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the apostle Paul; they are "conformed to this "world." They tread in its fteps, they act upon its maxims, they afk its approbation, and they have their reward.

How far fuch perfons are from being renewed in the fpirit of their mind, and how much they are the fervants of men, may be plainly discovered by the following fign; that they are almost as much afhamed of unfafhionable duties, as of difhonourable crimes. How different is their boasted dignity of mind from a truly holy refolution and chriftian magnanimity? Are there not fome, whofe integrity in ordinary cafes may be depended on, and who would abhor the thoughts of a mean and dirty action, as it is usually filed, but who would be covered with nearly equal fhame, if furprised in any act of devotion, as if detected in dishonesty and fraud? How many, who would brave the king of terrors in the field of battle, from a fenfe of honour; but who, tho' far from being infidels, have not fufficient courage to worship, in their families, the great Creator and Preferver of men? Such may fee the reception they fhall meet with at laft, and even feel the justice of their own condemnation in thefe words of our Saviour: "Whoever, there"fore, fhall be afhamed of me, and of my words,

in this adulterous and finful generation, of

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"him alfo fhall the Son of man be ashamed, "when he cometh in the glory of his Father, "with the holy angels *."

There are others of a different stamp, who feek the approbation of men, more by an appearance of piety and devotion, and the duties of the first table of the law. That there are some such alfo, not only the word of God, but daily experience puts beyond all doubt or question. "This people," faith our Lord, " draweth nigh "unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me "with their lips, but their heart is far from

me t." I fet afide, both in this and in the

former inftance, the cafe of grofs, intended, and
deliberate hypocrify. But are there not many,
who, in their religious duties, feem chiefly to
have in view the attaining or preferving the ef-
teem and approbation of others? They are not
determined from any inward and perfonal convic-
tion of the excellence or neceffity of religion; but
from their youth up, they have ftill heard reli-
gion spoken of with reverence, and feen religi-
ous perfons treated with refpect. This makes
them confider an entire neglect of religious du-
ties as fhameful rather than finful; and fome de-
gree of profeffed attachment to them, as necef-
fary to their character and credit.

*Mark viii. 38. + Matt. xv. 8.
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This, like many other motives, has a strong, tho' at the fame time an infenfible influence, and when mixed with imperfect convictions of fin, with produce no fmall degree of regularity in religious exercifes, while yet the heart is habitually set upon the world. In whatever age or place there is a regular and fettled adminiftration of the ordinances of Chrift, there will be many whofe religion is no more than a blind imitation of others, and a defire of fome title to that character which is in efteem and repute for the time being. Wherever there is much real, there will alfo be much counterfeit religion. Wherever there is much true piety, it is always loaded with the dead weight of many customary profeflors. Wherever there is much outward esteem waiting upon the fervants of God, there will always be many of these fair-weather christians, who follow Chrift whilft the profeffion is honourable, but are unacquainted with that part of his fervice, which confifts in taking up the cross, and fuffering reproach. Their character is well defcribed by our Saviour, under the image of feed falling upon ftony places. "He that re"ceived the feed into ftony places, the fame "is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in him"felf, but dureth for a while; for when tribu"lation

"lation or perfecution arifeth because of the "word, by and by he is offended *."

3. In the third place, there is ftill another character different from both the former, in which there may be an apparent and imperfect, while there is no compleat and effential change. The character I have now in view, is formed upon religious principles, but in which a fpirit of bondage and flavifh fear greatly predominates. It is often difficult, according to the fcripture expreffion, rightly to divide the word of truth: it is difficult to point out the errors by which men deceive themselves, and miftake the fhadow for the fubftance, and at the fame time to caution them fo diftinctly, as that serious perfons may not be alarmed; their peace and comfort interrupted by unneceffary or ill-grounded fears. Perhaps there are few fubjects in which this difficulty is greater, than the one I have now mentioned. I pray that God, for Chrift's fake, may enable me to open the truth in such a manner, as may convince and awaken thofe who have hitherto built with untempered mortar, and may give additional peace and confolation to those who have "fled for refuge, to lay hold of the hope fet before "them."

*Matt. xiii. 20, 21.

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That it is of importance to open this character, every one may, upon a little reflection be sensible. There are many who will not find themfelves included in any of the two former, Upon the moft candid examination, confcience bears them witness, that they have more in view than merely prefent eafe and comfort, or the approbation of others. They have often a ftrong impreffion of the importance of an endlefs eternity. This hath a fenfible and confiderable influence upon their conduct, and is a motive quite diftinct from worldly pleasure. It compels them to duties out of the reach of human obfervation, and therefore they cannot think that the praife of men is their highest aim.

But are there not many fuch under the dominion of fear? that is to fay, conscience in some measure awakened, denounces vengeance against the breaches of the law of God: providential difpenfations fill them with a terror of divine power; they know they cannot live always, and tremble to think what shall become of them after death. Well, perhaps the reader will fay, with fome furprife, is this wrong? No, fo far their exercise coincides with that of real penitents. But here, if I may fo exprefs it, the ways part afunder: the real penitent, by a difcovery of the intrinfic evil of fin, of the mercy of God, and the great foundation of a finner's hope, is led in the way

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