how much more ought it to be so, in the union of the body and soul, which are joined in a marriage so perfect and admirable? Yet these men endeavour, practically, to separate the parts of human nature which are so closely united, and, by a strange prodigy, to have, in one place, souls without bodies, and in another, bodies without souls. They give their sentiments to GOD, and their speech to Satan. Their affections fight for JESUS CHRIST, and their hands take up weapons to oppose his cause. Did ever man see a treachery so black and horrible? Where would the Truth now have been, if the church had been composed only of these lukewarm ones? If there had not been more ardent persons to publish that Truth, and zealously to defend it in the face of all its enemies, the Gospel would never have shone on the earth, and the world would still have been covered with the darkness of Paganism. We ought, therefore, according to the apostolic rule, both to "believe with our heart unto righteousness," and also to "make confession with our mouth unto salvation." For if our souls be the sanctuaries in which God is adored in secret, in the interior of a good conscience; our bodies ought to be the temples in which he is publicly praised and glorified, by our open adoration and thanksgiving.

2. In the second class of Lukewarm ones, I observe the Indifferent. I mean those who look upon all religion as indifferent, and persuade themselves that, if we live a moral life, that alone is sufficient for our salvation. It is true, they acknowledge that there is a GOD-a sovereign and independent BEING, who governs the world by his providence. But they imagine that this almighty and eternal SPIRIT does not trouble himself with any of those questions of controversy, which divide the sects, and cause a difference of opinion; and that every man is at liberty to follow that which he deems most reasonable, or finds most convenient, without perplexing himself with disputes, which, if we were to believe them, are only proper for exercises in our schools and colleges. Profane and libertine souls! Who have a GOD, and no GOD! For while they profess to acknowledge and worship a DIVINITY, because they say that the light of nature does not permit them to deny his existence, they nevertheless conduct themselves towards him as though he did not exist at all. In reality, if there be a GOD who governs heaven and earth, which no one but a fool can question, it necessarily follows, that he is wise and intelligent. And both the admirable structure of his works, and the wonderful proceedings of his providence, clearly demonstrate, that his wisdom and knowledge are incomparable. How then can you imagine that a Being, so intelligent and wise, leaves it to the will of man to serve him as he pleases? Where is the king so negligent, as to leave his subjects at liberty to act according to their VOL. XLIV. MAY, 1821.

own caprices, in reference to his government, his finances, and his armies? Where is the master so weak-minded, as to leave it to the mere discretion of his servants to work for him according to their own fancies? All kings, worthy of reigning, give laws to their subjects, and orders to their officers. Every master, capable of conducting his house, will be served according to his own intentions and plans. How then is it possible to conceive that God is the Monarch and absolute Master of men, without prescribing the service which is most pleasing to him; that is to say, without particularizing the religion that pleases him, and is most agreeable to his will? As certain, therefore, as it is that there is a GOD in heaven, so certain it is also that there must be some Revelation which points out the method of serving him on earth. And they who do not receive this Divine Revelation cannot be pleasing to him who is the Author of it, and, who has given it to men, expressly, in order that it might be the rule of their faith, of their devotion, and of their religion. Both the Old and the New Testament, which constitute, unquestionably, this Divine Revelation, have accordingly laid it down as a maxim that, "in vain do people honour GOD, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men;" teaching us, that God does not permit us to invent and fabricate, at our pleasure, the mode of his service, but has himself appointed a certain religion, to which it is absolutely necessary to conform, and that all others, which are not conformable to it, are abominable in his sight. How then can men have the choice of their religious faith and laws, since angels themselves are not permitted to add any thing to the mysteries prescribed and revealed? "For though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

3. Next to the Indifferent, I notice, in this classification of the Lukewarm, the Temporary; who believe only for a time, and suffer themselves to be turned aside by the threats or promises of the world. They are not cold, for they, at first, receive the word of JESUS CHRIST with joy. Some of them even rejoice for many years, walking in the light of the Gospel. They partake with satisfaction" of the heavenly gift; and taste the good word of GOD, and the powers of the world to come." But they are not hot; for their fervour is not in that degree which is necessary to render them permanently victorious over temptation. They are therefore lukewarm; because, although they have sufficient light to believe the truth, they have not sufficient heat to persevere in holiness. Thus it was with DEMAS, who, after having followed the Apostles for a time, forsook them, by a criminal inconstancy, in order to enjoy the advantages and pleasures of this present world. "O foolish Galatians," who, having begun in the Spirit, shamefully end in the flesh! Miserable labourers, who, after

having set their hand to the plough of the Gospel, look back, and depart from the LORD's field, because it appears to them too sterile, too difficult to cultivate, and so over-grown with thorns and briars, that they do not find in it the harvest they expect! Cowardly soldiers, who being enlisted under the banner of the Captain of their salvation, deliver up their arms, or suffer their shield to be wrested from them, in the day of battle! Our LORD will not finally acknowledge nor confess these men, whatever affection they may have evidenced towards him in their beginning. For "he that endureth unto the end," saith the SON OF GOD, "the same shall be saved." And it is unto those only who are "faithful unto death," that he has promised "the crown of life." But "if any draw back," saith the LORD, "my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

4. After the Temporary, I perceive in the number of the Luke warm the Accommodators. These Accommodators in religion are they who wish to connect vice and virtue, in their souls and in their conduct; that is to say, they endeavour, by an impracticable and ridiculous scheme, to confound heaven with hell, and to unite CHRIST and Belial, between whom there can be no communion. We see persons who are well-informed, courteous, and even scrupulously exact, in certain points of duty, but who, nevertheless, retain some secret and predominant sin, which they will not consent to renounce. It is difficult to determine who were the Herodians, spoken of in the Gospel; but we may easily discern who are the people who deserve this appellation, because they follow the example of the sensual and wicked HEROD, of whom it is remarked, that he respected JOHN the BAPTIST, and did many things for him; but he would not renounce his abominable HERODIAS. She, being absolute mistress of his heart, drove him to the greatest extremities; and from the horrors of incest, dragged him on to the most outrageous cruelty. O dreadful and cursed division! When a man thus wishes to accommodate himself both to GOD and to the Devil, it is a wish to divide the child, not between the true and pretended mother, but between the father and the murderer, between the mother and the executioner. SAUL was rejected of God for having preserved a part of the spoil of the Amalekites, and saving the life of the profane AGAG their king, contrary to the express command of the LORD. If we retain any part of our sins, and permit them to reign in our hearts, we may assuredly conclude that this holy GoD will reject us, and will refuse us the crown of his spiritual Israel. There is no composition to be made in the business of salvation; for "whosoever offendeth in one point is guilty of all." And if MOSES, in old time, would not listen to a capitulation with PHAROAH, nor consent to leave with him any thing appertaining to the ISRAELITES, whether of grown persons * 2 P2*

or children, of sons or daughters, or even of cattle; it is also requisite, in order that we may happily escape from the Egypt of sin, and arrive at the heavenly Canaan, that we should not leave the least part of ourselves, nor of any thing appertaining to us, to Satan, but that we should dedicate ourselves unreservedly unto the LORD our GOD, and make a true and perfect sacrifice of our persons unto him.

5. The last class of the Lukewarm comprehends the Worldly and Carnal, who profess the truth, and live in communion with the Church, but with so much carelessness, so much laxity, that It is evident religion has not taken deep possession of their hearts, and that they serve God only with their lips.-One part of them, professing the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST, in reality serve Mammon, and have so much attachment to perishable Riches, that if they were required to choose one of these two masters, it is to be feared they would act like the Gadarenes, who expelled the SON OF GOD from their coasts, in order to preserve their swine. They have never resolved to imitate the faithful and magnanimous Hebrews, who "suffered joyfully the spoiling of their goods," for the sake of the Gospel,"knowing that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance." Never were they inspired with the noble sentiments which animated the primitive Christians; who, burning with zeal and charity, brought all the money for which they had sold their possessions, and laid it at the feet of the Apostles, to be expended for the nourishment and subsistence of the poor saints.-Another part of this Class, professing the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST," serve their own bellies ;" and, by this means, render themselves so much the slaves of appetite, that the fruits of the tree of life, and the wine of eternal wisdom, are less agreeable to their depraved taste than the delicacies of a good table. -Others, while they profess to be followers of CHRIST, habitually gratify their ambition; and so intoxicate themselves with the love of worldly honours, as to make them their god. JESUS, with his crown of thorns and sceptre of reeds, is nothing to them, in comparison with the crowns of this world, or with those staves of office which are signs of authority among men. It appears that it was in consequence of this worldly spirit, that the church of Laodicea had become lukewarm in the LORD's service. The great riches possessed by her members, of which the SON OF GOD speaks in the subsequent context, had smothered the ardour of their zeal, and their love of the truth. They had forsaken the temples and the worship of false gods, in order to unite themselves to the church of JESUS CHRIST. But they lived in it with a divided heart, without materially interesting themselves in the concerns of Christianity. They still associated with their fellowcitizens and idolatrous countrymen, in such a way as to disgrace the cause of the Son of GOD. They were anxious to accommo

date themselves in a cowardly and servile manner to the Gentiles, who at that time had the staff of authority in their hands. Provided that their temporal comforts were secured, and that they might enjoy their riches and treasures in peace, they gave themselves but little trouble about the kingdom of CHRIST; So that they were ill prepared to suffer and die in his cause. In a word, this people, under the profession of Christianity, still idolized the world, and were rather of the number of the children of this world, whom the Scriptures term "wise in their generation," than faithful disciples of the LORD JESUS. A state truly criminal, and deserving of the displeasure of the JUDGE of quick and dead! For he pronounces a curse on all who "do his work deceitfully." As he is a jealous GOD, he cannot bear that those who enter into covenant with him should have for him only an imperfect and divided affection. He looks upon all those who love him only by halves, as treacherous and adulterous. ELIJAH could not bear with the before-mentioned Israelites, who " halted between two opinions." This holy man wished them either to follow the LORD fully, or to be altogether for BAAL, according to the views they entertained of the divinity of these two objects of adoration among men. In religion, which is a kind of war between truth and falsehood, neutrality is a crime worthy of death; because all men, being natural subjects of the GoD of truth, are under an indispensable obligation to fight under his banner against falsehood; which is the enemy of his kingdom, and the usurper of his rights. On this principle rests the infallible maxim of our LORD; "he that is not with me is against me." And, undoubtedly, it is a most dreadful insult, for a man to be in suspense between the great GOD and another master, without knowing which way to turn; as though there were any other thing in the universe which can be equalled to him, or which ought to share with him his majesty and glory. This it was that kindled his wrath against the church of Laodicea. This it was that caused him to exclaim, with emotions of the greatest disgust, "I would thou wert either cold or hot; so then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Awful and most severe is this threatning!

Let us now apply to our own admonition the censure which the SON OF GOD passes upon these Laodiceans.-Alas! we have too much reason so to do! For whether we consider our churches in general, or each of them in particular, or even the individuals who compose them, it is certain, that they merit too generally the reproach of being "neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm." We are not cold, like the heathens, whom the Day-Spring from on high hath never visited with its marvellous light; for we know the truth as it is in JESUS." We profess it in all its purity; and the Gospel sheds forth upon us its most glorious