FOURTH FRAGMENT.

ON LUKEWARMNESS.

THE lukewarm are of two forts. The first will fpeak against enormities, but plead for little fins-will go to church and facrament, but alfo to plays, races and fhews-will read the bible, and alfo romances and trifling books. They will have family prayer, at leaft on Sundays, but after it unprofitable talk, evil fpeaking, and worldly converfation. They plead for the church, yet leave it for a card party, a pot compani on, or the fire fide. They think they are almoft good enough, and they, who aim at being better, are (to be fure) hypocrites. They are under the power of an ger, evil defire and anxious care; but fuppofe all men are the fame, and talk much of being faved by true repentance and doing all they can. They undervalue Chrift, extol morality and good works, and do next to They plead for old cuftoms: they will do as their fathers did, though ever fo contrary to the word of God; and whatever hath not cuftom to plead for it, though ever fo much recommended in fcripture, is accounted by them a herefy. They are greatly afraid of being too good, and of making too much ado about their fouls and eternity; they will be fober, but not enthufiafts. The fcriptures they quote moft, and underftand leaft are, Be not righteous over much-God's mercies are over all his works—There is a time for all things, &c. They call themfelves by the name of Chrift, but worship Baal.

none.

The fecond fort of lukewarm perfons affent to all. the whole bible, talk of repentance, faith and the new birth, commend holiness, plead for religion, use the outward means, and profefs to be and to do more than others. But they yield to careleffnefs, felf indulgence, fear of man, dread of reproach, and of lofs, hatred of the cross, love of eafe, and the falfe pleasures of a vain

imagination. Thefe fay, do, and really fuffer many things: but reft fhort of the true change of heart, the one thing needful being ftill lacking. They are as the foolish virgins, without oil-as the man not having on the wedding garment.

Of these the Lord hath faid, He will fpew them out of his mouth: But, Why fo fevere a sentence? Becaufe, 1. Chrift will have a man hearty, and true to his principles; he looks for truth in the inward parts. As a confiftent character he commended even the unjuft fteward. 2. Religion admits of no lukewarmnefs, and it is by men of this character, that his name is blafphemed. 3. A bad fervant is worfe than a careless neighbour, and a traitor, in the guife of a friend, is more hateful and more dangerous than an open enemy: Judas was more infamous than Pilate. 4. The cold have nothing to truft to, and harlots and publicans enter into the kingdom of heaven, before moral or evangelical pharifees, who, in different degrees, know their Master's will, and do it not: They shall be beaten with many stripes.

FIFTH FRAGMENT.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Ifa. xxvi. 3.

THE very centre of Chritian religion is union with Christ, and the receiving him as our all; in other words called faith, or a staying our minds on him. To the doing this, there are many hinderances, but the two greatest and most general ones are,

First, The want of felf-knowledge: this keeps ninety-nine out of one hundred from Chrift. They know not, or rather feel not, that they are blind, naked, leprous, helplefs, and condemned; that all

́their works can make no atonement, and that nothing they can do will fit them for heaven. When this is truly known, the firft grand hinderance to our union with Chrift is removed.

The fecond is, The want of understanding the gospel of Christ; the want of feeing therein the firm foundation given us for this pure and fimple faith, the only folid ground of staying our fouls on God. We must remember, that the gospel is good news, and ‹ not be flow of heart to believe it. Chrift receiveth finners, he undertaketh their whole concern; he giveth not only repentance, but remiffion of fins, and the gift of the Holy Ghoft. He creates them anewhis love first makes the bride, and then deligthts in her. The want of viewing Chrift in this light, as the Author and Finisher of our falvation, hinders the poor humble penitent from, cafting himself wholly on the Lord although he hath faid, Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.

I do not mention fin, for fin is the very thing, which renders man the object of Chrift's pity. Our fins will never turn away the heart of Chrift from us, for they brought him down from heaven to die in our place; and the reafon, why iniquity feparates between God and our fouls, is becaufe it turns our eyes from him, and thuts up in us the capacity of receiving thofe beams of love, which are ever defcending upon and offering themfelves to us. But fin fincerely lamented, and brought by a conftant act of faith and prayer fore the Lord," fhall be foon confumed, as the thorns laid clofe to a fire; only let us abide thus waiting, and the Lord will pafs through them and burn them up together.

be

When the foul feels its own helpeffnefs, and receives the glad tidings of the gofpel, it ventures upon Chrift; and though the world, the flesh, and the devil purfue, fo that the foul feems often to be on the brink of ruin, it has ftill only to liften to the gospel, and venture on Chrift, as a drowning man on a fingle plank, with, "I can but perifh," remembering thefe

words, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.

The confequences of thus trufting is, that God keeps the foul from its threefold enemy-defends it in temptation, in perfecution, in heavinefs. Through all, it finds power to repofe itself on Chrift-to fay, God fhall choofe my inheritance for me." the Chriftian finds peace with God, peace with himfelf, and peace with all around him the peace of pardon, the peace of holinefs; for both are obtained by ftaying the mind on Christ. He walks in the perpetual recollection of a prefent God, and is not difturbed by any thing. If he feels fin, he carries it to the Saviour, and if in heavinefs, through manifold temptations he ftill holds faft his confidence-he is above the region of clouds.

The carelef's finner is not to be exhorted to truft in Chrift; it would be to caft pearls before fwine. Before an act of faith, there must be an act of self defpair; before filling, there must be emptinefs. Is this thy character? Then fuffer me to take away thy falle props. Upon what doft thou ftay thy foul? Thy honefty, morality, humility, doing good, ufing the means, bufinefs, friends, confufed thoughts of God's mercy? This will never do. Thou must be brought to fay, What shall I do to be saved? Without trembling at God's word, thou canit not receive Chrift. Nothing fhort of love will do.

The penitent needs, and, bleffed be God, has every encouragement. You have nothing but finit is time you should understand the gofpel. You fee yourfelf finking---Chrift is with you. You defpair of yourfelf---hope in Chrift. You are overcome---Chrift conquers. Self condemned---he abfolves. Why do not you believe? Is not the meffenger, the word, the Spirit of God, fufficient? You want a joy unfpeakable---the way to it is by thus waiting patiently upon 'God. Look to Jefus : he fpeaks peace; abide looking, and your peace hall flow as a river.

SIXTH FRAGMENT.

Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said unto them, Is it true ✪ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my Gods, nor worship the golden image, that I have set up? Dan. iii. 14.*

IN this chapter we have an account of thofe worthies, who quenched the violence of the fire. Obferve, I. The dedication of the image. II. The three children accused and arraingned. III. Soothed and threatened, but preferring death to fin, God's law to the king's, faith to honour and profit. IV. Nebuchadnezzar's anger, their punishment, and deliverance. V. The effect it had on the king.

This account may be applied to the trials of God's children in all ages. The god of this world fets up, in oppfition to the gospel, three images: the first, a golden image, profit; the fecond, an airy image, honour; the third, a beautiful, alluring image, pleafure.

The firft, profit, is worshipped by fetting our af fections upon it, by making it the prime, if not sole object of our thoughts, and the Lord even of our Sabbaths. We bow down to this golden image, by unjust dealing, running in debt without taking care to difcharge it, choofing rather to wound our confcience than our pocket; by countenancing or fuffering evil for filthy lucre's fake, forgetting that, The love of money is the root of all evil.

The fecond, honour, is worshipped, when we defire the applaufe of men, or fhrink from-duty, for fear of their rage or contempt.

The third, pleafure, when we indulge the flesh, by exceffive eating and drinking, by uncleannefs, vain fhews and heathenifh fports; when we delight ourfelves in drefs, furniture, our perfon, &c. In a word,

Preached at Madeley on the Wake Sunday A. D. 1763.