SERMON IV.

THE PROMISE OF PERSEVERANCE.

PHILIPPIANS i. 6.

BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST.

SAINT Paul sometimes addresses Christians in language adapted to awaken their fear. "Be not high-minded, but fear: and let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Such exhortations as these are suited not only to the whole visible church, which includes all who profess our holy religion, and in which true believers and merely nominal professors are so blended, that they can only be separated by Christ himself, the great head of the church; but they were also highly suitable as means by which the work of religion is carried on in the hearts of real Christians, in order to their growth in grace, and to their final perseverance in godliness. But as the sacred writers use such advices as these to awaken fear, they also make use of others to excite hope. "Be fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope. Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end." And again, "Hold fast the

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confidence and the rejoicing of hope unto the end." Where there is evidence of the possession of true religion, the working of the Spirit, mortifying the works of the flesh, and drawing up the mind to high and heavenly things, there is good reason to entertain an earnest belief, that the work of grace thus begun will terminate in the possession of everlasting glory. Hope which maketh not ashamed," may be exercised as far as we have evidence of being the subjects of real religion: and, blessed be God, there is such a thing as real religion, a religion which is excellent in its nature, which has God for its Author and Finisher, and glory for its end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. Of this truth the inspired apostle St. Paul was fully convinced; and under this conviction, he thanked God for the Christian converts at Philippi, respecting the sincerity and reality of whose religion he cherished a strong confidence; and, under this impression, he entertained no doubt of their perseverance in grace, or of their final possession of that glory with which grace will be consummated. Hence in addressing his beloved Philippians, he says, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always, in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." From the latter part of this citation, selected as a text for the discourse, I shall make five observations founded

on it, with respect to the nature, author, finisher,
and end of true religion and while I endeavour to
explain the words I have selected for our consider-
ation, an opportunity will be afforded of a practical
and experimental illustration of the consolatory doc-
trine they convey. I observe,

I. Religion is a good work.
II. It is an internal principle.
III. The Holy Spirit is its author.
IV. He who begins will finish it.

V. That he will do so is a subject of confidence.
I. The text leads to the observation that religion
is a good work.

Religion may be defined as a good work, because it is wrought in us by some agency; or, in other words, because some agent produces, or works it within us. But as this will more particularly appear under another observation founded on the text, I shall view it here merely as a good work. Elsewhere in the scripture, it is called a "good thing;' and our blessed Lord styles it "that good part which shall not be taken away." True religion is indeed a substantial good. But what ideas shall we affix to the epithet "good" in this connexion? May it not be asserted, that it implies what is beneficial, useful, and durable?

Let us take a view of the beauty of religion in its effects. If you observe the changes which are sometimes made in man by the power of godliness, what can give you a more striking picture of moral beauty? Religion has often made the haughty and

inspire you with faith, and hope, and joy. It will be your solace through life :-it will be your support in death.

To the beauty and utility of religion, may be added another infinitely important property, its durability, which will extend not only to the termination of the present life of its possessor, but through the ages of eternity. If, my brethren, you possess true religion as the effect of your regeneration, you will possess it for ever. it for ever. In this sense, our Lord calls it "that good part which shall not be taken away." It is also called 66 life," "everlasting life," "an exceeding and eternal weight of glory," "a crown of glory that fadeth not away."-Is not religion, then, a good work? And when you view its durability, have you not a virtual proof of the perseverance of the saints? For, if those who possess true religion, or godliness, possess a portion which shall not be taken away, then, doubtless, the doctrine of the perseverance and final salvation of every true believer, is clearly demonstrated. If you have obtained "precious faith, through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ," if you are a subject of godliness, or of any other grace essential to true religion, this is the effect of your regeneration, and your regeneration is an evidence of "election of God:" and thus, your religion is your traced up to its immutable source. And, as believers in the word of God, and in the articles, founded on it, of that church of which you profess yourselves the members, you know that all the elect