2. The friends of God—
[It is a great mercy to be " delivered from the love of this present world." But we may mistake our experience with respect to this. Age, sickness, poverty, disappointment, and other trials may render us apparently indifferent to the world, while yet, under other circumstances, our old attachment to it would revive. Let us take care therefore that, as an evidence of our friendship with God, our delight in him proportionably increase. This must of necessity accompany our deadness to the world. As one scale descends, the other must rise. We must guard also against a relapse ; for the world is ever soliciting a place in our affections; and if we be not on our guard, we shall, like Demas, forsake the path of self- denial for the more enchanting one of earthliness and self- indulgence'1.]
d 2 Tim. iv. 10.
Jam. iv. 8 — 10. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners ; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and zveep : let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
THE season of Lent has been set apart by the Church for the purpose of calling all her members to deep humiliation of soul before God : and, were it observed according to the intention of those who destined it to this holy use, there can be no doubt but that it would tend exceedingly to the advance- ment of religion in the world. So, at least, the reformers of our Church judged; as appears from the peculiarly solemn service which is appointed for the day with which this season commences. And I cannot but think, that, whilst we value ourselves on an increased freedom from the errors of superstition, we have reason to fear that we have suffered loss in respect of real piety ; since, with the forms of reli- gion, we have relinquished also, in no small degree,
a For Ash-Wednesday.