upon, and leading, up a steep ascent, to a small wicket gate.

In thus pointing out the difficulties and opposition in their virtuous course which his followers would meet with, our Lord may be supposed to have had an eye and primary regard to those heavy persecutions to which they would be exposed from unbelieving Jews and heathens, in the first ages of our holy religion; when no man could make open profession of it, without drawing upon himself contempt, hatred, and the most injurious usage; when the sincere Christian's way through this world literally lay through dreary deserts, through perils by sea and by land, and continual distresses, and he could seldom rest his weary limbs but in prisons and dungeons, the only houses of shelter allotted him on his road to heaven.

The same cruel scenes were acted over again by Christians in persecuting one another, when they became possessed of the civil power, and which have continued from that time to the present hour, though in different degrees in different countries, and we hope are now wearing out in all, when, not content to let men follow their own consciences (which are

men's

men's only guide in the worship of their Maker), they insisted on their conforming to what was established by the greater number, right or wrong, whether they approved it or no; and even amongst us protestants, no longer ago than in the seventeenth century, our jails were seldom empty of innocent sufferers for conscience sake, for choosing like our Lord's apostles to obey God rather than

men.

In such times of dangerous trial many would be deterred from inquiring into and embracing the truth; and others tempted and drawn aside from their steadfastness and integrity. There would be those, also, who would prefer a good conscience and the favour of God before all the blandishments of this world, and thereby, in the prophet's language, many would be made white and purified. (Dan. xii. 10.)

Our inquiry then is, wherein consists this strait gate and narrow way that leadeth to life, in the present course of things, when there is no demand for such severe tests of men's faith and integrity as the first Christians and many of our forefathers were called to.

If we take the opinion and practice of the

world

world for our guide in this inquiry, it would lead us to conclude that our Saviour's observation is quite superseded, that the narrow and difficult way that led to the life eternal is become smooth and agreeable. For, in the common acceptation, it is the easiest thing that can be thought of, to be a Christian.

If persons have been sprinkled with water in their infancy, though they have never afterwards acquainted themselves with the grounds and principles of that religion into which they have been baptized and initiated: if they sometimes attend the place of public worship, and are not quite infamous and scandalous in their life and conversation: though they stick at no customary ways of dishonest gain; though they waste their precious invaluable time and lavish their fortunes, lent them for far other purposes, according to their habits and condition in life, in vanity and dissipation, in the full indulgence of their appetites, or in quest of ambition and lawless power, without any inward principle of regard to God in any of their actions, or regard to any thing but their own selfish gratifications; they shall nevertheless pass for good Christians, and, by the help of a few

pious words said over them or by them at the last, obtain an easy passport to heaven.

1

Your own experience and observation will satisfy you, if such are not the generality of those called Christians; and it becomes you seriously to reflect how far you yourselves are of the number. The worst symptom that belongs to such is, that they are quite content with themselves and think all is right, though they differ in nothing but in name from those who are most worldly and who look for no other life beyond the present. And hence the Gospel profession is fallen into that low ebb and repute in which we now behold it.

But the Scriptures will teach us another lesson, if we have but the courage and honesty to look into them for ourselves. There we learn that the religion of Christ is not a matter of external decency and ceremony, of which we are to wear the appearance at some times and not at others: but that its root is an inward principle of regard to God, springing from a sense of his adorable character and benignity towards us, and designs for our everlasting happiness; influencing our whole conduct, and producing a daily growth in piety and goodness.

The

The doctrine and the example of the holy Jesus further instruct us, that we are brought into this world, not to take our pastime therein, and indulge our several passions, but that we are placed here for a short time, by way of trial and preparation for a more durable and perfect state, as children are put under tuition to inure and teach them how to behave and act when they grow up to man's estate that our chief business, to which every thing else is to be subordinate, is to watch over and subdue our irregular desires and appetites, to acquire habits of piety, virtue, and self-government, and to lay a firm foundation of those holy and heavenly dispositions of love to God supreme, and to man, without which no one can relish or enjoy the society of the blessed spirits made perfect in heaven.

We are frequently, in various ways, reminded, though so few lay it to heart, that we are strangers and pilgrims here, travelling home to a better and heavenly country to which we belong, and on which we are to have our eyes often fixed and be making provision for it-that we are soldiers engaged in a difficult warfare with various

powerful