scenes which most endanger their virtue. What hypocrisy is this ! If flesh and blood be, as they justly acknowledge, so weak and frail, why do they not flee from the occasions of sin ? and why do they not cry unto God for help? Let all know that their impoteucy is no just excuse; that all shall receive succour if they will but seek it ; and that " God's strength shall be perfected in their weakness™." But if we will not repent of our sins and turn unto God, the power and faithful- ness of God are engaged against us, and will be glorified ia our everlasting destruction.]
"^ Heb. ii. 18. and iv. 15, 16.
1 Cor. X. 15. / speak as to tvise men ; judge ye ivhat I say.
AMONGST the various systems of religion that have been promulgated, there is this remarkable dif- ference ; that, whilst those which have been devised by man were founded on the deductions of human reason, that which has been revealed by God is founded solely on his owni authority. Every decla- ration, every precept, every promise, every threat- ening, is introduced with " Thus saith the Lord." Deliberation and discussion respecting these declara- tions of God, are altogether superseded : man has no alternative, he must believe and obey whatever his God has spoken.
But though revealed religion is neither founded on human reason, nor makes" its appeal to it, yet it is perfectly consistent with reason, and approves itself to the judgment of every one whose mind is enlightened by the Spirit of God, and whose passions are subju- gated to the higher powers of the soul.
The appeal which the Apostle makes in our text to the judgment of the Corinthian Church has respect
^ This, and the three following Discourses, 1974, 1975, and 1976, were preached before the University of Cambridge, and the Discourse on Ps. cxix. 128. was delivered afterwards with a view to complete the series. It may be referred to in that view.