in all ages been funk in ignorance, fuperftition and vice-how great a number of those who profefs the true religion, have corrupted its purity-how many of those who retain the knowledge of the truth, are wholly uninfluenced by it; we shall have but a melancholly view of mankind; and fhall fee reason to fear, that the alarming words of our faviour already mentioned, have been applicable to most periods, and remain applicable to our own times.

Amidft our gloomy apprehenfions, it is no small confolation to believe, that there is a day coming, when the gospel will have a more extensive spread in the world, and a more powerful influence on the hearts of men. And if we take into the eftimate this happy period of the church, which the fcripture promifes, and which, it seems, will be of long duration, perhaps the whole number of the faved will far exceed the number of those who are loft.

But whether the number be comparatively great or fmall, let each one attend to himself, and work out his own falvation with fear and trembling. The terms of falvation are the fame, whether those who comply with them be many or few. The number of the faved, be it ever fo great, will be no fecurity to those who neglect their falvation; be it ever fo fmall, it will not endanger those who repent and obey the gospel. The duty, which alike concerns us all, our faviour has pointed out in our text; "Strive to enter in at the ftrait gate, for many will feek to enter in

and fhall not be able."

If there are many who will be loft, let each one fear for himfelf, left he should be found in that unhappy number. The apoftle speaks of fome who could not enter into God's reft because

of unbelief.

"Therefore," fays he, "let us also fear, left, a promife being left us of entering into this reft, any of us fhould feem to come fhort of it." Our danger does not arifse from the number which will perish, but from our own unbelief and impenitence. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation; and how to referve the unjuft unto the day of judgment to be punished." But ftill the warnings which the fcripture has given us, that there will be found, at the last day, many workers of iniquity, who will be caft into utter darkness, fhould fill every foul with a deep folicitude for himself, and awaken in him an immediate care to flee from the wrath to come. For this purpose the scripture has announced them to us and to this purpose we should apply them.

When Chrift admonished his difciples, that one of them would betray him, and prove a fon of perdition, each enquired, Lord, is it I? When he also admonishes us, that many will be rejected as workers of iniquity, let us all make the fame perfonal application-the fame home-felt enquiry. To judge whether we are involved in this danger, we need not go far; we need not attempt an investigation of the fecret purposes of God; we are only to fearch and examine ourselves. If fin reigns within us, the wrath of God abides on us. If we have renounced the dominion of fin, we are delivered from the wrath to come.

It is the decree of God, that they who do his commandments shall enter through the gates into the heavenly city; but whofoever defile themselves and work abomination shall be shut out, and caft into utter darkness. This is the only decree, in which the present enquiry is concerned-the only decree by which we can judge of our danger, or

fafety. This is not a fecret, but a revealed decree. By this let us govern our conduct. On this let us ground our hopes, or our fears, according as we find our character. God will not depart from it; for he is of one mind; none can turn him. We cannot alter it, for it is founded in the nature of God. The change must be in us. Let us by faith embrace the promise of God, and by repentance renounce the practice of fin, and thus giving all diligence, add to our faith all the virtues and works of the gofpel; in this progrefs we shall make our calling and election fure, and fhall never fall, but an entrance will be miniftred to us abundantly into the kingdom of Chrift.

SERMON XI.

The Caufes, why many who feek, cannot enter at the ftrait Gate.

LUKE xiii. 24.

Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I fay unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

THE entrance into heaven is here reprefented as a ftrait gate. It is fo called, because the terms of admiffion are ftrict and indifpenfable; and in the way thither much opposition is to be expected.

Our Lord warns us, that there are many, who will fail of entering in at this gate. Hence he commands us to ftrive for an entrance, left we be found among the unhappy number, which shall

be excluded.

These observations have, in a former discourse, been illuftrated and applied.

We now proceed to obferve,

Thirdly: Our faviour, for our caution, points out the causes, why many will not enter in at the ftrait gate. These are negligence, dilatoriness and falfe dependence.

1. One caufe, why many fail of falvation, is negligence. "Strive," fays our Lord, “for many

will feek to enter, and shall not be able. Seeking is a word often used to exprefs the whole condition of falvation: but here it is used in a lower fenfe, and in diftinction from ftriving.

The latter is a word, which imports the greateft earnestness-the most vigorous exertion, like that which combatants ufe, when they are contending for the maftery. There is a promise of eternal life to them who feek it; but it is only to them who seek it firft, and in preference to all earthly interests to them who feek it diligently, and by a patient continuance in well-doing-to them who feek it betimes, and while it may be found. This Jeeking is the fame as ftriving. There is a careless kind of feeking, which will not be successful. Our faviour speaks of fome, who shall seek him, and yet shall die in their fins-of fome who seek him, not for the fpiritual bleffings which he bestows, but for inferior ends. If they feek the kingdom of heaven, yet they first seek what they fhall eat and drink.

Under the light of revelation, it is probable, there are few, but who have an intention to obtain heaven. Depraved as human nature is, few are fo abandoned to ftupidity-fo loft to the fentiments of happiness and misery, as to feel no impreffion from the terrors of the world to come. To dwell with devouring fire, with everlafting burningsis fo tremendous a thought, that even care. lefs finners are fometimes afraid. They wish to escape the awful scene, which the gospel opens to their view. In their ferious hours they form fome purposes of repentance, they make fome addreffes to the God of mercy, and they think of turning to a virtuous life. But their refolutions, prayers and endeavors are faint, tranfient and ineffectual. If they may be faid to feek heaven; yet they

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