The great conclufion is, that every one that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself as he is pure. And every one (if we may tranfpofe the propofition, and turn it into a teft) who doth not purify himfelf as he is pure, may be affured, that he hath not this hope in him.

VI.

Godly forrowworketh repentance-but the sorrow of the world worketh death.-2 Cor. vii. 10.

ST. Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, had delivered an incestuous perfon to Satan. What is meant by that phrase, we are not clearly informed. It is probable he meant only to remove the offender from the communion of the faithful.-Whatever the punishment was, it is certain it wrought its proper effect; and the offender was reftored to his own peace mind; and to the peace of the church.

of

To this event the apoftle alludes in the text; in which he places two kinds of forrow in oppofition to each other-godly forrow; and the forrow of the world: the former of which worketh repentance: the latter, death.

Some people are apt to confider forrow and repentance as the fame thing. Hence arifes the danger of a death-bed repentance, and the deceit, which men are inclined to put upon themselves. But they have no authority for fuch deceit from any thing the apoftle fays. He says only that

godly

godly forrow worketh repentance, that is, it leads to it; but forrrow itself is no repentance. Nay even a change of life, is no repentance. Many worldly caufes may make open fin inconvenient. True repentance is a change of heart as well as life; and a deteftation of fin, whether future punishment exifted or not. It is this repentance, which godly forrow worketh.

Again, worldly forrow worketh death. Like all other wrong affections, it leadeth to thofe confequences, which without care, will draw on the fatal effects of fin. The first impreffion indeed of worldly forrow on any misfortune is fo natural, and unavoidable, that it cannot certainly be offenfive in the eyes of a merciful God; if calm refignation, and fubmiffion to his will fucceed. But when forrow for any worldly event continues, and takes possession of the foul, it certainly argues a great dependance on the world for our hopes; and a renunciation of God, as our fupreme happiness.

1

And yet here, for the fake of fome good, and melancholy people, I fhould wish to make a diftinction. When the kind affections of love, and friendship have received fome great convulfion, the wrong nefs cannot be fo offenfive to God

as

1

as when the lofs refpects only fome worldly poffeffion. Yet even the overflowings of these tender affections, we fhould endeavour to moderate; and should not forrow, as others that have no hope, for them that fleep: for if we believe that Jefus died, and rofe again; even fo them alfo, that fleep in Jefus, will God bring with him.*

LET us then all endeavour to forrow after a godly fort. This world is fometimes called a vale of forrow. Its brooks are tears: its gales are fighs. The gloomy images of woe, in fome part of our paffage through it, will not fail to ftrike us. Since Sorrow then must be so much our companion, let us endeavour to make it our friend; and learn all the good leffons (and many good leffons there are) which it is enabled to teach.

N. B. If this fubject were enlarged on, the distinction between worldly forrow, and godly forrow might be explained more fully; and it might be fhewn what thofe good leffons are which they both teach.

VII.

-He went on his way rejoicing.-Acts viii. 39.

THESE

HESE words are taken from the very inftructive and interesting ftory of Philip, and the Ethiopian. I fhall first give you the circumftances of the ftory, with fome remarks upon it -and fhall fecondly explain the fubject of the Ethiopian's rejoicing.

On the prosecution of Christianity, carried on with fo much violence by Saul, many of the dif ciples left Jerufalem, and retired to various parts; where they preached the gofpel. Among others Philip went to Samaria; from whence, by the deftination of God, he was fent to a defart part of the country, between Jerufalem and Gaza. Here he met the treasurer of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. This perfon, though of an idolatrous nation, believed in the true God-was acquainted with the Jewish fcriptures-and ufed at the great festivals to go to worship at Jerufalem. One of these great feftivals he had been now attending; and was returning home, when Philip met him. He was riding in his chariot,

and