sings of pardon and eternal life are more expressly promised, and that faith and repentance, which are the conditions of those blessings, are more clearly stated, than they were in former dispensations. And if we, who are acquainted with the terms and the promises of the covenant, finally reject them, our case will be far more wretched than theirs who were strangers to them. "It had been better for us not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after we have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto us." Let us then flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us. I proceed to observe,

VI. The Gentiles are said to "have had no hope." They had no clear and distinct hope of a future existence.

Many of them scarcely believed, or even thought of a life beyond this. They had no apprehension, hardly the idea of a restoration of the body. Those who believed a future state had but obscure, and some of them, very absurd conceptions of it. Still more igno. rant were they of the qualifications necessary for happi ness after death. Some discovery of these important matters was made by the Jewish revelation; but it is by the gospel only, that life and immortality are brought to light.

This elucidates and confirms the arguments, which reason suggests, in favor of a future state; such as the present unequal distribution of rewards and punishments; our natural capacity for higher improvements than our condition in this world will permit; the impossibility that such as die young should ever answer the purposes of a rational existence, unless they exist in another state; the ardent desire of immortality which is implanted in every breast, and which sensibly operates in all, except where it is overpowered by corrupt principles and vicious habits. And besides these; it has made explicit declarations and promises of the resurrection of the body and a future existence, and conVOL. III.

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firmed them by a plain obvious fact, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and a teacher sent from him.

It has not only taught us in general, that there will be another life, but has informed us of many important circumstances relating to it; particularly, that, in some unknown period of duration, there will be an end of the human succession, and of the probationary existence of mankind—that then will commence a general judgment of the world-that into this judgment will be brought every work of man, with every secret thingthat rewards and punishments will be dispensed according to men's different characters, and proportioned to their different degrees of holiness or wickednessthat, in the conclusion of the judgment, the wicked will go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.

We have now a glorious hope set before us. Guilty and unworthy as we are, we may be reconciled unto God by the death, and saved by the life of Jesus. So rich and extensive is the grace revealed in the gospel, that a consciousness of past guilt is no just ground of discouragement to those who feel the workings of god. ly sorrow, and the resolutions of new obedience. "The righteousness of God, through the faith of Christ is unto all, and upon all them who believe, and there is no difference."

Do we think with compassion and concern on the case of those, who know not the way of peace, and have no hope ?-Let us not then despise the glorious hope proposed to us, but receive it with thankfulness and joy. In a way of repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel sets before us the hope of a glorious immortality; but if we continue in unbelief and impenitence, we can have no part in the matter. Are there not many, who, if they were to speak seriously, must confess, that by the

terms of the gospel, they are excluded from the blessedness proposed? Will you live as the Gentiles formerly lived, without hope? Will you put yourselves in a condition worse than theirs, when you enjoy so high advantages? Will you turn the means of hope into occasions of present guilt and future despair? Lay hold on this hope, while it is within your reach-Seek for eternal life by a patient continuance in well doingGive diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end -be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

VII. The last character of these Gentiles is, that "they were without God in the world." They were Atheists in a world, in which God was manifest.

The Heathens generally had some apprehension of a Deity; but they were without a knowledge of the one true God, and without a just idea of his character, They did service to them who by nature were no gods; or, if they knew something of God, yet "they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for.

ever.

To us, who have been early taught the existence and government of one Supreme, all Perfect Being, nothing is more unaccountable, than the atheism and idolatry, which have appeared in the world. To us it is astonishing, that any should deny the existence of an eternal, independent power, and ascribe to chance and fate all the things which we behold; and no less astonishing, that any should imagine the godhead to be like unto gold and silver and stone, graven by art and man's device,

But while we condemn the atheist and the idolater, let us take heed lest we also fall under the same condemnation. Many, who profess to know God, in

works deny him. Many, who would not kneel to a graven image, or prostrate themselves before the ris ing sun, still serve the creature more than the Creator, love mammon more than God, and are governed more by their own lusts than by his will.

However clearly you can demonstrate the existence and providence of God, and whatever rational senti ments you entertain concerning his character and gov ernment; if you seek not his favor with your whole heart, and in preference to every worldly interest-if you forget him in your ordinary concerns, and ac knowledge him not in your daily wants and suppliesif you neglect to maintain communion with him by meditation, thanksgiving and prayer-if you indulge a temper, and pursue a course contrary to his will; you are, as really as the atheist, without God in the world. While you condemn those, who, in contradiction to the plainest evidence, say, there is no God, How will you justify yourselves, who in contradiction to your own belief, live as if there were no God?

There are more atheists in the world, than profess themselves such. "The transgression of the wicked saith, there is no fear of God before his eyes." How unaccountable is the stupidity of sinners! God is not far from them: He loads them with blessings, satis. fies them with good, fills them with gladness; yet they know him not, or will not regard him. This God calls the heavens to behold with astonishment: "I have nourished and brought up children, but they have rebelled against me! The ox knoweth his own. er, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider! Who hath heard such a thing? Hath a nation changed her gods, which yet are no gods? but my people hath changed their glory for that which doth not profit. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and have hewed them out broken cisterns, which can hold no water.

Let us lament the atheism and idolatry of our own hearts. Since we know God, let us glorify him as God, by thankfulness and obedience. Let us, by the discoveries of his character made before our eyes, and the exercises of his goodness which we daily experience, be persuaded to present ourselves living sacrifices holy and acceptable to him; for this is our reasonable service.