such as he requires us to be. In this lies the vast difference between the standard of the world and that of God : the world regards nothing but our outward conduct, and that chiefly in reference to the welfare of society ; whereas God has respect to all our dispositions towards him and his Christ, and to all our motives and principles of action towards men. We should take the scripture then as our touchstone ; and see how far the whole habit of our minds accords with what is required of us there, and what we see exemplified in the primitive saints
— — Yea, we should set Christ himself before us, and try
ourselves by the standard of his perfection ]
And, having ascertained what God's word requires, we should rectify our lives according to it —
[We must " turn," not our thoughts only, but " our feet" also, unto his testimonies. Having found out our past errors, we should humble ourselves for them, and determine, through grace, to run into them no more: and having discovered " the good old way," we should strive, through grace, to " walk in it." As for obstacles of any kind, we should not regard them. We should have it settled in our minds, that " the high-way of holiness" is the only road that will lead to heaven; and we should resolve, that, however narrow and unfrequented it may be, we will walk in it, even though earth and hell should con- spire to obstruct our progress d This is the advice given
us by the voice of inspiration e : and to follow it is the duty, the interest, the happiness, of every human being f.]
In this however there should be no delay : we should all address ourselves to this work,
II. With promptitude and decision —
Next to utter thoughtlessness is the evil of pro- crastination—
[There are none so blind as not to know that they have some occasion for repentance, or so hardened as to have formed a determined resolution that they will never repent. All have a faint purpose in their minds, that at some future period they will repent : but then they put it off at present, in expectation of some " more convenient season." The young think that they have time enough before them, and that any great attention to religion is unsuited to their age. The busy are so engaged in their several concerns, that they think they may well be excused attending to religion, till a time of greater leisure. Every one finds some excuse for himself, and puts off the evil day, in hopes that some period will arrive when he shall be better disposed to the great work of turning unto God ]
d Matt. vii. 13, 14. e Lam.iii.40. f Eccl.xii. 13. Luke x. 42.