to a great extent, without any practical effect: but the circum- stance of its being inoperative, clearly shews, that the person possessing it has no spiritual discernment. He is blind, or at best very dim-sighted, as to the excellency of the principles
which he maintains: he sees not their proper tendency: he is unconscious of the worthlessness of mere notions, however just they may be, if separated from their practical effects: he be- trays an utter ignorance of the nature of true religion : and he shews, that he has forgotten all the professions which he made, and the vows that he took upon him, when first he was bap- tized into the name of Christ. When by baptism he entered into covenant with God, he professed, that, as he expected the remission of sins through the blood of Christ, so he expected the mortification of sin by the Spirit of Christ. He engaged, that from that hour he would seek a conformity to Christ, " dying unto sin, as Christ died for sin, and rising again unto righteous- ness, even as Christ rose again to a new and heavenly life"." But by his want of all these graces, or his allowed deficiency in the exercise of them, he shews that he has forgotten all his former engagements, and is an ignorant and inconsistent pro- fessor, who disgraces that holy name by which he is called.
Now, I say, attend to these assertions of the Apostle, and judge whether the graces before-mentioned be not indispensably necessary to the Christian character, and whether we ought not to "give all diligence" to have the whole train of them exhibited in our lives.]
In further considering the Apostle's exhortation, let us notice,
II. The insight which it gives us into pure and unde- nted religion —
We should not be satisfied with viewing truth in abstract and detached parts : we should endeavour to acquire enlarged views of religion ; to see it in all its bearings, and to get our minds duly impressed with its excellency and grandeur. In this we shall be greatly assisted by the Apostle's exhortation ; which, whilst with prismatic accuracy it brings before us the separate rays of which religion is composed, presents in their united power the full radiance of the Christian system.
See then in this passage the excellency of true religion :
1. How comprehensive it is in its nature !
« Rom. vi. Z — (').