of His divine nature', who knows no constraint, except His own infinite delight in purity, truth, and goodness. The perfection of holiness is perfect freedom. The obedience of His servants is the glorious liberty of the sons of God. The inhabitants of that kingdom are not machines so nicely constructed and adjusted as that they never can go wrong. They are free spirits, delighting in the service and adoration of their Redeemer, and hating sin and impurity with a cordial and intelligent dislike. Such a character as this is formed by the Spirit of God, not by doing violence to our natures, but by enlightening our judgment, informing our conscience, persuading our affections, and helping our infirmities. He deals with the weakness of our mortal nature, not by overruling and superseding, but by encouragement and assistance. His operation is not contrary, but conformable to the nature He has given us, and enables us to form such habits of willing and intelligent piety as will last for ever. In the

conduct of divine grace our liberty is not violated, but made use of. We are commanded to reflect, to inquire, to meditate, to study the Scriptures, to listen to instruction. It is in this way that the Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding, and not by a direct and immediate revelation. He that has found wisdom has not stumbled on it in listless idleness, but has sought for it as for hid treasure, and bought it at the price of labour and attention. The aids of the Holy Spirit are given: but it is to the urgency of our prayers, and the diligence of our attendance upon the ordinances of God. He keeps us from falling: but it is the vigilant, the sober, the circumspect, who are preserved, and not the careless, the headlong, or the secure. In a word, the nature which God has given us, and the happiness for which we are destined, demand such an interposition as is suited to beings capable of choice and reason and this is precisely the sort of interposition which is made on our behalf; and, consequently, the operations of divine grace are conducted in such a manner, that

the event of our being saved or lost must depend on our own diligence and

care.

2. But, further, we shall be dealt with hereafter, as those whose salvation had been placed in their own power. That judgment to which we are hastening will be conducted on the fixed and known principles of retributive justice. We shall be rewarded or punished, not as those who had no control over their own actions, but as those who were forewarned of the consequences of their conduct, and whose conduct was the result of deliberate choice. Diligence, perseverance, faithfulness, benevolence, self-denial, and the voluntary exercise of humility and patience, will be then rewarded; and carelessness, slothfulness, and wilful contrariety to the divine commands, shall be punished. Not merely this, but our reward shall be exactly proportioned to the degree of our diligence, and he that hath been faithful to improve the talents committed to his care, shall receive higher proofs of the confidence of his heavenly

Spirit has a constant tendency to prepare us for this final account. His work consists, not in working instead of us, but along with us, and within us; stimulating us, not to a dreaming and passive waiting for some transforming change in our nature, but to such instant and continual efforts as become those who are living and acting for eternity. He desires us to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, and to proceed daily in adding one Christian virtue to another, that so we may never fall, but that an entrance may be administered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His divine office is, to warn us, that we must take heed lest we should fail of obtaining a share in the blessings promised to the people of God, and to persuade us, so to act, as those, who have made a free and deliberate choice between this world. and the next, between the short-lived enjoyments of sinful pleasure, and the unfading riches of His heavenly kingdom. In matter

1 2 Pet. i. 5-11.

of fact, then, we experience, that the Holy Spirit, both by His inward monitions, and by the counsels and precepts of Scripture, does treat us, as those who are to give account of a trust reposed in them, and to abide a sentence of which they had been forewarned; as those, whose eternal destiny depends on their own choice and conduct; as those who are required to decide and act for themselves, not, indeed, without His inspiring grace, but in obedience to it; not, indeed, without his continual help but with reverential and diligent use of His assistance. The holy Scripture informs us, that, in the day of God's righteous judgment, He "will render to every man according to his deeds ;" and the principle of this retribution will regard that choice and voluntary intention, which are essential to the very notion of wickedness and goodness. For, if we ask of what sort are the "deeds" of which that judgment will take cognizance, the context will inform us; "to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, [he will render] eternal life;