that Holy Spirit which shall renew in us the image of the Lord.

Therefore we may not yield to those feelings and desires which come of themselves, and are of our earthly nature, for they are evil continually; but always act upon motives, which we have received by prayer, or derived from the word of God, and the devout observation of the course of providence; being mindful every day to realize some amendment, which may carry out the purpose of the merciful Creator, and Saviour of souls-that we should be made perfect.

When we profess that we cannot support a more religious course, we resign ourselves to do less than God will require of us at the last day. The plant that makes no progress in ripening, withers and dies away; and

if our faith does not produce an increase, it will bring no fruit unto perfection. He that counts time given to God time thrown away, throws away all time; for whosoever duly considers the faculties of his own soul, will learn, that successive seasons are to produce in it new fruits of grace, and bring them to maturity; that every day hath to develop and unfold some new and holy disposition, suited to that day's purifying trials; that every branch in Christ, which beareth fruit, the Father purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Jesus said unto him, That which is born of the flesh is flesh. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God: water and of the Spirit,

born of

that we

should serve in the newness of life; for God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain salvation. John iii. 3, 5; Rom. vii. 4, 6; vi. 4.

Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts; a new heart will I give you, and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. As for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things, I will recompense their way, saith the Lord God.

Matt. xv. 19; Ezek. xxxvi. 26; xi. 21.

First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 28.

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Pet. iii. 18.

II.

As there is a sin not unto death, so also is there a sin unto death, and we may be guilty of such sin, unless we are in the habit of frequent and serious self-examination. There is always something of unknown evil in ourselves, which we desire not to search into, or expose; something in our life, of which, were it not for habitual devotion, we should not repent, though requiring fervent prayer for its forgiveness, and a most contrite and penitential remembrance.

The same sin may be followed by different consequences, according to the habitual disposition of the heart from which it has proceeded. Joshua was commanded to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before him, yet spared the Gibeonites, and was

presently forgiven. Saul spared the Amalekites, and the Spirit of God was withdrawn from him, and his kingdom rent from him for ever. As in feeble and ruined health the slightest grief or accident will oftentimes prove fatal: so in the soul, which has no habitual devotion, nor frequent grace from God, a slight temptation destroys at the noon-day, and often leaves an incurable sting, and a sense of spiritual weakness, from which there is no recovery.

How many a soul has been lost from the recurrence of thoughts over which it kept no watch, the repetition of trespasses, which occasioned no sorrow, the sins which it veiled under excuses of infirmity! If we knew that there was one sin, by which we should hereafter perish, could we