Advance thy pretensions thus high. And few of those, who indignantly disclaim the imputation of their depravity and guilt, can advance these bold pretensions. They are conceded to thee. These things thou hast done. On these, thou dost rest thy claims to innocence and rectitude, to exemption from guilt. On these, thou dost found a proud claim to the favour of God. -O my soul! before thou dost thus presume to encounter the penetrating inspection of thy Almighty Judge, and to stand at his tribunal on the bold claims of thy own merit, let thy conscience answer for thee, the solemn enquiry. What hast thou left undone ?

It is not superficial, negative, partial virtue which will constitute the full perfection of thy nature, and satisfy the claims of thy maker and judge. Thy exemption from guilt, thy bold claims to innocence and uprightness, thy pre. tensions to the favour of God, must be founded on a sincere, supreme, universal obedience to the divine laws. This obedience is demanded by the obligations, by which reason will acknowledge thou art bound, to devote to the God that made thee, to the greatest and best of Beings, thy supreme and most ardent homage. By an original, a sublime, a powerful dictate, thou art urged to admire and esteem excellence and goodness... Humble and feeble degrees of excellence, în man, deservedly attract and receive, thy warm and generous esteem and regard. Oh! then, are

which I am to employ for his glory and the good of my fellow men?

When adversity assails me, do I still preserve my confidence in God-still bless the Lord "who giveth," and humbly bow to the dispensations of that infinitely wise and merciful God," who taketh away?"

Ever keeping in view the holy pattern of my Saviour's life which I am bound to imitate, do I constantly endeavour to obey his gracious commands, to become like him, meek and gentle, kind and compassionate, patient and long suffering?

Animated by that sacred spirit of love, which urged the Saviour to pour out his soul a sacrifice for the sins of men, do I earnestly endeavour to "do good unto all men," to soothe the bosom rent with affliction, to restore, to peace and gladness, the suffering subjects of disease and poverty?

Sensible of the inestimable value of the blessings of redemption, and of the infinite importance of the souls of men, do I humbly endeavour, by every proper and prudent mean, to promote the everlasting salvation of mankind.

Under an habitual sense of my obligations to God, of the solemn account. I must render to him who is the present witness, and who will be the final judge, of my conduct, do I earnestly endeavour faithfully to discharge all the relative and social duties of life, of hus

band and wife, of parent and child, of brother and sister, of master and servant, of magistrate and subject, of neighbour and friend?

Ever mindful that my "body is the temple of the holy Spirit," and that " into the kingdom of heaven entereth nothing that is unholy and unclean," do I endeavour, by abstinence, by prayer, by holy resolution and watchfulness, to mortify my sinful lusts and passions; and do I sedulously avoid every ensnaring temptation which might lead me to violate the sacred laws of temperance, soberness, and chastity?

Considering the present life as a state of pilgrimage, the days of which are few, uncertain, and evil, am I careful not to fix my affections immoderately upon it; not to be too highly elated with its pleasures which may soon pass away, not to be too much depressed by its sorrows which may soon terminate?

Does my heavenly inheritance, the eternal kingdom of God, with whom there is fulness of joy, at whose right hand there are pleasures forevermore, engage my most devout and delightful contemplations?

Does the habitual prospect of the eternal glories, which, my Saviour hath prepared for me, in his heavenly kingdom, animate me in the discharge of duty, elevate my spirit when under the pressure of grief, console me under the loss of friends and relatives, and bear me up, at all times, above the sorrows and trials, the scorn and persecution of the world?

*

on thine, the dictate of generous gratitude and duty? Hast thou loved him, as in justice and in gratitude thou wast bound, sincerely, supremely, universally? Hast thou considered it as thy highest honor, and has it been thy supreme delight, to contemplate and adore the glorious attributes of thy Creator, reverently and gratefully to trace the wonders of his Providence, the riches of his mercy? Impressed with his supreme and infinite excellence and glory, and with a lively conviction of thy dependence upon his power, and thy obligations to his bounty, hast thou uniformly rendered him the tribute of homage and worship, earnestly supplicating his protection, and ardently celebrating the displays of his goodness? To the Almighty Father of spirits, to him who must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, hast thou rendered not merely a cold, superficial, external worship, but the spiritual, lively, affecting homage of thy most ardent powers? Has sacred communion, with thy Almighty Father and Benefactor, in the exalted exercises of prayer and praise, been observed, not only as a public tribute exacted by custom, extorted by a sense of decency, and at last rendered easy by habit; but has it been the uniform exercise, the delight, the solace of thy retired hours? Has the sacred principle of love to God transfused life, alacrity and delight, into every act of obedience to him? Has it been the supreme

vocation, though by my habitual transgressions I have defied thy power, abused thy justice, and contemned thy mercy, though the strivings of thy Spirit have been exerted in vain, and the precious blood of thy Son been in vain interposed to arrest my rebellious career,—that, though my sins have been thus multiplied, my guilt thus aggravated, thou hast yet, O God of infinite mercies, displayed towards me the riches of thy forbearance; that thine arms are yet open to receive the returning prodigal who left his father's house to riot in the sensual pleasures of a corrupting world; that thou dost even prepare for me, to be the pledge and seal of my forgiveness, the rich banquet of the body and blood of that Redeemer whom I have comtemned, and art ready to cover me with the spotless robe of my Saviour's righteousness; that thou hast awakened me to a sense of my guilt and danger, and inspired me with an earnest desire to enjoy the satisfying light of thy countenance

Blessed be thy name, O God.

O Lord, arise and save me and let not iniquity prove my ruin.]

That thou hast quickened me when I was careless and forgetful of thee, and instead of giving me up to hardness of heart, to the merited punishment of my sins, hast graciously awakened and restored me; that when sunk under the "grievous remembrance" of my sins, and bowed down under their "intolerable

F