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dispositions, and affections, quite different from those we bring with us into the world. Do not think that giving up one or two sins, and still reserving others, will do your business. There is no change of nature, so long as we love any sin, and practise it. If you would be happy indeed, you must fall out with all sin, and war against the whole of it all your days. Oh! that you felt what misery it is to be enslaved in sin, what a curse and bitterness there is in it: Oh! that you were restless and uneasy to be delivered from it. Oh! that you knew how helpless you are in yourselves, and utterly unable, because utterly unwilling to save yourselves.

If you be indeed brought to feel your misery by reason of the state of sin, then observe what exceeding great and precious promises there are for you. "The whole," saith Jesus, "need not a physician, but those that are sick: come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; if any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink; I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Hear the word of God, and the gospel promises made in Jesus's name, which promises exclude none but those who exclude themselves. Do not then turn away from a compassionate Saviour. He calls on you to be happy: if you give yourselves up to him, he will do all that for you and in you, which you cannot do for yourselves.

SERMON VI.

THE WORLD OVERCOME BY FAITH.

1 John v. 4.

Whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

THE

HE Apostle, in this verse, lays down an infallible method of overcoming the world; a method not consisting in war and violence, nor in making haste to be rich, with a view to become an independent man, and above the world, as it is called. These are the vain arts of vain men, which leave them the slaves of their lusts, and instead of lessening, exceedingly increase their misery. No: the method is entirely supernatural; far remote from all the schemes of men. It surely deserves our consideration; for what is so desirable as to be above the world, its cares, its disappointments, its fears, its evils, its desires? Let us then attend to the method laid down by God in this verse, and to this end, let us briefly consider the context.

The Apostle begins the chapter with observing that "whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." To believe thus is to receive him in all his offices as our Prophet, Priest, and King. This it is which makes a man new born; which conducts him out of the sinful state of nature into

a state of grace; which exalts the son of Adam into a son of God; and gives him the privileges, blessings, and dispositions of a child of God. The words, "believing that Jesus is the Christ," have a particular respect to his prophetical character, by which he gives understanding to the believer. For as the work of conversion is a rational one, the understanding is first enlightened, that the will may freely follow its dictates, and take Jesus for Priest to redeem, and King to sanctify the soul. Here is then a new birth through believing in Jesus, and hence the man learns to love God, as his Father, and all the children of God as his brethren. For it follows, every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him."

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Now the very intent of this new principle of love engrafted in the soul, is, that the man may keep God's commandments; just as the intent of planting a tree is that it may bring forth fruit. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous." No: on the contrary, they are pleasant and delightful; and therefore all really good men speak the language of David, "Lord, how I love thy law."

But are God's commandments thus pleasant to us by nature? Let me appeal to the consciences of too many in this audience. O drunkard! is it pleasant, or grievous to thee to be debarred from the immoderate use of strong drink? O miser! is it a pleasant exercise to thee, to deal thy bread to the hungry? O careless soul! is it pleasant to thee to pray and to wait upon God in his ordinances? He that is "born of God overcometh the world."

You are overcome by the world; therefore you are not born of God; and if so, you are of your father the devil. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." You are overcome by the world; therefore you have no faith. Men are apt to think that it is possible for persons to have good, sound faith, and that yet their works may be bad; taking that poor thing for faith which consists in a set of opinions. But my text declares that "faith overcomes the world." Happy then would it be for you, were you once convinced that you are without faith, and dead in your sins. Ask you, what you must do? Examine yourself. There is no hope for your soul, till you see its real state. When you are once brought to know yourself, you will pray, and the Lord will hear and guide you to Christ, to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

If any such self-despairing, heavy-laden sinners be here, let them hearken to the voice of Christ. "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." You are convinced of the impossibility of gaining true rest for your soul, but in Jesus Christ. You cannot overcome the world by yourself, because you are without strength. "In due time he died for the ungodly." Put in your claim as worthless sinners. Make free with this JUSTIFIER OF THE UNGODLY. Expect his loving kindness; for the gates stand open day and night; the fountain for cleansing is open. Go where your wants call you, even to Christ, and he will fulfil his promise.

The consciences of all unconverted men witness

that God's commandments are grievous to them; and yet his commandments are not grievous to those who are "born of God." "For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Let me then beseech drunkards, misers, and all careless men, who hate the doctrine of the new birth, to consider the entire need they have of it, in order to render God's commandments pleasant to their souls, and enable them to overcome the world. Of regenerate men it is said, "ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." While men remain unconverted, they hate the commands of God, which thwart their lusts. There is need then for all to experience a change of heart, (and let us try ourselves, whether we have had it or not) in order to live holy. The divine nature once received, will enable us to overcome the pollution that is in the world. For "who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Oh! brethren, faith in Jesus is called a precious thing by St. Peter. It is the instrument that receives Jesus heartily, and by which the soul is justified. When the soul having seen her guilt, and felt her misery and helplessness, throws herself forlorn and empty into the hands of Jesus, as all her righteousness, there is faith, there is forgiveness of sins, and there is peace and joy in believing, and there is the gift of God, which is eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Men who never knew what believing is, and who therefore are strangers to the power and fruits

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