strances as these; that the Blessed Monitor within hath often thus shewn you to yourselves; and that if you have persisted in an ungodly course of life, it hath not been for want of repeated warnings. This Blessed Monitor is no other than the "Glory of the " Father" shining into the darkness of nature, and discovering to you your corruptions, to engage you to overcome or forsake them. Your turning to, and acceptance of this Glory, is your spiritual refurrection to Newness of Life. Your resisting it, is your condemnation here; and, if you perfist in such resistance, must be your perdition hereafter. The first appearance of Divine Grace upon the foul, is like the early dawn of morn, just opening to us a faint imperfect view of our inward state. If we embrace this chearing light, and walk therein, it will "shine more and " more Y 3 more unto the perfect day." It is the peculiar property of the Fire of Heaven, to purify as well as enlighten; so that a finner need not be difcouraged by a view of his own corruption, but rather bless God for the difcovery. Sin is a most dangerous rock, on which we should inevitably be shipwrecked, if Divine Light did not point it out, and Divine Love assist us to escape it. On the other hand, this spiritual refurrection is checked or prevented by those, who shut their hearts against the first Beams of Grace, and fly from the Light, because it renders them uneasy and dissatisfied with themselves-Their minds are so far enlightened by it, as to fee, that their present mode of life, their idle conversation, their amusements and diversions, their secret fins of pride, envy, and love of pleasure, are quite inconfiftent with that still, retired, retired, meek, humble, self-denying life, which the Religion of JESUs demands. Loth, therefore, to abandon their favourite pursuits, they shun the light that shews them their folly, and rush into darkness; that, by hiding themselves from themselves, they may fin in peace. Thus, by chusing darkness rather than light, they keep themselves in a state of death, and fuffer not the power of CHRIST'S Resurrection to "raise them up to New" ness of Life." They prefer the vanity of time, to the riches of eternity; the pleasures of sense, to the most pure and perfect spiritual delights; the life of brutes, to the the life of Angels. conciling Heaven and earth, CHRIST and Belial. Worldly pleasure and Devotion cannot subsist together. Diversions have no connexion with the Two Sacraments: they are a breach of Baptifmal engagements; and repugnant to that Spiritual Communion, which we profess to recognize and renew in the LORD'S SUPPER-May God deliver us, therefore, from the dominion of a worldly spirit, and render us conformable to his dear Son, that so "the same mind may be in us, that was also in CHRIST "JESUS; and that, as he was raised up from the dead by the Glory of "the Father, even so we also may walk "in Newness of Life!" |