the Spirit, the thingsof the Spirit: and the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these-adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I tell you before, says St. Paul, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that be Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." *

Whether you have done so, my brethren, it is for yourselves to judge. I have put before you the means of judging: compare yourselves honestly with the precepts of God's word, and pray to him earnestly against all self-deception; and it will be a great gain to you to arrive at selfknowledge, fall out the decision as it may.

It may be, indeed, that you have lived hitherto in sin, and that your sins are open and undisguised and unmistakable, so that none can suppose you to be in the road to heaven; and ye cannot think so yourselves, when once ye set yourselves to think in earnest; or it may be, that though ye have been moral and decent and

* Gal. v. 19-24.

respectable and respected, ye have been living without fervent prayer, and serving the world before God. If so, though the case in both parts of it is bad, it will be well to have seen the truth of it. Ye are dead in sin; but there is an admonition for you in God's word, and grace to succour you, if you will not reject it still.

"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."* But bestir yourselves, brethren, as people should do who are awakened to a sense of past gross neglect. Bestir yourselves as perceiving that you have not started upon your christian course at a period when half the ground ought to have been run, and by double exertions so run now, that you may even now obtain.

It may be, however, that conscience beareth witness for you, that "in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, ye have had your conversation in the world" already. Praise the Lord for his goodness, who hath both given you time and given you grace to use it to his glory and your own benefit. And "hold fast that which is good." "Be not high-minded, but fear." "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." "If ye continue in my word, saith our Lord, then are ye my disciples indeed." † ↑ John viii. 31.

* Eph. v. 14,

VOL. III.

L

with

"When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." * And so shall And so shall ye, if it hath been so you. But it is written again, and I trow not for nothing, "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations which the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned; in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." "Wherefore take unto you," one and all, "the whole armour of God, that ye may be able (for so only can ye be able) to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance." Thus the year to come, if ye live through it, shall be, like the last, marked by your + Ib. xviii. 24.

Ezek. xviii. 27.

Eph. vi. 13, &c.

growth in godliness, if in the last ye did grow in godliness; or if ye did not, it shall be better than the last the first period of a repentance not to be repented of.

But recollection of the other point, on account of which the day passing over us is remarkable -I mean, of its being the memorial day of our Saviour's circumcision-reminds me to add a few words. He was circumcised and obedient to the law for man; therefore, though I have called upon you to be always abounding in the work of the Lord-and if you are so, your works will no doubt be acceptable to God in Christ—yet remember, it is his obedience wrought for you which is meritorious to procure salvation-not your own obedience wrought in his imparted strength. Whilst, therefore, your utmost diligence is given, through that strength, to abound more and more in all good works and labour of love for God, let your simple and entire dependence be upon his performances.

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SERMON VIII.

THE OBLIGATIONS RESULTING FROM A DUE SENSE OF GOD'S MERCIES.

[Preached on the first Sunday after Epiphany.]

ROMANS xii. 1, 2.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

THE Epistle to the Romans sets forth, more completely than any other portion of Scripture, a general and connected view of the scheme of Christianity. The text which I have chosen from the epistle for the day is the transition of the writer from the expository or doctrinal part of his work, to the exhortatory or practical part;