I have embraced the present opportunity of enlarging on this point, with a view of awakening your attention to, and inducing you to study and treasure up, the various scriptural rules for holy living: I have done this, because many suppose, that the fixing of a good principle—of faith, for instance,—is all that is requisite; if it were so, why should so many rules have been given in that holy book, in which there can be nothing unnecessary or superfluous? God, who knows the heart and all the ways of man, knew how wise and needful it was, to deliver express admonitions and exhortations to each individual duty; that our faith might not be vague and unprofitable, but abounding in fruit, in the fruit of holiness unto everlasting life. But it is time now to turn to the text, which furnishes us with one of the most important cautions for our safe and christian government. It might be thought, that every true believer in that blessed Redeemer, who came “to cleanse him from all unrighteousness,” would have such a horror of sin, as effectually to secure him from its dominion; as to prevent us from the necessity of admonishing him against its fascination and its power; but such unhappily is far from being the case. Many, who make a considerable profession of the gospel, are betrayed into grievous inconsistencies; many, who set out with promising hopes and good resolutions, are led astray and overcome; many, for want of attending to the warning given in the text, for want of narrowly watching the beginnings of evil. Feeling a sincere and decided abhorrence of the grosser sins, they expose themselves without fear to slighter temptations; should they be, in some small matter, inveigled and led into the path of error, it is expected that they shall instantly perceive their danger; that they shall repent and be forgiven, and be more guarded and resolute for the time to come.