turn from gross sins, and attend on the ordinances of the Gospel, and embrace its fundamental doctrines, and associate with the decided followers of Jesus, we are considered as re- ligious persons. It does not become the godly to scrutinize us too narrowly, or to refuse us the right hand of fellowship till they have infallibly ascertained our state : they are rather to rejoice in every appearance of good, and to exercise towards us, that " charity which hopeth all things." Hence it neces- sarily comes to pass, that many are regarded as pious characters, who have never been truly converted unto God, or, if con- verted, are in a low and languishing condition. Such is the state of those whose " works are not perfect before God." They are essentially defecl'we^ before him; they are either partial in their obedience, performing some duties while they neglect others ; or they perform every duty in a very poor im- perfect way ; having the shadow of piety without the sub- stance ; the form, without the life. Their repentance wants contrition : their faith has no power to realize invisible and eternal things : their hope does not bear them forward with energy in the piu'suit of heaven : their love is unassimilating, uninBuentiaLJ
But their state is perfectly known to the Lord Jesus Christ — v
[He " who has the Seven Spirits of God, that is, who possesses in himself, and imparts to others, the Holy Ghost in his manifold and perfect operations ; and " who has the seven stars" in his hand, inspecting their motions, and upholding them in their orbits. He, I say, must of necessity discern the hearts of men: he may justly arrogate to himself the office of judging ; for he can say with truth, " I know thy works." It does not appear that there was any flagrant violation of God's law among them, or any toleration of prin- ciples fundamentally erroneous ; for then they would have been condemned on these accounts as the other Churches had been : but while they were externally blameless, he " found,"' and testified, that their inward state was lamentably defective. It is in vain then to think that we can deceive him : he " weighs," not our actions only, but " our spirits ;" and accounts no ser- vice valuable, which is not done " in spirit and in truth."]
Such persons then should strive by evfry possible method to strengthen their decayed graces —
[Our Lord counsels them to " be watchful" against what- ever may have occasioned their spiritual declensions. Has the care of this world, or the deceitfulness of riches, enervated your minds? Watch against their influence in future. Has any secret lust gained an ascendancy, and retarded your pro- gress ?