shalt have treasure in heaven.'- Love not the world,' says St. John, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' When therefore we find the love of the world actually prevailing, and clearly manifested, in the life and conversation of persons who make a profession of religion, the evidence of their piety, of whatever nature it may be, must be exceedingly diminished in the eye of sober charity. Whatever zeal they may discover in attending upon public or private worship, however well they may converse upon religious subjects, whatever feelings they may discover in such conversation, and whatever bright discoveries they may seem to enjoy concerning the mercy or glory of God, or the love and excellence of Christ; if still they are greedy of gain, absorbed in the world, peevish, discontented, wrathful, slothful, sensual, unfeeling, vain of their attainments, uncharitable; particularly if they are eagerly engaged in the pursuit of place, power, popularity, and fame; and more particularly still, if they refuse to give to the poor, or give leanly and grudgingly, or deny aid to others in their distresses; there will be little reason left tò believe them children of God. How can these persons expect Christ to say at the final judgment, I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; sick, and ye visited me?' How can he say, 'Ye did it unto the least of these, my brethren?' Were he on earth, and should tell them, as he told the young ruler, Go, and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor;' would they not go away sorrowful?' that even 'to have treasure in heaven' would be a hard bargain?

Would they not feel

upon these conditions

There have been, there are still, multitudes of mankind, and it is to be feared that in this land and at the present time the number is not small, of those who intend to go to heaven with a cheap religion; a religion, in which the love of the world' is made to harmonize with the love of the Father.' This religion consists of feelings, views, discoveries, conversation about these and other religious subjects, and zeal in attending upon external religious duties. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him; how dwelleth the love of God in him?'

It is easy for any man who thinks that he is loved by God, to love him in turn. But this is not that love of God which he requires. The feelings and views which do not prompt us to virtuous conduct are of no value. If we would prove ourselves to be Christians, we should then diligently ask ourselves whether we aim at being strictly just, sincere, and faithful; whether we actually show kindness to all men, whether friends or enemies, strangers or neighbours; whether we do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;' whether we befriend and promote public, useful, and charitable designs; employing both our substance and efforts as either may be needed; whether we love the souls of others, oppose their sins, and promote in them reformation and piety; and whether we are watchfully sober, chaste, temperate, diligent in our callings, and active in our opposition to every worldly lust.

Finally Concerning all these things we should carefully ask whether we take delight in such a life as this; and that, notwithstanding all the opposition, ridicule, and contempt of the world.

Among the different acts or kinds of obedience also, particular attention is due to those which involve peculiar selfdenial. When the avaricious man becomes generous and charitable, the ambitious man contented with his circumstances, the proud man humbled, the wrathful man meek, the revengeful man forgiving, and the sensualist sober, chaste, and temperate; in a word, when we drop our reigning sins, and assume the contrary virtues, of set and córdial purpose; we are furnished with strong reason to believe that we are Christians.

6. The increase of all these things in the mind and life is, perhaps, the clearest of all the evidences of personal religion.

St. Paul informs us that he did not count himself to have apprehended; that is, he did not consider himself as having attained that degree of excellence which belonged to his Christian profession. But (saith he) this one thing I do :' or, perhaps, as the omission in the text is supplied by Doddridge, 'this one thing I can say: Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to those which are before,' (in the Greek, reaching out eagerly) I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' What was the conduct of Paul is the duty of all Christians;

and is accordingly enjoined by him in the following verse. In greater or less degree it is their conduct also. They are directed so to run, that they may obtain;' and 'to 'grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;' 'to increase, and abound, in love one towards another, and towards all men.'

As it is the duty of Christians to fulfil these precepts, so it is the nature of Christianity to accord with them, by increasing from time to time their strength and vigour. The more the spirit of the Gospel is exercised, the more we love to exercise it. The more the pleasure found in it is enjoyed, the more it is coveted. The more habitual its principles and practices become, the greater is the strength which they acquire. Indeed nothing is vigorous and powerful in man, beside that which is habitual.

Hence it is plain that in investigating our religious character we should examine it with particular reference to its growth. To grow is its proper nature. If it is not seen to grow, then we do not either see it as it is, or it does not exist in us in its genuine character; but is feeble, fading, sickly, clogged with incumbrances, and in a great measure hidden from view. Man is never for any length of time stationary. Either he is advancing or receding in every thing which pertains to him; and in religion as truly as in his natural endowments or acquisitions. Declension in religion, I need not

furnishes a melancholy evidence that we are not religious. It is no less obvious that a regular progress in its various graces and attainments must, on the contrary, become a clear and delightful testimony of our Christian character. There is not only more of religion to be seen in ourselves, but it is discerned with clearer conviction and certainty to be genuine; because it appears, as real religion naturally appears, in its own proper character of growth and improvement. He who loves, fears, and serves God more and more, who is more and more just, sincere, and merciful to his fellow-men, and who is more and more self-governed in all his appetites and passions, weaned from the world, and spiritually and heavenly minded, cannot want the best reasons furnished in our present state to believe that he is a child of God.

SERMON XC.

REGENERATION.

ITS EVIDENCES.

DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE APPLICATION OF THESE

EVIDENCES TO OURSELVES.

EXAMINE YOURSELVES WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES; KNOW YE NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, HOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, EXCEPT YE BE REPROBATES?

2 CORINTHIANS XIII. 5.

In the last Discourse but one I proposed from these words to examine,

I. Some of the imaginary evidences of regeneration.

II. Some of the real evidences.

III. Some of the difficulties which attend the application of the real evidences to ourselves.

There has been much debate in the Christian world concerning the faith of assurance; or, as it is in better language styled by St. Paul, the full assurance of hope.' The question debated has, however, not been whether men felt assured that they were Christians, but whether this assurance has been evangelical, or built on satisfactory and scriptural evidence. That such a faith has existed I have no doubt ; nor do I see how it can be rationally doubted. That the apostles were evangelically assured of their own piety, and consequent salvation, must be admitted by all who believe

Nor is the evidence lived and suffered in These men have in

the Scriptures. I have fought a good fight,' says St. Paul, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. For me to live is Christ; to die is gain. We know,' says St. John, that we have passed from death unto life.' From the accounts given us concerning the first Martyrs, I think we cannot hesitate to admit that they also were the subjects of the same faith. concerning a number of those who have modern times less convincing to me. various instances lived in a manner eminently evangelical, have devoted themselves through a long period to the service of God, with so much humility, self-denial, uniformity, stedfastness, and evangelical zeal, have laboured for the good of their fellow creatures with so much disinterestedness, charity, and constancy, have lived so much above the world, and with a conversation so heavenly, that when they are declaring themselves possessed of this faith, and have died with peace and exultation, which must be supposed to result from it, we cannot, unless by wilful rejection of evidence, hesitate to admit that they were possessed of this enviable attainment. Indeed, I can hardly doubt, that any man who reads their history with candour, will readily admit the doctrine, so far as the men to whom I refer are concerned. But, if these things be admitted, it will probably be readily conceded, that there are in every country and in every age where Christianity prevails, some persons who enjoy the Faith or Hope of as

surance.

At the same time, I am fully persuaded that the number of these persons is not very great. If the Christians and ministers with whom I have had opportunity to converse, many of whom have been eminently exemplary in their lives, may be allowed to stand as representatives of Christians in general, it must certainly be true, that the faith of assurance is not

common.

Indeed, I am persuaded, that this blessing is much more frequently experienced in times and places of affliction and persecution, than in seasons of peace and prosperity. Severe trials and sufferings furnish of themselves clearer proofs of the piety of those who are tried, than can ordinarily be furnished by circumstances of ease and quiet. The faith which will

patiently submit, which will encounter, which will endure,