prophesy deceits"." But to what purpose would it be to comply with their wishes? In what could such ministrations end? " If the blind lead the blind, must they not both fall into the ditch ?" On the contrary, if we " do" the whole revealed will of God, as far as we are enabled, " and teach" it faithfully unto others, we have reason to hope that we shall have many to be " our joy and crown of rejoicing" in the last day. Instead of complaining, then, that your minister is too strict either in his life or preaching, be tliankful that you have a minister, who desires to live for no other purpose than " to save himself and them that hear him."]
3. A pure conscience — ["Who can understand his errors? " says David ; " O cleanse thou me from my secret faults." Truly it is no easy thing to be a Christian. Let us examine carefully whether there be not some secret unsubdued lust within us, some worm at the root of our gourd. If there be, woe unto us ; " Except we repent, we shall surely perish." If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things : but if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards Godi'." " Then shall we not be ashamed, when we have respect unto all his commandments''."]
0 Isai, XXX. 10. Pi John iii, 20, 21. i Ps. cxix. G.
Matt. V. ^0. For I saij unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
IT would be a gratification to many to know the lowest degree of piety that would suffice for their admission into the kingdom of heaven. But to have such a line drawn for us, would be by no means profitable : for it may well be doubted, whether any, who under present circumstances are slothful in their pursuit of holiness, would be quickened by it ; and there is reason to fear that the zeal of many would be damped. Information, however, of a nature not very dissimilar, is given us ; and it will be found of the highest importance to every child of man. Our blessed Lord has marked out for us a line, that must