SERMON XXI. CORINTHIANS, XIII. 5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. Prove your own selves. AMIDST all the business and bustle of the world, it must be allowed by every reasonable man, that there is but one thing absolutely needful, and that is the care of the soul, which shall still exist, and be happy or miserable, when the few years of this short life are passed away. Many, indeed, are ready to acknowledge this important truth; but very few, comparatively, do more. They eat, they drink, they buy, they sell, they marry, and are given in marriage, as if such things were their sole concern; and they would even think a friend troublesome, and impertinent, if he were to suggest to them the propriety of becoming more thoughtful and serious. But, what folly is it to make provision for time only, and to neglect eternity for, what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Even indifference in this matter, is highly culpable; therefore I hope you will give me your attention at this time, while I exhort you, from motives of self-interest, as well as of duty, to use all diligence to make your calling and election sure, There is no better way of doing this effectually, than by observing the exhortation given in the text. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. In discoursing upon these words, I shall endeavour to shew, I. What is the Faith? II. Lay down some rules for self-examination. 1st. I shall endeavour to shew what is the Faith. By the Faith, then, we are to underderstand that doctrine, which the Bible, more particularly that part of it called the New Testament, sets before us. It is the revelation which God has made concerning man, and in which he is so highly interested, that it becomes him to receive it cordially, and to assent to the whole, and every part of it. It shews him his origin, as he was created in righteousness and true holiness, his fall from that state into sin and misery, and his recovery by Jesus Christ; for the Scriptures most strongly and explicitly declare, that there is no other name |