righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight saith the Lord, Jer. ix. 23, 24. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God; therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, uuto all and upon all that believe, for there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, Rom. iii. 19-24. For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it; because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is, 1 Cor. iii. 11-13. For he hath made him to be sin (sin offering) for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5-21.

SECOND PORTION.

Luke xviii. 18-22. Rom. iii. 24-31; iv. 6.
Phil. iii. 3, 4, 7.

THIRD PORTION.

Gal. ii. 16-21; iii. 9-29. Eph. ii. 8, 9.
Titus iii. 4-7.

ADDRESS.

If

There is nothing more common, yet nothing more awful, than to see the hopes of a dying man resting upon a wrong foundation. There are but very few who do not indulge the hope of going to heaven when they die, though they can give no reason for the hope that is in them, or if they do, it is a very insufficient one. the question be put to some, why they hope to go to heaven, they will reply, that they trust in the mercy of God. But this is a presumptuous confidence, it is an ignorant reliance upon the compassion of God. It is a delightful truth, certainly, that our God is. merciful, and that he is ever ready to exercise that mercy toward his sinful creatures, but he can never extend his mercy, at the sacrifice of his other perfections. He is a just and holy God. His laws are holy, just, and good. He has threatened punishment against all the transgressors of those laws. Now his justice must be appeased, his law must be honoured and fulfilled, either by the sinner or some other for him. God is willing to forgive, but if he does so without a regard to his other perfections, would it not be unjust? Would it not be opposed to his righteous government? Thousands, alas! have been deceived by Satan,

upon this ground. He keeps out of view the justice of God, and leads his blind captives to think that all must be well with them, simply because God is a God of mercy. But if this were the only and sufficient ground of hope, none will be lost, and the most profligate sinner need not trouble himself further about it. But God is a pure and holy being, he is just and righteous, and will by no means clear the guilty. He will call the sinner to account, and if he has no interest in the appointed surety who has fulfilled the law, satisfied justice, and opened the way for the exercise of mercy, he will be in the same situation as the fallen angels, who had no Saviour provided for them, and yet if the mere circumstance of God's being merciful, were sufficient to save, why were the lost spirits shut up in hell? But they found out, and so will every sinner who has no better ground of hope than this, that God is a God of infinite justice, and will never sacrifice his justice to his mercy.

Ask others why they hope to go to heaven, and they will reply, that they have done nothing amiss, so as to deserve eternal punishment, on the contrary, that they have done many things commendable and meritorious; that they have lived good lives, and have very good hearts. This is a stronghold of Satan. Here men lie so entrenched, that it is difficult to dislodge them. It is a favourite ground of hope with mankind generally, and to strengthen them in their vain confidence,

Q

is the masterpiece of the enemy of souls. The poor deluded but dying man, looks back with a partial eye on his past life. He has committed no desperate acts of sin. No one charges him with dishonesty, or drunkenness, or unchastity. He has been very charitable, kept closely to his church or chapel, said his prayers morning and night, diligently prepared for the sacrament, performed the duties of the family with credit; and of these fond and fair materials, he weaves a cloak which he thinks will hide all his little imperfections, which may have occasionally marked him, of these he makes a foundation on which to rest his hopes of acceptance with his Maker and Judge. His own righteousness is the robe with which he clads himself, and proudly goes into the temple to pray and to thank God, that he is not as other men are.

PART II.

Alas! how firmly and fondly do men cleave to themselves, and how gladly do they avail themselves of anything of an outward nature, which they think will recommend them to the favour of God, and procure for them a seat in heaven. Man likes to be independent of God. Nothing is so delightful to the man that is unhumbled as to be his own Saviour, in whole or in part. He prefers any way of salvation to the one that God has appointed. But the soul can never enter

heaven without a better righteousness than that which the sinner naturally possesses or acquires. However lovely it is in his own sight, it is loathsome in the view of God. He may think it a pure and perfect robe; God esteems it "filthy rags." Of this righteousness the sinner must be completely stripped before he can enjoy a well-grounded expectation of heaven. And have you no better hope than this, afflicted friend? You will, ere long, appear before the heart-searching God; and ought it not to be a matter of the most serious concern with you to know whether you are building right for cternity? Whether you are rearing the fabric of your hopes upon the rock or the sand? Whether the foundation will stand fast or yield, in the day when the winds will blow, the tempests beat, and the rains descend in floods? And is it not an act of kindness in those who wish you to examine the subject, and who are willing to assist you in your search after the truth? It is affirmed, that by the deeds of the law no man living can be justified, and that without being justified, there can be no peace with God. You are trusting in yourself-that is, you think that you have not broken the ten commandments, and that therefore you cannot justly be condemned; that you have performed many moral actions, and therefore must be saved. Well, suppose then, that like the young man in the gospel, you have kept these command