in them no mixture of good : they were pure and unmixed evil ; and in comparison of them, any good that we do is hghter than dust upon the balance. In truth, no man who reflected a moment on my text could any more entertain a hope of being justified by any righteousness of his oAvn, than he could form a purpose to create a world. He would see, that, whilst he was doing those very works on which he was inclined to build his hopes, the weakness and defectiveness of his exer- tions infinitely outweighed any merit which they might be sup- posed to have ; and rendered his works a just ground for con- demnation, rather than of justification before God. Bear in mind then the declaration before us ; and limit not your views to sins of commissioji, but extend them to sins of omission: and then you will no longer hesitate to renounce all hope in your- selves, but will say with the Apostle Paul, " I desire to be found in Christ, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith °."j
3. The improvement which we should make of divine ordinances — ■
[We should not come to the House of God merely to satisfy conscience and to perform a duty, but really to get in- struction respecting the mind and will of God. A mariner about to navigate a ship, and having the assistance of a skilful builder to examine whether she was in a state fit for sea, would not listen to his observations as a mere matter of curiosity or amusement, nor would he shut his eyes to any defects that were pointed out: his object would be, to find out defects, in order to their being remedied : and if only a doubt were sug- gested, he would endeavour to ascertain how far thpre was any foundation for it. He would say, I am about to commit my life and property to this vessel, and I must not stay till I am got into the midst of the ocean before I search into her state : it will be too late to do that when I am in the midst of a storm : I must do it now, before I go on board. Precisely in this way should you come up to the House of God. You are about to embark for eternity : and the instructions given by your Minister are intended to point out every defect in your vessel, in order to its being remedied in time. Shut not then your ears to his instructions ; and close not your eyes to your defects : but bless God for every assistance which you can ob- tain in a matter of such infinite importance, and endeavour to improve it for the salvation of your soul. In particular, search out your defects ; and cry mightily to God to pardon them for the Iledeemer's sake, and to repair them by the influences of
his
" Phil. iii. 9.
1151.] PATIENT PERSEVERANCE URGED. 7b
his good Spirit : so may you hope to navigate in safety this tempestuous ocean ; and in due season to " have an abundant entrance" into the haven of eternal bhss.]