, we may learn a deep lesson, by being taught how we may be kept in a gospel state. Christians are the temples of the living God, and he hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

g

But, in order thereto, they were called to come out from the heathenish idolaters, " and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Here the nice critic may say, the heathenish customs were the unclean thing not to be touched. I allow these to be included; but hear what the apostle enjoins to these people, and be assured, that it is enjoined to all those, who, "through faith and patience come to inherit the promises." Who dares doubt the inspired apostle's application of the indwelling omnipresence and power? and then, who will dare doubt the justness of his following exhortation, and the possibility of its being effected. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness

£ 2 Cor. vi. 16.

& 2 Cor. vi. 17.

Heb. vi. 12. i 2 Cor. vii. 1.