subjugation of the soul to Christ. In what light then must they appear before God? If " he that gathereth not with Christ, is as one that scattereth abroad1," much more must they, who are thus actively engaged in scattering the flock, be deemed his enemies. Yes, brethren, such persons, whatever they may profess, (with grief and sorrow I declare it,) they are no other than enemies of the cross of Christ."]
2. Their certain end —
[It is no wonder that they who mistake their own cha- racter, should deceive themselves also with respect to the state to which they are fast approaching. They conclude that their eternal interests are safe : but God declares, that " their end is destruction." Yes indeed ! " their end must be according to their works." And do not the Scriptures abundantly confirm this melancholy truth? " If ye live after the flesh, ye shall diek:" " if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him1:" " to be carnally-minded is death m." Dear brethren, in vain will be all pleas and pretences at the judgment- seat of Christ : to every worker of inquity, whether he have been an open sensualist, or hypocritical professor, it will be said, " Depart from me, I never knew you11."]
We would subjoin a word or two of advice —
1. Beware lest you rest in an external profession of religion —
[It is easy to adopt the creed of Christians, and to con- form our lives to that standard which obtains generally in the world. But it is no easy matter to be a consistent Christian. To maintain an uniform course of self-denial, and of deadness to earthly things, and to glory only in the Lord, these are hard lessons : yet nothing less than this will prove us Christians indeed. It is not by our creed, or our professions, that we shall be judged; but by our " walk" By that there- fore we must judge ourselves, if we would not be deceived to our eternal ruin.]
2. Be not offended with the Gospel on account of any misconduct in its professors —
[There were some even in the Apostles' days who " walked " unworthy of their high and holy calling; yea, there were " many." But was the Gospel to be blamed for this? As for those who gave the occasion of offence, it was to them a ground of aggravated condemnation : but the Gospel itself was not a whit less " worthy of all acceptation." So at this day,
1 Matt. xii. 30. k Rom. viii. 13. > 1 John ii. 15.
m Rom. viii. 6. n Matt. vii. 22, 23.