exertions of courage and refolution will be neceffary; and the difficulty, in this cafe, is by no means concealed by the writers of the Old and New Teftament, efpecially the latter, who generally wrote in times of perfecution. Their writings, accordingly, abound with exhortations to exert proportionable courage and fortitude.

Our Lord expreffes the difficulty of conquering a propenfity to certain vices, by a very ftrong figure, when he fays, Matt. v. 29. "If thy right cye offend thee, pluck "it out, and caft it from thee, &c." He alfo gives us an idea of the great hardships which may attend the profeffion of chriftianity, when he fays, Luke ix. 23. • If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his crofs daily, "and follow me, &c." Accordingly, we are exhorted by the apostle Paul, Col. iii. 5. To "mortify our members which are of "the earth," and, Rom. xii. 2. "not to "be conformed to this world: but to be "transformed by the renewing of our "mind." We fhall find, however, that the

fcriptures

fcriptures propofe to us rewards and encouragements, abundantly adequate to the labour and difficulties of which they apprize us.

Laftly, we are moft earneftly exhorted to watch over one another, and to promote our mutual edification by every proper means. Mofes fays, Lev. xix. 17. "Thou "fhalt in any wife rebuke thy neighbour, "and not fuffer fin upon him." The book of Proverbs contains excellent obfervations concerning the benefit of inftruction and reproof. Prov. xxviii. 23. "He that re"buketh a man afterwards fhall find more "favour than he that flattereth with the

tongue;" and David fays, Pf. cxli. 5. "Let the righteous fmite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it fhall "be an excellent oil." The author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews enjoins, Heb. iii. 13. that we "exhort one another daily "while it is called, To-day; left any of us "be hardened through the deceitfulness of "fin." We are, in many places, cautioned to give no offence; that is, to cause none to

offend,

offend, by any improper liberty of ours. The apofle Paul enlarges much upon this fubject, 1 Cor. x. Laftly, the apoftle James fpeaks in the higheft terms of the man who contributes to the fpiritual benefit of another, James v. 19. "Brethren, if any "" of you do err from the truth, and one "convert him; Let him know, that he "who converteth the finner from the error "of his way, fhall fave a foul from death, " and fhall hide a multitude of fins."

I

SECTION V.

General remarks concerning morality.

Shall clofe this account of the morality of the Bible, with fome obfervations of a more general nature.

It is unquestionably a juft maxim in itfelf, and a clear doctrine of the fcriptures, that no partial obedience to the law of God

will be accepted, inftead of univerfal obedi-
ence, which is abfolutely required of us.

A just respect to the authority of God, as
our fovereign, lawgiver, and judge, will
certainly lead us, as it did the Pfalmift, Pf.
cxix. 6. "to have refpect to all his com-
"mandments," and not to admit of fome,
and refuse others, as we shall judge it rea-
fonable and expedient; or, which is ge-
nerally the fame thing, as we shall find it
Such a conduct would
convenient to us.

not be excufed by any earthly fovereign, master, or parent; nor can it be expected to be fo by the fupreme Lord and judge of all.

The apostle James argues this cafe more particularly, James ii. 10.

"Whofoever

yet offend "fhall keep the whole law, and "in one point, he is guilty of all. For he "that faid, Do not commit adultery; faid

alfo, Do not kill. Now if thou commit

no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art "become a tranfgreffor of the law."

We are by no means, however, to infer from this, that all crimes and neglects are

equal,

equal, and will be punished with equal fe→ verity; for it is the doctrine of the scriptures, as well as of reafon, that there is a difference in offences, and fome are spoken of with much more indignation than others; in the fame manner, as more stress is laid upon fome virtues than others. Undoubtedly, therefore, a difference will be made between even wilful offences of any kind, and univerfal profligacy of character and conduct. If a state of perfectly exact retribution be naturally impoffible, we may, however, conclude, that in the future life there will be a near approach to it; and that the proper reward of chriftians will be af figned to thofe only who fincerely endeavour to do the whole will of God, without dif tinction or referve.

For the fame reafon, no bounds are fet to our attainments in virtue, but we are required to aim at the highest degrees of perfection, to cleanfe ourfelves from all "filthinefs of flesh and spirit, and to per"fect holiness in the fear of God;" 2 Cor. vii. 1. "to ftand perfect and complete in

" all