Few persons have been more exact in this respect, than the ancient Pharisees. Yet Christ has testified of them, that they were a generation of vipers. Under the Christian dispensation, great. multitudes of the Roman Catholics, notoriously profligate in many parts of their conduct, have, in various periods of Popery, been remarkably punctilious in the performance of these duties. That, which was no evidence of Christianity in them, cannot be evidence of Christianity in ourselves.

Many persons are exact in this conduct from the influence of education, and example; many, from habit; many, from the desire of religious distinction; many, because they think this conduct a proof of their piety, and are uneasy without such proof; many, because they think themselves, in this way only, in the safe path to salvation; and many, from other selfish reasons. In all these things, considered by themselves, there is no religion. Of course, the conduct, to which they give birth, cannot be evidential of religion. 4thly. No Exactness in performing those, which are frequently called Moral duties, furnishes any evidence of this nature.

Multitudes of Mankind place great confidence in their careful performance of these external duties, as being evidential of their Evangelical character; just as other multitudes do in those mentioned under the preceding head; and with no better foundation.

Justice, truth, and kindness, in their various branches, and ope rations, are so important, and useful, to mankind, that we all readi ly agree in giving them high distinction in the scale of moral characteristics. Those, who practise them uniformly, and extensively, are universally considered as benefactors to the world, and as invested with peculiar amiableness, and worth. Those, who violate them, on the other hand, are, from the mischiefs which they produce, regarded as enemies, and nuisances, to the human race. At the same time, a high degree of importance is given to these duties in the Scriptures. They are greatly insisted on in the Gospel; inculcated in many forms of instruction; commended in the most forcible language; and encouraged by most interesting promises. The violation of them is condemned, and threatened, in the most pungent terms, and under the most glowing images.

It cannot be surprising, that, influenced by these considerations, parents should make these duties a prime part of their instructions, and precepts, to their children. But when we remember, that the practice of them has in all ages, and in all civilized countries, been considered as equally, and as indispensably, necessary to a fair reputation, and to success in the common business of life; we shall readily suppose, that these must be among the first things imbibed. by the early mind, from parental superintendence, and must hold a peculiar importance in all the future thoughts of the man.

Thus taught, and thus imbibed, we should naturally expect to see them practised, during the progress of life, as extensively as can consist with the imperfect character of human beings. When thus

practised, and especially when eminently practised, we cannot wonder to find those, whose lives they adorn, regarded as persons of real virtue and excellence. What less can be expected? These are the very actions, towards our fellow-creatures, required by God himself; and dictated by Evangelical virtue; a part of the very fruits, by which the Christian character is to be known. Why is not he, who exhibits them, a Christian? Oftentimes, also, they appear with high advantage in the conduct of persons, distinguished by natural sweetness of disposition, peculiar decency of character, amiableness of life, and dignity or gracefulness of manners; and thus become delightful objects to the eye, and excite the warmest commendations of the tongue. It is not strange therefore, that they should have gained a high and established reputation; and should be extensively regarded as unequivocal proofs of an excellent character.

What others so generally attribute to them we not unnaturally accord with, whenever our own case is concerned: and, finding, that we are believed by others to be Christians, on account of our good works of this nature, readily believe ourselves to possess the character. We are esteemed, loved, and commended, by those around us; and cannot easily believe, that the worth, which they attribute to us, is all imaginary.

Still, such a performance of these duties furnishes no proof, that we are Christians. For, in the first place, they may be, and often are, all performed from the very motives, mentioned under the last head, as being frequently the sources of exactness in the external duties of Religion. Secondly, they are often performed by men, who violate, extensively, or grossly neglect, the duties of piety, and temperance, and who, therefore, are certainly not Christians. Thirdly, they appear to have been all performed with uncommon exactness by the Young man, who came to Christ, to inquire what good thing he should do, to have eternal life. Yet, he lacked one thing; and that was, the one thing needful.

5thly. No degrees of sorrow or comfort, of fear or hope, experienced by any person about his religious concerns, at seasons, succeeding the time of his supposed conversion, furnish any evidence of this nature.

Sorrow springs from many sources, besides a sense of cur sins, and from such a sense it may be derived, and yet not be the sorrow, which is after a godly sort. We may easily, and greatly, sorrow for our sins, because we consider them as exposing us to the anger of God, and to everlasting ruin. Our comforts, also, may flow from other sources, beside those which are Evangelical. Some persons derive great consolation, and even exquisite joy, from a belief, and that whether well or ill founded, of their acceptance with God: some, from the apprehension that they are eminent Christians: some, from the unexpected influx of religious thoughts, and passages of Scripture, coming suddenly into their

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minds: some, from what they esteem peculiar tokens of divine goodness to them; tokens, which they regard as proofs of the peculiar love and favour of God: some, from what they term peculiar discoveries of the glory of God and the excellency of the Redeemer, and of the joys of the blessed in heaven. All these they consider as immediately communicated by God to themselves, because they are his favourites among mankind. There are also other states of mind, in which consolations are experienced from other sources: consolations, which may exist in high degrees, but which are too numerous to be mentioned at the present time.

What is true of the sorrows, and comforts, excited by religious considerations, is substantially true of the kindred emotions of fear and hope. These can also arise both from true and false apprehensions; and can be either merely natural, or wholly Evangelical, or of a mixed nature. As they actually exist in the minds of men, they are, to say the least, often undistinguished, as to their real nature, by those, in whom they exist; and are, I believe, many times, in a great measure undistinguishable. Their existence is so transient, they are frequently mingled with so many other views and emotions, and the eye of the mind is often so engaged by the objects, which give birth to them, that it becomes extremely difficult to fasten upon their true character.

6thly. No evidence of our Sanctification is furnished by our own Confidence.

The truth of this declaration may be easily seen in the fact, that multitudes feel the utmost confidence, that they are Christians, who afterwards prove, by their conduct, their entire destitution of Christianity. All Enthusiasts usually confide with undoubting assurance in the reality of their own religion; and generally pity, and often despise, men of a humbler and better spirit; because they do not enjoy such peculiar discoveries, such delightful exercises of devotion, such bright hopes and heavenly anticipations of future glory, as themselves. The Pharisee boldly said, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men, or even as this publican. Yet he was a worse man than the publican. A collection of the Pharisees said to Christ, Are we blind also?

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propose hereafter to consider, at some length, what is commonly called the Faith of Assurance. It will be sufficient to observe, at the present time, that I believe some men to be really and Evangelically thus assured. If this be admitted, as it undoubtedly will be by the great body of Christians, it follows of course, that confidence in our good estate is no proof, that we are not Christians. A man may confide, with sufficient evidence : he may also confide without it. It is plain, therefore, that his confidence, considered by itself, furnishes no proof, that it is well or ill founded.

I cannot, however, do justice to my own views, nor, as I believe, to the subject, without observing here, that, in ordinary cases, I entertain a better opinion of the modest, doubting, fearful professor, than of the bold and assured one. The life of the for

mer, as it seems to me, is, commonly at least, more watchful; more careful; more self-condemning; more scrupulous concerning the commission of sin, and the omission of duty; more indicative of dependence on God; more inclined to esteem others better than himself; more declaratory of the spirit of little children. The spirit of the latter, even when he is admitted to be a Christian, appears to me to be often fraught, in an unhappy degree, with selfexaltation; with censoriousness, as well as contempt, of those who differ from him; with uncharitableness; with peremptoriness of opinion; and with an unwarrantable assurance of the rectitude of whatever he believes, says, or does. These, certainly, are not favourable specimens of any character. I would be far from ultimately condemning the profession of all those, in whom these things are more or less visible; yet I assert without hesitation, that their light would shine more clearly before men, were it not obscured by these clouds.

It is not the degree of confidence, but the source whence it is derived, and the objects on which it rests, by which its nature and import are to be determined. It may exist in the highest degree, without any religion; and religion may exist in very high degress at least, without any confidence.

7thly. The belief of others, that we are Christians, furnishes no proof of our Christianity.

All persons, who make a profession of religion, and many who do not, whose lives at the same time are exemplary, scrupulous, and unblameable, are by most charitable persons believed to be Christians. Some of these, however, beyond any reasonable doubt, are not Christians. Some we know to have lived in this manner, and to have sustained this character, both in ancient and modern times, without a pretension to vital religion. Judas was believed by his fellow-apostles, for a length of time, and not improbably without a single doubt, to be a true follower of Christ. Hymenaus, and Philetus, appear to have sustained the same character; and, apparently with as little foundation. All these were believed to be Christians by Apostles; inspired men; of singular understanding in subjects of this nature. Yet these men were deceived. No words are necessary to prove, that we, and all others, are liable to deception in similar cases. If the belief of Peter and Paul, that the objects of their charity, in the cases specified, were Christians, was no evidence of their Christianity; then the belief of others, that we are Christians, is no evidence of our Christianity.

REMARKS.

From these observations we learn,

1st. That we ought to exercise the utmost care and caution in examining the evidences of our Religion.

How many professors of Christianity have considered the things which I have specified, as decisive proofs, that themselves were good men! Yet, if I mistake not, it has been clearly shown that all of them, united, furnish no solid evidence of this fact. We are just as liable to be deceived as others; and, unless peculiarly guarded, by the very same means. Others have rested their hopes of salvation on these things, as proofs of their religious character, and have been deceived. If we rest on them, we shall be deceived also: for we may possess all these things, and yet not be Christians. In a case of this moment, nothing ought voluntarily to be left at hazard. We are bound by our own supreme interest, as well as our duty to God, to fulfil the command of the text; to examine, and to prove, ourselves, whether we be in the faith; and in doing this, to make use of the best means in our power; to fasten, with as much care as possible, on those things which the Scriptures have made tests of a religious character; and earnestly to pray to God, that we may not be deceived, either by ourselves, or by any others.

2dly. From the same source we learn, also, the impropriety, and folly, of making these things the foundation of our judgment concerning the religious character of others.

Whenever we determine, that others are, or are not, Christians, because they exhibit these as evidences of their Christianity; we are plainly liable to gross error concerning this subject. All these things may be truly testified concerning himself by a Christian; and with equal truth by a person destitute of Christianity. They are, therefore, no proofs of his religion, or irreligion.

Still, a great multitude of professing Christians, many of whom, I doubt not, are really Christians; and all, or nearly all, enthusiastic professors; make these very things, or the want of them, the foundations of their favourable, or unfavourable, opinions of the religious character of others. They resort to them, as to an acknowledged and Scriptural standard, which they do not expect to find disputed; and to question which would not improbably be regarded by them as a proof of irreligion.

What is still more unhappy; among various classes of Christians in this country, these very things; particularly those, mentioned under the first, second, and fifth heads of this discourse; are, if I am not misinformed, not unfrequently made the objects of a public examination of candidates for admission to Christian communion, and the foundations of a public judgment concerning their religious character. To be able to remember the time, when convictions of sin began, with their attendant distresses, and the time, when