4

" is turned away and thou comfortes "they that sow in tears shall reap in "then the hearts of those rejoice 1 "Lord."

Finally, my Christian brethren, careful in other respects to do work pentance: let me exhort you to e spirit of the gospel by using ever encouraging every endeavour, to bi repentance; and to welcome every cordial joy and affection, as Anania verted persecutor, "Brother Saul, t "hath sent me, that thou mightes "sight." Thus you will manifest t of your principles, and be honoured = in promoting that cause, for whic Saviour came into the world and s upon the cross; and all men will k are his true disciples.

;

e in Christ, he is a new creature; old passed away, behold, all things are be

ers, to which the church at Corinth from plausible false teachers, obliged > use such methods of re-establishing y, as he apprehended might be misand censured: he therefore says, ve be beside ourselves it is to God, or e be sober it is for your cause." The ants of God have constantly been I despised, as "beside themselves;" of God, the perfection of wisdom and was involved in the same charge, even Is and relations, as well as by his eneapostle therefore would not be greatly

. Jer. xxix, 26, 27. Hos. ix, 7. Mark, iii, 21. John, x, 20.

"and that he died for all, that th "should not henceforth live unto t "unto him which died for them a "Wherefore henceforth know we "the flesh; yea, though we have "after the flesh; yet now hencef "him no more."

Even the breth

friends of Christ himself, accordin might not be regarded by the apos sing instructions, reproofs, censu ragements; but they were constra him who had died for them, to do unbiassed impartiality. In like ma blood, friendship, or even gratitud ence the servant of Christ, in the d pastoral office. In this respect benefactors, and patrons, must be di would approve ourselves to be inde successors of the apostles in the s "Therefore," saith St. Paul, " if any man be in "Christ he is a new creature; old things are pass"ed away; behold all things are become new; "and all things are of God who hath reconciled

us to himself by Jesus Christ."

The text suggests the following subjects to our consideration.

I. The apostle's description of a real Christian; "If any man be in Christ."

1

II. The change, which every real Christian has experienced, "He is a new creature."

III. The effects of this change, "Old things " are passed away; behold all things are be

"come new."

I. Then we consider the apostle's description of a real Christian, "If any man be in Christ."

This expression may appear singular to many who are called Christians, but it is the uniform language of the new Testament: and "ifany man " speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." New terms imperceptibly introduce new doctrines; nor has any subtilty of Satan or his servants better succeeded, in "privily bringing in "damnable heresies," than that of modernizing the language of divinity.

language of the prophet, " Israel "in the LORD with an everlasti

"Surely shall one say, In the LOR "teousness and strength." "In

"all the seed of Israel be justi "glory."

The apostle John also employs = sions; "And now, little children, "We are in him that is true, even in "Christ." But the words of our are most decisive; "He that eatet "drinketh my blood, dwelleth in "him." Accordingly when we Lord's supper, that outward sign life of faith in a crucified Saviour, we may so eat the flesh of Christ, *blood; that we may dwell in him

1