ozmi souls, and to those zvho desire to regulate their conduct according to truth.
To the former I beg leave to propose one solemn question : God has said. Woe unto them that call evil good, &c. Can you change that woe into a blessing ? Can you prevail on God to retract his word ? Can you make void that sentence, when God shall come to execute it upon you in the last day ? Yea, will you not then curse your folly, for using such pains to de- ceive yourselves and others, and for involving your- selves in everlasting misery, when, if you had not so " rebelled against the light," you might have been heirs of everlasting glory ? Permit me then to address you in the words of the Apostle, '' Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Begin to weigh both sentiments and actions in the balance of the sanctuary. Begin to "judge righteous judgment." Begin to view things, as you will surely view them when you shall stand at the tribunal of Christ. Bear in mind, that in your pre- sent state God has denounced a woe against you. Remember too, that it will be small consolation to you to have others involved in the same misery with yourselves : it will rather be a source of more intense misery to all, by reason of their mutual execrations, for having so greatly contributed to each other's ruin. If the word of God be intended for " a light to our feet, and a lantern to our paths," then make use of it ; study it, as it were, upon your knees : meditate upon it day and night : and beg of God " to open your understandings that you may understand it," and to sanctify your hearts that you may obey it.
To those who are of a better mind I would say. Be strong, and dare to stem the torrent of iniquity, that would bear down all before it. Be not ashamed to call good and evil by their proper names ; and to shew by the whole tenour of your lives, that you know how to distinguish them. Let not too great weight be given to the opinions of men. Bow not to the authority of fashion and custom ; but " prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." Bring your
'Wt ISAIAH, VI. 5—7. [866.
advisers to " the law and to the testimony : for if they speak not according to that, there is no hght in them." In matters of duty or of disciphne indeed you cannot be too diffident, you cannot be too submissive. In those things obedience is your highest honour. But when men presume to think for you in the concerns of your souls, it is high time to inquire, whether they will also perish for you 1 If you perish, you must perish for yourselves ; and therefore it behoves you to think for yourselves, and to act for yourselves. The self-deceiving world cannot remove the woe from their own souls ; much less can they from yours. " Walk not then according to the course of this world : " " follow not a multitude to do evil." Look not at your neighbours, but at Christ and his holy Apostles. Let the Scriptures regulate your every sentiment, your every act. And, without concerning yourselves about the misrepresentations which blind and ungodly men will give of your conduct, " be steadfast, im- moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."