thoughts, no less than to your actions, that so you may be found "sincere and without offence until the day of Christ'."]
And, lest such a constant attention to duty should appear irksome to you, let me shew you, II. The encouragement given us to the performance of it—
The whole Scripture declares, that, " verily, there is a reward for the righteous'';" and this, I conceive, is the true import of my text'. The ungodly expect to find happiness in their ways of sin ; but they pur- sue a phantom, and embrace a shadow. But not so they who fear the Lord : they shall " have a sure re- ward ;" as God hath said, " The hope of the right- eous shall be gladness ; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish"." What, then, my Brethren, do ye expect ? Do you expect pardon of sin ?
[This shall surely be accorded to you : for " in the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence ; and his children shall have a place of refuge "." Yes, verily, however numerous your sins may have been, " they shall all be blotted out, even as a morning cloud." Will God cast out one who comes to him in his Son's name ? Will he spurn fi-om his footstool one humble suppliant ? No : " to this man will he look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at his word ";" and " to him will he give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness p."]
Peace of conscience ?
[This also shall you possess. Hear what David says: " What man is he that feareth the Lord ? Him shall the Lord teach in the way that he shall choose ; and his soul shall dwell at ease i." Peace is the legacy which Jesus has bequeathed to all his redeemed people, saying, " Peace I leave ^\^th you ; my peace I give unto you^" "To the wicked there is no peace ^ : " but for you is there " a peace that passeth all understanding."]
Strength for duty ?
[Doubtless you may have many difficulties to encounter :
i Phil. i. 10. 1^ Ps. Iviii. 11.
' See the marginal reading, and compare it with eh. xxiv. 14. ra Prov. X. 28. with xi. 18. « Prov. xiv. 26.
o Isai. Ixvi. 2. p Ps. Ixi. 1—3. <i Ps. xxv. 12, 13.
r John xiv. 27. ^ Isai. Ivii. 21.