farewell to sublunary vanities, to endure no longer an unprofitable vexation of spirit; but with pure heart and steady faith to "fear God and to keep his commandments;" and remember that "this is the whole of man."
SERMON XIII.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim.
iii. 5, first part.
When St. Paul, in the precepts given to Timothy for his instruction how to regulate and purify the conversation of the first Christians, directed him to take care that those men should be avoided, as dangerous and pestilent, who, having the form of godliness, denied the power; it is reasonable to believe, that he meant, in his direct and immediate intention, to awaken his caution against gross hypocrites; such as may easily be supposed to have appeared too often in the most early seminaries of Christianity; who made an appearance of righteousness subservient to worldly interest; and whose conversion, real or pretended, gave them an opportunity of preying upon artless simplicity, by claiming that kindness which the first believers showed to one another; and obtaining benefactions which they did not want, and eating bread for which they did not labour.
To impostors of this kind, the peculiar state of the first Christians would naturally expose them. As they were surrounded by enemies, they were glad to find, in any man, the appearance of a friend; as they were wearied with importunate contradiction, they were desirous of an interval of respite, by consorting with any one that professed the same opinions; and what was still more favourable to such impostors, when they had, by embracing an unpopular and persecuted religion, divested them-
