66 you 66 any man have acomplaint against any*?" Do put away lying, and fpeak every man truth with his neighbour ?" Do you labour, work"ing with your hand the thing which is good, that "you may have to give to him that needeth?" Do you let no corrupt communication proceed "out of your mouth, but that which is good to the "ufe of edifying, that it may minifter grace unto "the hearers?" Do you let all bitterness, and "wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speak"ing be put away from you, with all malice ?" And are you" kind one to another, tender-heart"ed, forgiving one another, even as God, for "Chrift's fake, hath forgiven you + ?" "For❝nication, and all uncleannefs, or covetoufness, "are they not fo much as once named among 66 you, as becometh faints? Neither filthinefs, "nor foolish talking, nor jefting" bearing in "mind, that "every idle word that men fhall "fpeak, they fhall give account thereof, in the "day of judgment §." 66 Ye that are children," do ye " obey your pa "rents in the Lord?" Ye that are "parents," doye "provoke not your children to wrath, but bring "them up in the nurture and admonition of the "Lord? Ye that are "fervants," are ye "obe"dient to them that are your mafters according to "the flesh, with fear and trembling, (i. e. left you "should offend or injure them) in singleness of your Col. iii. 12, & 13. + Eph. iv. 25. 28, 29. 31, & 32.1 "your heart, as unto Chrift; not with eye-fer"vice, as men-plcafers; but, as the fervants of "Chrift, doing the will of God from the heart; "not gainfaying; not purloining; but fhewing all "good fidelity ? And, ye that are "mafters," do "ye act in the fame manner unto them, forbearing "threatening; knowing that your master alfo is in "heaven; neither is there refpect of perfons with "him *?" Ye that are wives," do ye "fubmit "yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit, "in the Lord?" Do ye "love your husbands, love 86 your children? Are ye difcreet, chaste, keepers “at home, good †?" Are ye fo❝ in fubjection to "your own husbands, that, if any obey not the "word, they alfo may, without the word, be won "by the converfation of the wives, while they be"hold your chafte converfation coupled with "fear?" Is your "adorning, not that outward "adorning of plaiting the hair, and of putting on "of apparel, but the hidden man of the heart, in "that which is not corruptible, even the ornament "of a meek and quiet fpirit, which is in the fight of God of great price?" And, ye that are hufbands, do ye love your wives, being not bitter against them;" but "giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker veffel (? 66 66 If ye perform thefe relative duties with faithfulnefs, and diligence, Are ye alfo, according to your feveral means, careful to relieve Chrift in his poor endof the Chapte. Eph. v. 22. to the end. Col. iii. 18. & 19. + Tit. ii. 4. See to the 66 members? Is it likely ever to be faid of you as was once faid of a Pagan Emperor of the Chrif tians in his time, "How thefe Chriftians love one "another *!" Hear our Saviour's bitter complaint against many of you: "I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirfty, and ye gave me "no drink I was a ftranger, and ye took me "not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: fick, "and in prifon, and ye vifited me not. For, in"afmuch as ye did it not unto one of the leaft of "thefe, ye did it not to me f." And, remember, if this pathetic remonstrance will not have effect on your hard hearts at prefent, it will be made, when you appear trembling before his judgmentfeat; and it will be accompanied by your dreadful fentence," Depart, ye curfed, into everlasting "fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." This fhall fcarcely fooner be pronounced than exe cuted, for ye "fhall go away into everlasting punish "ment; but the righteous into life eternal." Oh! "how will ye then lament, that ye made not to your "felves friends of "your wealth," the mammon of "unrighteoufnefs, that they might have received 66 you into everlasting habitations §;" affured too, as ye were by Chrift himself, that "whofoever fhould "give even a cup of cold water, to a disciple, in "his name, because he belongs to him, fhould "not lofe his reward." And think, my friends, what words are thefe!" Ye have heard, that it "hath been faid, Thou fhalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I fay unto you, "Love your enemies. Blefs them that curfe "you; do good to them that hate you; and pray ❝for them which defpitefully ufe you, and perfe"cute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven *." What a condition is here. We must love our very enemies, &c. or we cannot be the children of God, the true difciples of Chrift. Are you not then ready to exclaim, as an humble and pious man once did, "Bleffed Jefus! either thefe are not thy words, ❝ or we are not Chriftians ?" This is the faith which we recommend; a faith which fhews itfelf in fuch works as thefe; and we plainly tell you, that if your faith produce not thefe bleffed fruits, it cannot be the means of your falvation. A true faith, by which we receive the pardon of God, through Chrift, will ever be attended with them. Let no man then endeavour "to put afunder what God has thus indiffoluble "joined together!" When alfo we tell you (as I hope we shall ever do) ye are faved by faith t, let no one for an inftant imagine that we mean any other faith, than fuch an one as is "the fub"tance of things hoped for," through Jefus Christ," the evidence of things not feen;" and is not only attended with peace of confcience, through Matt. v. 44. & 45. Rom. iii. 22. V. 1. 2 Cor. i. 24. Philip. iii. 9. Gal. ii, 16. xi. 20. through an entire confidence in the blood and inerits of the Redeemer, but alfo produces a new and spiritual birth, a complete and entire change of nature; and flews itelf in obedience to all God's holy laws, even in every good work. If thefe effects be not produced in you, do not deJude yourfelves, by imagining, that you are true believers in Chrift. It cannot be. The word of God is entirely againft you. Whatever delufive notions, or fpeculations, you may entertain, the fon of God will fay. to you, on the great day, "I never knew you." We This is the true fcripture faith in Chrift. To reprefent it (as fome ignorantly do) destructive of morality, is like reprefenting the fun deftructive of light and heat. To fpeak of it, as productive of fpiritual pride, is like fpeaking of penury and contempt, as feeding ambition. may be affured, whatever infidels or formalifts may urge against it, as it flows from God, so it is the fruitful fpring of all that is good and lovely. And, it poffeffes, among others, this fuperiority over every principle of human invention, that, while it raises man to the highest pinnacle of human excellence, it proftrates his foul in the very lowest state of self-abasement. Referving the remaining fcripture marks of a true faving faith for future discourses, may all perfons, who have already difcovered, that they have it not, pray to God, without delay, that he will impart it! Remember, it is his gift and operation. This, with every good and perfect |