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"I," says one, "will cheerfully

part with my idols of silver; but I "shall keep my little idol of gold "in the sanctuary which I have "chosen."66 And for my share," says another, "I care not for my golden images, but I have a certain idol

of silver, which I would not part "with for the world. That I must at "all events retain."

Can we imagine that such a partial obedience as this would have obtained the promise? Let us then make the application to ourselves.

By our Saviour a promise is given, which, though in its nature spiritual, is made in terms no less explicit than that published by Moses. In order to obtain it, we are to put away every object, the love of which is incompatible with the supreme love due to God, and inconsistent with that unqualified benevolence which

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is due to our fellow-creatures. stead of the idols of gold and of silver, we are commanded by the Son of God to destroy the power of each selfish, sensual, or vindictive passion, which has obtained an ascendancy in our breasts. We are not only to destroy them, but to cultivate the affections that are most opposite to them; endeavouring to follow in all things the perfect example of our blessed Lord.

No one can study the Gospel, and say, that we have there any authority for hoping that less than this will in anywise entitle us to the reward. Though, in mercy to our infirmities, our sincere endeavours are, through the merits of Jesus Christ, accepted, in lieu of that perfect obedience of which he was the pattern, we have not the slightest reason to put any confidence in endeavours that

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are only partial. We must, in all things, aim to "be perfect, even as "he is perfect."

Conscious as we are of our own weakness, this seems to us a hard saying, and we are willing to fly to any subterfuge by which we can elude its strictness. Let us, however, not give way to despair. God does not require above what we are able to perform; nor does he leave us without assistance. As he spake by his servant Moses, so he still speaks to those who have turned their faces to go towards the promised land. "Be "strong, and of a good courage; fear "not, nor be afraid, for the LORD

thy God it is he that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee nor for"sake thee."

The nature of that assistance which is afforded by the institutions of the Gospel,

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Gospel, shall form the subject of my next epistle. My strength and spirits are at present too much exhausted to proceed.

Feb. 18, 1806.

Adien!

LETTER VIII.

HAVE no doubt that you, my dear and amiable pupil, will find the part of the subject upon which we are now about to enter extremely interesting. It indeed comes home to every heart; since we may assure ourselves, that the assistance which God has offered will, if accepted, prove effectual in promoting our eternal happiness, and that it cannot be rejected without endangering our own souls.

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