tation we have refifted or efcaped, every evil thought we have reftrained, and every good one we have encouraged, will then each rise up to befriend us, and speak peace to our affrighted fouls. And though the religious young man may now, perhaps, complain of the difficulties he hath to struggle with, yet let him remember, that the bitterer his present sensations are, the more joyful will be his reflections at that momentous period. It is then in short, and only then, we see the true difference between him that ferveth God in his youth, and him that ferveth him not; and whoever compares their different circumstances and behaviour on that trying occafion, will moft fincerely wifh " that he may die the "death of the righteous, and that his latter end 66 may be like his." But let us remember, that it is not a mere inactive wish alone that can procure us this ineftimable bleffing; let us remember, that if we would die the death of the righteous, we must feriously refolve from our youth up, to live his life, and that it will be in vain to pray that our latter end may be like his, unless our early years be like his alfo.

SERMON

SERMON IX.

I KINGS, Xviii. 21.

AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM; BUT IF BAAL, THEN FOLLOW HIM.

Not

Otwithstanding the many express commands given to the Jews to worship the one only true God, and the many admirable provifions made in their law to preserve them from the adoration of any other; yet it is notorious, that from the time of their leaving Egypt, down to the Babylonish captivity, they were frequently falling into idolatry. It must be observed, however, that this idolatry of theirs, wicked and inexcufable as it undoubtedly was, did not confift in ab

folutely renouncing the worship of the true God, but in joining with it the worship of falfe gods. This they did in imitation of the heathen nations around them, who, like all other pagans, though they had each their peculiar tutelary deities, yet made no fcruple of affociating thofe of any other people along with them. In conformity to which accommodating temper, the Jews themselves probably confidering the God of Ifrael as their national God, imagined that their allegiance to him was not violated by admitting other local deities to a share in his worship. It was this abfurd and impious cuftom of joining the adoration of idols to that of the true God, against which we find fo many precepts and exhortations in the Old Teftament directed, and such severe punishments denounced. And in oppofition to this ftrange practice it was, that Elijah propofes to the idolatrous Ahab and his people, an effectual method of deciding which was the true God, Jehovah or Baal; and he introduces his propofal with that fpirited expoftulation, contained in the words of the text. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him;

"but

" but if Baal, then follow him." This was, in effect, faying, How long will ye act this bafe difingenuous part of attempting to ferve two masters, and to worship at once both the Lord and Baal? The Lord is a jealous God. He demands your whole affection. He will not be ferved by halves; he will not accept of a divided empire with Baal. Chufe ye, then, whom ye will ferve, and no longer halt between two directly oppofite and inconfiftent opinions. If you are perfuaded (and never had any people more reason to be perfuaded) that the Lord Jehovah, the great Creator of Heaven and Earth, is the only true God, act agreeably to fuch a perfuafion. Follow him, and him only; ferve him fincerely, uniformly, and entirely, with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and ftrength; and live a life of virtue and holiness, in obedience to his commands. But if, on the contrary, you can, in oppofition to the plainest and strongest evidence, bring yourselves seriously to believe that Baal is God, follow him. Follow him (if your nature recoil not at it) through all those impure and deteftable practices which his worship authorizes and requires. But come not thus reeking with

03

with idolatry to the altar of the Lord. He will accept of no facrifices from fuch polluted hands. Baal is then your God, and you are his people. To him alone offer up your vows; from him only expect the fupply of all your wants, and deliverance from all your calamities.

The obfervation naturally arifing from the text thus explained, is this: That as God would not allow a partial worship under the Mofaic difpenfation, neither will he admit of partial faith, and partial obedience, under the Chriftian covenant.

He who was the God of the Jews, is alfo the God of the Chriftians; has from the fame invariable pre-eminence of his divine nature, the fame claim to our entire and unreserved fubmiffion to his will, is equally jealous of his own glory and of our allegiance, and equally averfe to any rival in our affections, and our fervices. It was the duty of the Jew to believe and obey the whole law of Mofes, It is the duty of the Chriftian to believe and obey the whole law of Chrift. In oppofition to the doctrines and duties of the Mofaic law, flood the extravagant conceits of Gentile theo

logy,

T