these solemn and interesting truths would so touch your hearts as to arouse you from your security, and make you sensible of your danger, with pleasure would I point you to an all-sufficient Saviour who is able, even in this extremity of your case, to deliver you from going down into the pit; who can pierce the most secure and dead conscience, and soften the most obdurate heart, who can change and sanctify the most unclean spirit, and pluck the most atrocious offender, as a brand from the burning. Possibly, the repetition of these offers of pardon and salvation, which have been so often rejected and contemned, may only tempt you still more lightly to esteem them; yet, although you should again trample them under your feet, I call God, and your own souls to witness this day, that salvation has been once more within your offer.

SERMON VII.

THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Matt. v. 14.

Ye are the light of the world: A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

BY ROBERT FINLEY, A. M.

Pastor of the Presbyterian Congregation of Baskingridge.

NEW-JERSEY PREACHER.

SERMON VII.

Matthew v. 14.-Ye are the light of the world: A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

To man in paradise, all things were full of light. His eye was single, his understanding clear, and the divine image was bright upon his soul. This was sufficient for his direction in his passage through the world, and if this were not sufficient, the light of the descending divinity was daily displayed before him. Happy for him if with such helps he had continued his journey to the heavenly land. But when he sinned his situation was greatly changed. He stumbled and fell upon the very brink of everlasting darkness. But as God had ordained, not entirely to cast away a sinful race, it was necessary that our first parent should be supplied with a little light. What was given him was large enough to keep him from despair; and yet so small as to be expressive of the divine displeasure. He no more enjoyed the perfect assurance of the love of God which he once possessed; nor did he see the heavens continually open to him as before: but was left to follow the twinkling ray of an obscure promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. Instead of the quickening splendor of the present divinity, the mission of angels and their ministry made up the light of unhappy man. In this manner the father of lights communicated himself in the days of the patriarchs. In the midst

of night only a star appeared and that but rarely. As the designs of mercy were opened up, the Lord gave a clearer light coming down himself on mount Sinai; but not in such a manner as he appeared in the happy garden. There in the mildest and most condescending manner he unveiled his glory. But on Sinai he shrouded his awful light in darkness, making the cloud his chariot and the thick cloud his pavilion. In process of time a clearer light shone forth, and the Baptist preached repentance for the remission of sins. Afterwards, the sun of righteousness arose with healing in his wings, and happy they who walked in his light. Yet it was but a short period that the sun of righteousness continued to shine on earth. He made a few revolutions and then removed to shine in brighter worlds, and display his beams amidst the glory of everlasting day. Before his removal he had enlightened a portion of our race, and restored the lost image of God to their souls. Having done this he departed, leaving them by their light to lighten the world, till time shall be no more. Ye, said he, are the light of the world; let your light shine before men. The collective body of christians is by Christ's appointment designed to illuminate mankind. Their lives are ordained as the medium through which, in general, men will see religion and judge of it as true or false; the way-marks by which they will learn the road to heaven, or for want of which they will err from the way of righteousness and perish in their error. In a situation attended with so much importance and accountability, it becomes the followers of Christ to present the brightest points of their christian character before the world, and at the best advantage, lest their light be found as darkness. Our subjeet naturally leads us to consider,