did of old of whom it was said, "this people draw near unto me with their lips while their heart is far from me." But how does St. Paul, that masterly writer on divine truth, speak of praying? Hear his words; "praying always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit." This is indeed having the life of God in the soul, whereby we live before him in our prayers. We cannot pray aright to the Lord, without the salt of the divine Spirit upon our hearts.

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7. This salt is necessary in reading the scriptures. O never look into your bibles without looking up to God. I admire the wisdom and piety of that excellent collect-let us get it by heart, and say it from the heart-which prays that we may "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" the scriptures written for our learning. We cannot do this without the salt in our souls.

8. I cannot go on enumerating these Christian graces and acts, whereby we prove that the salt of the covenant is sprinkled upon our hearts; but I give you another general idea. Christ is not only the salt in us but we have the honour, if his true disciples, to be the "salt of the earth." The Lord means by blessing us to make us a blessing to others. Fathers, look 3 Ep. vi, 18.

upon your rising offspring with a praying and a serious spirit; remember that your children will mark your parental conduct. O what grace and wisdom are required to make you exemplary heads of large families, to behave before them. as if God were present with you, and to walk in their sight as the priests of your own households! How needful is it that when you pray before them, you should feel the petitions you prefer, and live every moment as in the presence of the Lord, remembering that your morning sacrifice implies the consecration of the entire day to his glory.

We are not only, however, to be the salt of the earth in our domestic circles, by our management of our children and servants, but the world must see it in our daily conduct. They must see us uncorrupted by all the corruption which surrounds us. We must be preserved by the salt of the Spirit shed on us abundantly, and of which there is a full supply. Wherever Joseph was, there was a blessing; when in goal for a crime he never committed, the gaol was blessed for his sake; in Potiphar's house he was likewise a blessing; in Pharoah's court he was a blessing also. So God's real children are blessings wherever they appear.

Ten righteous would have saved Sodom; Laban's house was blessed while Jacob was there. O get this spiritual salt into your hearts, that wherever you go, a blessing may accompany you; that "whether you live you may live unto the Lord, or whether you die you may die unto the Lord, that living or dying ye may be the Lord's."

9. Once more. I apprehend that salt was often used in the sacrifices wanting lustre in their burning. When the fire began to be dim, the priest threw a handful of salt into the midst of the sacrifice, and it brightened. When you are growing dim, when the flame of grace burns dull within, look to the great High Priest to scatter the celestial salt upon the altar of your hearts, that you may blaze forth again.

I trust you have now become convinced that I have not taken a mere fanciful text, and I pray God that these truths may be made useful to your souls for Christ's sake. Amen.

SERMON IV.

THE APOSTLE PAUL BEFORE AND AFTER

CONVERSION.

PHIL. iii, 8, 9.

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him."

THOSE who are truly acquainted with their bibles, know that without a spiritual understanding, it is impossible to comprehend the fulness of the grace therein contained. The promise of God is, that all his children shall be taught of him: and the Psalmist prays, "open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy law." It is as easy to read without eyes, as to read the scriptures profitably, without the eyes of the understanding being opened by the power of the Holy Ghost.

1. The character of Paul ever stood well in some points of view; he was, for example, al

ways strictly conscientious; nay, I doubt not, that there was something of an honest intention working in him even when he persecuted, for he "did it ignorantly through unbelief." He knew not Jesus whom he was persecuting; but how he grieved over it afterwards; and how good and merciful was the God of love to bear with him so long a time. However, notwithstanding this, ignorance can never be generally admitted as a plea for doing wrong.

Nothing was so great a hindrance to Paul, as an unhappy fancy that he was more righteous than his neighbours. I desire strongly to insist upon the doctrine which teaches, that till the Spirit of truth comes to convince us of sin, we can never know its evil, nor comprehend the remedy provided for deliverance from it. O may that divine illumination be found in you and me, and then never shall we rest contented, till assured of our interest in the righteousness of Christ, and that we are living to his praise. When we are duly convinced of sin by God the Holy Ghost, there appears an amazing defectiveness even in the righteousness of the most righteous. Those who experience what regeneration creates upon the heart, and are filled with an earnest desire to "be holy" before