particulars, I may exclaim, with the Publican, God be merciful to me a sinner! or with an Apostle, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? As the constant exercise of Divine Justice in the government of the world, is a continued manifestation of Eternal Holiness, it is not only our duty, but our felicity also, to pay an habitual and sacred regard to these essential properties of the Divine Character. Such a venerating regard to God, as infinitely pure, and supremely just, is adapted to inspire us with confidence in him, and with submission to him. Yes, my Brethren, we should practically acknowledge the unchangeable sanctity and the rectoral justice of Him that governs the universe, as fruitful of motives to acquiesce in his Providence, and to rely on his care, under the darkest dispensations, and in the most afflictive seasons. For however much a slavish fear of divine wrath, and terrible apprehensions of endless ruin, may be excited by keen convictions of eternal purity and penal justice, if not connected with faith in our Lord's atonement; yet, were we to consider the Most High and the Most Mighty as destitute of that rectitude which includes both holiness and justice, we should perceive no foundation for either confidence in his revealed kindness, or calm submission to his moral government. For the very thought of God being defective in rectitude, is equally uncomfortable and absurd. Seclude this divine perfection from the regards of men, and the moral character of the Omnipotent-or, if I may so speak, his reputation in the worldentirely sinks. Without this attribute, what en F couragement is there to believe his declarations, or what motives to give him our hearts? As the known integrity of a man gives currency to his promise, and leads us to put the most favourable construction upon his conduct, whenever it seems doubtful; so the rectitude of God stamps credit on his word, and requires the most implicit confidence in the excellence of his administration, whatever darkness or difficulties may attend it. On this basis it was, that promises, the most unlikely to be fulfilled, have been confidently believed;* that commands, apparently the most harsh and unnatural, have been readily obeyed; that threatenings, the most alarming, have been deliberately braved; and that sufferings, the most exquisite, have been cheerfully endured, by the friends and servants of HIM who cannot lie. In proportion as a conscientious practical regard to his dominion, his holiness, and his justice prevails; it cannot but inspire confidence, obviate objections, and produce either active obedience, or calm submission, as any particular case or exigence may require. Nay, he who sincerely approves the true character of God, as revealed in the gospel, will be desirous of having his whole soul so completely satisfied with every mode of divine proceeding, that, though under the severest personal affliction, or beholding the most awful judgments inflicted upon the kingdom of Antichrist, or the profligate nations, he may from the heart say, Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth: and unfeignedly rejoice in the *Rom. iv. 17-21. Gen xvii. 10-14. 23-27. xxii. 2-10. thought, that God is executing his own will. This, the obligation to imitate our perfect pattern requires: Not my will, but thine be done. This, the spirit of that petition, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, demands. In so doing, we treat God as on that throne, whose basis is justice and judgment -as worthy to superintend the universe, and to govern his own world. What, now, ye professors of the gospel, is the present state of your hearts, what the records of your memories, and what the report of your consciences with regard to past conduct, relative to articles of this kind? Some of you, perhaps, have been very little concerned about these momentous particulars, except so far as the quiet of your consciences, with reference to final safety, was considered as dépending upon it. But, deceive not yourselves. He who, in obedience to divine precepts, or in submission to an afflicting providence, is concerned barely about his own security from final ruin; is a mere mercenary in his religious profession, and far from having his heart right with God. For what can be meant by a sinner being born again-being created in Christ Jesus to good works and having the law written on the heart; short of his being so renewed by the Holy Spirit, as habitually to love God; to approve the divine precepts; and to prefer the ways of holiness, on account of their own excellence? Now, as to those who are thus renewed, the question will not be, Is the performance of this, or the abstaining from that, necessary to support our hope of everlasting life? but, Is it the revealed will of God? Is it right? Is it implied in our Christian profession, that so it should be? It has with great propriety been usually said, with regard to moral evil, He who is really averse from any sin, as sin, will be averse from all sin: and we may venture to assert, on equal grounds, That he who sincerely approves of holy obedience, as such, in any instance, will be unfeignedly desirous of performing it in every instance; or, in the language of inspiration, of perfecting holiness in the fear God.* For holiness is the health of the soul; the beauty of an immortal mind; and the true ornament of a rational nature. It is that, above all other things; nay, it is that only, in which the blessed God requires us to be like himself, saying, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Never does he enjoin us to imitate, or to be like him, in wisdom or in power; but ✦ repeatedly is that requisition made with regard to holiness, as including both purity and goodness.‡ It is only in the exercise of holy dispositions that we can glorify God among our neighbours; enjoy communion with him in devotional duties; or be qualified for the happiness of the heavenly state. As no one deserves to be called a Christian, who does not sincerely approve the character of God, under the consideration of his being a righteous Governor; so none can really approve that consummately righteous character, without revering, in his connections and intercourse with men, the rights of justice. For, to imagine that any person who is disaffected to the absolute rectitude of his Maker, is a real disciple of Jesus Christ; and *2 Cor. vii. 1. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. ↑ Matt. v. 44-48. Lev. xi. 44. xix. 2. xx..7. to suppose Jehovah's essential justice is cordially approved by any one whose habitual conduct bids defiance to the authority of that precept, Whatever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye the same to them; are equally inconsistent, and libellous on Christianity. It is, notwithstanding, a lamentable fact, that among those who profess a warm esteem for the doctrines of divine grace, and appear zealous to promote the cause of Christ; we hear of some who are infamously deficient in moral principle. Too frequently, alas, have such characters disgraced their christian profession, by the want of veracity, fidelity, and equity, in transacting their temporal concerns. Various are the ways in which a want of reve rence for the rights of justice is discovered, and by which the gospel of saving mercy has been exposed to censure, as if it were a licentious doctrine. Of this charge all those are guilty, who injure the society by laziness and neglect of their lawful business-by living in a style, and making appearances, above their income-by embarking, not only their own property, but that of creditors, without their consent, in bold speculations-by borrowing, without any rational prospect of being able to pay-by manufacturing and employing fictitious property to uphold a tottering credit-nay, shocking to think! by the appearance of uncommon generosity to the poor, and of great liberality in promoting the cause of Christ. Thus one or another goes on, till the patience of creditors is exhausted; bankruptcy takes place; tradesmen who, by uniting industry with frugality, lived in reputation and comfort, are almost ruined; the public is robbed, perhaps, of |