" by your well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ;" you will constrain them to confess, that the principles which operate so powerfully on your souls, must needs be good ; and you will perhaps win many, who would never have been won by the word alone d.
Consider further how it will advance your eternal happiness. "What though there be no merit in your works, shall they not be rewarded? Shall not every one reap according to what he sowse; and that too, not according to the quality only, but the quantity also, of his seed ? Yes ; " every man shall be rewarded according to his own labour f:" he shall "reap sparingly or bountifully, according as he has sown^;" and every talent that is improved shall have a correspondent recompence in the day of judgment11.
What further inducement can you wish for? Only reflect on these things, and surely I shall not have " exhorted" you in vain.]
2. In a way of authoritative injunction —
[St. Paul, when least disposed to grieve his people, said to them, " As my beloved sons, I warn you1." And in the text he tells us, that he " charged" them in a most solemn manner, and testified*- unto them. Behold then, we testify unto you that the holiness which we inculcate is of prime importance, and indispensable necessity.
Consider that nothing less than this will prove you to be real Christians, If you are " Israelites indeed, you must be without guile." If fire descend from heaven into the bosom to consume your lusts, it will burn till all the fuel be con- sumed. The contending principles of flesh and spirit will never cease from their warfare, till the flesh be brought into subjection1. " If you are Christ's, you have crucified the flesh with its affections and lustsm." Deceive not youi'selves ; for, " whomsoever you obey, his servants you are11." If you are born of God, you will not harbour any sin0, or be satisfied with any attainmentp; but will seek to be " righteous, even as God is righteous i."
Consider that nothing less will suffice to comfort you in a dying hour. "When you come to that solemn season, things will appear to you in a different light from what they now do. The truths, which have now gained your assent indeed, but float in your mind as though they were devoid of interest or
d 1 Pet. iii. 1. e Gal. vi. 7, 8. ' 1 Cor. iii. 8.
s 2 Cor. ix. 6. h Matt. xxv. 28, 29. > 1 Cor. iv. 14.
k tiapTvpovjjitvoi. ' Gal. v. 17. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
m Gal. v. 24. n Rom. vi. 16. ° 1 John iii. 9.
p Phil. iii. 12—14. <i 1 John iii. 7.