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others who do but occasionally engage in these religious exercises. Perhaps on a sabbath evening, or when labouring under the pressure of some severe affliction, they draw nigh unto God in prayer, if haply He may be moved thereby to deliver them out of their distress. But, on ordinary occasions, they manifest no inclination of this sort; lying down and rising up, without entertaining one serious thought of Him, who giveth them all things richly to enjoy.

With regard to self-denial.—A great majority of Christ's professed followers are so far from perceiving its necessity or approving its practice, that their chief study is, how they may minister more abundantly to the gratification of their natural appetites. They refuse to bear the cross of Christ; and, instead of crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, the secret language of their hearts is like that of the sensualist in the gospel-Soul, take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry.

As to renouncing the world-our hearers seem almost to forget that such renunciation forms a part of their baptismal covenant. They contemplate the world under every

alluring point of view: and so wholly are they indisposed to form any purpose of rejecting in with all its pomps and vanities, that it is the very bol which they have set B in their hearts and their houses, and before with they barn daily incense. The present evil world is the grand object of their pursuit. And frgh an apostle hath said, Love me the curû, we the things of the world; for i* eri men loze the world, the love of the Father is muc in him—yet, notwithstanding all that the inspired writers can urge to the contrary, they persist in adopting its manners, appunting its maxims, and courting its favor; admiring and delighting in it under all is vain and varying forms.

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No sa aherwise, with respect to the indispersible diligation of confessing Christ - Perhaps there is no christian lly disregarded than this. are denied his Master, lest he self in all the danger and sected Lord; so many thou

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gas is monissed followers, for the esl adopting the same punduct. They are disinclined Christ, whose name they

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bear; they are fearful of entering upon any truly religious conversation, or of manifesting any particular regard for divine things; only lest by incurring the suspicion of enthusiasm, they should suffer shame for Jesus' sake. All these holy and appropriate duties. are most undeniably and very generally neglected by nominal Christians.

Thirdly-I proceed to remark, that there prevails, even in the church of Christ, an almost universal indifference to his righteous cause. It is the purpose of our gracious Lord, that his name should be known, and that his church should be established, in every part of the earth. And for the fulfilment of this purpose, he calls upon all his people to contribute their assistance, some in one way and some in another, in proportion to the ability they possess and the opportunities afforded them. To this great end, the prayers, the study, and the labour of Christians, are to be constantly directed: and nothing is to be esteemed of consequence compared with this grand design. But, alas! most men care for their own things, and not for the things of Christ. If his cause prevail in the world, it

prophet-Though the number of the children of Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. The apostle Paul applies this declaration to the visible Church of Christ; intimating that, as all were not Israel who bore that sacred name, so all are not Christians who go under that honourable appellation. And this view of things is confirmed by the dubious language of my text, If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed. Our Lord had just addressed the multitude in an impressive discourse; and the sacred historian remarks that, as he spake, many believed on him. believed on him. It is probable that they who were thus wrought upon, took some method of signifying to Christ the credit they gave his word: when, instead of commending their ready assent to the truth of his doctrines, we find him expressing a suspicion of their insincerity and irresolution; assuring them that, unless they continued in his word, regularly depending upon its truth, and submitting to its authority, they could not be counted in the number of his disciples..

We are here significantly taught, to distinguish between those who merely declare

themselves to be followers of Christ, and those who are such in sincerity and truth. A large proportion of mankind are, at this day, professed disciples of our blessed Lord. Such is the state of this whole assembly. And were it otherwise, it might reasonably be inquired, What do we here? We are here met together in the name of Christ, and in obedience to his command. This house has been consecrated to his worship, and this day dedicated to his service. Here his word is taught, and his presence expected; we bow the knee before him, and repeat his praises. In addition to this, we consider and treat one another as followers of Christ, and do all affect to indulge the blessed hope of everlasting salvation, through the redemption that is in him. Such is the profession which we have all individually made, and which we jointly maintain: and were it not so, our very appearance here would imply an inconsistency. On these grounds, then, there is no room to doubt about the public declaration of your attachment to the Church of Christ: but how far that declaration is conscientious and sincere, may very properly be questioned. And it may especially

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