suited to fallen man ; nor will any other be found worthy of Almighty God. His justice must be honoured, as well as his mercy ; and it is only by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ that its demands are, or can be, satisfied. And as to the per- formance of good works, respecting which you are so jealous, look and see whether any person, from the foundation of the world, ever exhibited a brighter pattern of morality than Paul; who yet said, " I desire to be found in Christ, not having my own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ." Only be candid in your examination of this point, and it shall force itself upon your mind with an evidence that is irresistible.]
4. The licentious worldling — [' How can that be a source of happiness, which would rob me of all that I have ever delighted in, and constrain me to mortify my flesh ; and, after all, would subject me to the contempt and hatred of all my friends V This appears to you a difficulty that cannot be removed. But I would say to you also, " Come, and see :" try what religion will really do for you : see whether its ways be not ways of pleasantness and peace : see whether there be not a more refined pleasure arising from self-denial for the Lord's sake, than in all the self-indulgence that you ever experienced. Come, and see what happiness there is in communion with God, in the testimony of a good conscience, and in a prospect of a blessed immortality. I will venture to affirm, that if you give the experiment a fair trial, you shall find incomparably greater happiness in God than you ever found in the gratifications of sense.]
Learn then, from this subject, how to act,
1. In reference to your own prejudices —
[Every man living is more or less influenced by this principle. Piety itself will not altogether exempt us from it. Nathanael was " an Israelite indeed ;" yet, though " without guile," he was not without prejudice: and therefore it becomes us all to be open to conviction, and to be willing to have our prejudices removed : we should never decline using the means of information that are open to us ; but should be intent only on ascertaining the truth. Whether our prejudice refer to persons or things, we should find a real delight in having our views rectified, and should spare no pains to acquire a more perfect way.
In this point of view, the Bible Society has rendered most important services to the Church of Christ. It has brought together multitudes who were once, through the force of pre- judice, alienated from each other; and has diffused among them a principle of mutual love. And if we were to cultivate
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