whom they serve," even him " who was a murderer from the beginning V' 'ii^d who has been the great instigator of persecu- tion from the time of Cain even to the present hour. Let such persons only see St. Paul's review of his own conduct in rela- tion to this matter, and he cannot doubt one moment whither this path must lead ^. Or if this convince him not, let him know, that if he possessed all the knowledge and faith and zeal of angels themselves, he would be only as " sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal," because he is destitute of that prime grace which is essential to the very existence of true religion in the soul, the grace of love ^]
IV. Of lukewarm attachment to the Gospel —
[Where the Gospel is preached with fidelity, it commends itself to many as true, whilst they yet experience not its saving power on their souls. Yet the very circumstance of their dis- cerning and approving of it is to them in the place of vital godliness, and an evidence that they are in the way to heaven. But religion is not a mere matter of opinion : it is a principle that pervades the soul, and operates upon all its faculties and powers. See how it wrought in the converts on the day of Pentecost ; what new creatures they immediately became ! And such will all become, as soon as ever they receive the grace of God in truth. The metaphors by which the Christian life is designated in the Scriptures, sufficiently shew how mis- taken the?/ are who rest in a mere approbation of the Gospel without feeling its constraining influence upon their souls : if the running of a race, or wrestling for the mastery, or fighting for one's life, have any just signification as applied to the Christian's state, it is imj)ossible for those to be in the way of life who bear no resemblance whatever to persons so engaged: and the total want of anxiety and of exertion which they betray, proves, beyond all doubt, that they are not in the narrow way which leadeth unto life, but in the broad road that leadeth to destruction.]
V. Of imsanctifiecl profession —
[Amongst the little company of the Apostles themselves, there was a Judas: and in all the Apostolic Churches also there were some who " professed that they knew God, but in works denied him." It must not be wondered at therefore if such exist in the Church at this present day. Indeed the parable of the Sower, and that also of the Tares, teaches us to expect, than Satan will sow tares amongst the wheat, and that it is not possible for man to separate them the one from the other. Unhappily, the persons themselves who are unsound at heart
i John viii. 39—44. 1 John iii. 11, 12, 15. k 1 Tim. i. 13. i 1 Cor. xiii. 1—3.