CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII. LXXXVII. On Temptation; 1 Corinthians x. 13 XCI. A Call to Backsliders; Psalm 1xxvii. 7, 8 XCII The Danger of Riches; 1 Timothy vi. 9 XCIII. On Dress; 1 Peter iii. 3, 4 XCIV. The more excellent Way; 1 Cor. xii. 31 XCV. An Israelite indeed; Jen i. 47 XCVI. On Charity; 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2, 3 21 27 38 74 83 C. On the Education of Children; Proverbs xxii. 6. 122 CI. On Obedience to Parents; Col. iii. 20 CII. On Obedience to Pastors; Hebrews xiii. 17 CIII. On Visiting the Sick; Matthew xxv. 36 CVII. Of Former Times; Ecclesiastes vii. 10 CVIII. On, What is Man? Psalm viii. 3, 4 CIX. On attending the Church Service; 1 Sam. ii. 17 CXV. On the Discoveries of Faith; Heb. xi. 1 CXVI. The Difference of Walking by Sight, and Walking by Faith; 2 Cor. v. 7 CXX. On a Single Eye; Matthew vi. 22, 23 CXXI. On Worldly Folly; Matthew xii. 20 CXXII. On the Wedding Garment; Matt. xxii. 12 CXXV. On the Deceitfulness of the Human Heart; Jere- CXXVI. The Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels; 2 Co- . 285 292 300 . 307 CXXVII. On living without God; Eph. ii. 12 CXXVIII. The Danger of increasing Riches; Psalm lxii. 10 CXXIX. True Christianity Defended; Isaiah i. 21 CXXXI. On Corrupting the Word of God; 2 Cor. ii. 17 CXXXII. On the Resurrection of the Dead; 1 Cor. xv. 35 CXXXIII. On Grieving the Holy Spirit; Ephesians iv. 30 CXXXIV. On Love; 1 Corinthians xiii. 3 CXXXV. On Public Diversions; Amos iii, 6 CXXXVI. On the Holy Spirit; 2 Cor. iii. 17 SERMON LXXXVI. IN WHAT SENSE WE ARE TO LEAVE THE WORLD. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, "And I will be to you a Father, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD ALMIGHTY."-2 CORINTHIANS Vi. 17, 18. 1. HOW exceedingly few, in the religious world, have duly considered these solemn words! We have read them over and over, but never laid them to heart, or observed that they contain as plain and express a command as any in the whole Bible. And it is to be feared, there are still fewer that understand the genuine meaning of this direction. Numberless persons in England have interpreted it as a command to come out of the Established Church. And in the same sense it has been understood by thousands in the neighbouring kingdoms. Abundance of sermons have been preached, and of books written upon this supposition. And indeed many pious men have grounded their separation from the church chiefly on this text. "God himself," say they, "commands us, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate.' And it is only upon this condition that he will receive us, and we shall be the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty." 2. But this interpretation is totally foreign to the design of the Apostle, who is not here speaking of this or that church, but on quite another subject. Neither did the Apostle himself, nor any of his brethren, draw any such inference from the words. Had they done so, it would have been a flat contradiction, both to the example and precept of their Master. For although the Jewish Church was then full as unclean, as unholy, both inwardly and outwardly, as any Christian church now upon earth, yet our Lord constantly attended the service of it. And he directed his followers in this, as in every other respect, to tread in his steps. This is clearly implied in that remarkable passage, "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses" seat all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do but do not ye after their works; for they say and do not." Matt. xxiii. 1. Even though they themselves say and do not, though their lives contradict their doctrines, though they were ungodly men, yet our Lord here not only permits, but requires his disciples to hear them. For he requires them to "observe and do what they say:" VOL. 7.-B |