V.

Beloved, now are we the fons of God—and it doth not yet appear what we shall be-but we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we fhall fee him, as he is.And every one that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.—1 John 3. ii.

HE divine author of this paffage, among a

THE

multitude of heavenly themes, which he has proposed to our contemplation, has not propofed one more full of wonderful, and affecting matter, than this. He fets before us our new birth, and inheritance-our hopes-our motives-and glorification, all together, in one point of view.-Let us follow him through the particulars of this wonderful difplay of grace.

Beloved, now are we the fons of God. By embracing, and fincerely obeying, the chriftian religion, we become heirs of all its promises, and hopes. The great curfe is removed-God's holy fpirit is fhed abroad in our hearts-and we are fitted for that heavenly ftate, which is prepared for

us,

us. All this is the confequence of our being the adopted fons of God through Christ. We are purified in this world; and fhall be glorified in the next.

But what is this ftate of glory which is promised to us? We are acquainted with the things of this world; and know, that they are adapted to us, and we to them but what notices have we of these heavenly things?

It is true (fays the apostle in answer to this queftion) it doth not yet appear what we shall be. It is impoffible in this world to have any ideas of the glory of the next. Flesh and blood cannot reveal these things to us; neither are we capable of receiving them, if they should be revealed. In these things, as in many others, we must walk by faith, not by fight.*-Under the guidance therefore of faith, we are affured, that when he shall appear, we fhall be like him; for w fhall fee him as he is. -We have the fame fentiment rather more ftrongly expreffed, in St. Paul's epiftle to the Philippians, We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift, who fhall change our vile body, that it may be fafhioned like unto his glorious body.

* 2 CORINTHIANS, 5. vii,

The

The great conclufion is, that every one, that hath this hope in him, purifieth himfelf as he is pure, And every one (if we may transpose 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.

Godly

VI.

Godly forrow worketh repentance—but the forrow of the world worketh death.-2 Cor. 7. x.

ST.

T. PAUL, in his first epiftle to the Corinthians, had delivered an inceftuous person to

Satan.

What is meant by that phrafe, 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 restored to his own peace of mind; and to the peace of the church.

To this event, the apostle 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

any thing the apoftle fays. He fays only that godly forrow worketh repentance, that is, it leads to it; but forrow itfelf is no repentance. Nay even a change of life, is no repentance. Many worldly causes 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 poffeffion of the foul, it certainly argues a great dependance on the world for our hopes; and a renunciation of God, as our fupreme happinefs.

And yet here, for the fake of fome good, and melancholy people, I should wish to make a dif tinction. When the kind affections of love, and friendship