tatious display, but the humble penitent studies to approve himself in secret before his God. They were like whited sepulchres, outwardly beautiful before men, but within, full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Whom do you most resemble? Do you fear the sin of the heart? Do you delight in the law after the inward man? Is that which renders it odious to the carnal mind, the holiness of its precepts and the extensive nature of its demands, the very thing which endears it to you? Do you long for inward purity and uprightness? Can you bear the reproach and ridicule of man, so that you are enabled to live in all good conscience before God? Are you infinitely more anxious to be religious, than to have the character for being so? Are you religious not only abroad, but amongst your intimate associates and nearest connexions? Are you thus relatively religious-that is, habitually under the impulse and control of such holy maxims and gracious tempers, as are required by the gospel, in the various relations of life, and in the particular moral obligations resulting from them?

Now, the gospel requires, in the nearest of all relations, that "wives submit themselves to their own husbands as unto the Lord;" that "men should love their wives," exercising forbearance towards their infirmities and failings, and using with mildness the authority with which the God of nature has invested them." Children," too, must obey their parents, in the Lord;" and in their mutual intercourse, even from their earliest years, must be careful to " put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking," and must be kind one to another, endeavouring to maintain the unity of the spirit, in the bond of domestic harmony and brotherly love. Christian servants will be "obedient unto their own masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." They will demean themselves with honesty, fidelity, and becoming respect, "not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." Heads of families, likewise, if under the influence of gospel principles, will rule their own houses well; regarding

a proper authority over their children, servants, and dependants, as an important talent entrusted to their care, to be exercised, not under the impulse of arbitrary feelings and unholy tempers, but with gentleness and moderation, for the common good, and the glory of God. The real Christian, in short, whatever his station, capabilities, or influence, may happen to be, studies to approve himself unto God, and to do the will of God from the heart. He takes pains thoroughly to acquaint himself with his duty; and, from gratitude to his Saviour, and love to his fellow-men, endeavours, in the strength of divine grace, faithfully to fulfil the same, accounting this his privilege, and a very essential part of his happiness and delight.

Let me then enquire of you, my brethren, whether your righteousness (understanding this term in the sense in which it has been regarded in the present discourse) does indeed exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees? Is the righteousness whereon you are depending for acceptance with your God, perfectly distinct from theirs, and infinitely more excellent?

And not only so, but do your real attainments in experimental piety and practical holiness, manifestly exceed any thing to which they appear to have attained? Whereas they took for their standard the opinion of man, do you regard only the word of God; and have you, in the particulars already mentioned, conformed your righteousness to the law and to the testimony? Happy are they whose consciences testify in the affirmative! Never, indeed, will they cease to lament how slow is their progress, and how small are their attainments; for whilst the tabernacle of clay remains standing, they will continue to find the language of St. Paul more and more congenial with the frame of their minds: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is ... of God, by faith." "For I

know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. . . . For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Nevertheless they are constrained to give God the glory, in declaring what he has done for them. The Holy Spirit himself "bears witness with their spirits that they are the children of God;" they are freely forgiven, and either have, or may have, firm confidence towards God, and assurance of forgiveness: sin, death, and hell are already vanquished, and already is heaven beginning to open in the prospect. Soon shall "the earthly

house of their tabernacle be dissolved, "and their redeemed spirits, "absent from the body and present with the Lord," shall appear amongst those who stand before his throne, "clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." There shall they

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