they are Christians: yet if we in served submission to Christ, ac view of it which hath been stated, haps acknowledge, they had not g ligion. If they have not been av they have in great measure endea tain a neutrality: but such perso lect that Christ hath said, "He th " is against me;" so that all wi enemies, who are not his cordial 1 subjects. Indeed this is a genera destruction; they compare thems other characters, fancy themselves quiet their consciences, and go o sin and ungodliness,

But what consolation will it wrath, should your condemnati less heavy, than that of your neig you approach as near to christiani

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possibly do, who is not a true disciple of Christ, what would it avail you? Suppose you hesitate, from love to some lawful earthly comfort, which you prefer to Christ, and refuse to part with for his sake: will not that very circumstance render your feelings most exquisitely poignant, when the doom shall be pronounced against you? This cannot be too closely brought home to conscience: for it was a prevailing delusion, even at the time, when our Lord was on earth. Know therefore, whether thou art a Judas, betraying Christ for sordid lucre, under the mask of a disciple or a minister; a Pilate, "washing thine hands," by giving up his cause from fear of man, and then pretending to excuse it; a Herod, that openly insultest him; a Gallio, that carest for none of these things; or a Felix, who tremblest and stiflest thy convictions: Whether thou join the multitude that cry, "Crucify him, crucify him; not this man, "but Barabbas;" or with Agrippa, art "almost "persuaded to be a Christian;" or departest "sorrowful, because thou hast great possessions:" "which of these characters soever belongs to thee; know assuredly, that thou wilt perish from the right way, unless thou repent, and become a believing and obedient subject of the Lord Jesus. And what will it avail thee, that numbers will be associated in the same condemnation, or even perish in a still more tremendous manner?

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but their actions shew, that th sures of sin, the friendship of th of life, filthy lucre, or the pra than him and his salvation. Bu virtually declare, that they who rious worldly motives, concurre to the cross, did right. None, time, and might have heard hi nessed his miracles, were who guilt of his death, except the re disciples: and none at presen from the charge of "crucifyin afresh," who persist in neglect vation.

"Blessed then are all they th " in him." They are blessed i curity and privileges; and they their eternal inheritance. To who thus cordially welcome

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nd prosperous, or poor and afflicted; your station or circumstances, you or God himself hath pronounced you be blessed through life and in death, Redeemer shall appear to judge the ift up then your heads, for your reraweth near:" and when others shall rocks to fall on them, and hide he wrath of the Lamb; you shall 1 triumphant exultation;

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we have waited for him, and he will is is the Lord; -we will be glad and is salvation."

SERMON VIII.

1 CORINTHIANS, iv. 5.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.

T HE manner in which the zealous, unwearied, and disinterested labours of the apostle Paul were required from mankind, forms the most conclusive proof of human depravity; next to that arising from the contradiction, contempt, and cruelty, which his divine Master had experienced. Not only was this distinguished servant of God "every " where spoken against;" and treated as "the "filth of the world, and the offscouring of all "things," by unconverted Jews and gentiles: the whole body of Jewish converts also were exceedingly prejudiced against him; many of the churches he had planted were alienated from him; and his Corinthian converts had been só perverted by false