Be

conduct is tending to promote the general cause of truth and love. Be careful in assuring yourself, that there is no private feeling covered over with the high sounding term of conscience; no neglect of plain duty for romantic enterprise. Beware, at these times, of names, excited feelings, and sound of words. Beware of self, under every possible disguise. earnest in prayer. And let not the Deceiver entrap you, on your very knees, by insinuating false motives and uncertain methods of serving God. Neglect not human means. Seek the advice of them, that love, and (having ability) will not intentionally lead you astray; and then, God will guide, or overrule your course.

III. If we desire salvation, we deceive ourselves, while we expect it otherwise than through Jesus Christ "the way, the truth, and the life 1" If we desire it

1 John xiv. 6.

through Him, we must feel our sin. Whether we think it great or small (as compared with that of others,) we must grieve for our sins, as a burden too heavy to be borne; and we must have a firm and sweet persuasion, that the Son of God is a Saviour, able, and anxious to relieve us from the pressure of this burden. And if we believe this from the heart, we shall most naturally apply to God, to pardon us for Christ's sake, and to endue us with that grace, which is diffused, in faith and love, throughout the spiritual frame. Awake unto this feeling! thou soul that hast not yet been awakened, and Christ will give thee light, and life, and zeal. Poor and unworthy though we be in ourselves, the ascended Friend of the human family is rich in the almightiness of grace. He delights to give, far more than we are ready to ask. His His recompense is peace in this life, and glory hereafter. Shall we have the Apostle's example ever before us, and not be profited? Doth he not assure us,

that his peculiar case

was constituted as a pattern, that none might despair, who, like him, had only to be convicted of sin to learn to hate it; had only to hear of Jesus, and hasten to love and obey Him? If we have found this "pearl of great price "," let us know how to value it. If we be indeed humble, because aware that we are guilty; and hungry after righteousness, since the grace of the Lord is exceeding abundant in our need, then fail not, after the Apostle's example, to ascribe all praise unto God. The hypocrite will pretend to be penitent, and mortify his outward man; but praise he cannot counterfeit. Praise ! that sacred overflowing of heartfelt joy in Christian souls. This is one of the pure delights of earth; one of the foretastes of Heaven. It will not always find the power of utterance. It is sometimes too vast for expression. Yet if not in words, in devotion of soul, it rises in thankful adoration

1 Matt. xiii. 46.

of the "King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, to whom, Father, Son, and Spirit, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

107

LECTURE VI.

1 TIM. i. 18. to end of cHAP. ii.

66 THIS CHARGE I COMMIT UNTO THEE, SON TIMOTHY,

46

ACCORDING TO THE PROPHECIES WHICH WENT BEFORE ON THEE, THAT THOU BY THEM MIGHTEST WAR A GOOD WARFARE; HOLDING FAITH AND A GOOD

CONSCIENCE; WHICH SOME HAVING PUT AWAY,

CONCERNING FAITH HAVE MADE SHIPWRECK OF WHOM IS HYMENEUS AND ALEXANDER; WHOM I HAVE DELIVERED UNTO SATAN, THAT THEY MAY LEARN NOT TO BLASPHEME.

I EXHORT THEREFORE, THAT FIRST OF ALL, SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSION, AND GIVING OF THANKS, BE MADE FOR ALL MEN; FOR KINGS, AND FOR ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY; THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND HONESTY. FOR THIS IS GOOD AND

ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR; WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, AND TO COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL, TO BE TESTIFIED