Jesus Christ, " Saviour :" let us rely upon him as our Saviour : let us trust in his blood and righteousness as the only meritorious ground of our hope : and let us glory in him, as " all our salvation, and all our desire."
Lastly, Let us see from hence,
The importance of self-diffidence and self-distrust — There is an astonishing degree of confidence in men of every class and every description. The un- godly man, who gratifies all his inclinations, and lives altogether without God in the world, has no fear that he shall perish : ' his sins are no other than venial frailties, and God neither notices nor regards them.' The man who is a mere formalist, whose religion consists in a " form of godliness without the power of it," is equally persuaded, that no harm shall ever happen to him : he performs his duty, and has no doubt of his final acceptance with God. The man whose heart is divided between God and the world, and who will follow religion only so far as agrees with his interests and humour, is quite certain that God is pleased with him, and will accept at his hand his reluctant and mutilated offerings. The zealous talkative religionist, who disgraces his profession by his conceit, his censoriousness, his neglect of his own proper duties and calling, by his disorderly conduct both in Church and State, yea, by all manner of evil tempers and sinful practices, even he also has no doubt but that his name is written in heaven. And, if we attempt to expostulate with any of these on their unscriptural presumption, they are quite offended at the liberty we take, and are surprised that we dare to question the certainty of their salvation k. Thus does Satan blind them all, and " lead them captive at his will." But let me entreat all to relax somewhat of their confidence, and to bring their expectations to
k To this effect is that humiliating observation of Solomon, " All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes ; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." And again, " There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. xvi. 2, 25.