that we may be truly humbled before him now, to be eternally exalted by him hereafter !

Learn a few lessons.

1. The necessity of an atonement. It was absolutely necessary God should have an atonement. It would have been eternally inconsistent with the perfections of God, to have had mercy on any individual without an atonement. All the Divine perfections are satisfied by the obedience unto death of Messiah.

2. See in all these things a righteousness for man, and in that righteousness every other blessing. A righteousness to justify, would have been no blessing, had it not been connected, by God himself, with all man stands in need of.

3. Connect, with the altar, and with the officiating high-priest, as types of Christ, (the means provided by God himself for making man spotless,) this delightful idea, that it will keep him spotless for ever. It does so, in an interesting sense, and in an eminent degree, while the believer is a pilgrim here on earth. The conscience may be thoroughly purged on this side

eternity; and when this is the case man is provided with a mighty principle of action, inspired by the energy of God himself. The conscience being thus purged by the blood of Jesus from dead works to serve the living God,' the believer is in full hope of heaven, having a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man.

This glorious truth was intended by God to be the citadel of humanity, while here belowthe perfections of Deity are the soldiers which garrison it it will be preserved safe from the incursions of every enemy, and the believer is conscious of it.

4. A conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God, necessarily involves in it a consciousness of a state of salvation; and-eternal triumph-we cannot separate one from the other.

5. In the provisions of the Almighty we find likewise strength imparted. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, in consequence of the triumph of Christ. He promised the Holy Spirit not only

'Heb: ix. 14.

as his Father's gift, but as his own—it was to be sent by him and his Father: and this is sufficient to enable us to triumph in, and over, all our weaknesses.

To conclude,

6. All these things enter into a life of faith. A life of faith comprises God himself in all his perfections—in all his provisions; and man, with all his sins, with all his wants and necessities. The believer's eye when fully opened to see God in all his glory-Messiah in all his mediatorial glory—and man in all his sinfulness, perceives that in Christ Jesus the path is as straight and as short as an arrow-he has only to step out of himself, to be embosomed in all the perfections of God for ever. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin:" the believer simply and fully receives this truth-triumphs over all enemies, internal and external, and runs the race of glory with new alacrity and increasing delight.

SERMON XIX.

PROVERBS Viii. 21.

"THAT I MAY CAUSE THOSE THAT LOVE ME TO INHERIT SUBSTANCE; AND I WILL FILL THEIR TREASURES."

WE owe every thing that is good to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we must be indebted to him for every blessing for ever and ever. We should endeavour to live in the habit of taking a comprehensive view of truth. We boast much, as Englishmen, of the excellency of our constitution. This comes from God. 66 me kings reign and princes decree justice.

By

By

me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges

of the earth." Every excellence in our civil constitution every thing valuable in our laws -the even hand of justice which prevails in our courts-all this we owe to the Lord Jesus Christ; and, let me add, they are among the countless blessings purchased for us by his obedience unto death.

"I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me." Yes, he loves all that love him, he has loved them when enemies; he certainly will love them now they are his friends. We may love a finite being and never find any return in his affections; but, it is impossible for any to love God without being first loved by him.

"Those that seek me early”—young men !— young women! seek the Lord; here is a promise for you. Young people present a minister with perhaps the most interesting spectacle— their youth,—their inexperience, the corrupt hearts they possess the world that is before them (and through which they must travel into

Verse 15.