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and therefore out of mind. Some will not believe, for love of their sins; they see what believing would bring with it; the forsaking of sin, as well as the saving of the soul. As one, on being told by his physicians that he must forsake his excesses, or he would certainly lose his sight, said, "Then farewell, sweet light;" so these in effect say, when it is put to their choice, to give up their sins and save their souls, or to retain their sins and lose their souls, Then farewell, everlasting salvation!' Others there are who will not believe, they cling so closely to their own righteousness; they cannot see that they have done any thing so very bad, not at all worse than thousands around them; for what little they have done amiss, they cannot think that a merciful God will punish them very severely, especially if they repent and do better for the future; in fact, they cannot believe themselves to be what the Bible declares they are, guilty, perishing sinners; and therefore they will not seek the free salvation which it reveals. Thus, in one way or another, thousands who read or hear of Jesus Christ, do not believe in him, being carried away by the false and foolish devices of their own hearts, which are "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."

608. My dear friends, do not be offended if I urge on you seriously to consider whether or not you believe. Perhaps you are ready to reply; 'Yes, certainly, we believe in Jesus Christ, and hope to be saved by him;' then, let me beg you to examine what fruits are produced by your faith and hope. We read in Scripture of "faith that works by love," Gal. v. 6; and "hope that maketh not ashamed," Rom. v. 5, having which, we "purify ourselves even as our Lord is pure," 1 John iii. 3. We read also, that "faith without works is dead," James ii. 20. If indeed we believe, we shall be disposed to keep all God's commandments, and to find our happiness in so doing. Shall I point you to a few by way of example ?That in which all are comprehended, is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," Luke x. 27. A person who loves God with all his heart will not engage in any pursuit which is offensive to him; will not be found in any company where God is forgotten, or his name blasphemed. You would not, (would you?) choose to go where you would be likely to hear your best and dearest friend insulted and defamed! But such a person will go where he is likely to meet his friend, he will seek opportunities of conversing with him, will rejoice to hear of him, to receive a letter from him, and to fulfil any commands or requests that may be conveyed. Do you love to

meet God in secret prayer, to pour out your heart before him; all your wants, and sins, and sorrows?-Do you love to meet Him in his house, to receive messages and commands from him? Do you rejoice that one day in seven is set apart for that express purpose ?-Do you hear and read the Scriptures, the letter of your heavenly Friend?—And is every line dear, and sacred, and authoritative to you?-Do you avoid every thing that God's word declares to be offensive to Him?-And do you endeavour to live as He commands you; "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world," Tit. ii. 12. Do you rejoice in and adore the love of God, in providing a Saviour for ruined man? and do you, with all your heart, submit to his appointed way of salvation; trusting in Christ's blood alone for pardon, in his merits alone for acceptance, and in his Holy Spirit's influences to make you holy?-Do you in all things seek the glory of God? does your religion go into all you do? does it make you just, upright, and kind in all your dealings with men ; conscientious, diligent, and faithful as servants; affectionate and forbearing as husband and wife; obedient as children; and as parents, carefully keeping back your children from wickedness, and "training them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?" Eph. vi. 4. Whatever your worldly circumstances are, do you see the hand of God in thembountiful in giving, kind in withholding? Do you cordially submit yourselves to your heavenly Father's dispensations, and wish for no other lot than what He appoints for you? and do you, amidst all the busy, endearing, trying scenes of this life, hold yourself in readiness for your departure from it, and your entrance upon another?-Such as these are the fruits of faith ; and the person who does not possess them has no right to suppose that he believes, or is a partaker of salvation by Jesus Christ. Perhaps you may acknowledge that you have not attended to these things quite as much as you ought to have done, but you hope little is expected from you who are no scholars, and besides, so fully taken up with the concerns of your family. If you were to give up all your time to religion, how would it be possible for you to get your living and take care of your children? Let me assure you that you are quite deceiving yourselves by such arguments. Your worldly affairs will not excuse you for neglecting religion, nor will they serve you instead of religion. Religion is the " one thing needful." Whatever else you have, you will want that; and whatever else you want, that cannot be done without. Neither does religion interfere with your worldly duties, or so take your time and attention as to oblige you to neglect them.

On the contrary, it requires and enables you to attend to them in the best possible manner, and those who have made the experiment can assure you, that both worlds are best minded together, and that "godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," 1 Tim. iv. 8. Look back to the chapter on Moral Character, and consider how much easier and more effectually each of those virtues will be exercised by a truly religious person. What motive to integrity and sincerity can equal this, "Thou God seest me?" Gen. xvi. 13. What can stand against temptation like this, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against my God?" Gen. xxxix. 9. Who will be so likely to be meek and self-denying, as the person who often studies and endeavours to imitate the character of the blessed Jesus, who was "meek and lowly of heart," Matt. xi. 29, who pleased not himself, who “humbled himself,” Phil. ii. 8, who returned not reviling for reviling, nor threatening for injury, 1 Pet. ii. 23, but prayed for his enemies, and forgave his murderers? Luke xxiii. 34. Who is so likely to be a diligent, trusty, obedient servant, as he who reads the command, and receives it into his heart, "Servants, be obedient to your masters. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that ye may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things?" Eph. vi. 5, 6; Tit. ii. 9, 10. Who is so likely to be sober and moderate in all things, as he who learns from the gospel of the grace of God, to deny ungodliness and worldly lust? Tit. ii. 12. So, of every other virtue mentioned, we may truly say, that "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise," true religion teaches us to "think upon," and to practise "these things," Phil. iv. 8.

609. Let me say one word more. Perhaps you may be inclined to put off these things for the present, and say, 'I manage very well without so much religion. I am an industrious, sober person, an honest, civil neighbour, a kind partner, a tender parent. All these are enough for the present, and what more is necessary, I hope it will all come right when the occasion requires.' Thousands, who have thus excused and flattered themselves, have been called away much earlier than they expected; often so suddenly as not to allow them even an hour in which to repair the neglects of a life; many more, even on

the bed of death, have been still for putting off, and have died unawakened from their stupor; and not a few, who even have been brought at last to a serious and earnest desire after those great blessings, which they had so long despised, have suffered the most bitter remorse on account of their past neglects, and fearful apprehensions that no hope remained for them, that it was too late now. Had you ever witnessed the distress of one conscious that all earthly possessions were no longer worth any thing to him; awakened to the solemnities and terrors of eternity, and yet a stranger to the consolations, supports, and prospects of true religion;—and could you justly compare his case with that of one who had faithfully served God in life, who had discharged all his common duties under the directions, sanctions, and motives of true religion; whose soul had long been committed to the faithful, gracious hands of Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant; whose pains were soothed, whose separations were cheered by the consolations of the gospel, and who waited the summons, ready "to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better;"-you must be convinced which had made the wisest choice. But would you make the same choice for yourself? there is the question. If you would, make it now. These things are certainly taking place in the world every day, as surely as if you had seen them yourself; and as surely as you neglect religion in health, so surely you will find yourself without support and consolation in the hour of sickness and death. On the other hand, as surely as you give yourself up to the service of God now, so surely will he be your Friend and Helper, when all other helpers fail.

I do hope you will again look over these hints; examine them, and see whether they are reasonable and just. Search the Scriptures, (I have marked the passages of Scripture referred to on purpose that you may do so,) see whether they agree with what is written for your learning in that blessed book; if you find they do agree, I hope you will not slight them, but pray that they may be deeply impressed upon your heart. Search, then, for further directions; the Bible will richly afford them; and may you be enabled to follow them! May true religion direct you in all your ways, sweeten all your enjoyments, support you under all your trials, and at last conduct you safely to an everlasting habitation.

THE END.