than in all other things, which are written in the book of the law to do them (f). The neglect and the tranfgreffion of the duties of morality have formed, in every age, a large portion of the mafs of human guilt. When Chrift, therefore, came to redeem us from the curfe of the law, by being himself made a curfe for us (g); it was in part to deliver us from the penal confequences which we had brought upon ourfelves by difobedience in points of moral duty. It was in part to atone for our breaches of moral duty that he laid afide the form of God, and took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of man, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. In every stage of his humiliation, in every pang of his fuffering, our breach of moral duty had its fhare. What a leffon has he thus delivered to us of the importance of moral obedience! What a fanction has he added to the obligation of moral duty! Behold in his humiliation and death for the immoral actions of men, a new teftimony that he is the corner-stone of morality!

Farther it is conformably to the example of Chrift, that obedience to the precepts of morality is in every point to be rendered to God.

(f) Deut. xxvii, 16, &c. Gal. iii, ro. B 4

(g) Gal. iii. 13.

In

In all things he has left us an example that we should follow his feps. He was boly, harmless, undefiled, feparate from finners. In his childhood he was willingly fubject to 'Mary his mother, and her husband Jofeph. Throughout his life, his uniform employment was doing good. Not defiring that any fhould minister unto him, he was conftantly ministering unto others. Not pleafing himself, not only unacquainted with felf-indulgence, but continually making facrifices of needful repofe; he laboured in painfulness and wearinefs for the temporal and the fpiritual benefit of men. It was his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father. He did no fin; neither was guile found in his mouth. He fpake the truth, and bore witness to the truth, at the expence of his life. To the perverfe ignorance, unbelief, and prejudices of his difciples he fhewed the moft tender forbearance; to their defertion and denial of him the most endearing forgiveness. When he was reviled, be reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to Him who judgeth righteously. He was as a lamb led to the laughter; and as a sheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo be opened not his mouth in complaint, but prayed for those who were nailing him to the cross. He infifted not on his rightful privileges; but, that he might

not

not give offence, discharged by a miracle the tribute which he was not bound to pay. On the inhofpitable Samaritans he permitted not the infliction of punishment. To his malignant countrymen at Nazareth he renewed his labour of love, at a second risk of being thrown headlong from their precipice. In every other part of his conduct, as in the inftances which have been specified, our Lord proved himself by his own practice, a practice which every one of his' followers is pledged to imitate, to be the corner-stone of morality.

In the next place, fcriptural obedience to moral precepts can be attained only through the grace which Chrift fupplies.

Without Me-thefe were his own words to his favoured difciples-without Me ye can do nothing. I am the vine, ye are the branches. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itfelf, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. The heart of man, naturally selfish, proud, envious, prone to paffion, to fenfuality, to every evil work, cannot perform an act of holinefs, but through the Holy Spirit which is the gift of Chrift. Even with respect to the attainment of faith, no man can say that Jefus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (b).

(b) 1 Cor. xii. 3.

How

How then shall integrity, and brotherly love, and humility, and meekness, and gentleness, and temperance, and purity, and long-suffering, and forgiveness, fruits of faith, fruits of the Spirit, be produced, but by the Holy Ghost? And if the Lord Jefus Christ, when he afcended up on high, received gifts for men, even the refidue of the Spirit, the entire communication and diftribution of the graces of the Holy Spirit: if we, who of ourselves are unable to do any thing that is good, may yet be rendered capable feverally of faying with St. Paul, I can do all things through Christ who Strengtheneth me: Is not Chrift the cornerftone of moral conduct towards men?

Farther: It is only through the Lord Jefus, through the efficacy of his prevailing merits, that our moral conduct towards men can be acceptable in the fight of God.

Scanty through innumerable defects, polluted by a continual admixture of evil, how fhall the best moral actions of men bear the fcrutiny of a heart-fearching God? Weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary, what human deed fhall not be found wanting? If ye offer the blind for facrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and fick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor will he be pleafed with thee, or accept thy perfon, faith the Lord of

Hofts

Hofts (i)? Too well may this description be applied to the moft excellent of human ac

tions!

Some pofitive merit, fome adventitious righteousnefs, fome fufficient propitiation, fome adequate interceffion, must be interpofed on their behalf, ere they can be meet to be prefented before Him, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; ere they

can be rescued from the fentence of His unchanging law, which can tolerate no imperfection. In Jefus Chrift, and in him alone, they find that ransom of which they stand in need. For his fake, the infirmities of his fervants are overlooked; the defects of their faithful efforts to keep his commandments are pardoned. For his fake their obedience is accepted of God, and recompenfed, through grace wholly unmerited, as though it had been, fo far as it had proceeded, a fulfilment of the law.

There must yet be brought forward another confideration, which places our Lord before us as the foundation of morality. It is to please him, or in other equivalent words, to please God through him, that our views in the discharge of moral duties are always to be directed.

The word of God Speaketh exprefsly, that (i) Malachi, i. 8.

all