AND DISCUSSIONS.

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has the power to penetrate the inmost recesses of the humanbreast, and to curb the inmost thoughts. Christianity makes thecontrol of the thoughts essential. External appearance is norecommendation, internal purity is every thing. And everyreflecting man must be convinced, that this is the only disciplinewhich can succeed. The law of the land is extremely defective,as a moral system, because, among other reasons, while it pro-hibits certain actions, it can impose no restraint on the thoughts.Wise legislators, in all ages, have been sensible of this defi-ciency in the reach of the law.* Without restraint, all the pas-sions soon become ungovernable, and their effects disastrous.“ Every moment of time,” says Haller, “ that is spent in medi-tations upon sin, increases the power of the dangerous objectwhich has possessed our imagination.” f This may suffice toillustrate the great moral feature of Christianity, which goes upto the sources of human conduct, and imposes a curb, where itwill be most effectual, on the thoughts, affections, passions,appetites, desires, and intentions.

(4.) In Christianity, mere profession is unvalued and disregard-ed, unless accompanied by practical morals and active virtue.“ Not every one (no one) that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shallenter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will ofmy Father who is in heaven.” | “I will have mercy and not(rather than) sacrifice.” § “Not the hearers of the law are justbefore God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” || “ Be

ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, andcontinueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer , but a doer ofthe word, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Again, “ Purereligion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, — tovisit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keephimself unspotted from the world.” 11

Any profession of Christianity which does not produce goodworks, as its natural fruit, is pronounced vain and hypocritical.In this way, Christian morals are inseparably incorporated with

* See above, pp. 30 - 32.

t Quoted by Dr. Paley, Evidences of Christianity, p. 232.

t Mat. vii. 21. § Mat. ix. 13. |j Rom. ii. 13. IT James i. 22 - 27.