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or whether you are diffemblers in his fight. The neceffity, the fupreme importance, of fuch an examination I would prefs upon you in the strongest language. Do I recommend it to any among you even with greater earnestnefs than to others? It is to thofe, who flatter themfelves that they ftand in need of it the leaft. I would detain you from it no longer than while I recal to your thoughts the vengeance which has overtaken thofe, who in former ages diffembled with God; vengeance ordained to be an emblem and a pledge of the certainty of that perdition, which fhall for ever overwhelm all who diffemble with Him in their hearts. What befel the diffemblers of the old world? They pérished to a man in the deluge. What, befel the congregation of Ifrael, when they refused to render to God their covenanted obedience, and to march forward at his command into the land of Canaan? They perished to a man in the wilderness, What befel the Jews who refused to liften to Jeremiah, and obeyed not the voice of the Lord to dwell in Judea? They were overtaken in Egypt by the king of Babylon, from whose power they imagined themselves fecure; and were utterly and miferably deftroyed. Concerning the diffemblers in the old world, God proclaimed; I will destroy

them

them from off the face of the earth. Of the diffembling congregation of Ifrael in the days of Mofes, he folemnly affirmed; They shall not See the land. I have fworn in my wrath, that they fhall not enter into my reft. Of the Jews who diffembled when they enquired concerning his will by Jeremiah, he pronounced; Bebold I will fend Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon; and will fet his throne in Egypt. Ye fhall die by the fword, by the famine, and by the peftilence, in the place whither ye defire to go and to fojourn. None shall efcape. All these predicted judgements were punctually accomplished. So fhall be accomplished every

word of God. Where are all the unrepenting diffemblers of all paft ages now? They are referved in chains and darknefs unto the judgement of the great day. Where shall be all the unrepenting diffemblers of the prefent age? They fhall be referved in the fame chains under the fame darkness to the fame judgement. All liars, faith the Lord;and of all liars who is the moft guilty, but he who diffembleth with his God?-All liars fhall have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimftone (f). Whoever thou art, who diffembleft in thine heart with thy Judge; look forward to the hour that (f) Rev. xxi. 8.

awaiteth

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awaiteth thee if thou abideft in thy diffimulation. Look forward to the hour, when thofe dreadful words, Thou haft not lied unto men but unto God, at the found of which Ananias fell down dead, fhall be to thee the fentence of death eternal.

And is hope then excluded? Is the dif fembling heart irreclaimable There is One, to whom nothing is impoffible. There is One whofe transforming power hypocrify itfelf cannot escape. The preparation of the heart is from the Lord (g). In his hand the ftone becomes flesh, the fcarlet white as fnow. In his hand all things are renewed. Cleanfe your hands, ye finners: purify your hearts, ye double-minded b). Behold, we were born in fin: how fhall we be cleanfed? We are altogether vile: how fhall we be purified? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, faith the Lord of Hofts. I am with you, faith the Lord of Hofts. According to the word that I covenanted with you, my Spirit remaineth among you. Fear ye not (i). Allelulia! Glory be to thee, Lord God Omnipotent! Light is arisen on my darkness. I can do all things through

Chrift who ftrengtheneth me.

Do we yet lin

(g) Prov. xvi. 1. (b) James, iv. S. (i) Zech. iv. 6.

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Haggai, ii. 4, 5.

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ger? Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord (k). Let us be wife, while there is yet time for wisdom. Let us rend our hearts and turn unto the Lord: let us fear and ferve him in fincerity and truth. Let us defer not to pay our vows unto the Moft High. Let us join ourfelves unto the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten (1).

() Philipp. iv. 13. Ifaiah, ii. 5. (1) Joel, ii. 13. Jofhua, xxiv. 14. Eccl. v. 4. Jerem. 1. 5.

VOL. I.

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On the Nature and the Consequences of Excufes for not giving up the Heart to Religion.

LUKE, xiv. 18.

And they all with one Confent began to make Excufe.

INSTRUCTION poffeffes peculiar force,

when derived from incidents which interest the mind. Facts feize upon the memory more powerfully than precepts. The recollection of the former recalls the remembrance of the latter. The precept, thus recalled, prefents itfelf under characters of animation and propriety, which confer additional energy on its native importance.

It was the ufual practice of our Saviour, when favourable opportunities arofe, to take advantage of circumftances immediately paffing before the eyes of his followers for the purpofe

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