great reward.' Do this ; do it, not for a constancy, but only for the remainder of this day ; and then will we confess, that all that we have spoken is a libel upon human nature, and that man is neither so cor- rupt nor so helpless as the Scriptures and the writings of our reformers have represented him. Whatever may be thought of all our preceding observations, it must surely be acknowledged fair, when we leave every man to be his own accuser, and constitute him judge in his own cause. I repeat it ; this is the tri- bunal to which we make our appeal, and by your own impartial judgment we will venture to abide.
Anticipating your decision, (for we doubt not but that the faithful monitor within you has already pro- nounced it,) we ground on your own acknowledg- ments a
" Word of exhortation " —
First, if we are such corrupt and helpless crea- tures, let us seek to obtain a deep and abiding sense of our wretched condition. What ought we to feel, who have lived as without God in the world, who have exalted to his throne all the vanities of time and sense, and have, in fact, been a god unto ourselves, doing our own will, finding our own pleasure, and seeking our own glory ? What, I say, ought such persons to feel ? What view ought they to have of their own conduct ? Is it a small measure of humi- liation and contrition that befits such persons ? Take into the account also what blessings that God, whom we have so neglected, has from time to time been pouring out upon us ; and let us reflect, above all, on his incomprehensible love in giving his only- begotten Son to die for us, and in following us inces- santly with offers of a free and full salvation through him : think, moreover, of the strivings of his Holy Spirit with us from time to time, and of the resistance which we have opposed to his sacred motions ; reflect, I say, on these things, and then say. Whether our eyes ought not to be a fountain of tears to run down night and day for all our iniquities and abominations.