[ We have no better test of our sincerity before God than this. Our having embraced new tenets, however just those tenets may be, will not prove that our hearts are right with God : nor will an outward reformation of our conduct suffice to establish our pretensions to true conversion : there must be an uniformity and consistency in our endeavours to serve God : there must be no virtues so small, as to seem unworthy of our attention, or so great, as to discourage us in the pursuit of them. We must never think we have attained any thing, as long as there remains any thing which we have not attainedk.
There is notlmig that can more conduce to our present hap- piness than this. Self-government, next to the immediate enjoyment of the Divine presence, is the sublimest source of happiness in this world. Let any thing that comes under the description before mentioned, be considered in all its bearings and effects, and it will be found highly conducive to the com- fort of our own minds, and to the happiness of all around us. Abstracted from the consideration of any future recompence, " the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of right- ousness is quietness and assurance for ever1."
Moreover it tends to increase in our souls a meetness for heaven. By virtuous actions we attain virtuous habits ; and by virtuous habits a conformity to God's image : and our con- formity to God in holiness is that which alone constitutes our meetness for glory. Should we not therefore be endeavouring daily to get every lineament of the Divine image engraven on our souls? Should not the hope of growing up into Christ's likeness be an incentive to continual and increased exertions in the way of duty ? Need we, or can we have, any greater stimulus than this ?]
2. To the Church—
[By this alone can we silence the objections of her adver- saries. In every age the adversaries have vented their calum- nies against the Church, as though all her members were hypocrites, and their seeming piety were a cloak for some hidden abominations. They have also represented her doc- trines as visionary and enthusiastic, yea, as calculated to subvert the foundations of morality, and to open the floodgates of licentiousness. But when they see a holy and consistent conduct, the joint effect of piety and wisdom, they are con- strained to shut their mouths, and to confess that God is with us of a truth111.
By this also do all her members contribute greatly to their mu- tual edification and endearment. It is with Christ's mystical
k Phil. iii. 12—15. » Isai. xxxii. 17.
m 1 Pet. ii. 12, 15. & iii. 16.