evangelical part of the community so deeply and permanently, but it is love of the truth, and a profound reverence of its Author. It was the exhibition of the great doctrines of revelation, which spread Christianity over nearly the whole of the known world during the first three centuries of the Christian era; which wrought such wonders in the time of the Reformation; which has filled New England with school-houses and churches; which has multiplied revivals over the whole extent of our country; which has given birth to the missionary movements of the age; and is fast disenthralling, regenerating and elevating to heaven the nations of the earth. Here, then, you see the importance of your embracing and maintaining the truth, in its purity and power. Error, however popular, cannot sanctify and save. Nothing but the doctrines of the cross, admitted to your hearts, in all their humbling, transforming energies, can bring you into a harmonious and delightful relation to God and all holy beings. Two remarks will close the discourse.

1. The subject exposes the fallacy of the maxim, that it is no matter what a man believes, provided he is sincere. It is just as important to believe correctly, as to believe sincerely. It is just as necessary to believe the truth, as it is important to save the soul. Sincerity is neither the test of truth, nor a substitute for truth. Men may be very sincere in believing error, even soul-destroying error. Saul of Tarsus, before his conversion, "verily thought that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth," but he soon found, notwithstanding his sincerity, that he was then on the high road to perdition. Pagans, by their costly sacrifices and self-inflicted tortures, give every proof of sincerity, and yet, according to the Bible, they are sinking by generations into hell. "No matter what a man believes, provided he is sincere!" A very unsound, but a very favorite maxim with men of latitudinarian sentiments; a maxim, which goes to obliterate all distinction between truth and errorright and wrong; a maxim, which is peopling the bottomless pit with deluded souls. In this connection, I cannot forbear to remark, that, not all Pope's talent at pouring forth harmony of numbers, can atone for the mischief, which a single couplet of his has occasioned ;

"For modes of faith, let graceless zealots fight,
His can't be wrong, whose life is in the right."

This adage contains a very convenient equivoque. There is a sense in which it is correct; and there

is another, which is more generally embraced, and which favors the utmost latitudinarianism, which the depraved heart can desire. All experience, however, goes to show, that a man's faith will affect his practice; and that a cordial belief in the doctrines of the Bible will issue in something more than merely a moral life. It will result in a life of unfeigned piety.

But, even on theoretical grounds, correct faith is ineffably important. A man who believes the Bible will feel differently from an infidel. A man, who believes regeneration to be indispensable to salvation, will have more solicitude about it, than one who disbelieves it. A man, who believes that the wicked "shall go away into everlasting punishment," will be more likely to escape " the wrath to come," than one who rejects this declaration of Jesus Christ.

I beseech you, then, habitually to feel the high importance of sound principles. They are your life. Throw them not away. Cleave to them with all your hearts. They are to you, what the life-boat is to the drowning mariner-the only means of salvation.

2. There is no effectual safeguard against the destructive influence of unstable and erroneous sentiments, but a change of the heart. I know that a real Christian may be led into a variety of erroneous opinions, but they will be of minor importance. A true friend of God cannot embrace fundamental error. His heart is right. That operates, in all seasons of temptation, like the anchor of a ship in a storm. It holds him safe. His safety, however, does not consist in the strength of his piety, but in the grace and power of God. He is kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. All the energies of Omnipotence are pledged for his security, and his salvation is certain.

And now, my young friends, if you would be saved from the destructive errors, to which you are exposed, become Christians. Feel that you have no security, till you have a renewed heart. You may think your present principles strong enough to stand the hour of trial. So did Hazael. When the prophet told him of what horrible enormities he would be guilty, he exclaimed, "What! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" And yet, under the power of temptation, his better principles gave way, and he committed the very atrocities, which the prophet predicted. "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." You have no security, but in the grace which God will give his children. Embrace, then, if you have not already, that religion, which made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prefer the fiery furnace to disobedience to God. Their principles stood the trial, and it was because their principles were those of the heart, as well as of the understanding. If, like them, you would abide the hour of temptation, admit the religion of the gospel to immediate and entire dominion over you. Then, you will be living illustrations of the uncompromising integrity of the Christian character; and, when you leave this, for a higher sphere of service in the heavens, these lines will form no inappropriate inscription to your memories ;

"Servant of God, well done!
For this was all thy care,

To stand approv'd in sight of God,
Though world's judg'd thee perverse."