acknowledge the directions to be exceeding proper ; but they scarcely ever feel their own conduct condemned by them. They are eagle-eyed in spying out the faults of others ; but they are almost utter strangers to their own. Their zeal for the Gospel, and their attachment to those who preach or profess it, is to them a decisive evidence of their own conver- sion ; and nothing that God or man can say to the contrary is suffered for one moment to shake their confidence.
In the estimation of the Church these persons often pass for eminent saints. Their faults are not generally known, and the best construction is put upon all they say or do. Godly men are afraid of judging harshly, and have learned to exer- cise the " love that hopeth all things," and that " covereth a multitude of sins." Hence they give the right hand of fellowship to those who shew a love to the Gospel ; and, even when they fear that all is not right, they are content to " let the tares grow up with the wheat till the harvest, lest through their ignorance they should pluck up the wheat with the tares."
But in the sight of God, who searcheth the heart, these men appear in their proper colours. Are they covetous ? " he abhors themc." Are they proud, passionate, contentious? they are actuated by an infernal spirit d. Have they no government of their tongue? their religion is vain6. Are they hearers of the word, and not doers of it also? they only de- ceive their own souls f. Are they habitually and allowedly under the dominion of any sin whatever? they are children of the devil g, and not of God1': notwithstanding all their profession, they have no part in the Gospel salvation', no acceptance in their prayersk, nor any portion but eternal misery in hell1. They may have a name to live; but they are really dead before Godm.]
Infer —
1. How far must they be from a Christian state, who feel no delight in divine ordinances !
[It has already appeared that men may be extremely fond of the offices, the ministers, and the professors of religion, and yet perish for ever for want of that conformity to the Divine will, which is essential to the Christian character. How much more then must they be destitute of religion, who have not even the outward appearance of sanctity, but live in an open contempt of God's word and ordinances! Let not
c Ps. x. 3, d Jam. iii. 14, 15. e Jam. i. 20'.
f Jam. i. 22. s 1 John iii. 8. h 1 John iii. 9.
1 1 John iii. 6. and Rom. vi. 14. k Ps. lxvi. 18.
1 Mark ix. 43—48. '« Rev. iii. 1.