his honour, or his interests, every word we utter will be duly weighed, and produce an effect suited to its importance. But if we say to any one, ' Our blessed Lord requires this, or forbids that,' we only excite a smile of contempt ; and the person goes on his way without the smallest concern. Nor is this peculiar to some hardened rebels : it is found equally in persons of every age and every rank. If we call upon the rich to obey his voice, they are too much occupied about the world to attend to our exhortations : they bid us go to the poor, who alone need be subject to such restraints. When we exhort the poor to serve him, they tell us that they are not scholars ; that they have no time to attend to such things ; and that the rich alone, who have learning and leisure, can properly be expected to devote themselves to his service. When we address ourselves to the young, they reply that it will be time enough for them to think of religion some years hence. And when we speak to the old, and endeavour to bring them into subjection to Christ, they reply with anger, that they have not to learn their religion at this time of clay; they do not like such novel notions; they have done to others as they would be done unto ; and that they will go to heaven their own way.
We appeal to the observation and experience of all, whether this be not the way in which men almost universally treat the authority of Christ.]
3. His offices are superseded —
[Christ has undertaken, as a Prophet, to teach us ; as a Priest, to make atonement for us : and, as a King, to rule over us. But do we seek to be taught by him in all things, con- forming our sentiments gladly to his written word, and im- ploring earnestly the enlightening influences of his Spirit ? Do we not rather lean to our own understanding, and adopt the sentiments of an ungodly world ? Do we trust simply in his obedience unto death, renouncing unfeignedly every other ground of hope, and looking for acceptance solely through his blood and righteousness? Do we not rather substitute some works of our own in the room of his, or at least place some reliance on them instead of relying on him alone ? How we set aside his kingly authority, has been already noticed. What shall we say then ? Can God be pleased with this ? Must it not be extremely painful to him to see all the offices which his dear Son undertook to execute for us, thus entirely superseded? If any be disposed to contradict this statement, let them only look within, and, as in the presence of God, inquire whether they be really living by faith on Christ, and making use of him from day to day as their " wisdom, their righteous- ness, their sanctification, and redemption ? " A candid exami- nation of their own hearts will soon convince them, that their