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Because by carnal gratification their heart is waxed grofs; because by wilful inattention their ears have become dull of hearing; because through aversion to the light their eyes they have closed. They are habitually unholy in their inclinations and purposes; and therefore have no real faith. They are the willing fervants of fin; and therefore belong not to God. They are Chriftians only in name; and therefore are not Chriftians.

To which of the two claffes does each of us belong? This is a queftion to which our own bofoms, if we fairly examine them, will scarcely fail to give a true reply. Let me feparately addrefs to perfons of each class some few words of admonition.

If on fearching your hearts, under a deep conviction of the frequency and the extreme danger of felf-deception, you receive the answer of a good confcience towards God, witneffing the fincerity of faith; your be filled with gratitude to the Author of every good gift, by whom it is given unto you, as unto the Philippians, to believe on Jefus Chrift (d). Thanks be to God, exclaimed St. Paul, for his unspeakable gift (e). Was this language merely the language of his lips? It was the language of his actions; (d) Philipp. i. 29. (c) 2 Cor. ix. 15.

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the language of his love, of his zeal, of his patient endurance, of his unceafing toil, of his multiplied sufferings, of his triumphant death. Conftrained by the love of Christ, he lived unto Chrift. Live ye unto Chrift, who has died for you alfo. Give all diligence to make your calling and election fure. Reflect what numbers have been found in all ages of the Chriftian Church, who, after they had walked for a time in the ways of righteousness, have returned unto the world which they had abandoned, have become the flaves of fin which they had renounced. Demas, faith St. Paul, bath forfaken me, having loved this prefent world (f). That Demas, who had been the companion of the Apostle in his pilgrimage and his miniftry, forfook him. How many has the love of the world, the love of eafe, the love of gain, the love of power, the love of human praife, perfuaded, like Demas, to turnt heir backs upon Chrift! Reflect on the peril attendant on every step, when, ceafing to climb the path which points towards heaven, the unhappy victim of temptation turns down the steep which leads to deftruction! Reflect on the detriment to the general interefts of religion, (ƒ) 2 Tim. iv. 10.

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the scandal to the Christian name, the dif couragement of the pious, the exulting fcoffs of the wicked, occafioned by the fall of those who have been confidered as estab→ lifhed examples of the faith! Be not highminded, but fear. Let him that thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left he fall. back on the numberless inftances of tranf greffion which your lives have exhibited fince you have profeffed to be followers in earnest of Jefus Chrift. Look back on the inftances, equally furpaffing number, of wafted opportunities, of neglected duty. Call to mind your coldness in prayer, your languid application to religious study, your leaning to the world, your proneness to give way to enfnaring cuftoms, your unchaftifed tempers, your fecret and besetting fins. Whatever may have been your Chrif tian progress; do you not even yet difcover within your heart fo much of the power of evil, that you have reason daily to fhudder left you should be altogether overcome? If you have hope that you are a fervant of Chrift; rejoice in your hope: but rejoice with trembling. Diftrust yourfelf: rely wholly upon God: pray without ceafing be not weary of well-doing and you fhall be ftrengthened and upheld by all

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fufficient grace. This is the victory which overcometh the world, even your faith ( g).

If there are thofe among you who prac tically believe not; let them mark the full enormity of their guilt. Wo unto thee, Charazin, faid our Lord; Wo unto thee Bethfaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in fackcloth and afbes. Ifay unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of Judgement than for you (b). In this denunciation of our bleffed Saviour, read his warning to yourselves. To you the things of eternal life, though you believe them not, have been spoken. To you, though you reject them, they have been unremittingly declared. To you, though you have closed your eyes, they have been difplayed in the fcriptures. To you, though you have shut your ears, they have been unremittingly proclaimed by the minifters of the Gospel. To God has offered the mercy, though you have thrust it away, of being converted and healed. How many uninftruded Heathens, lying like Tyre and Sidon of old, in darkness and the shadow of death, would long ago have glorified God (b) Math. xi. 21, 22

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(g) 1 John, v. 4.

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by repentance in fackcloth and afhes, if the light of divine truth, which has been poured upon you in vain, had been vouchfafed unto them! How many idolaters would have broken and burned their images; while you have cherished the idols of your heart! How many favages would have relinquished their cruel and abominable practices; while you have ftrengthened yourfelf in wickedness! How many would have turned unto God, while you have denied him! How many would have laid down their lives for the faith of Chrift; while you have crucified the Son of God afresh, and trodden under foot, as an unholy thing, the blood of the covenant wherewith you were fanctified! How many would have welcomed the regenerating influence of the Holy Ghoft; while you have hardened your hearts, and done defpite unto the Spirit of grace! They who have finned without the Gospel fhall be judged without the Gospel; they fhall be judged according to the difpenfation under which they were placed. But if we fin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth; if with the unclouded blaze of evangelical light before us we perfift in the paths of dark

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