to those who had obtained like precious faith with him, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ :" and he calls upon them to " add to their faith, virtue," and a whole series of other graces suited to the Christian character g. These were the things which their profession of Christianity indispensably required, and which alone could justify any pretensions to the knowledge of Christ, or give them a hope of acceptance in the eternal world11.
Now, my brethren, these are the things which I also, according to the grace given to me, have incul- cated, from the first moment that I came amongst you. And these are the things which I am anxious that " you should bear always in remembrance after my decease." I am aware that you, my stated hearers, both " know these things, and are, for the most part, established in the truths that have been set before you." But I know also what danger there is of your forgetting them, when he, who has so long declared them unto you, is removed to a better world. You cannot but recollect, that the whole people of Israel, within the short space of forty days after that Moses had absented himself from them, turned away from Jehovah to worship the golden calf1 : and that " King Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, no longer than whilst he was under the eye, and the instruction, of Jehoiada the priest V What then can I expect, but that many of you will " let slip the things which you have heard1," and "turn aside from the holy command- ments delivered to youm ?" Excuse me, therefore, if I lay hold on this present opportunity to bring to your remembrance what you have so often heard delivered to you with all plainness and fidelity.
If it be asked why Peter adopted this course to- wards his Jewish converts, and why I endeavour to follow his example, I will proceed to shew you,
g ver. 1, 5. h ver. 8, 9. * Deut. ix. 11, 12.
k 2 Chron. xxiv. 2. > Heb. li. 1. m 2 Pet. ii. 21.
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