us from evil and mischief, from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation !" "From fornication, and all other deadly sin, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, good Lord deliver us!"

The impossibility of salvation while we live in the indulgence of any of these vices, is universally admitted: to labour to establish this truth is needless, it is stamped by the God of heaven on the conscience of every one who hears me: They who do such things, or

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SUCH LIKE, shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

But who would come to this conclusion, by considering the lives of many who "profess and call themselves Christians?" There is hardly a vice that prevails in any heathen land but we may find its equal in this Christian country! Not a few cast off every restraint, plunge into the abyss of sin, revel in sensuality and licentiousness, bid defiance not only

to the laws of God, but to common decency, outrage the feelings of mankind, and bring upon themselves sure perdition! Others, a more numerous class, polish the exterior, confine themselves within the pale of human opinion, indulge in secret in those sins which they love and serve, and tread with as sure a step as the former, that downward road which leads to destruction! The apostle describes both classes, where he observes, that "some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." But we are here bound in the most solemn, and yet we trust in the most affectionate manner, to declare, in the name of that God who will hereafter ratify the sentence, that all such persons "must have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire, which is the second death." However high the rank which is tarnished by licentiousness, however dazzling the colours which fashion or public opinion may throw

over it, however daring the hardihood of the human heart, sin, all sin, every sin, shall be punished in an eternal world. The impious scoff, the taunt or the jest, may turn aside the arrow of conviction now, but there comes a day when all such persons must awake to shame and everlasting contempt. And

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though heaven and earth shall pass away, God's word shall not pass away!" O, if there should be one unhappy individual now in the presence of God, who feels that this inspired warning applies to him, may the tears of godly sorrow begin to roll from his eyes! May the hard and callous heart be softened, and may he betake himself to that blessed Saviour who "willeth not the death of a sinner;" who came to seek and to save the lost;" and who declares that "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth!"

II. The word of God, in common with the services of our church, instructs

us that THEY WHO ARE CAREFUL TO

MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS,

WILL NOT

ONLY RENOUNCE ALL SIN AND WICKEDNESS, BUT ALSO ALL THE VAIN PLEASURES AND FOLLIES OF THE

WORLD. Upon this subject there is an infinite variety of opinion among professed Christians, and there ever will be, because we suffer our opinions to be guided by our inclinations; the evil bias of the heart corrupts the judgment. But this is certain, that while the oracles of God and the liturgy of the church confine themselves to general terms, and leave the particular application of them to each man's own conscience, they do speak in very strong language. Let us listen to the inspired doctrine. Thus St. John exhorts us: "Love not the world, neither the things of the world: for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world."-"The friendship of the world is enmity with God." That the

and

" If

world here spoken of is that gay, and pleasurable, and thoughtless life, which is led by many among us, must be evident, unless it can be shown that in such scenes there is "no lust of the flesh," no "lust of the eyes," no "pride of life!" It is the same world of which our Lord speaks, when he asks, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" again : "I am not of this world." ye were of the world, the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." It is the same of which St. Paul speaks, when he is bewailing the apostacy of a professed believer: "Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world." When we add to this striking language of God's word, the solemn vow, profession, and promise, which we have all made in our baptism, and upon which our very title to the name of Christian depends: "I renounce