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Horne,

in such circumstances, is neither

more nor less than

Moody madness, laughing wild

Amid severest woe.

Would we know the baneful and pestilential influences of false philosophy on the human heart, we need only contemplate them in this most deplorable instance of Mr. Hume." Such was the man, whom his biographer considers, "both in his lifetime and since his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a perfectly wise and virtuous man, as perhaps the nature of human frailty will permit !"

Let us now view a Christian's anticipation of death.

Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing.*

In this last address of the aged Paul to his beloved son Timothy, when the prospect of a speedy dissolution was full before him, the marks of a regenerate and sanctified believer must be evident even to the most careless observer. While the Apostle joyfully anticipates the promised reward, and looks forward with eagerness to that happy day, when corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when mortal shall put on immortality, his affectionate heart still yearns towards those friends whom he is about to leave behind him, and almost his last thoughts are employed in pointing out the most

* 2 Tim. iv. 5,

effectual means of diffusing Christian knowledge.

Infidelity has of late years displayed a zeal in propagating her sentiments, but little inferior to that of primitive Christianity: yet, in the midst of her labours, she has shown, in a most striking manner, the difference of the spirit, with which the regenerate and the unregenerate are actuated.

The martyr Stephen, in imitation of his blessed Lord, spent his last breath in interceding for his murderers. Prayers were the sole arms of the church of Christ, agreeably to his express prohibition of attempting to diffuse the gospel by violence; and never did the papists err more completely, than when they called in the secular arm.

But what is the treatment, which all the opponents of Infidelity must expect, notwithstand

ing her perpetual appeal to toleration, candour liberality, and humanity? One of her warmest adherents desired only to die on a heap of Christians immolated at his feet;" Voltaire proposed, in case his antichristian plan should succeed, to strangle the last Jesuit with the bowels of the last Jansenist; a regal apostate avowed, that Infidelity could never be established, except by the exertion of a superior force; and d'Alembert expressed a wish not. unworthy even of a Nero, a wish to see a whole nation exterminated, simply because they professed the Christian religion.*

The meek and submissive spirit of regeneration prompted the apostle to forbid, even upon pain of damnation, all resistance to the lawfully constituted powers of government. He rightly judged, that self-vindication was inconsistent with the character of him, who has been born again; of him, who expects his portion, not in

* Barruel, Mem. of Jacobinism.

P

differ? Let us humbly confess, or rather let the Apostle himself confess, that it was God, who worked in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Without the converting and sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost, Paul would for ever have remained dead in trespasses and sins.

In fine, to use the emphatic language of Scripture, the regenerate are the temple of the blessed Spirit, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone.* God himself condescends to dwell within them; and, like the Shechinah in his magnificent house at Jerusalem, sanctifies, illuminates, and directs them.‡ What the soul is to the body, the Holy Spirit

* Ephesians ii. 20.

† 1 Cor. iii. 16. 2 Tim. i. 14. 1 John iv. 12. 15, 16.

† Ουδεν λανθάνει τον Κυριον, αλλά και τα κρυπτα

ημων εγγύς αυτῷ εστιν.

Παντα ουν ποιωμεν ὡς αυτου

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