III. In the World he is in a sphere of DANGER. Our Lord reminds us of this, when he prays not that we might be taken out of the world, but kept from the evil. Hence we are required to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear. And hence we read, "blessed is the man that feareth always." We are liable to be drawn sometimes beyond the bounds of permission and duty; and so to intermingle with the ungodly as to neglect the command, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." There are companies, and places, and scenes, to which a Christian may be tempted, but in which he must never be found. We have read in Ecclesiastical History of a damsel supposed to be possessed of the devil. The Bishop approached her, and commanded the unclean spirit to come out of her. But he stoutly replied, "I will not:" adding, as the reason of his refusal, She is my lawful prize. I took her on my own territory. I found her not in the temple, but in the theatre." I have no faith in the fact: but the moral of the fable-(how much of Ecclesiastical History is no better than a fable!)-the moral is good, and useful; and teaches us that we have no warrant to look for divine protection when we are on forbidden ground. We must needs go out of the world, if we would avoid all intercourse with the ungodly. There is scarcely a day in which we are not brought into such contact with them as duty allows and requires. But is there no caution necessary even then? Is there no danger of infection, when we are among the diseased? Has not a heathen told us, that evil communications corrupt good manners? Need you be informed that even the presence of the wicked may chill your religious fervour; and that their conversation may throw doubts into your minds, and leave stains on the imagination, which cannot be easily removed? How insensibly are we drawn to feel and talk and act like others: especially if there be rank to impress, and talent to fascinate, and friendship to allure, and dependance to excite hope, and favours to attach gratitude! The danger as to the case before us is, not only from what we meet with in the condition, but from what we bring into it. The world is always the same. Its errors, vices, examples, endeavours, frowns, smiles, promises, and threatenings, yield incessant and powerful temptations. Yet an angel is not endangered by them: he has not the senses, the passions, the appetites, the corruptions, on which they can operate. But we are not only rational, but animal creatures. We have not only an immaterial spirit, but a material body accessible to every external impression. We are also fallen creatures, and much of the derangement induced by our depravity consists in the ascendancy of the sensual over the intellectual part of our nature. And if we are sanctified, we are not completely renewed. And owing to the sin that dwelleth in us, we are in danger from our dress, our food, our calling, our connexions. We are in danger not only from sinful, but lawful things. The piece of ground, the yoke of oxen, the married wife-all these are innocent in themselves; yet they may excuse the acceptance of the invitation to the feast, and become the means of perdition. The knowledge we possess may puff us up with vanity. The applause we meet with, may show how drossy we are; as the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise. Owing to our susceptibility of shame, and suffering, the fear of man bringeth a snare, and may drive us back or turn us aside from the path of duty. How perilous is it to have not only an active and sleepless enemy without, but a traitor within, to give him every information and advantage. And with regard to the soul, a man's foes are indeed those of his own household. "Then a man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed." How apprehensive and cautious should those be who carry gunpowder, while moving in the neighbourhood of sparks. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?" Be not therefore high-minded, but fear. Some are indeed obliged by their condition and calling to enter further into the world than others, and so are more exposed; but what we say unto one, we say unto all, watch. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Whose attainments are such as to warrant the dismission, or even the relaxation of his vigilance? Whose standing is so secure as to feel it needless any longer to pray, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe?" Are we young? Timothy, with all his faith and godliness, is admonished to flee youthful lusts. Are years beyond the reach of harm? Solomon, after a youth of man hood and piety, is drawn aside in his old age. We may fail even in those qualities and graces wherein we most excel Abraham, the father of the faithful, staggered through unbelief, and how did it debase him in Gerar! Moses, more meek than any man on the earth, provoked by the perverseness of the murmurers, "spake unadvisedly with his lips." The disciple who disowned the Saviour, even with oaths and curses, was he who had just said, "though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee;" and who had just drawn his sword, and in the presence of a number of Roman soldiers had cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. If any imagines that though these admonitions and warnings are needful for others, they are not necessary for him, he is the man who far more than every other requires them : for "pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." It is therefore a great thing, and a thing for which you cannot be too thankful to the God of all grace, if, after so long an exposure in an enemy's land, your hearts have not turned back, neither have your steps declined from his ways. Review the hour when you first gave up your own selves to the Lord and to his people by his will; recal the subsequent vicissitudes of your condition and experience; and exclaim, with wonder and praise, "Many years have pass'd since then; You have had your infirmities; and these ought to humble you. But it is an unspeakable privilege that thus far you have not only been sincere, but without offence, and have not caused the way of truth to be evil spoken of. "Ah!" say some of you, "such are to be congratulated. Through all the pollutions of a world like this, they have not defiled their garments; and they are ready to walk with their Redeemer in white, for they are worthy. But we are only commencing our religious course. Their warfare may be considered as accomplished: our fight is scarcely begun. The dangers which are behind them, are all before us; and the prospect frequently smites our heart down to the ground." But be not discouraged. Their friend and keeper is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Look to that grace which is sufficient for you; and be concerned to abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your body, soul, and spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. IV. In the World he is in a sphere of SELF-IMPROVE MENT. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him. His love to them is infinite. And as he is possessed of unbounded resources to give his friendship effect, it follows that he would not detain them here, unless the condition was compatible with their advantage, and the trials by which they are exercised could be found unto their praise and glory and honour. When Isaiah would distinguish the guilt of a sinner, he said, "Even in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly" and nothing can aggravate a man's wickedness more, than to go on still in his transgressions, when every thing in his situation, every thing he hears and sees, excites and encourages him to godliness. By the same principle of reasoning it will appear, that the highest religious excellence is that which is displayed in the land of wickedness; and where evil examples and seductions press on every side. Hence the portrait drawn by the sublimest hand that ever held a pencil. "Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he; His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; Nor number, nor example, with him wrought To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, This gave splendour to the faith of those Christians who were saints even in Cæsar's household. This magnified the sanctity of Daniel, and Moses, and Joseph, who lived in the midst of heathenish, and luxurious, and corrupt courts; and yet kept themselves pure. This was the honour of Noah that when God had explored the whole world, he said, "Thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” What is virtue untested?" Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.” It is not by the fireside, or in the circle of his friends, or in the rear of the army with the “stuff,” that the hero gathers his laurels; but amidst the confused noise of warriors, and garments rolled in blood. If we were exposed to no frowns and menaces, how could we show the firmness of our religious principles? If we met with no kind of reproach and persecution for the Saviour's sake, how could we evince our belief of his truth and our love to his cause? Were we urged to follow no will but his, how could we obey God rather than man? Am I offended? What an opportunity have I to prove that I can forgive my brother his trespasses! Am I opposed and injured? Here my patience and meekness are called forth. Here I am in the noblest field of action. I am more than a conqueror. I am not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Can I pass a day or an hour, and not perceive the goodness and forbearance of that God, who though still insulted by the world which he has made, yet spares it, and is never weary in filling it with plenteousness? Is my soul vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; and do I not wonder at the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into such a world, and resided here for three and thirty years, bearing the contradiction of sinners against himself? Can I view the depravity of others, and know that I am a partaker of the very same nature, and not feel abased, and ashamed, like the martyr, who whenever he saw a sinner in his sins, said, "There goes Bradford, but for the grace of God."-How can we view the vassalage of the ungodly under the tyranny of their passions, and led captive by the devil at his will, and not remember that we ourselves also were sometimes foolish and disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures; and not ask who made us to differ from others; and what have we that we have not received? How can we see the vileness of sin in its ugly tempers and detestable practices, and not be excited to abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good?How can we contemplate the miseries of the sinner, and not have our faith confirmed in the testimony of the Scripture |