ced age. And his labors were not for that age only. His two epistles are preserved in the sacred canon for the instruction of all generations.

The death of this ardent apostle was worthy of the life, which he had spent in zealous and ceaseless efforts, to spread the gospel. He sealed it with his blood, and received the crown of martyrdom, as his Master had predicted to him. According to the best accounts he was crucified at Rome, under the reign of Nero, and about the same time with his fellow apostle, St. Paul.

Thus have I given you an imperfect sketch of the life of Peter; interweaving brief remarks to render his example profitable. In most respects, it is in a high degree edifying and animating, and in others it is a most solemn warning to the best and the highest, "lest, while they think they stand, they should also fall." There is a proneness in inconsiderate men, to gaze intensely and with satisfaction on the falls of good men, and to proclaim the blots on their escutcheon. It seems to render the painful distance between them less, to reduce good and bad, great and little, somewhat nearer to a level. By some such men, Peter is almost classed with the traitor Judas. Our blessed Lord did not. so estimate the affectionate, sincere, and ardent Peter; and so must not we estimate him. He rebuked his faults, but still cherished him as one of the first, if not the very first of the twelve; and honored him as the most conspicuous instrument of pleading his cause, honored him in its first dreadful struggles with Jewish prejudice and malignity. Did he fall shamefully? I

defend not the faults of good men; but be it remembered, he repented immediately, and continually, and to the last moments of his devoted life. Did he betray pusillanimous weakness? he exhibited ever after, fearless courage in the cause of his Master, in the face of all the powers of the world arrayed against him.— Was he often forward, presumptuous, and rash? Let not the careless and indolent censure him for this, nor for a moment imagine, that their caution and inactivity are more pleasing to God, than the honest warmth of those, who, like Peter, may occasionally over-act their part. The latter may be often, but the former, if destitute of love and zeal, are never right.

Finally, when we consider the zeal, and fortitude, the labors and sufferings of Peter, and of all the noble army of martyrs, who counted not their lives dear to them for the gospel, let us cherish the same energetic faith, and adhere, in every trial, to the same divine principles. But we shall falter and fall, except we watch and pray, and lean continually on that gracious support, which finally carried them through. They have entered into glory, and are interested spectators of our conflict. "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnessess, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author, and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

SERMON XV.

FRUITS OF RENOVATION.

ROMANS xii. 2,

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

It cannot have escaped the attentive reader of the apostolic epistles, that matters of doctrine and argumentative discussion, and sometimes of local interest, occupy the first part and body of the epistle; and that the sacred writer reserves the conclusion, to be filled with an earnest statement of christian duties, with close appeals to the conscience, and hortatory addresses to different classes and descriptions of his readers, the end of which is to make them "holy in all manner of conversation and godliness." The four last chapters of the epistle to the Romans are thus occupied. In the first part of this epistle, as Peter observes, "there are things

hard to be understood;" subjects, which the profound minds of Newton, Locke, and Taylor, have been scarcely able to fathom; yet the ample and practical conclusion of the whole, in the chapters just mentioned, is level to the humblest minds, and obvious to the understandings of children. Many are bewildered and lost in the mazes of the apostle's argumentation; but his improvement is a highway, "the way of holiness," and so plain, that "wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."

The gospel, as the beginning of our text intimates, is a comprehensive system of duty, differing widely from the maxims of the world. Therefore, Paul exhorts the Romans, "Be not conformed to the world." Yet Christians must not rest in sentiments and opinions, but carry them out into acts and habits; as he proceeds to exhort" be ye transformed, by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Let there be a true renovation of the understanding, to discern the perfect will of God, and of the heart, that it may incline to be conformed to it, and of the life, that it may be distinguished by those virtues and habits, which constitute actual conformity to the divine will. This seems the import of the text. And in a variety of directions given in verses following the text, his meaning is more fully explained. It is my intention, in this discourse, to advert to the principle of these doctrines; they show something of what renovation is, when carried out into

the life; what the fountain, when seen in its pure and cheering streams. And,

I. He who complies with the apostle's directions, "abhors that which is evil, and cleaves to that which is good."

He

This is a general account of the Christian's mind and conduct. He cherishes an utter aversion to every kind and degree of moral evil, or sin. He does not allow his mind to hesitate in a moment of temptation, as if there could be any excepted case. He studies to have an enlightened view of good and evil, and his approbation or indignant feeling is excited at once. does not hesitate, and balance, and waver: he abhors that which is evil; and no momentary impulse from the passions or appetites, or from the world, is permitted to allure him into conduct, inconsistent with this cherished sentiment within: he resolutely "cleaves to that which is good." There can be nothing more important to a human being than this enlightened and decided state of mind. It breaks the force of temptation at its onset ; it discourages tempters in human form, and awes them to a distance by this repulsive dignity, and firmness of principle. Indeed, it is an attitude, in which the thought of evil will scarcely suggest itself to the heart. It finds you habitually prepared for resistance, and flees from you. Uniformly "abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good."

You may here be ready to imagine, that this stern and unshaken decision and adherence to virtue may produce pride, and a looking down upon others with