multitudes of professing Christians: do you complain of others as carnal and worldly and covetous, and are ye yourselves faulty in these respects ? Do ye complain of pride, anger, and un- charitableness in others, and yet indulge them in yourselves ? Do ye censure others for bigotry and intolerance, and yet betray the same unhallowed spirit towards those who differ from you ? In a word, look at home ; and let your severity be directed rather against your own defects, than the defects of others ; and, instead of prescribing remedies so profusely to others, apply them first for the healing of the disorders of of your own souls.]
3. To true believers, who desire to adorn and recommend the Gospel —
[Be sure that those to whom you recommend the Gospel will first mark its operation upon your minds : and, if they see that it has done little or nothing for you, they will not be dis- posed to expect any great benefits from it to themselves. On the contrary, if they see that it has wrought a valuable change on you, they will be ready to receive it, in order that they them- selves may be made partakers of the same benefits. Hence, your first care must be to experience all its sanctifying and saving operations in your own souls ; that, when you commend it to others, you may be able to say, " What my eyes have seen, my ears have heard, and my hands have handled, of the word of life, that same declare I unto youB." St. Paid could appeal to his hearers, " how holily, justly, and unblameably he had behaved himself among themh:" and could boldly say, " Whatsoever ye have heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you1." This rendered his word incom- parably more powerful than it would have been under other circumstances ; and no doubt, if you also can make a similar appeal, whether you be ministers or private Christians, it will give ten-fold effect to your instructions. To all, then, I would say, labour first to improve the Gospel for the sanctification and comfort of your own souls ; and then will those who behold the brightness of your light, acknowledge that God is with you of a truth ; and that the Gospel, which has wrought such things for you, is worthy of universal acceptation.]
e 1 John i. 1—3. h 1 Thess. ii. 10. i Phil. iv. 9.