an indolence and carelessness apparent, SERM. very inconsistent with the call of our XIV. blessed Saviour. To consider ourselves as set free from the power of sin in this life, by calling upon his name, is an easy way of getting rid of the enemies set in array against us. Christ inculcates no such confidence; he does not tell us that he will put us out of the way of temptations, but that if, for his sake, we manfully oppose them, he will be present through his spirit to strengthen and support us. What "the

sprinkling of the blood of Jesus" has obtained for us, is not any present freedom from the contagion of sin, but "an inhe❝ritance reserved in heaven" for the "obe"dient, to be revealed at the last day." The gift is not bestowed upon us yet, though the ransom is indeed paid-without the ransom having been paid, we could have no hope of salvation, but without good works we can have, after all, no assurance of reaping the benefits of that ransom. Call then for ever upon the name of the Lord; he is your salvation; and I by no means wish to set you free from this high

and

ness.

SERM. and important duty, but trust not to any XIV. mere calling. Call upon him to help you in this your time of need-in this your anxious state of trial and probation. Call upon him to strengthen your faith, and animate your endeavours after righteousCall upon him to lead him to lead you into the paths of life; "Call upon him to accept you, "inasmuch as you fear him, and to the best of "your abilities work righteousness." But, above all, be careful to think no more highly of yourselves than that, after all, you are unprofitable servants: without these services you could not be accepted, because they are especially required of you; you must not think to compass heaven by claim, but by confidence in the promises of Christ; not in virtue of your good works, but by proving yourselves his faithful soldiers and servants unto your lives' end. But it is the lot of all people to be evil spoken of. Because we preach the necessity of good works as a proof of our obedience to Christ, we are said to put our whole trust in them, and to neglect the so great salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ.

3

66 us,

Christ. But this is really not so; we rely SERM. upon nothing but Christ's atonement to XIV. save us at the last day, and we call upon him in all our prayers accordingly, to "save and defend us," to "have mercy upon and shew us his salvation ;" but we do indeed urge and recommend good works to give efficacy to our prayers. All are sinners, and we among the rest, and Christ it is true has died for the redemption of sinners, but of what sinners? of those that repent," and "turn away from their wick, "edness," not of those who persist in their sins, and yet expect to be saved. We estimate good works as low as those who depend solely on their belief; for we acknowledge with humility that it is but our duty to do well, and so far from meriting rewards at the hand of God, by any thing we can do, we are after all but unprofitable servants. Let us then endeavour to shake off all reproaches, and put to silence the ignorance of those who so misrepresent us, by a steady perseverance in "well-doing." This is undoubtedly the advice of an inspired Apostle, and we need not be afraid

of

66

SERM. of following it; at the same time, let us XIV. be careful not to give them ground to suppose we are less Christians than they are, or build our hopes of eternal life less on the free merits and mercies of our blessed Redeemer. In all that we do, let us do it to the glory of God. And though we should still at the last day be found unprofitable servants, as to any benefits we can have conferred on our blessed Lord, yet let us hope and pray that in consideration of our sincere endeavours, "God will supply "our need out of the abundance of his riches "in glory, by Christ Jesus." Philipp. iv. 19.

SERMON

SERMON XV. .

THE FOLLY OF MOCKING AT SIN.

PROVERBS XIV. 9.

Fools make a Mock at Sin.

THIS remark of the wise king of Israel SERM.

is not to be received as a mere assertion of xv. a fact; much valuable instruction is to be gathered from it. It is one thing, simply to declare that fools make a mock at sinit is another, to shew that making a mock at sin constitutes folly, or at least is a main branch of it. The folly of making a mock at sin must consist in the danger of doing so; therefore, if there is no danger, there is no folly in the act. But if there is so

manifest