who has not attained ity. This is expressly asserted by David2, and St. John*.]
Application —
[We all are willing to believe ourselves real Christians, and it is painful to rob any one of so comfortable a hope. Let us then, as Christians, unite our acknowledgments to Godb. Let us adore him for that grace, whereby he enables us to maintain, always, and in all things, a conscience void of offence. But if, in this appeal to him, we feel misgivings, or conscience suggest an opposite testimony, let us remember that ad- monition0— .]
y Many things may conspire to rob a Christian of the comfort of such a conscience, (the corruptions of his heart, the temptations of Satan, and even bodily disorders, may cause him to despond for a season) but a just ground for such a conscience he cannot but possess.
z Ps. lxvi. 18.
a 1 John iii. 8 — 10. If this were rigorously interpreted, it would contradict other passages of scripture, 1 Kings viii. 46. But to re- concile it with allowed sin is impossible.
b Rom. ix. 1, 2. c 1 John iii. 20, 21.
Paul's discourse before felix.
Acts xxiv. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temper- ance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time ; ivhen I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
MEN usually persist in sin without duly reflecting on its consequences. Hence the peace which they enjoy, notwithstanding they are exposed to the dis- pleasure of the Almighty; yet the voice of warning and reproof will sometimes alarm them. Too often, however, the alarm is only of short duration. This was the case of Felix, when awakened by the preach- ing of Paul — I. The subjects of the Apostle's discourse —
He was sent for to explain the principles he pro- fessed, but he was not satisfied with gratifying the curiosity of his hearers ; he endeavoured to reach their consciences, and convince them of their sins. On this occasion he spoke of " righteousness, temper- ance, and judgment to come."
1810.J Paul's discourse before felix. 567
Hence we observe that,
1. The subjects are essential parts of the Gospel —
[Many confine their ideas of the Gospel to the one sub- ject of justification by " the faith of Christ." But the Apostle when dilating on " the faith of Christ," introduced the subjects mentioned in my text. The knowledge of these is in fact necessary to a just comprehension of that. We must see our desert and danger as transgressors of the law, before we can ever duly appreciate the Gospel.]
2. They are of deep and vital interest to every child of man —
[Doubtless they were of peculiar importance to such abandoned characters as Felix and Drusilla3 : but they are necessary to be impressed on us also. Under the term " right- eousness" we must comprehend all the duties which we owe to our neighbour ; and under that of " temperance," all that relates to the government of our own appetites and passions. Though we be not guilty of adultery, and avarice, and oppres- sion in their grosser forms, we may find much under these heads for humiliation before God. At the day of judgment we must answer for every secret violation of God's holy law. The prospect of that awful account may well endear to us the Gospel of Christ.]
3. They commend themselves to our reason no less than to our faith —
[St. Paul "reasoned" with his Royal auditors on these subjects. To bring home to the heart of a heathen the sal- vation of Christ, much previous knowledge was requisite ; but to bring him to a sense of his guilt and danger, nothing was necessary but an immediate appeal to his reason and con- science ; and, when addressing persons who are ignorant of revelation, we shall do well to adopt the Apostle's plan.]