trembling Christians. They know, and hear with gladness, the truths of the gospel. But the light is not light to them: the joy is not joy to them: they have no strength: they are disconsolate. There is also a class of animated and bustling Christians. They are absorbed in plans, busy in action, going to revolutionize a district in a few days. You will admire their zeal, decision, public spirit, and efforts. But they abound too much in schemes, talk, and mechanism: and if they adorn religion, it is rather by their public than their private life-which, you may justly observe, is an inversion of the right order. I cannot go farther into particulars: but I would observe, that there is an inconceivable variety in the experience of the individual. If we say that real Christians as a body come up to a high standard of excellence, we are wrong: and we are equally if we say that excellent Christians uniformly and clear element. They are happy; wrong but they are not strangers to bitterness and anguish. They have their clouds and thorns. Such is the imperfection of the present state. If it be a paradise in speculation, yet it is a wilderness in experience let it suffice if in this wilderness we feed on the bread of life, and drink the waters of a spiritual Rock, and follow the guidance of that light which will lead us to the true, and only, and eternal paradise. Having advanced what I judge to be sufficient P in this slight work to show you the variety that exists as to religious attainment and character, I can only mention in a few words some of the practical uses of this important subject. 1. Be sober, wise, moderate, discreet: beware of speculation, fancy, and mysticism: attend to the reality of things, both as to yourselves and others. 2. Be thankful for the least measure of real attainments in piety; but be humble, always remembering that they fall very far short of the proper standard-of what they ought to be. 3. Do not at any time mistake your own characters, or those of others. If in this world you have sufficient grace, with its fruits, to make you rejoice, yet you have sufficient corruption, sins, and defects to make you penitents. 4. Be diligent, not in learning human opinions, not in exciting feelings and cherishing imagination, but in seeking grace, true knowledge, holy principle, real excellence of every kind in a still higher degree. 5. Never be reconciled to any defect: never spare and dandle any sin. All defect and incongruity is to be lamented and opposed. Though every deficiency from a high standard does not justify the conclusion, that we are not true believers, yet any indulgent view and treatment of such deficiency is a most fearful sign in a religious character. 6. Beware of making the defects of any advanced believers a plea or excuse for your own. "Such an eminent person had the same failing which I find in myself." Miserable remark! Why not say in plain words-" This defect is pleasing to me: I will not aim to correct it?" 7. Learn how to hear ministers. Break down their general statements so as to make particular deductions from them, and applications of them. What they say is true: but you must examine what they say, and use it rightly. 8. Think wisely of real Christians. Do not cover them with fanciful decorations. The gold is good but it has more or less of alloy mingled with it. 9. Think wisely of the gospel. It does great things for man; and it requires man to do great things for himself-to perfect holiness in the fear of God. 10. Think wisely of yourselves, of the present life, and of your duty. Sinful creatures in a world of trial, change, and trouble, but faithfully opposing all evil and faithfully aspiring after all excellence-such are the best in the present state. Ever remember those noble and animated versesthe first nine verses of the second epistle of St. Peter. THE COLLECT. "O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them whom Thou dost bring up in Thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech Thee, under the protection of Thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen, THE PRAYER. O Thou who searchest the hearts and triest the reins of the children of men, I would humble myself before Thee, and earnestly pray that I may be sound in the faith, approved in Thy sight. What is man, O Lord, without Thy grace and guidance! How liable to errors and delusions! How easily do we mistake, where mistake is unspeakably dangerous! In how many ways may we abuse the choicest blessings! To whom can I look but to Thee who hast all things under Thy control, and who art the source of all good? Mercifully look upon me, and let me not become the victim of erroneous opinions or of idle fancies. Be Thou my Teacher, by Thy word and Holy Spirit. Let my piety be the result of divine operation, not mingled with the perverse workings of my own heart. Deliver me from those fancies which lead to a corruption of the true faith. Whatever I am in religion, let me be really taught of Thee, and sanctified and ruled by Thee: and let me advance in piety according to the blessed influences granted me from above. Truly believing in Christ Jesus, walking humbly with Thee in faith and fear and love, doing justice, and loving mercy, let my life be truly a pious life-a life of devotedness to Thee, and a preparation for an eternal world. Enable me, O Lord, to be circumspect and considerate in all things, that I may never be seduced from the ways of the true wisdom by deceit or flattery, but that I may glorify Thee here, through the continued supplies of Thy grace, by an humble, holy, and useful life, and may finally be received into Thy everlasting kingdom. Grant this, O heavenly Father, through the merits and for the sake of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |