in the Day of Judgment., i 8 5 felves greatly to blame ; for it is a natural S'E R M. and reafonable expectation concerning them, VIII. that they (hall become more perfect in love both to God and their brethren, more vigorous in the practice of every virtue, better efla- blifh'd againft temptations, more fledfaft and complete in all the will of God. It is the genius, the very nature of true religion, that 'tis always tending to growth, juft like the natural life to which it is frequently com- pared in fcripture; for as an animal, from the commencement of its life, gradually ad- vances towards the ftandard of perfection which belongs to its kind, fo new born babes in Chrift are by the milk appointed for their nourifhment, that is the dohlrine of the gofpel, ftill growing in virtue; and every perfect chriflian will find his own genuine temper defcribed in the account St. Paul gives of himfelf, Phil. iii. i a. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfeëí, but, I follow after that I may ap- prehend that for which I am apprehended of Chr0 Jefus. Brethren, I count not myfelf to have apprehended, but this one thing I do fòrgetting th fè which are behind, and reach- ing forth to thofè things which are befòre, I pref
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