Such likewise is the earnest reflection of those sincere servants of Christ, who are deeply sensible of the importance of their duties, and of the necessity of their walking uprightly before God: " WHO IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?" they exclaim, humbly clinging to the foot of their Saviour's cross, imploring his help, resolved to leave nothing unattempted that may insure success. These words, however, which, in the mouth of the true believer, are expressive of a prudent distrust, and of a sincere desire to be supported by divine help, are unfortunately perverted by many persons into an excuse for sloth, and a pretext for evading the performance of their duties. They, too, cry out, "WHO IS SUFFICIENT FOR THESE THINGS?" but in a sense very different from the Apostle-Who is sufficient for the attainment of that exalted virtue, required by the Gospel? We acknowledge the excellence of the Christian morality, and would willingly follow it; but to this great undertaking our strength is unequal; we cannot discharge so many duties: He who hath made us is ac

quainted with our frailties-upon his mercy

we cast ourselves.

To dispel this pernicious illusion which has led so many to indulge in habits of sin, is the desirable object which we are now about to attempt; and in pursuance of our design, the language we shall address to the victims of this dangerous error will be of this tenour: God has bestowed upon you sufficient strength to practise the duties assigned you. If you neglect those duties, it is because you fail to do all that lies within your power. If you remain without alarm on account of your supineness, it is because you presumptuously calculate upon the divine support; and, without the slightest effort to obtain it, slumber in a false security. Almighty God! who by redemption. hast exhausted for us the treasuses of thy mercy, who hast put into our hands all the helps necessary to enable us to attain everlasting life, suffer not the seductive language of our passions to lead us out of the path of righteousness-to cause us to wander from that holiness without which no man shall see

the abodes of the blessed! Enable thy servant to dispel every error-thy children to receive into their souls the light of truth! ·

When an earthly potentate, gifted at once with consummate wisdom, and with much goodness, issues his mandates to his subjects, they would deem themselves deficient in the veneration due to him, and would justly regard themselves as guilty, should they dare to charge those commands with severity. Such would, at least, be the sentiments of all but the most degraded minds: yet do men presume to charge with severity The Eternal Good, The Supremely Wise! For, to complain of being unable to perform the commandments of God, is to declare that the laws He imposes are too severe. Hence we cannot, without offending the Almighty, assert that we are too weak to comply with his sacred ordi

nances.

We imagine, perhaps, that we shall escape his indignation, because we believe that God does not mark all that we do amiss; that it is

impossible for an habitual neglect of duty to

take place, without being followed by the divine chastisement. But where have we learned that there are any of God's commands which we are not bound to obey? Do we not, on the contrary, find it written in the Holy Scriptures, that He pardons no infirmities but those which excite our sorrow-against which we maintain an unceasing struggle? that he pardons no wilful weakness-none which has been allowed to degenerate into a habit? that it is in the course of this unceasing struggle with sin, that that regeneration is brought about, through the merits of the Saviour, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, upon which our forgiveness depends. Do we not read in the Holy Scriptures, that we ought "to work out our salvation with fear and trembling"-that God hates "lukewarmness"-that the kingdom of Heaven is to be inherited only by those who shall obtain it by ceaselessly renewed endeavours? After declarations such as these, on the part of God, "who is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent," it is impossible to

believe that he should pardon habitual sin. Consequently, to complain that we are too. weak to obey his laws, is, I repeat, to declare that the laws he imposes are too severe; to harbour doubts respecting the sovereign justice, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator: it is to incur the guilt of offending Almighty God.

Let us, after this reflection, let us examine our own lives, and see whether we do in reality labour under that infirmity, which we allege in excuse for our sins. In this examination let us discard every consideration of self-love, and seek the truth alone. In what I am now going to address to you, you are requested to see nothing but the wish I entertain to scrutinize with humility my own heart, to enlighten yours, and conscientiously to discharge the ministry with which I am entrusted.

It is not possible for me, says one, to subdue my disposition to anger, and to restrain my habitual temper; I have already exerted my efforts for that purpose, but always without effect: and yet you know how to suppress your feelings of irritation against those whose esteem