and in the very agonies of death, he prayed for nothing but blessings on the head of his cruel murderers. Now we are told, that in all this " he set us an example, that we should follow his steps :" and that all his followers must " walk even as he walked."]
2. His holy Apostles —
[These were far inferior indeed to their Divine Master ; yet were they bright patterns of every thing that was excellent and praise-worthy. As being men of like passions with us, they manifested on some occasions their infirmities : and, in these instances, they are warnings to us, and not examples. But, for the most part, they conducted themselves in a way that excites our highest admiration. And though on account of their defects we cannot follow them in every thing, yet we are called on the whole to tread in their steps, and to " be followers of them, as they were of Christ."
Are not these sufficient proofs of the holy tendency of the Gospel ?]
Infer —
1. How little reason is there for objecting to the Gospel as unfriendly to morality !
[Men ground this objection upon the doctrine of our being " justified by faith only, without the works of the law." But if they would consider that that faith is always preceded by repentance, and followed by obedience, they would see that there was no foundation at all for their objection. If we said that people might live and die in an impenitent and disobedient state, and yet be saved by their faith, then there were good reason to condemn the Gospel which we preach : but while we maintain the character of God as it is exhibited in the Gospel, together with the obligation of its precepts, and the purity of its examples, no man need to tremble for the ark of God. A roof is not the less necessary to a house, because it is not to be laid as a foundation : nor are works less necessary, because they cannot justify us before God. Let them but stand in their proper place, and they are as necessary as faith itself.]
2. How deluded are they who hold the truth in unrighteousness !
[There doubtless are many who profess to believe in Christ, while yet by their works they utterly deny him. There was one of this description even in the family of Christ himself. But will the faith which they exercise be sufficient to save them ? No : their faith is dead, being alone : it is no better than the faith of devils : nor will it be productive of any