"these." When we look at those which differ from us, especially if they are in any respect seriously opposed to us, we are but too ready to consider them as the synagogue of Satan. We ought to remember, that the name, the church, the sect is nothing, and that the heart is all. A purified mind, in a purified body, renewed after the image of God in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness of truth, is the only real temple of the Holy Ghost below the sun; the habitation in which this divine guest loves to dwell here, and in which beyond the grave he will dwell for ever.

SERMON XXVI.

SERMON II.

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

LUKE XIII. 28-30.

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

"And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

"And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

In the former part of this discourse, after explaining the import of the text, I derived from it the following doctrines :—

I. That some of the human race will be shut out from the kingdom of God, who have confidently expected admission. II. That others whom they expected to see shut out will be received.

III. That the distress occasioned by this disappointment will be very great.

The two first of these doctrines I considered at that time. Under the former I observed, that in the number of those who will be thus excluded from the divine kingdom will be,

First, All who leave the world relying on their own righteousness for acceptance with God.

This comprehensive description, I observed, includes such as confide in the external services of religion, superstitious persons, enthusiasts, persons who trust in a decent and amiable behaviour, and persons who build their hopes upon what are called the moral duties of life.

Secondly, I mentioned those who rely upon what may be called a religious character; such, for example, as those of communicants, or ministers, as destined to the same unhappy

end.

Thirdly, Those who believe themselves to be religious, because others suppose them to be of this character.

Fourthly, Those who place their religion in the knowledge, and not in the obedience, of divine truth.

Fifthly, Those who place their reliance on their zeal. And, Sixthly, Those who place their hope in a faith which is without works.

II. Of the persons whom these expected to see shut out, and who will nevertheless be accepted, I observed,

First, There will be a multitude of such as, in this world, have lived in humble and despised circumstances.

Secondly, Of those who have here been our own friends, companions, and equals.

Thirdly, Of those who, in this world, appear to be religious, and are, on that account, despised by others. And, Fourthly, Of those whose acknowledged character and opinions have, in many respects, been different from ours.

I shall now procced to finish the discourse, and, according to the plan proposed, observe,

III. That the distress occasioned by this disappointment will be very great.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth are glowing images of ex

treme anguish; and this anguish is, by our Saviour, attributed to the two-fold disappointment mentioned in the text. What less can be believed from the nature of the subject? The disappointment will follow strong and high-raised expectations, and, in many instances, undoubting confidence. It will be a final disappointment. It will be a disappointment of every object for which we can hope, of every good which we are capable of enjoying. It will be a disappointment on which Mene, Tekel, Upharsin, will be all written, and on which eternity will be stamped, by the hand of Jehovah. The portion of those who considered themselves as the only children will be taken away, and, to add to the sore mortification, it will be given to those whom they esteemed dogs. They will not only be sunk to the depths of depression, but will also see those to whom they had always felt themselves greatly superior elevated to supreme and endless distinction. To behold mere rabble, the refuse of mankind, the off-scouring of all things, raised to the most enviable station and happiness, and ourselves, the great, the wise, and the honourable, the true church, the chosen people of God, thrust into outer darkness, with extreme disgrace, and interminable woe, must be to be poor and miserable indeed. Who could bear such a change even in the present world? Who much more can bear it when every hope is buried in the grave? What amazement, what anguish, will be felt when the workers of iniquity look around them, and see of whom their assembly is composed? What emotions will be excited, particularly when they see themselves of this number? themselves, whose character has, in their own view, been always so meritorious, so good, as to make it absolutely improbable, and nearly impossible, that God should condemn them. Who have performed all external religious services with so much exactness ? Who have scrupulously done even little and uncommanded things, in order to be secure of doing every thing necessary? Who have received such immediate communications from God as proved them to be his peculiar favourites? Who have been peculiarly decent and amiable in their lives? and who have performed the moral duties with such care, that they could come to Christ, and ask, with

confidence, "What lack we yet ?" How will they be astonished to find themselves of this number, although they have been communicants in the church of God? nay, ministers of that church, although they have been acknowledged by all around them to be Christians, although they have thought correctly, and conversed wisely, on the doctrines and duties of religion, although they have been peculiarly zealous in its cause, and although they have believed the Gospel without a single doubt concerning its divine origin.

How much will this surprise be increased when, extending this survey, they behold those friends and neighbours who flattered them, both by their conversation and their example, into a belief that they were safe, and the ministers who taught them from the desk that these things would secure their title to heaven, involved in the same ruin? How unspeakably will this astonishment be increased when they see multitudes of the poor and despised, the objects of their scorn and abhorrence, their servants, clowns, and beggars, admitted at the same time, with an abundant entrance, into the kingdom of God? What pangs will harass their bosoms when they see their husbands, their wives, their children, their brothers, their companions, their equals, seated on the right hand of the Judge, in glory inexpressible, and themselves on the left, doomed to shame and everlasting contempt? How will they be amazed to find those who differed greatly from themselves in religious character and opinions, so greatly as to be pronounced by them heretics and outcasts from the church, and who were members of churches, or sects, which they believed to be without the pale of salvation, acknowledged by Christ as his true followers, and made heirs of the kingdom prepared for the righteous from the foundation of the world? Well may we suppose, that there will then be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

REMARKS.

From these solemn and affecting considerations we can hardly fail to derive many, and those most important, practical lessons.