sentence which our blessed Saviour spoke, on the same occasion, as his words stand in Saint Matthew. For, after he had said, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel," he added: "And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."*

We are among those, who are invited from the east and west, to sit down in the kingdom of heaven. Being received into the church by baptism, we are made partakers of its ordinances and privileges; we are become members of Christ; and through Him, the head of this mystical body, are entitled to look for a blessed resurrection, and inheritance among the saints in light, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away. How blessed are they, who shall inherit such a kingdom! But let us ever remember, that, although we have a promise, we have not yet possession of it; and that the children of the kingdom will be cast out, if they forget the covenant of their God. Let us, therefore, strive to attain to the high prize of

*St. Matth. viii. 11, 12.

our calling; and not lose it by our sloth and indifference about religion; nor exchange it for a few forbidden pleasures, which must render the mind of him who pursues them continually uneasy, unless he is in the most miserable of all states, hardened in sin. We think those foolish or mad, who spend the reversion of an earthly estate, before it comes to them. Yet such persons have still the hope left, of being able to maintain themselves by their future industry: and though the chance is against them, they may possibly succeed. But there is not even this desperate chance, if we forfeit our heavenly inheritance, by a vain and sinful conversation on earth. Nothing will remain for those, who are cast out into outer darkness, but weeping for follies past; gnashing of teeth for present misery; and despair of releasement from this house of woe! All which will befall the wicked, entirely through their own fault. For God willeth all men to be saved; and sent his Son into the world, that the world through him might be saved. And the Son of God, who died for our sins, is both able and desirous, to deliver us from the tyranny and dominion of them, by the aid of the Holy Spirit which he hath purchased for us. Though now we see him not, for his glorified body is at the right hand of the majesty

on high, he is present with us by his Divine Spirit. He will say to him, who implores his mercy and goodness with the humble devotion of the centurion, According to thy faith be it done unto thee: and his soul shall be healed.

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DISCOURSE XIII.

SAINT MATTHEW, vii. 1.

JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUdged.

To judge, may seem the privilege of our nature,

as we are reasonable creatures. The inferior animals, which are led by irresistible instinct, to fulfil the purposes of their creation, are not capable of judging; except perhaps in a few instances, that fall immediately under their senses. Man enjoys a higher and nobler faculty. His discernment, observation, and experience, enable him to judge, in a variety of cases, with a reach and compass of thought, what is true, what is useful, what is certain or probable; and, as a still greater and better endowment, he is able, to distinguish between virtue and vice, wisdom and folly, justice and injustice; and to see, that he hath an end to pursue, as a creature and servant of God, and member of human

society. But this faculty, the use of which is our privilege and our duty, in its proper sphere, hath its bounds and limits assigned it; which it cannot pass, without turning the gift of God into licentiousness: and here only, the Gospel, which is the law of liberty, restrains us. It forbids us to obtrude our judgment, where we have no proper power or right; or to exercise it in such a manner, as may be hurtful to ourselves, and injurious to others.

What those cases are, and what manner of judging is forbidden us, I shall now endeavour to set before you. The text contains,

1. A commandment; judge not:

2. An enforcement of the commandment; that ye be not judged.

I shall consider these two points, under distinct heads.

I. And, first, it is certain, that this precept of not judging, was not intended to debar the magistrate, or those who are legally called to assist him, from their right of an equitable judgment of the causes that come before them; nor to restrain witnesses from appearing at their bar, who would give a fair and conscientious evidence, for the conviction of offenders; as little is it intended, to forbid the master, the parent, the pastor, or neighbour, from making use of friendly

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