Secondly, Why he was, as I myself also am, anxious that you should " have these things always in re- membrance."
Amongst the numberless reasons that might be assigned, I shall content myself with stating the three following : —
First, I would impress these things on your minds, because on your remembrance of them depends the everlasting welfare of your souls.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of all your hopes. You all know that you are sinners, and that, as sinners, you are under a sentence of condemnation. And how shall that sentence be reversed ? Need you be told, that you can never, by any works of your own, purchase the remission of your sins ? You know you cannot. You know, that even your best actions are very imperfect, and incapable of claiming for you any recompence, if tried by the test of God's holy law : so that for them, no less than for any fouler transgressions, you need forgiveness at the hands of God. Hence, I trust, you are ready to say with St. Paul, " I desire to be found in Christ, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith"."
At the same time, you know the necessity of uni- versal holiness in order to prove and attest the sincerity of your faith. I bless God, there is not amongst, you all, so far as I know, even one single individual, that leans to Antinomian licentiousness, or that has any conceit that his faith can avail for his salvation, unless it " work by love0," and " purify the heart p."
Yes, I am happy to say, that " ye know these things, and are, for the most part, established in them." But is there no danger of your declining from them, when the tongue that now inculcates them shall be silent in the grave ? Even in the
11 Phil. iii. 9. ° Gal. v. 6. P Acts xv. 9.