Doubtless they are efssentially the fame.

"There

is no respect of persons with God." If to neglect the badges of discipleship was formerly to deny Chrift, it is ftill to deny him. If we deny him, he alfo will deny us.

III. CHRIST may be denied by a perverfion of the gospel, causing it to become another gospel.

SOME of this description were found in the primitive church. Such were those who made Chrift the minifter of fin-who confidered the design of his coming, not to be " to destroy the works of the devil," but to render it safe to live in fin and indulge depravity. Such were those who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; and the doctrine of Balaam, which were probably nearly akin, giving countenance to uncleanness. Such were also those pretendedly enlightened perfons, who claimed knowledge in divine things, superior to that of the apostles, and taught that chastity, and temperance, and sundry other duties enjoined of God, were not obligatory on believers. These are described by St. Peter and Jude, as enemies of

Chrift.

In later ages the gospel hath not been lefs corrupted, by some, who have called themselves Christians. It hath become in their hands, another gofpel.

It may be difficult precisely to determine, all who in this way deny Christ: But when the manifeft tendency of any scheme, called Christian, is to lead to fin, render secure in sin, or build the hope of falvation on any other foundation than the mer.

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cy of God, and merits of the Redeemer, it must lead to a practical denial of Christ. To the sacred standard should every system be referred. Those which deviate essentially therefrom, lead to a denial of Christ; and will produce a denial by him before his Father in heaven.

REFLECTIONS.

If we do not mistake the Scriptures, those who deny Christ are without hope; and those who reject, and those who neglect the gospel, or refuse to confess the Savior, are to be reckoned among them.

SOME are otherwise minded. "If a person only acts sincerely, no matter what his religious principles, (say some) or whether he hath religious principles; he will find mercy with God and be ac cepted of him;" an opinion which is spreading in this liberal age!

We would gladly adopt it, and receive to the arms of charity all who appear to act honestly, could we fee reason for it. But, in our apprehen fion, the word of truth condemns those who deny Christ, and declares that they will be denied by him before his heavenly Father. We read of damnable herefies-of those who are given up to strong delusions that they should believe a lie, that they might be damned."-And find an express declara. tion, cutting off unbelievers from all hope.-“Не that believeth not shall be damned."

WHATEVER God may do with those who have not the gospel, those to whom it is sent must believe, receive and obey it, or perish in their sins. This is so plainly and expressly declared in the

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word of truth, that we wonder doubts should arise in the minds of those who believe it.

Nor is it less strange, that confeffing Christ should be thought a matter of indifference. Scripture is equally express respecting this matter, as the oth. er. We have feen that under the former difpensation, God's covenant and the tokens of it were commanded, under penalty of excifion from his people-That in the apoftolic age, Christ was to be confefsed, under penalty of being denied by him in the prefence of God. These are not matters of doubt.

THEY are stoney ground hearers who "are offended when perfecution arifeth because of the word." These bring no fruit to perfection.

If the terms of acceptance with Christ are the fame now as formerly: If they are not lowered down from their original, a denial of him, either verbal or practical, will shut men out of his kingdom.

It becomes those who have a hope toward God while such their state, to confider these things. "It is a faithful saying-If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him: If we deny him, he alfo will deny us."

The fearful-shall have their part in the lake which burnetk with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

THE terms on which only we can be Christ's disciples are laid before us in the Scriptures, and we are counselled to consider them before we engage to be his.

THOUGH Christ was born to be a king, his king. dom is not of this world. He doth not perfuade men with the prospect of great things here; but on the contrary warns his followers, that "in this world they shall have tribulation;" pointing them to another, as the place of their rest, and teaching them there to expect the reward of their labors and suffering here. And here the faints in every age, have "groaned, being burdened. Had God provided nothing better for them, he would be ashamed to be called their God.

The primitive Christians drank largely of the bitter cup. All the apostles, except John, are faid to have sealed their testimony with their blood. John at an advanced age, died peaceably in his bed at Ephesus. But he did not escape persecution here. When the revelation was made to him, he was in exile " for the word of God and for the teftimony of Jesus. For his confolation, and for the edification of the church, he was visited in his lonely state, by the exalted Redeemer, who unveil. ed futurity before him, briefly sketching the changes which were to pass over his people till the confummation of all things. The vision closed with the folemn, dreadful process of the great day, and its consequences to the righteous and to the wicked!

The divine vifitant enlarged on the glories of the heavenly state beyond any of the prophets who had gone before. The description is clothed in figurative language, affording only a partial view of " the glory which is to be revealed;" sufficient however to convince us, that " eye hath not seen, ear heard, or the heart of man conceived the things which God hath prepared for those who love him."

But who will be made to possess these glorious things? They are offered to all who hear the found of the gospel; but conquering believers will only attain them. Their contrast will be the portion of others.

THIS life is a warfare, in which we are called to contend with our own corruptions and with the powers of darkness" He that overcometh shall inherit all things:" But those who are overcome,