What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and SERMON 1. SERIOUSNESS IN RELIGION INDISPENSABLE ABOVE ALL OTHER DISPOSITIONS. 1 PETER, iv. 7. Be ye, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer. TH ness. 'HE first requisite in religion is seriousNo impression can be made without it. An orderly life, so far as others are able to observe us, is now and then produced by prudential motives, or by dint of habit; but without seriousness there can be no religious principle at the bottom, no course of conduct, flowing from religious motives; in a word, there can be no religion. This cannot exist without seriousness upon the subject. Perhaps a teacher of religion has more difficulty in producing B |