171 : revelation; but it is by the gofpel only, that life and immortality are brought to light.

This elucidates and confirms the arrangements, which reason fuggefts, in favor of a future ftate; fuch as the prefent unequal distribution of rewards and punishments; our natural capacity for higher improvements than our condition in this world will permit; the impoffibility that fuch as die young fhould ever antwer the purposes of a rational exiftence, unless they exift in another flate; the ardent defire of immortality which is implanted in every breast, and which fenfibly operates in all, except where it is overpowered by corrupt principles and vicious habits. And befides thefe; it has made explicit declarations and promifes of the refurrection of the body and a future exiftence, and confirmed them by a plain obvious fact, the ref urrection and afcenfion of Jefus Christ, the Son of God, and a teacher fent from him.

It has not only taught us in general, that there will be another life, but has informed us of many important circumftances relating to it; particularly, that, in fome unknown period of duration, there will be an end of the human fucceffion, and of the probationary exiftence of mankind-that then will commence a general judgment of the world that unto this judgment will be brought every work of man, with every fecret thing-that rewards and punishments will be difpenfed accord.. ing to men's different characters, and proportioned to their different degrees of holiness, or wickedness -that, in the conclufion of the judgment, the wick. ed will go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.

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We have now a glorious hope fet before us. Guilty and unworthy as we are, we may be reconciled unto God by the death, and faved by the life of Jesus. So rich and extenfive is the grace revealed in the gofpel, that a confcioufnefs of paft

guilt is no juft ground of difcouragement to thofe who feel the workings of godly forrow, and the refolutions of new obedience. "The righteoufnefs of God, through the faith of Chrift is unto all, and upon all them who believe, and there is no difference."

Do we think with compaffion and concern on the case of those, who know not the way of peace, and have no hope?-Let us not then defpife the glorious hope propofed to us, but receive it with thankfulness and joy. In a way of repentance to ward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift, the gospel fets 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 fpeak fes riously, must confefs, that by the terms of the gofpel, they are excluded from the bleffednefs pro pofed? Will you live, as the Gentiles formerly lived, without hope? Will you put yourselves in a condition worse than theirs, when you enjoy fo high advantages? Will you turn the means of hope into occafions of prefent guilt and future defpair? Lay hold on this hope, while it is within your reach-Seek for eternal life by a patient con tinuance in well doing-Give diligence to the full affurance of hope to the end Be not flothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promifes.

VII. The laft character of thefe Gentiles is, that they were without God in the world." They were Atheists in a world, in which God was manifeft.

The Heathens generally had fome apprehenfion of a Deity; but they were without a knowledge of the one true God, and without a just idea of his character. They did fervice to them, who by nature were no gods; or, if they knew fomething 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 ferved the creature more than the Creator, who is bleffed forever.”

To us, who have been early taught the exift. ence 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 aftonishing, that any fhould deny the existence of an eternal, independent power, and afcribe to chance and fate all the things which we behold; and no lefs aftonifhing, that any should imagine the godhead to be like unto gold and filver and ftone, graven by art and man's device.

But while we condemn the atheift and the idolater, let us take heed left we alfo fall under the fame condemnation. Many, who profefs to know God, in works deny him. Many, who would not kneel to a graven image, or proftrate themfelves before the rifing fun, ftill ferve the creature more than the Creator, love mammon more than God, and are governed more by their own lufts than by his will,

your or

However clearly you can demonftrate the exist. ence and providence of God, and whatever rational fentiments you entertain concerning his charac ter and government; if you feek not his favor with your whole heart, and in preference to every worldly intereft-if you forget him in dinary concerns, and acknowledge him not in your daily wants and supplies-if you neglect to maintain communion with him by mediation, thanksgiving and prayer-if you indulge a temper, and purfue a course, contrary to his will; you are as really, as the atheist, without God in the world. While you condemn thofe, who, in contradiction to the plainest evidence, fay, there is no God, How will you justify yourselves, who in contra

diction to your own belief, live as if there were no God?

There are more atheists in the world, than pro fefs themselves fuch. "The tranfgreffion of the wicked faith, There is no fear of God before his eyes." How unaccountable is the flupidity of finners! God is not far from them: He loads them with bleffings, fatisfies 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 owner, and the afs his mafter's crib; but Ifrael doth not know-my people doth not confider. Who hath heard fuch 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 forfak en me, the fountain of living water, and have hewed them out broken cifterns, 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 perfuaded to prefent ourfelves living facrifices, holy and acceptable to him, for this is our reasonable fervice.

SERMON XIV.

EPHESIANS ii, 13-18.

But now in Chrift Jefus, ye who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrift. For he is our peace,who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man, fo making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the crofs, having flain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were nigh; for through him we both have an accefs by one Spirit unto the Father.

IN the preceding verfes, the Apoftle reminds the Gentile believers in Ephefus, in what respects they had formerly lived at a distance from God. They were Gentiles in the flesh-they were by Jews defpifed, as not having the mark and fign of God's people--they were without the knowledge of Chrift--they were excluded from the privilege of worshipping God in his fanctuary-they were strangers to the gracious promise of the coveenant-they had no fare hope of a future lifeand they were without God in the world.