My brethren, you have professedly accepted the invitation of your Lord; you have entered into the guest-chamber; and if you be not already clothed with the spiritual apparel, provided by His grace and mercy, delay not an instant to apply for it: the King may come sooner than you expect; I pray that He come not, before you are ready to meet Him. And where is this garment to be found? Seek His Holy Spirit; search His Holy word: you will then not fail to find it, and He will dispose you to put it on. Repent and believe; love and obey: “cease to do evil, learn to do well;” thus “adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things.” And then you will finally be admitted to the heavenly feast; to the marriage supper of the Lamb; to the company of angels; in the courts of uncreated light—“for the glory of God doth lighten them, and the Lamb is the light thereof;” { 251a} “In whose presence is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” { 251b}
SERMON XIV. WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, BE FRUITFUL, AND INCREASING.
_That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing_, _being fruitful in every good work_, _and increasing in the know ledge of God_.
ONE of the great objects of St. Paul, in writing his epistles, appears to be considerably overlooked by the christian world at large: it was, to lead those churches and communities, in which the true foundation of Christianity had been laid, to build upon it a corresponding character and life. Certainly, a great portion of the epistles is occupied in the assertion and explanation of christian doctrine; and this, principally, with a view to remove certain errors and prejudices, which the members of some churches had entertained; and upon which they had requested the apostle’s decision. But well knowing how apt the human mind is to rest satisfied with speculative views and persuasions, he never omits to remind his converts, that much more was necessary than the profession of a true faith; that in vain would their opinions be rectified, unless their heart was also changed; that though they had “all faith and all knowledge,” it would “profit them nothing,” unless the graces and virtues of their holy religion were signally manifest in their lives.