obligations to holiness are, if possible, increased ; since the very- end of Christ's mediation was " to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto liimself a peculiar people, zealous of good works ^." Besides, he came to " set us an example, that we should follow his steps'." Was " he then without sin ; and was he without guile™?" We should, as far as possible, resemble him ; and neither do any thing, nor forbear any thing, but in perfect accordance with the commands of God. If we profess to belong to him, we must " walk in all things as he walked"."]
3. As hoping for a testimony from God in the last day—
[We all of us look for a future judgment, wherein " the inmost counsels of our hearts will be made manifest," and " every man will be dealt with according to his works." Then will God bear witness to his faithful and obedient servants ; saying, " ^^""611 done, good and faithful servants ; enter ye into the joy of your Lord." But how can we hope for such a tes- timony from him, if we have any reserves in our obedience to him ? How can he say, " This is a beloved son of mine, in whom I am well pleased," if he has seen in us any wilful de- parture from his ways? How can he acknowledge us as " Israelites indeed, if we have not been without guile?" Know then, my brethren, what your duty is, and how it must be performed, if ever you would be approved of your God in that day^ Verily, " it becometh every one of us to fulfil all right- eousness:" and if there be any reserve whatever in our minds, instead of being approved of God as his children, we shall be condemned by him as hypocrites. " A right hand or a right eye" that is retained contrary to his command will inevitably subject us to his everlasting displeasure. It will be to no purpose to say, that, whilst following our superiors in rank and learning, we concluded we were acting right : for " the rulers of the Jewish nation rejected the counsel of God against them- selves, by refusing the baptism of John ;" whilst the publicans and harlots availed themselves thankfully of the proffered benefit". And, if Christ himself thus withstood the current of public example in his day ; and sanctioned, by his conduct, the more duteous deportment of the lower classes ; so should we, unawed and uninfluenced by the whole world, determine, with God's help, to " follow the Lord fully," and to sanction nothing which God himself will not approve. We should prefer enter- ing heaven with publicans and harlots, to the being excluded from it with the great and mighty of the earth. To the appro- bation of God alone should we look ; and with the prospect of that we should be content.]
^ Tit. ii. 14. 1 1 Pet. ii. 21. ^ i Pet. ii. 22.
" 1 Jolmii. G. 0 Luke vii. 29, 30. Matt. xxi. 31, 32.