continuest in the commission of them. The " goodness and long-suffering and forbearance which thou hast experienced, should lead thee to repentance :" and, if they do not, they will aggravate thy condemnation to all eternity. Go therefore, and sin no more. Let a sense of thy past dangers deter thee : let a consideration of the mercies vouchsafed to thee stimulate thine exertions : let the hope of future mercies encourage thee : let the prospect of a future judgment fix thy purpose, and strengthen thy resolution. Above all, commit thyself to God, who alone is " able to keep thee from falling, and to present thee faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."]
Address —
1 . The self-satisfied and self-applauding Christian —
[Many who are vehement against flagrant transgressors, and many too who profess an outward reverence for Christ, are yet exceeding vile in the sight of the heart-searching God. Before men, perhaps, they appear in a favourable light : but if all that they have thought and done in secret were written on their foreheads, they could not endure the sight of their fellow-creatures, but would retire from society, as these Scribes and Pharisees retired, filled with shame and confusion. Let each one of us examine the records of his own conscience ; and recollect all the transactions which have passed from his youth up to the present hour : ah ! who amongst us would venture, after such a survey, to justify himself? Know ye, brethren, that God sees all that has passed, whether ye see it or not : you may have forgotten it ; but it is all recorded in the book of his remembrance, and will be exposed by him to the view of the whole assembled universe. Learn then to view yourselves as he views you ; and to esteem yourselves as he esteems you: and know, that you never have a just esti- mate of your own character till you see yourselves to be the chief of sinners. Cast away, I say, your high thoughts of yourselves, and learn to lothe and abhor yourselves in dust and ashes.]
2. The sorrowful and self-condemning Christian —
[You see in the history before us how tender and com- passionate the Saviour is. If then conscience have arrested you, and brought you into his presence, remember, that he is rich in mercy, and ready to forgive ; and that he will never
condemn any but the impenitent and unbelievingf
At the same time, I would affectionately caution }tou against
f Isai. lv. 7. 1 Tim. i. 15, 10. VOL. XIII. F F