of the mercies of redemption, of the glories of the world to come; they hesitate not to encounter the toils of Chriftian warfare. They are not ignorant of the ftrength of their enemies. They are aware that it is far greater than it is imagined or represented to be by the worldly-minded men, who refufe to encounter it. "We know," they reply to the deceivers who would perfuade them to fhrink back from the courfe of duty;

we know that we have to contend with the "flesh and the world; with the corruption of "our own hearts; with your evil customs, your fcoffs and your fnares; with Satan and "his angels, the principalities and powers of "darkness. But we But we are ready to fet the "battle in array. We are ready to go forth "in the name of our God. Mightier is he "that is with us than they that are against "us. His ftrength is perfected in our weak"nefs. His grace is fufficient for us: and "is able to make us more than conquerors through him that loved us, even through Jefus Chrift."

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III. You are now acquainted with the different fpirit of two different claffes of perfons to be found among modern Chriftians. Which of the two do you judge to be the right? Which

of the two do you efteem the. wifer? Gome and let us reafon together on this fubject. The Ifraelites were directed to fearch out and examine the land of Canaan by means of their spies, before they should attempt to take poffeffion of it. In the fame manner Christ admonishes thofe, who are defirous of becoming his disciples, to fit down first and count the coft (a). Not that the Ifraelites were left at liberty in point of duty to choose and determine for themselves whether they would proceed into Canaan, or not. Neither are you left at liberty in point of duty to determine for yourselves whether you will be religious or not. The Ifraelites were commanded to proceed into Canaan, and you are commanded to be religious, under pain of the wrath of almighty God. Why then are you required to fit down and count the coft of being religious? For the fame reafon for which the Ifraelites were instructed to search out the land of Canaan: namely, that through the promised affiftance of him from whom is the preparation of the heart (b), you may prepare your minds beforehand for the task which you have to perform; and may thoroughly underftand the greatness of the promised reward.

Do not imagine that I feek as it were to delude you into the fervice of religion by

(a) Luke, xiv. 28-33

(b) Prov. xvi. 1.

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representing that service as easy. Whatever may be the bleffings, prefent or future, which it may hold forth; unquestionably it abounds with difficulties, and requires constant and laborious exertion. And what valuable pursuit is there which does not? But with respect to every valuable pursuit the decifive question is not whether difficulties and facrifices are to be expected: but whether there be folid ground for trufting that the difficulties and facrifices will be compenfated by the attainment of the object which you pursue. The husbandman cheerfully gives up his time and ease, and fubmits to watchfulness and hardship, in cultivating his fields: for he hopes for an ample retribution in the harvest. The merchant commits his property to the winds and waves, traverfes the ocean, faces the viciffitudes of climates, recoils not from fatigue and danger, from fufpenfe and anxiety: for he looks forward to a cargo, which shall abundantly remunerate his labours. Confider whether the rewards, which religion enfures to her followers, are proportionate to the nature of the fervice which she demands. What then are the difficulties and facrifices to which

you muft fubmit, if you would be fervants of religion? "There are many "things," you reply," many things rooted "in our nature, and dear to flesh and blood, "which

What muft

"which we muft renounce." you renounce ? "We muft renounce our "evil paffions; as pride, anger, fretfulness, envy, revenge." And is this a grievous facrifice? Will anger make you happy? Will fretfulness make you happy? Will pride, or envy, or revenge, make you happy? When you have indulged any of thefe wicked tempers, does the recollection of them diffufe comfort over your bofom? Can you feriously fay; "As I wish to be happy to-morrow, I "therefore hope that to-morrow I fhall be "actuated by paffion, that I fhall be fretful, "and proud, and envious, and revengeful?" Can you seriously say, that you believe men of fuch difpofitions to be more happy than thofe, whom religion has rendered mild, contented, humble, rejoicing in the prosperity of others, replete with kindness, compaffion, and forgiveness? Your own hearts tell you that the real facrifice is not to renounce thefe tempers, but to retain them: that their fervice, not that of religion, is the hard fervice.

Let us proceed in our examination. What more does religion require you to renounce? "She requires us to renounce intemperance, "and other fenfual pleasures." And are thefet grievous facrifices? Compare the gratification Q 2

which

which the finner obtains from his brutal indulgences with the prefent bleffings which he lofes by them. Take drunkenness for an example. Does the drunkard derive as large an amount of pleasure from drunkenness, as the temperate man from temperance? Contemplate the drunkard drenching himself in the poifon which is fecretly deftroying him; roaring out curfes in the midft of companions like himself; and joining in their profane fongs and licentious merriment. Follow him to his home, to the wife and children whom perhaps he ftarves: fee them terrified by his fury, or sunk in anguish by his guilt. Vifit him the fucceeding morning. Behold his reddened eyes, his bloated visage, his trembling hands, his liftlefs and languid frame. Behold him racked with remorse for the fins of the paft evening; or in a state infinitely more pitiable, utterly infenfible of them, and prepared for the next opportunity of repeating his crime. Now turn to the man whom religion renders temperate. Obferve his ferene brow, the emblem of a peaceful bofom. Mark the healthinefs of his countenance, the alacrity of his ftep. See him preffing forward with cheerful induftry the bufinefs of the day. See his family in tranquillity, and comfort, and harmony around