themd. This would be as contrary to the mind and will of God, as to make a god of our belly, or to glory in our shame. Yet how many professed Christians are there who live under the habitual influence of an earthly mind, without ever con- ceiving that there is any thing wrong in their conduct! In spiritual employments they experience nothing but a stupid uniformity: but in temporal concerns they have many fluc- tuations of hope and fear, of joy and sorrow, according as their prospects of success brighten, or their apprehensions of disappointment increase. Whence arises this, but from the decided preference they give to carnal and earthly things, above those which are spiritual and heavenly ?]
Fidelity requires, that, having delineated the con- duct of these professors, we should set before you,
II. The warning here given them —
It is a painful task to rob any of their hopes, and to denounce the terrors of the Lord : and while we engage in it, we would, like the Apostle, proceed with the utmost tenderness and compassion. But we must, at the peril of our own souls, endeavour to undeceive those who are blinded by these delusions. Let such then know,
1. Their real character —
[Many, who are of this description, imagine that they are friends of the Gospel, and that they have a great regard both for Christ and his people. But indeed, " they are enemies of the cross of Christ :" they withstand its influence over them- selves and obstruct its influence over others ■
What was the intent of the death of Christ but to redeem us from all iniquitye, and to deliver us from this present evil world f, and to establish the dominion of Christ over our whole soulsg? This was the effect it produced on others11; and would on us, if we thoroughly submitted to its influence. Whatever therefore we may imagine or profess, we really are enemies of the cross of Christ, as long as, in our spirit and conduct, we continue hostile to its main design.
The injury which such professors do to the cause of Christ, is incalculable. If they be openly profane, they explode re- ligion altogether, and deter others from regarding its dictates : and if they be more decent in their conduct, they lead men, both by their conversation and- example, to suppose that religion consists in mere forms or notions, instead of an entire
d QpovovvTEg. See Col. hi. 2. e Tit. ii. 14. f Gal. i. 4.
e 2 Cor. x. 5. h Gal. vi. 14.