3. As your happiness —
[Ask the most successful votaries of this world what they have ever gained ? Ask them what solid satisfaction they have ever found in all that the world could give them? Then ask the servants of the living God, whether they have not found his service to be perfect freedom, and " his ways to be ways of pleasantness and peace?" As to the eternal world, it is almost superfluous for me to speak : for there are none so ignorant as not to know, that the pleasures of sense all " perish with the using," and that those only who seek their happiness in God can ever enjoy " the pleasures which are at his right hand for ever- more " 1 therefore confidently say to all of you witJi-
out exception. Let this be the determination of you all, that henceforth you will make no mention of any name in a way of fear, or love, or confidence, but " the name of Jehovah only."]
Thus far I have spoken to you as men only. But what shall I say to you as Christians ?
[Tell^ me, whether, as " bought with the precious blood of Christ," you have any duty, any interest, any happiness, worthy of a moment's consideration, in comparison of his ser- vice, his honour, his glory™ ? ]
Let me, in conclusion, submit to your consideration the following questions —
1. Who amongst you does not need to make this retrospective acknowledgment ?
2. What will the acknowledgment avail you, if you do not make, and carry into effect, the prospective determination ?
3. To what purpose will it be to begin well, if you ever " become weary in well-doing"?"
[You must maintain " a patient contmuance in well-doing, if ever you would attain eternal life°." If ever you draw back, whatever your attainments for a season may have been, " you will draw back unto perdition :" for " God's soul can have no pleasure in youP" ]
I must not, however, dismiss you without one most important and necessary caution —
[The resolution which I have recommended must not be made in your own strength, but entirely in dependence upon God. This is very particularly intimated in my text: " By thee only will we make mention of thy name." In the very words before the text is it said, " Thou hast wrought all our works in us." Yes, " our suflSciency is of God alone i." The Apostle
™ 1 Cor. vi. 20. n Gal. vi. 9. o Rom. ii. 7.
P Heb. X. 38, 39. q 2 Cor. iii. 5.