what use does he teach us to make of this liberty ? Does he speak of it as freeing us from all moral restraints ? No ; but as a reason for our giving up ourselves henceforth in a marriage union to Christ as our second husband, that we may bring forth fruit unto God\ Now then, we would ask, Were David and Paul right ? If so, what must we think of the sentiments of these deluded people ? Are they more spiritual than David ? or have they a deeper insight into the Gospel than Paul ? The very circumstance of their discarding all the exhortations of St. Paul, and casting behind them all his practical instructions, demonstrates, that they are, for the present at least, " given up to a delusion, to believe a lie." Some of them, we trust, do not practically live according to these principles ; and, where this is the case, we hope that God, in his mercy, will sooner or later give them to see their errors : but, if they practically carry into effect their principles, they will have reason to curse the day that ever they were born.
To the younger part of our audience we will beg permission to suggest a few hints on this important subject.
You, when you go into the world, will be in danger of being ensnared by people of this stamp. There is something very imposing in the idea of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, and of making him " all in all." The devout mind is delighted with this thought ; and is easily induced to regard with jealousy any thing that may be supposed to interfere with it. But be not wise above that which is written ; and let nothing tempt you to imagine, that you can honour Christ by setting aside any of his commandments. It is by your love to his commandments that you are to approve yourselves his disciples ; and however de- lighted you may be with the visions of Mount Tabor, you must never forget that you have work also to do in the plain1. We are far from wishing any one to be working from self-righteous principles, or in a legal spirit : nor would we utter a word that should
h Rom. vii. 1 — 4. with Gal. ii. 19. ' Luke ix. 33, 37-