it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him." Such were to be the weapons of their warfare. As the Apostle says, "they were not carnal;" they were not such as human wisdom would have suggested; for what seeming connection could there be between the blowing of the trumpets by the priests, and the falling of the city-walls? Such weapons would appear to the carnal mind, and probably did appear to the inhabitants of Jericho, weak and foolish; but they were in fact "mighty through God." They were weapons which He had commanded Joshua to use, and which therefore He made effectual for pulling down Strong-holds." "For it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up to the City, every man straight before him, and they took the City." Such was the triumph of faith. It shewed that the battle was the Lord's; and that the means which He appoints will be prospered to the end for which He appoints them. The blowing of the trumpets by the Priests was a type and symbol

of the Preaching of the Gospel. As when the trumpets were sounded in obedience and faith, the walls of Jericho fell, so by the Preaching of the Word of God, accompanied with faith and prayer, the Strong-holds of sin are pulled down, "not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."

And now, my Brethren, you may see the Object which we, the ministers of Christ, wish to accomplish, and the Means by which we hope to accomplish it. We are anxious to be made instrumental in setting up the Kingdom of Christ in your hearts. We long that you may be partakers of all the righteousness, peace, and joy, of which that kingdom. consists. We would urge every one of you to become the devoted, and faithful subjects of Jesus Christ; because we know what satisfaction and delight, what support and consolation, you will then enjoy. We know that, having once cordially submitted to His authority, and experienced the security and freedom of His service, you will for ever renounce all other Lords and Masters, and will return no more to the servitude of Sin and Satan. But, my Brethren, we also know what difficulties stand in our way. We know that there are in your hearts many strongholds, behind which you entrench yourselves, and by means of which you resist the gracious

endeavours of Christ to bring you under His gentle dominion. When in His name we invite you to submit to Him, and to take upon you His easy yoke, we are aware of the many obstacles which Pride and Unbelief, which Covetousness, and Lust, which Prejudice and Worldly-mindedness, oppose to His progress in your Souls. We are aware how slow you are to believe His word, and how loth to part with those favourite opinions, and practices, which you have long indulged. These are the Strong-holds in your hearts. And what, then, is the Object of our ministry among you, but to pull them down: " to cast down ima ginations and every high thing which exalts itself within you against the Knowledge of God?" And what Means do we use for attaining this object, but those which the Word of God commands us to use, and which His Spirit we trust will bless. We endeavour to set before you Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We preach to you that Gospel for the remission of sins, which He commanded to be preached in all nations. We constantly and earnestly pray to Him, to bring it home. with power to your hearts. And we believe. that what He has promised, He is able also to perform; and that by the foolishness of preaching He will save them that believe. We are persuaded that strong as may be the Holds of Satan in your hearts, Christ is able

by this simple instrument, the Preaching of His Word, to pull them down, to overcome and cast out the strong man armed, and to take you unto Himself, to be a peculiar possession, a glorious inheritance. O! may He at this time gain some triumphs among us! May His Word go forth with demonstration, and prove itself this day to be "the Power of God unto Salvation!" May the light shine into your hearts, to give you the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! Even now, while these words are sounding in your ears, may His Spirit convince you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement! May it humble your pride, destroy your unbelief, overthrow your prejudices, expel lust and covetousness from your Soul, subdue within you the flesh and the world, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ! My Brethren, pray for yourselves: pray that these blessed effects may be wrought in you! Pray that you may experience the power of His Spirit in your heart; and thus may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Be persuaded that there is more reality and substance in Religion, more excellency, more happiness, more enjoyment in it, than you may have hitherto supposed. And remember that "the same Lord over all, is rich in mercy unto all that call upon Him."

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And you especially, who know the Lord, in whose hearts the Strong-holds have been pulled down; who have submitted to Christ, and find His service perfect freedom; do you especially pray that His kingdom may come, and be enlarged; that His Word may run, and be glorified; and that many hearts may be subdued before Him. May we all unite in praying that "the Lord will send the rod of His strength out of Zion, and rule in the midst of His enemies:" that He will make us a willing people in the day of His power; and cause us to worship Him in the beauty of holiness!