Imatges de pàgina
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ed, and betrayed, Peter began to dread the confequences of his attachment to him, and at the only time when his friendship for his maf ter could have been of any fervice, he deferted and denied him: muft we not therefore conclude that man, as I before obferved to you, is weak and unftable in all his ways; and nothing is fo uncertain as human friendship, and human refolution?

When Peter made our Saviour fuch folemn affurances, he little thought he fhould fo foon and fo openly contradict them: and thus it is with regard to every vice and infirmity of human nature. We are all of us perhaps, at fome time of our lives, guilty of follies, which we did not think ourselves capable of committing: we cannot therefore entertain too humble an opinion of our own ftrength, powers, and abilities; we cannot too carefully avoid temptations, or whilft we ftand, take too much heed left we fall.

But fecondly, From the example of Peter, we may learn that confidence and self opinion are feldom attendants on real merit; that extraordinary profeffions of friendship are by no means the infallible marks of truth or finceri. ty, but that on the other hand, they should rather be confidered as a juft caufe of fufpicion, and the prophetic indications of future falfe hood. Those who are really rich, feldom boast of their riches; and thofe who are truly virtuous, as feldom boast of their virtue: we cannot therefore be too cautious of repofing confidence in thofe, whofe more than ordinary

zeal,

zeal, and extravagant pretenfions, seem over anxious to obtain it.

The circumstance before us, therefore, may ferve to put us upon our guard against a moft pernicious doctrine, which hath of late years been zealoufly propagated amongst us, by the abfurd enthusiasts of our age,-the doctrine of affurance. The methodifts tell us, that when we are once entered into the number of the elect, when we are regenerate and born anew, Satan hath then no more power over us, no temptations can then overcome, no fins get the dominion over us: that we are then fafe from all the tumultuous ftorms of paffion, and landed in the harbour of innocence and felicity; a doctrine equally deftructive of true religion with any of those which are held by the church of Rome, as it must inevitably tend to put men entirely off their guard, to encourage spiritual pride and arrogance, and withal greatly to endanger their everlasting falvation. The religion of Chrift can never countenance or fupport fuch vain chimeras. God never meant that a ftate of humanity fhould be a state of perfection; but admonishes us if we ftand ever fo firmly to take heed left we fall. Peter, it is to be hoped they will acknowledge, had as much reafon to rely on his own firmnefs and integrity, as any of thefe pretenders to incor, ruptible virtue, and yet, we fee, all his refolution failed, when he was called upon to exert it, and all his pompous profeffions of inviolable attachment ended at laft in the fhameful defertion of his friend and benefactor. Who

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fhall ever glory in his fincerity, that remem. bers Peter's ingratitude? or who, on the other hand, shall give himself over to a state of reprobation or despair, that calls to mind Peter's repentance?

Which naturally brings us to the third and laft remark, which will of course fuggeft itself to us on this occafion, namely, that the only part of Peter's conduct worthy of our imitation, is doubtlefs his repentance, which we have reason to suppose was perfectly fincere. The tears which he fhed, were tears of unfeigned forrow and contrition, of which his conduct after the death of our Saviour was an indifputable proof; we find him in the remainder of his life acting the part of a diligent and faithful fervant, endeavouring to atone for his paft failings, by the punctual and regular discharge of his duty; tried like the reft of our Lord's dif ciples, by the bittereft afflictions, but diftin. guifhed by the interpofition of divine power, which most miraculously delivered him from fome of them.

Let then, my brethren, the example of Peter fink deeply into our hearts: let us carefully guard against that pride and feit-fufficiency which betrayed him into the fhameful defertion of his great Lord and Mafier. Never let us permit a vain and deceitful world to have fuch an influence over our conduct, as to perfuade us to relinquifh all our nobler attachments to religion and virtue. Let us not, like Peter, neglect, despise, or deny our divine

Mafter,

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Mafter, because he is neglected, defpifed, or denied by the reft of the world.

We have all of us, like Peter, made large and mighty promifes to our great Lord and Mafter; have promised to go with him to prifon, and to death, and though we die for him, not to deny him. Let us not, like Peter, when the day of trial comes, defert and betray him: let neither our words nor our actions, after this, fay, that we know him not.

But if, after all, born with the fame weakneffes and imperfections, and liable to the same temptations as Peter was, we have any of us, in any part of our conduct and behaviour refembled him; if we have in fpite of all our profeffions in the general courfe of our lives, deferted and denied him, let us at leaft have the merit of imitating him in his repentance alfo: let us go out, and weep bitterly. There is yet time, whilft we have life, to atone, in, fome measure, for our past conduct, by a hearty and fincere contrition to reconcile aurfelves to the divine favour. If the remainder of our life is entirely devoted to his intereft, and con, fecrated to his fervice, he may gracioufly forgive our offences, pardon our weaknefs, and pafs over our prefumption: though we have hitherto been ungrateful and unprofitable fervants, neglecting his commands, denying his power, and difputing his authority, he may, notwithstanding, on our fincere contrition and amendment, take us once more under his protection, employ us in the execution of his divine commandments, and if we behave fober

ly,

ly, diligently, and faithfully, may yet reward our affiduity, and in the laft and great day, falute us with

Well have ye done, my good and faithful fervants, enter ye into the joy of your

Lord.

ON THE THIEF UPON THE CROSS.

SERMON LI

LUKE XXIII. 43. .

Verily I fay unto thee, to-day fhalt thou be with me in Paradife.

TH

HERE is not perhaps in the whole affecting narrative of our bleffed Saviour's fufferings, as related by the holy Evangelifts, a circumstance more striking or extraordinary than that which is now before us; that a licentious and abandoned profligate, condemned for a crime the most atrocious, one who, as he was to die the death, had most probably lived the life of the unrighteous; that he should become fo fuddenly and fo unexpectedly the object of divine mercy, and obtain a gracious promife from his Redeemer, not only of pardon, but of immediate reward, must doubtless be the fubject of our admiration and astonishment; the fact notwithstanding, however furprifing it may appear to us, is indifputable,

nor

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