the grace of God in vain, whose temper and practice

are not improved by it.

Certainly they, who have en. joyed the advantages of gospel light, year after year, and are furnished with capacities to understand the doctrines and duties of the gospel, and yet remain halting between two opinions, whether to receive or reject them; whether to regulate their lives according to the word of God; such have received no benefit from the grace of God. However frequenta man may be in hearing the word, he receives the grace of God in vain, if his temper and practice are not improved by it. Have we not reason to fear, that many flatter themselves, that they are real christians, because they are frequent in hearing the word; while they indulge in practices, which are contrary to the very spirit of the gospel? Some persons, because of their orthodoxy, their zeal, their frequency in hearing the word preached, have high claims to religion; while they live in malice, in envy, in strife, with their fellow men. And in addition to these things, we shall find an almost total want of regard to their word, promises, and engagements among men. Alas! how vain to receive and hold the

truth in unrighteousness. This leads me,

III. To show the danger of thus receiving the grace of God in vain.

1. They, who receive the grace of God in vain, will fail of the salvation which it offers. For on the supposition, that God may, and does reveal himself to some who are not favoured with the gospel; and, that he prepares their hearts for an holy salvation in an immediate way, yet surely they who enjoy revealed truth,

have no reason to expect, that they shall be saved upon any other plan, than a compliance with the terms of the gospel. Christ will be the author of salvation to those only who obey him.

2. It is dangerous to receive the grace of God in vain; because such a reception of the gospel will make it the occasion of a more terrible destruction. The gospel, by being heard and disregarded, becomes a savour of death unto death. The person who lives in a christian land, surrounded with all the advantages of the gospel dispensation, yet lives like a heathen, cannot die with his share of guilt; but the light under which he has lived, the instructions, motives, and arguments, which he has disregarded, will aggravate his condemnation to such a degree, that it will be more tolerable for an inhabitant of Sodom, than for him. Surely this is reasonable, "that where much is given, much should be required." Surely "when a servant knows his master's will, and prepares not himself, nor does according to his will," he may be beaten with many stripes. Surely when the most invaluable price to get wisdom is put into his hand, and he has no heart to improve it, he is deserving of a singular punishment. I will add, that this must from the nature of the case, be the dreadful consequence of receiving the grace of God in vain; because every one, who does not grow into a conformity for heaven, under the means of grace, becomes daily more a vessel of wrath fitted for destruction. "This is their condemnation, that light has come into the world, and they have loved darkness rather than light." Our Saviour told the

Jews, that had he "not come and spoken unto them," opened a glorious door of hope and salvation, "they had not had sin." That is, their sin and danger would have been nothing, in comparison of what they then were, in consequence of their having the offer of pardon and mercy made to them, and their rejection of it. No wonder then, that the benevolent apostle should beseech sinners, that they receive not the grace of God in vain; nor lose the great and glorious blesse ings revealed and offered to them in the gospel; and expose themselves to the most dreadful destruction by their own carelessness and folly. In this view, we can admire the wonderful condescension of Christ in sending his apostles to beseech, to beg, to pray sinners to attend, receive, and obey his instructions; and not add to the guilt of the infidel, the tenfold damnation of slighting Christ and his great salvation. This is a sin, greater, unspeakably greater, than any which heathen can commit. It is full of the blackest ingratitude to God, the greatest, and most bountiful benefactor in the universe. Nothing tends to awaken the divine anger like despising goodness, particularly the riches of his goodness revealed in the gospel. Sinners therefore who receive this grace of God in vain, will of all sinners be the most miserable in the eternal world, when they will receive the due reward of their deeds. Let me then conclude with beseeching you, that ye receive, not the grace of God in vain.

IMPROVEMENT.

This subject furnishes us with the reason of the great coldness in religion, which prevails at the present

day. It is because the glad tidings of the gospel are not properly regarded. Mankind are engaged in re. ligion, in proportion as they are engaged to attend, and improve the gospel of the grace of God. Every per son, who loves God, is engaged in attending to his word. He hears it with diligence and pleasure; he reads it with sweet satisfaction of soul; he drinks it in, as the thirsty land drinks in the rain and dew of heaven. He believes it; he reads and studies it, with a view to practice; and it quickens him in the way of holiness. He highly esteems the word of God as the rule of his faith and practice, and makes it the man of his council, and the standard of his daily conduct; and thus this divine seed becomes fruitful. But where there is inattention to the word of God; where the sacred duties of the gospel are neglected; true religion is indeed low in that place. When a person or people are cold and indifferent to the truths and duties of religion, we may be sure, that person, ör people, have received the gospel to little or no advantage. They do not give their attention and hearts to divine instruction; "and the word does not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that hear.” Engagedness in the things of religion will ever be în proportion to the success which the gospel has among a people. If this be received in vain, the very form of religion will die away, and almost disappear. But it is easy to perceive, at this day, that the gospel of Christ is greatly slighted and abused by the greater part, even of those who hear it. Happy should we be, my hearers, if none of the number of its de.

That this matter examine himself by

spisers could be found among us. may be determined, let each one the above mentioned marks, by which those who receive the grace of God in vain may be distinguished.

God has done great and marvellous things for the salvation of sinners; he has given us the good word of his grace, to guide our feet into the paths of life; he has instituted sabbaths, and the gospel ministry, for the quickening and edification of his church and people; and how are they received and treated? How is the word of God received by you? Is it your practice to examine the scriptures, with a view to edification, and to learn the evidence, on which their credibility is founded? And has the result of your inquiries been a settled belief of their truth and divinity? And in consequence of this, have you heard the good news of the kingdom with diligence and attention? Are you accustomed to accompany your attendance upon the word with prayerful endeavours to retain, and make it profitable to your souls? Do you meditate upon it, that it may not be forgotten and lost? Do you read and hear the gospel with a particular view to practice; feeling that every other attainment without this will be in vain?-If these things be not true with respect to you, you have indeed received the grace of God in vain. All the grace of the gospel, as to any saving benefit, has been thrown away upon you and lost. And this is not all; as your privileges and opportunities have been better than those, which many others have enjoyed, and your hearts and practice have been uninfluenced, unimproved by them; so your guilt is vastly increased,