stand dreadfully in awe of prosecutions and inprisonments; and differ only from the others in possessing less hardiness of temper. more to say They are un Others again have still a little for themselves, and but a little. der no temptation of committing open acts of violence, and therefore want no restraint of law. But they stand greatly in awe of the opinion of the world. Their character is their idol; and through an attention to this, they refrain from many wrong actions, which draw upon them the contempt of mankind. Thus, without any sense of religion, they assume the appearance of decent moral men. Religion indeed we expect not from them; but their motive is so bad, that even their morality is worth little. There is another set of men, who have more religion than any of the former-for they have religion enough to be afraid of damnation ; though not enough to take the proper steps to avoid it. They live in a continual strife, between conscience, and indulgence. There is something like religion here. It occasions a struggle. How that struggle may end, is yet to be seen; at present, as it does not lead them to act on a right motive, it is of little value. The last set of men, who are included in the psalmist's text, are those who, divested of all thoughts of future punishment, or of the opinion of the world, stand in awe of God, through a fear of offending him. It is fear in one sense; but it is accompanied with that perfect love, which, in another sense, casteth out fear, 1 V. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him, as he is. -And every one that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.—1 John, iii. 2, 3. THE divine author of this passage, among a multitude of heavenly themes, which he has proposed to our contemplation, has not proposed one more full of wonderful, and affecting matter than this. He sets before us our new birth, and inheritance-our hopes, our motives-and glorification altogether, in one point of viewLet us follow him through the particulars of this wonderful display of grace. Beloved, now are we the sons of God. By embracing, and sincerely obeying, the christian religion, we become heirs of all its promises, and hopes the great curse is removed-God's holy spirit is shed abroad in our hearts and we are fitted for that heavenly state, which is prepared for for us. All this is in consequence of our being the adopted sons of God through Christ. We are purified in this world; and shall be glorified in the next. But what is this state of glory which is promised to us? We are acquainted with the things of this world; and know they are adapted to us, and we to them but what notices have we of these heavenly things? : It is true, says the apostle (in answer to this question), it doth not yet appear what we shall be. It is impossible in this world to have any ideas of the glory of the next. Flesh and blood cannot reveal these things to us; neither are we capable of receiving them, if they should be revealed. In these things, as in many others, we must walk by faith, and not by sight *.-Under the guidance therefore of faith, we are assured, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is. We have the same sentiment rather more strongly expressed, in St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians: We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. * 2 CORINTHIANS, V. 7. The |