balance, in order that he may give to every man his proper portion of censure or applause. Of those who were truly upright he will say, ' Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile : I saw him under the fig-tree ; I heard his groans ; I saw his wrestlings with God in prayer; I treasured up his tears in my vial ; and I testify before all, that his heart was right with God.' But of those who harboured any secret iniquity he will say, ' Behold a man that was called an Is- raelite, but he was in reality a dissembler with God : he had " a name to live, but he was really dead :" I saw him under the fig-tree ; I marked the secret lusts which he harboured in his heart, and the allowed neglects of which he was habitually guilty : he would follow his convictions, and devote himself to me as far as his ease, his honour, and his interests would per- mit, but no further : and therefore, on account of his secret reserves, and his allowed guile, he must take his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers.'
Who can reflect on the consequences of that decision, and not desire so to live that Jesus may bear a favourable testimony on his behalf?]
Address —
1. Those who do not so much as profess to be true
Israelites —
[You boast perhaps that, whatever you are, you are not hypocrites: but, though you make no profession of religion before men, the very calling of yourselves Christians implies that you acknowledge yourselves bound to follow the steps of your Divine Master. Compare then your conduct with your obligations, and think what your doom must be in the day that he shall judge the world.]
2. Those who are Israelites, but not in truth —
[If it were as easy to deceive God as it is to maintain a blameless appearance before man, we should be less anxious about your eternal interests. But the Lord Jesus searcheth the heart and trieth the reins; and will adjudge men to hap- piness or misery, according to the real state of their souls. We are told that he who committeth sin is of the devil; and, that whosoever is born of God sinneth not. This must cer- tainly imply, that if we have any allowed guile, we are not true Israelites, nor can we have our portion with them. O lay to this to heart ; and seek " that ye may be found of God in peace, without spot and blameless."]
3. Those who are Israelites indeed —
[The ungodly world may brand you with the name of hypocrites and deceivers ; but the Lord Jesus looks upon you