ready to think they can never be the same dull and ungrateful creatures they have often been "When my forgetful soul renews "But, ere one fleeting hour is past, "Wretch that I am, to wander thus, "Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Nov. 27.-"Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. i. 14. THESE two are often spoken of in the Scriptures. And, if we observe the passages in which they occur; and especially the words of the Apostle John "This is his commandment, that we believe on the Name of his Son-and love one another;" we shall see, that the first regards Christ, and the second, our brethren. But let us remark their order. Faith is placed before love-and this is the case without any exception, whenever they are coupled together by the Sacred Writers. And there is reason for it. The order of the words is the order of the things. Faith precedes all true obedience. It necessarily goes be fore repentance-I cannot grieve for what I have done amiss, unless I believe I have done wrong: and I cannot sorrow after a godly sort, unless I look on him whom I have pierced, and mourn for him. Faith is a radical principle. It is the root of the tree; and all the rest is branch, blossom, and fruit. It is the spring, from which every thing else in religion flows, as a stream. Love does not produce faith; but faith, love. It Yet there is a connexion between them; and their union is also as invariably expressed as their order. In truth, they are inseparable. Is it conceivable, that when such a scheme as Christianity gets into the soul, it can lie there dead, or even asleep? Is it not compared to a well of water, springing up into everlasting life? to a fire, that converts every thing combustible into its own nature? to leaven hid in meal, that leavens the whole lump? Observe all the believers, who, in the Scripture, encompass us as a great cloud of witnesses. Was their faith a notion? a profession? a form of godliness without the power? Could such faith have saved them? True faith overcomes the world. purifies the heart. And it works by love-not exclusively indeed. It works by hatred, when it regards sin; and by fear, when it regards danger-So Noah, by faith, being warned of God, was moved with fear. But love is the disposition the Gospel peculiarly requires. It is the end of the commandment, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. It also is pre-eminently suited to produce it. What is God God is love. From what principle did he act in our salvation? God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. What do we see in the life and death of the Saviour, but Divine compassion embodied? a love that passeth knowledge? And what is the inference? "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweetsmelling savour.' Let us not pass over this. Some people's faith seems to work by selfishness, censoriousness, wrath, malice, and all uncharitableness. But we have no reason to conclude that we have "the faith of God's elect," unless, "as the elect of God, holy and beloved, we put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." It is lamentable to think, how many of our fellowcreatures are destitute of these graces. Art thou, O my soul! a stranger to the influence of this faith and love? Let me remember, that they are infinitely important and indispensable-" He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." But shall I be satisfied with the reality of this faith and love, regardless of the degree? How desirable-how necessary, how attainable, is more of their vital prevalency! Let me resemble the Thessalonians; of whom the Apostle could say, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one you all toward each other aboundeth." of J Nov. 28.-" Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long." Prov. xxiii. 17. 99 THE mistake of many persons is, that they view religion as something separate from common life; and which can hardly be made to agree with it. But we are to render every thing, not only consistent with godliness, but even a part of it. If Gaius was to bring friends on their way, it was to be done so as to render it, not only an act of civility, but of piety-It was to be done "after a godly sort." "On Thee," says David, "do I wait all the day." And Solomon enjoins us to be "in the fear of the Lord all the day long." The day, here, is to be taken, not abstractedly, as a mere period of duration but in reference to its concerns. There are several things, into contact with which we may expect to come every day. Let us see how the fear of the Lord will influence us, with regard to each of them. First. It will influence us as to the devotions of the day. If there be an opportunity of repairing to the House of God, and hearing his word, it will dispose us to avail ourselves of it; and so to regulate our affairs as to be able to attend. It will produce morning and evening worship at the family altar. It will also lead us to enter our closets. The principle also, will not only excite us to the performance of devotion, but aid us in it-throwing off mere formality, or causing us to mourn over our want of spirituality and life. Secondly. It will influence us as to the business of the day. It will require us to have some profession or calling in which we are to be employed; and in this it will induce us to be diligent. An idle man cannot be under the power of religion; and lies open to temptation. It will also make us conscientious; governing ourselves by the fair rules of trade; not having divers weights and measures; or different kinds of goods and prices, for friends and VOL. II. 3 M strangers, the knowing or the ignorant. It will allow us to aim at lawful advantage: but it will regulate and moderate our desire of gain. It will make us content with subsistence and competency, without wealth and independence-" He that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent." It will make us feel our reliance upon God for his blessing, without which we may rise early and sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrows. Upon the same principle, it will make us grateful for success; and keep us from burning incense to our own net, and sacrificing to our own drag. Thirdly. It will influence us as to the relaxations of the day. These we need. Who could bear unceasing, unbending drudgery? The machine would soon be worn out by perpetual friction. All indulgences are not innocent. We shall therefore avoid those that would stain the mind, and wound the conscience and unfit us for prayer. We shall shun expensive entertainments-The most agreeable and useful recreations are the cheapest-And who can ever be at a loss for these, if they will follow nature, instead of fashion? And we shall indulge in none to excess, as to time-of time we must always be frugal. Like the swallow, we must skim the water as we fly; or, like Gideon's followers, we must, in our pursuit, lap with the hand, rather than kneel down. The fear of the Lord will make us always watchful, with regard to indulgence-and especially in things lawful; for here we are most liable to be ensnared. God giveth us richly all things to enjoy: but we are not to feast ourselves without fear. Fourthly. It will influence us as to the company of the day. Are we called to intermix with the wicked? We shall walk in wisdom towards them that are withWe shall endeavour to render our religion, not only impressive, but attractive. We shall keep our mouth as with a bridle; or, if we speak, it will be a |