himself, as to plunge voluntarily into the crimes of the royal penitent, that he may afterwards taste the bitter fruits of his contrition and remorse; or (what is still worse, and what no sinner can be secure against) that he may die without repenting at all, and rush into the unceasing torments of " a worm "that never dies, and a fire that is never quenched." SERMON VI. JAMES i. 27. BE PURE RELIGION, AND UNDEFILED IT should seem as if Religion was here made to consist only of two parts; CHARITY or BENEVOLENCE respecting others, and PURITY OF SELF-GOVERNMENT respecting ourselves. The first of these, Benevolence, is characterized to us by singling out one of the strongest of our social affections, compassion towards the distressed, which, in the beautiful language of Scripture, is called visiting, that is, relieving "the fatherless and widows in "their affliction;" a mode of expression very common to the sacred writers; especially when K 3 when they are describing the virtue of Charity, which is almost constantly represented by one or other of its most striking features. The other part of Religion, here specified Self-government, is very distinctly marked out by the phrase of "keeping himself un"spotted from the world;" which plainly means a total abstinence from the immoral practices and unlawful pleasures of the world; a strict command over our irregular appetites and passions; an abhorrence of every thing that tends to debase our nature, and contaminate our souls. But it must immediately occur to every one, that, besides the two branches of Religion here enumerated, there is a third, of which St. James takes no notice. And it may appear, at first sight, a little extraordinary, that an Apostle of Christ, when he seems to be giving a formal definition of his Master's Religion, should omit what has ever been esteemed a most essential part of it, Piety, or the love of God. But, although this duty is not expressly mentioned, yet it is evidently implied, in the text, which recommends such Religion only as terminates ultimately in God, such as is pure pure and undefiled "before God and the "Father." And the reason why St. James did not more particularly insist on this point was, because he had no occasion to press it on the persons to whom he was writing. That acts of piety were necessary, they readily owned; but they were too apt, it seems, to think, that scarce any thing else was necessary; and that, provided they were punctual and exact in their devotional exercises, they might be allowed to relax a little in the government of their passions, and the duties owing to their neighbour. Saint James, therefore, pointing the whole force of his admonition against this dangerous error, and passing over those religious observances, on which they were already disposed to pique themselves too much, reminds them in the text, that, although God was indeed to be worshipped, yet it was to be not only with their lips, but in their lives; that Religion, that even Devotion itself, did not consist merely in calling upon God's name, but in obeying his laws; in acts of kindness to their fellowcreatures, and an unspotted sanctity of manners. K 4 Let |