entirely reach it. He is not told that he must gain the mark, or expect damnation: he is told only, that he must reach forth towards it-he must fincerely endeavour to attain it. The mark is manifeftly beyond his attainment. He is ordered to be perfect, as his Father in heaven is perfect. This is a mark which he cannot poffibly attain. But, if he be a real christian, he will not easily be fatisfied with himself. Though he cannot attain the mark, he must strive to attain it, and to get as near it as he can. If the mark be high, the more ftrenuous fhould be his en deavours to reach it.

AND now, my brethren, by way of applying the above confiderations to ourselves, what fay you to these things?-what fay your confciences to them? Give them a fair hearing. Afk them plainly (clofe queftioning will produce honest anfwers) whether you make any steady endea vour to press towards the mark; and be not deceived in a matter of fuch confequence. It is not talking like chriftians, and having Chrift always in your mouths, that is the mark. It is not reading your bibles, that is the mark. It

is

is not frequenting the houfe of God, that is the mark. It is not being of this or that fect of religion, that is the mark: there are, no doubt, good men in all perfuafions. It is not receiving the facrament, or giving alms, or any other external action, that is the mark. But it is a holy difpofition-a lively faith in God, through Christ, which produces an innocent, confcientious, and godly life. This is the mark which you are to aim at. You are ordered, you know, to let your light fhine before men. Why, think you?— that they may hear you talk about religion?that they may see you lift up your hands and eyes to heaven? No, furely; but that they may fee your good works, and glorify-whom?-not you, but the Father which is in heaven.-You yourselves, you know, are to make no account of your good works; but to forget them, as you are taught, among the things that are behind. You may depend upon it, whenever you make account of them yourselves, they are good works no longer. It was only for the finless Saviour of the world to fay, Learn of me.

Forgetting, therefore, the things which are behind, let us be continually reaching towards thofe that

are

you

are before; and adding daily to what little good. nefs we may poffefs. Many of you, my brethren, may be very well fatisfied with yourselves, if do not break the commandments, and are not guilty of any great fins: but you must not think you are therefore good christians. You must not think it enough, for instance, to leave off fwearing, or drinking, or any other bad habit. So far it is well; but it is only fo far. A man that neither fwears nor drinks is not furely, for that reafon, a good chriftian. By leaving off thefe vices he has gained one step; but if he do not proceed farther, he has made but a little advance. What matters it, though you leave off swearing, if you have still no more reverence for the name of God in your hearts than you had before; but ftill do a thousand things, without any fear of giving him offence?—And thus with regard to all other fins. You must not fay, when you leave them off, This is all that is required of me; but, God give me grace to proceed!

To Him let us all pray for affistance, that he may enable us to run the race that is fet before us, and prefs towards the mark; not trusting in

our

our own ftrength, but in his affiftance. And may God Almighty grant, that every finner amongst us, however flender his beginning, may grow in grace; and, forgetting those things which are behind, may reach forth unto the things that are before, through Jefus Chrift our Lord.

SERMON Xv.

JOHN, i. 51.

HEREAFTER YE SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPENED.

THIS was our bleffed Saviour's encourage

ment to a new convert.

But it is equally an encouragement to all his faithful difciples. After a toilfome pilgrimage through this world, what a comfort fhould it be to us all, to fee heaven opening at the end.

Let us then, my brethren, employ our thoughts at present a little on this fubject. Let us confider, first, the happiness of heaven; and, secondly, the effect which fuch thoughts should have upon us.

1. THE world we inhabit, is a brave world, no doubt. We admire its grand and beautiful furniture-plains, mountains, woods, rivers,

lakes,