Not that such motives or maxims or feelings are to be despised or disregarded; not that any just or lawful consideration, however trivial, should be overlooked, which may be instrumental, in any degree, to preserve us from evil. Far is it from being the design of the gospel, to supersede the dictates and rules of reason; the workings of conscience; or the influence of natural affection, of hope and joy and gratitude and love; the gospel purifies all these motives, and guides them aright, and directs the exercise of them into the proper channel. But even the best of them, with the sincere Christian, are as nothing when compared with his religious principle, with the faith and fear and love of God: when tempted to sin, he thinks of that Holy Being, with whom he has entered into covenant; of that gracious Redeemer, who hath endured so much for his sake, who hath brought him into the way of salvation, by whose favour he is enjoying “the life that now is, and the promise of that which is to come;” he thinks of the Holy Spirit, “by whom he has been regenerated and made a child of grace;” he would not quench that sacred flame and energy, by which his corrupt nature has been enlightened and purified; from which “all good desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed;” by which his soul is animated with the inspiring hope of beholding his God face to face, in perfect righteousness and everlasting glory. He loves to please, he cannot bear the thought of offending, the Lord of majesty and mercy; and looks to Him for strength in the hour of trial. The constant habit of thus lifting up, in the spirit of prayer, the thoughts and affections to God; the full and abiding persuasion of His manifold mercies to the faithful, of His terrible judgments to be executed upon the disobedient and the impenitent sinner, will always be found the surest, the only sure, preservative from sin. And how can that man, who believes, with all his heart and soul, in the glorious revelation of the Gospel; in the miseries which he may thereby escape, and the happiness which he may attain; in the means ordained for his accomplishment of these momentous purposes; how can he fail or cease to maintain a lively remembrance of the goodness and wisdom and power of God? Will he not “set the Lord alway before him;” and under the countenance and protection of his Saviour, and in the awful presence of his Judge, will he not feel himself powerfully actuated to restrain and resist every guilty inclination, and to decline from the danger and dishonour of every evil way? “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against” my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—the Almighty God, whose I am, and whom I serve?