principles of religion, we mean to disparage its fruits : no : only let the fruits proceed from love to God, and a desire to promote his glory, and they cannot be spoken of too highly : the smallest service performed in such a way, shall in no wise lose its reward.]
Hoping that the giving to the doctrines of Chris- tianity a considerable share of our attention is vindicated to your satisfaction, we conclude with two words of ADVICE :
1. Meditate much and deeply on the fundamental principles of our religion —
[If it be the duty of ministers constantly to set before you the leading truths of Christianity, it must doubtless be your duty constantly, as it were, to revolve them in your minds. It is on them that you are to found your hopes : from them, you are to derive your motives and encouragements : through them, you will receive strength for the performance of all your duties. It is by them that you are to be brought to believe in God, and, " having believed in God," to be made careful and diligent in all good works. Let them therefore be your meditation day and night, and you shall find them " sweeter than honey, or the honeycomb," and " dearer than thousands of gold and silver."
2. Display the influence of those principles in your life and conversation —
[If you dishonour your profession, the ungodly world will take occasion from your actions to vilify your principles, and to represent your misconduct as the natural effect of our preaching. If they would argue so in their own case, they woidd do well : for their disregard of all the higher duties of religion does indeed arise from their contempt of its doctrines. But the experience of the primitive saints, and of thousands that are yet alive, sufficiently refutes the idea of our principles tending to licentiousness. However, be careful that you do not give to your adversaries any occasion for such reflections. Shew them, that the doctrines you profess, are " doctrines according to godliness." The light of holiness will do more than ten thousand arguments to stop the mouths of gainsayers, and to recommend the Gospel to their acceptance. " Shew them therefore your faith by your works ;" and constrain them to acknowledge, that you by your principles are enabled to attain a height of holiness, which they shall in vain attempt to emulate.]