"shall we escape if we neglect fo great fal"vation, which at the first began to be fpo"ken by the LORD, and was confirmed to us

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by them that heard them ?" In parables, and in explicit predictions, the guilt and the punishment of those who reject the Gospel are declared, and "a fearful looking for of judgment" awaits them!

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In this volume, alfo, we read of the vengeance that overtook the enemies of the LORD. I mention two inftances: they are most memorable and awful, and affecting; but how different was the iffue! The infamous Judas, who betrayed his master, died in horror and despair. The furious bigot Paul is arrested in his way to Damafcus, while breathing out threatenings and flaughter against the difciples: he is ftruck down, he is humbled, he exclaims "LORD! what "wouldst thou have me to do ?" and becomes a preacher of the faith he perfecuted.

THE LORD awfully fulfilled the predicted defolation and ruin of Jerufalem. Comparing the history with the prophecy, we naturally adopt the words of the apostle, in his

epistle

epistle to the Hebrews, "It is a fearful thing "to fall into the hands of the living GOD," and are constrained to fay, flee from the wrath of the Lamb. GOD is "the fame yef"terday to-day and for ever:" Similar guilt, therefore, will be followed by fimilar vifitations of the displeasure of heaven.

4. MARANATHA-the LORD cometh: For cherishing your horror for the enemies of revelation, look forward to the future world.

OUR regards, Chriftians! are chiefly turned on the things that are not seen : we. "walk by faith our converfation is in "heaven :—we look and long for the com"ing of the LORD." The coming of the LORD is often prefent to your thoughts: for, it is the day of his completed glory and triumph: "He cometh with ten thousand of "his faints, in the glory of his Father:" It is the day of complete redemption, and falvation. But, whom shall he raife to glory, honour and immortality, and present unto his Father with "exceeding joy?" Have they any hopes of his approbation, who have blafphemed his name, thwarted his purpose, G c and

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and ftriven against their Maker, and their Judge? When you think of the fhamae "and everlasting contempt," to which his enemies fhall be raised, I need not afk you, Can they be efteemed now, can they but be regarded with horror? Let them be Anathema.

ATTEND to thefe confiderations feparately unite them together: What is the refult? The enemies of GOD, the enemies of men, marked as the peculiar objects of his difpleafure, to be loaded with fhame and everlasting contempt They are an Anathema: Let them be Anathema Maranatha.

IN conclufion, let us confider in what manner this abhorrence, which we have endeavoured to justify and to cherish, ought to be manifefted: Let us confider the character of a Chriftian, in relation to the active enemies and oppofers of the Gofpel.

WE mark this character, and fhew how your abhorrence of irreligion ought to be manifefted, in fuggefting the following advices.

BE

BE on your guard against every thing that would leffen this abhorrence: Shun their company, counteract their zeal and exertions, who diffeminate irreligious fentiments, and undermine the faith of CHRIST, by every method in your power.

Ir is not for us to reckon up every thing that leffens, or endangers the leffening, abhorrence for infidelity and irreligion. I have glanced at the ftyle, the wit, the ingenuity, the learning, of the enemies of revelation, as adding to their guilt and pernicious. influence; and, therefore, as juftly increasing, fo far from diminishing, the abhorrence of Christians: but, if any are in danger of being dazzled with fuch qualities, they were reminded that, in acutenefs, research, learning, and in wit itself, no fuperiority is admitted over the friends of revelation. I can conceive other qualities, however, from which diminished abhorrence may be more naturally fufpected: If they are inoffenfive in their manners: if they are amiable: if they are friendly: or, if irreligious men are reprefented, or believed to be, inoffenfive and amiable, and friendly; fome may fay their Cc 2 prin

principles cannot be pernicious; they are, themselves, not to be regarded with horror.

BUT, are they more inoffenfive, more amiable, more excellent and diftinguished by worthy qualities than true Chriftians? do their principles fo uniformly, fo permanently, fo univerfally fupport worth, as the faith in CHRIST? Are they amiable and inoffenfive whofe fyftems are fo ruinous of the peace, the fafety, the falvation of men? I will not fay with the poet, curfe on their virtues, for the femblance of virtue is refpectable; and, if a very wicked man feeds the poor, and clothes the naked, we rejoice in the alleviation or the removal of human mifery; but it is much to be regretted that any are fo dazzled with qualities and characters, whatever they are, as to overlook the odiousness and deteftablenets of oppofition to the Gospel. Remember, Christians, what the apoftle faid of falfe apoftles and deceitful workers, in his time: they transformed themselves into the apoftles of CHRIST. And, "no marvel," fays he, "for Satan himself is transformed into an "angel of light: therefore it is no great