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Crea —La Des CT ME We * The TH DES ICT www.edge exsef & HE IS CLIS who does not profess his bedience to de thod of the spirits of all flesh-I trust te I trust the step of the scorner does not the days, open avowed infidelity is not the pollute the courts of the Lord's house. handling win, which threatens most visibly to

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principle of Christianity; is not

the prevailing vice which calls most loudly for the admonitions of the Minister of God-so far the assertion of the Prophet applies to us, when the judgments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

We have seen the dreadful effects of professed Atheism; we have seen it dissolve all the ties of private virtue, and all the obligations of social duty; we have seen it sap the very fabric of society, and prostrate in one undistinguised mass all that was great, all that was venerable among the sons of men-and we have somewhat profited by this tremendous example. Although a band of prostitute sophists and boasting infidels still raise among us their impious front, to dare the offended majesty of Heaven-yet we regard their attempt with horror, and shrink from the imputation of unbelief; we should consider ourselves criminal if we did not profess our attachment to the faith of our fathers—but here our sense of duty ceaseswe forget that the obligation of a Christian is not discharged by a speculative belief in the existence of God, or by a speculative belief in any other truth of religion-we forget that the belief of a Christian must be a practical belief, a vital principle, powerful in opera

gards the prayer of the destitute, rideth upon the heavens in their help, and in his excellency upon the sky. Shall not gratitude bend every thought of the heart, every wish of the soul in submission to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies and the God of comfort, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, who hath performed the mercy promised to our fathers, and hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Such is the Being whom the Prophet exhorts us to seek, to call upon-no unreasonable service, but our bounden duty, a duty to which even the light of nature would have directed usFor it is the fool only who hath said in his heart, there is no God.

Here I shall be told that I am addressing a Christian congregation-that there is not one within these sacred walls, who does not acknowledge the existence of a great first cause, who does not profess his obedience to the God of the spirits of all flesh-I trust there is not I trust the step of the scorner does not pollute the courts of the Lord's house. In these days, open avowed infidelity is not the besetting sin, which threatens most visibly to subvert every principle of Christianity; is not

the prevailing vice which calls most loudly for the admonitions of the Minister of God-so far the assertion of the Prophet applies to us, when the judgments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

We have seen the dreadful effects of professed Atheism; we have seen it dissolve all the ties of private virtue, and all the obligations of social duty; we have seen it sap the very fabric of society, and prostrate in one undistinguised mass all that was great, all that was venerable among the sons of men-and we have somewhat profited by this tremendous example. Although a band of prostitute sophists and boasting infidels still raise among us their impious front, to dare the offended majesty of Heaven-yet we regard their attempt with horror, and shrink from the imputation of unbelief; we should consider ourselves criminal if we did not profess our attachment to the faith of our here our sense of duty ceaseswe forget that the obligation of a Christian is not discharged by a speculative belief in the existence of God, or by a speculative belief

in

any other truth of religion-we forget that the belief of a Christian must be a practical belief, a vital principle, powerful in opera

tion, possessing the whole man, regulating every affection of his soul, and influencing every part of his conduct. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him—If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

To seek the Lord implies a great deal-it is the sum of religion-it is the highest elevation of sinful man to approach Him, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity-Him in whose sight even the Heavens are not clean. To seek the Lord, a path must be opened through all the sinful desires of our corrupt nature, though temptations assail us on the right hand and on the left, we must pursue our course with the eye of faith steadily fixed on the one great object. The powers of the world will be leagued to oppose our progress-the Prince of Darkness will unite in array against us, and our own rebellious inclinations will assist every attack from without. To oppose this formidable host, we must remember our vow to fight manfully under the banner of Christ, we must take the whole armour of God, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. Undismayed by the scoff of infidelity, unabashed by the sneer of ridicule, we must make the doctrine of the