this, I have one word to say to you, from the subject we have been considering.

Learn, hence, the horrid character of their sin, who neglect the gospel. You have seen what God thinks of liars: how his soul abhors them. Now, What do you? that you put away the gospel from you; practically, I mean, as if it were unworthy of credit ;-not the blessed thing it professes to be? You little consider it, perhaps you may think it a mere exaggeration of the pulpit; but it is God's own judgment of your offence, and not mine;--you make God himself a liar!! O horrid, yet real blasphemy, which every practical neglecter of the gospel is guilty of, before God! Hear his own words. (1 John v. 10.) "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." O O may God open your eyes, to discern what your sin really is, ere it be too late!

But we are now to take up the remaining portion of the text.

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II.

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They that deal truly are his delight." A word or two, on this head, must suffice. They that deal truly:" literally, "that do truth. (y) The expression is a remarkable one. Our Lord uses it, (John iii. 21.) He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his

deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (Comp. 1 John i. 6.) It teaches us that truth lies in actions, and not in words only. They who, from a holy fear of God, make a conscience of always speaking truth, will practise truth. In other words, they are men who walk according to the gospel, which is perfect truth men of God, whose name is, "God that cannot lie." (Tit. i. 2.) As liars are the children of the devil, so they who follow truth in all things, are the children of God. Thus believers are described as they that "are of the truth." (1 John iii. 19. Comp. John xviii. 37.) They have received the truth in the love of it. They have the " anointing" of the Spirit, which "is truth, and is no lie." They are "in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ."

You see, my brethren, how truth, taken in its largest acceptation, specially characterizes the believer in Jesus. "The elder, unto the elect lady, and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. I rejoiced greatly, when I found of thy children walking in the truth." (2 John 1, 2.) "The elder, unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. I rejoiced I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came, and testified of the truth that

is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1, 3, 4.)

Thus, to be in the truth, to walk in truth, is but another name for being a Christian. "I said," (Is. lxiii. 8,) "Surely, they are my people, children that will not lie; so he was their Saviour." This was that, which the Lord specially noted in his people, as distinguishing them from all other, and endearing them to him. So here" They that deal truly are his delight." It expresses, not mere cold approval, as of a master towards his servant, when he has done what was required of him; but the feeling of a father, towards an amiable and engaging child; of the bridegroom, toward the wife of his bosom. This is the very name which the Lord puts upon his redeemed. "Thou shalt be called Hephzibah," saith he, to Zion; that is, my delight is in her." "He sees their holy abhorrence of every false, and deceitful way; he knows the sincerity, and uprightness, of the upright; he witnesses their obedience to the truth, as it is in Jesus; and his eye rests on them with peculiar complacency. They that deal truly are his

delight."

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O let these considerations prevail with us, dear brethren, to cultivate this blessed spirit of truth, in every particular of our intercourse.

Be true,

in all your dealings. Follow not the corrupt principles of worldly men. Be above every petty evasion, and equivocation. "Putting away lying, speak, every man, truth with his neighbour; for we are members, one of another." (Ephes. iv. 25.) Remember what God has said shall be the portion of liars, and contrast with it the delight he has, in his true and upright children. "The lip of truth shall be established for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Lying lips are abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight."

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SERMON XVI.

AN UNBRIDLED TONGUE.

JAMES i. 26.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

THE epistle by St. James is, eminently, practical. It is evident that his holy mind had been greatly pained, by the hollow profession of religion, which prevailed among those to whom he wrote. Gross abuses, and scandals of various kinds, were rife among them, and were eating out the vitals of real godliness. So soon did the wretched heart of man abuse the gospel, and find a way to indulge its own corruptions, while it was, nominally, perhaps really, in a measure, under its sanctifying and controlling influence !

This hateful, and pernicious growth of the carnal mind, the apostle here sets himself to