en made perfect, of being removed to the ny of the worst of beings. All these are ational, and religious motives of action. The end of the commandment is charity.1 Timothy, i. 5. IT is evident from the whole tenor of scripture from the book of Genesis, in which the history of the fall is recorded, to the Revelations of St. John, in which the new Jerusalem is described) -that the gospel was intended to make up the deficiencies of the fall-to restore mankind, by purifying his affections, to that state of holiness, which he had lost-and to qualify him to have his conversation in heaven. To this end good works are every where insisted on in scripture. Without holiness we are assured, no man shall see God: and that the end of the commandment is charity. -But now in order to obtain this holi ness, different means are pursued. One man asserts, that as faith is the source of all christian virtues, no other doctrine should be insisted on which is carrying the conclusion too far. Many, who have no notion of faith, may at 'n made perfect, of being removed to the y of the worst of beings. All these are tional, and religious motives of action. The end of the commandment is charity.1 Timothy, i. 5. T is evident from the whole tenor of scripture from the book of Genesis, in which the history f the fall is recorded, to the Revelations of St. ohn, in which the new Jerusalem is described) -that the gospel was intended to make up the leficiencies of the fall-to restore mankind, by ›urifying his affections, to that state of holiness, which he had lost-and to qualify him to have ais conversation in heaven. To this end good works are every where insisted on in scripture. Without holiness we are assured, no man shall see God: and that the end of the commandment is charity.- But now in order to obtain this holiness, different means are pursued. One man asserts, that as faith is the source of all christian virtues, no other doctrine should be insisted on: which is carrying the conclusion too far. Many, who have no notion of faith, may at first be wrought on by the moral rectitude of actions. From thence they may be led to acknowledge the christian religion as the best system of morals-and from thence, by God's assisting their pious endeavours, to acknowledge their faith in its founder and doctrines. Had unqualified faith been the first doctrine preached to such people, it would probably have had little effect. Others again, who have fine affections and feelings, resolve all duty both to God and man into love. But many people of blunt affections can never raise in themselves those divine heights of love to God, or man; yet still, if they practise religious duties from a sense of pleasing God; and avoid sin from a fear of offending him, we cannot doubt of their obtaining the end of the commandment. In short, so much stress should never be laid on faith, or any other motive of action, as to exclude other motives. Each of them may lead by degrees to the end of the commandment. Whoever is acquainted with the blunt and low conceptions of the vulgar, must tremble for the salvation of men, if they cannot be saved without exalted ideas of faith and love. St. Paul speaks of making himself all things to all men, |