darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evile." Light would commend itself to men, if they would but open their eyes to behold it: but they choose to shut their eyes, and therefore are fully responsible for the incapacity which they wantonly and perversely bring upon themselves.]
This point being proved, I will now,
II. Address to you the expostulation which is founded on that hypothesis — "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right,"
1. In reference to the sentiments ye shall embrace?
[You have heard, times without number, the mystery of redemption set before you : and you are no strangers to the absurd ways of salvation proposed by an ignorant and ungodly world. And can you halt between these two opinions ? Can you see in man's righteousness any thing that can be compared with Christ's perfect righteousness, so as to doubt on which you shall rely for acceptance with God? Compare the two ways of salvation with the Scriptures of truth : Can you doubt which of the two is revealed there ? which of the two appears more suited to the justice and holiness of God ? which more suited to the necessities of fallen man? " Why of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" Is it any thing short of madness to reject that which God the Father has devised, and God the Son has wrought, and God the Holy Spirit has revealed ; and to rest satisfied with the unauthorized surmises of short-sighted man ? ]
2. In reference to the conduct ye shall pursue ?
[You are taught to " give up yourselves as living sacrifices to your God," and to aspire after " perfection" both of heart and life f. On the other hand, the world tells you, that this is all enthusiasm, and that " a mere form of godliness" will suffice. Well : Are ye at a loss to judge which is the better way ? Let any one tell you, that you may win a race, or gain a victory, by sit- ting still ; or that, if you take one step forward daily and another backward, you will as certainly arrive at your journey's end, as if you were pressing forward daily without any intermission : you would find no difficulty in forming a judgment on those subjects. How, then, can you, for a moment, suppose luke- warmness to be the proper frame of a Christian ? or that, whilst indulging it, you have any prospect of bearing off the prize of victory, even eternal life ? If you can entertain no doubt of what is required for the attainment of temporal things, how can you hesitate in relation to heavenly things ? But turn to the Scriptures : see what they prescribe. See what was the
e John iii. 19. f 2 Cor. xiii. 9