cannot engage our approbation, at least it must excite our pity. To behold a man wretcliedly deluded on a point of infinite importance; to behold him sleeping with presumptuous security on the brink of everlasting destruction: what an affecting sight! Justly entitled to our compassion would be the condition of a person, who, afflicted with an incurable disorder, which must speedily terminate in death, should talk of years to come, of plans of future happiness; and, unconscious of the fatal malady which secretly preyed upon his vitals, should fondly cherish expectations which never can be realized. How much stronger claims then to our commiseration does he possess, who is deceived as to the state of his soul: who, being spiritually dead, flatters himself that he is alive: who, blinded by the specious lustre of a promising exterior, discovers not the corruption and deformity which lurk within! Does death arrest him in his course? How terrible the consequences! To perish with a lie in his right hand; to fall at once from the pinnacle of hope into the abyss of torment and despair; to awake out of his delusive dreams, and find himself irrecoverably plunged into that lake of fire which never will be quenched; what heart can conceive the disappointment, the 'anguish, the horror of such a state!

But is the character under view a character rarely to be found? Is the young man of whom we have been discoursing a solitary instance of Self-Deceit? Alas! it is to be feared, that there are numbers who resemble him; who, thinking themselves to be something when they are nothing, deceive themselves*: numbers, who, like him, unacquainted with their natural depravity, boast of the goodness of their hearts, and pride themselves on their pleasing tempers and amiable dispositions: numbers, who, like him, limiting their duty to the precepts of the second table, and restricting even these to their literal interpretation, are ready to exclaim, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? What is actually the language of thousands? I have done no harm. I am not "a murderer, a thief, or an adulterer. I in

jure no man. I pay to all their due. I am "kind to my neighbours; affectionate to my "relations, faithful to my friends. May I "not without dismay look forward to death “and judgement?" The consciences of many must testify that this is no feigned description. The consciences of many must testify, that such has been their language, the language at least of their hearts. But, my brethren, if

* Gal. vi. 3.

such be the language of our hearts, in what respect do we differ from this self-deceived young man? If, like him, we say that we have no sin, do we not also like him deceive ourselves? We can discern his danger. Can we not discern our own? We can pity his state. Have we no pity for our own? Israel said, because Iam innocent, surely hisanger shall turn from me. What saith the Lord? Behold I will plead with thee, because thou sayest I have not sinned. Sinner, how canst I am not polluted? See thy way— know what thou hast done. Does not God search the heart? Canst thou hide thy sins from him? Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. Be no longer deceived. Pray that your eyes may be opened. Seek to discover the depth of your iniquity. Bring your heart and life to the standard of God's word: till convicted, humbled, abased, you smite upon your breast, and cry, God be merciful to me a sinner.

thou say,

2. Let us take occasion from the subject before us to reflect, that in stripping away the specious covering, which Self-Deceit imposes, and in disclosing the sinner to himself, consists one important part of the duty of a minister. Such was the conduct of our Lord. Such will be the conduct of every faithful

preacher of his word. Let others prophesy smooth things; let them heal the hurt of the people slightly; let them lull mankind into a false security, and buoy them up with a fallacious hope. But the pastor, who anxiously desires the eternal welfare of his flock; who would improve the talent committed to his keeping, and would deliver his own soul, cannot thus betray his trust. He cannot gratify his hearers by telling them that, "All is well," while he has reason to suspect, that at the bottom they are building on a false foundation. He cannot flatter them with the delusive notions of their own sufficiency and merit. He must labour to undeceive them. He knows that until convinced of sin, they will never cordially submit to Christ. knows, that if they continue to regard themselves with complacency and satisfaction, they must perish everlastingly. Bear then, my brethren, bear with ministers of this description: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account. Do they strive to correct your erroneous sentiments of the goodness of your own heart? Do they unfold the spiritual import of the law, and point out your numerous transgressions of its holy precepts ? Call them not your enemies. Say not, We hate them; for they do not prophesy good concerning us, but evil. They are your real

He

friends. They love your souls. At the risk of incurring your displeasure, of provoking your animadversions, they would testify their love to your souls. Report not of them, that they take delight in dealing out reproof. If they wound, it is that you may be more effectually healed. While they wound, they tenderly sympathise in the pain which they inflict. They rejoice to bind up the broken heart. Gladly would they lead you into the paths of pleasantness and peace. They would be helpers of your joy. Suffer then from them the word of exhortation. Esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Receive them as the faithful witnesses of the truth, the servants of the most high God, which shew unto you the way of salvation."

3. We may hence also take occasion to reflect on that disposition of heart, which Christ requires of his people. Come and follow me. An unreserved submission to his will, a readiness to part with all things at his command, to encounter all things for his sake, form indispensable features in the character of true Christians. They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.-Whosoever, says our Lord, does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Examine yourselves, my brethren, on this point. Is there in your heart no idol which surps the place of Christ? Do you