was opened for sin " upon the cross ; and therefore he cannot wash in it. He knows not of a righteousness wrought out for him ; and therefore he cannot clothe himself with it. The great and precious promises which God has given us in his word, have, in his mind, but little weight, little reality. His repentances, his reformations, his alms-deeds and works of charity, these form his chief dependence, and these administer to him his principal consolation. Hence he never acquires any solid peace. He always has a secret misgiving that he has not obtained peace with God ; and he has no conception of what is meant by " the joy of faith." The true Believer " rejoices in the Lord with joy unspeakable and full of glory." But to this the poor blind moralist can never attain ; and therefore he can never enter into " the glorious liberty of the children of God." In what a lamentable condition then is he !]
III. No support in his troubles —
[" Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward." But to those who have received the Gospel, there are consolations that bear them up above all their afflictions. They know from whence all their trials spring, even from the hand of God him- self They see them to be the fruit of a Father's love, sent for the production of the most gracious ends. They feel within themselves their humbling, sanctifying efficacy. They perceive that they are instrumental to the carrying on of God's work within them, and to the augmenting of that weight of glory which shall be accorded to them at the last day. But of all this the man who is uninstructed in the Gospel is altogether igno- rant. He has little except the principles of philosophy for his support. He feels that he cannot ward off affliction ; and that to repine under it, is only to augment its pressure : and that, consequently, patience is his truest wisdom. But to " glory in tribulation," and be thankful for it, and " take pleasure in it," are attainments of which he has no conception. Truly " to be thus ignorant, it is not good."]
IV. No strength for his duties —
[An unenlightened man, of necessity, engages in duty depending only on his own strength. He knows not what union with Christ is ; or what is that vital energy which is derived from him, as from a vine to its branches, or from the head to the members of a body. Nor is he acquainted with the operations of the Holy Spirit, so as to be " strengthened with all might by the Spirit in his inward man." In conse- quence of this, if he go forth to mortify sin, or conflict with Satan, or engage in any spiritual duty, he fails, and is ready to consider success as utterly unattainable. Being a stranger to " the mighty working of God's power, which wrought in Christ