say with the youthful Samuel," Speak, Lord; for thy "servant heareth."

3dly. Enter cheerfully upon the performance of the duties which the Gospel of Jesus, the Son of God, has prescribed. They are so worthy of God, so conducive to the true honour and felicity of man, that in the keeping of them there is great reward. Setting aside the future joys of heaven, there is even now attendant on the performance of our Christian duty, a delightful consciousness that we are acting agreeably to our rank and station among intelligent beings. The more diligently we yield obedience to the precepts, the more thoroughly shall we be convinced of the truth of the doctrines: If any man, says our Lord, will do his will, he shall "know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."

Ye, whose hearts are established in this faith, are to be congratulated on your happy condition. Walk worthy of your holy profession; and let faith have its perfect work in bringing forth all the fruits of a virtuous and godly life. Under the influence of this heavenly principle, let it be evident that you have obtained the victory over the world. Let not the pomps and vanities, the gaudy shows, the debasing pleasures of this corrupted world, divert your thoughts and affections from the great concerns of futurity. Let not the distresses which you are doomed to encounter in this scene of trial, diminish your trust in the wisdom and goodness of Providence: say not, "I have cleansed my heart in "vain, and washed my hands in innocency." Rather remember the "years of the right hand of the Most "Highest;" and let faith be your support and consolation: "let it be unto you, the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."

Let the awful objects of the eternal world, which can be contemplated only by the eye of faith, induce you to walk humbly before God. Consider the misery that may be endured, or the felicity that is to be obtained; and surely, you will take every step with holy reverence; you will work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This is the disposition which most becomes depraved and erring mortals. The meek and lowly heart is prepared for fresh communications of grace and heavenly benediction: this is the soil which is rendered most fruitful by the streams of lovingkindness, that are ever flowing from the great source of life and joy. The unaspiring valley is refreshed, while the lofty and rugged mountain remains barren and dry.

It is this divine faith which leads the Christian to the merits of his Redeemer for acceptance in the sight of God: "Of him," says the apostle to some of the primitive Christians, "are ye in Christ Jesus, who of "God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, "and sanctification, and redemption: that according "as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the "Lord." Blessed condition of the true believer! By a sense of divine justice kept from presumption, and by mercy kept from despair, his course of virtue and piety is easy and uniform. The worst state of this mortal life is not void of consolation, and even the last stage of it is stripped of its terrors: For why should the soul of that man be cast down and disquieted within him, who is kept by the power of God through faith

unto salvation? Let the unrighteous infidel then, be

persuaded to become wise; let him see the things which belong to his peace; and he will at once acknowVOL. II.

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ledge, that in the way of religious wisdom is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. And,

Let these considerations encourage humble believers to persevere in the good way which they have chosen: in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, let them not be ashamed of Christ and of his words; but rather endeavour the more strenuously to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. A vain and wicked world may sometimes employ ridicule, and sometimes scoffs and insults, to divert them from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel; but let them not be moved by any of these things. Ignorant and impious men may reject their principles, and deride their conduct; but God approves, and his approbation will last for ever; it is the only sure foundation of present peace and future felicity. If the love of praise be natural to the human mind, why should we seek honour one of another, and entirely disregard that which cometh from God alone? Why should we love the praise of fallible and prejudiced men, more than that of God, who, on all occasions, is guided by unerring truth? They whom he commends, must be really estimable: he will protect those whom he loves: he will guide them by his wisdom, and in due time receive them into his glory. Then, before an assembled universe of intelligent beings, religious wisdom will be justified of all her children, as she will procure for them the final approbation of their Judge, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you."

SERMON VII.

The persuasive Calls of God to Man.

REVELATION iii. 20.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

ST. John, the author of this book, survived all the other apostles; and the Revelation, which was made by Jesus Christ to this faithful and beloved servant, concludes the canon of sacred Scripture. He is directed to write to the angels or bishops of the seven principal churches in the lesser Asia; and to give them advice, commendation, or correction, as their respective circumstances required. The last of these Epistles is written "unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans," who is reproved for his lukewarmness, and for his pride and self-sufficiency in supposing that he was rich, and had need of nothing; when, in reality, he was wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked. In this deplorable condition, he is counselled by our Lord, (who styles himself the true and faithful witness) to seek more ardently a pure and permanent treasure ;

Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be "rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed." He is threatened with deserved chastisement for his former omissions; but, at the same time, is assured, that the rod of punishment, in the hand of God, is guided by affection" As many as I love I rebuke and chas"ten; be zealous, therefore, and repent;" that the benevolent intentions of our Lord are not defeated by the first ungrateful opposition; and that the methods which are pursued to reclaim an offending mortal, are various and long continued: "Behold, I stand at the "door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and "open the door, I will come in to him, and will "with him, and he with me."

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From these words, thus introduced, we may observe, in the first place, that although our benevolent Lord is offended with the transgressions of men, yet he does not immediately give them up to the error of their ways, but employs all the means which are suited to the nature of free and rational creatures, to reclaim them, to render them obedient, and consequently happy. He solicits their attention, by his works, his word, the influences of his Holy Spirit, and the dispensations of his providence.

From the creation of the world, the invisible things of the great Creator, even his eternal power and godhead, might have been clearly seen. So that when men became vain in their imaginations; when their foolish heart was so darkened, that they changed the truth of God into a lie, and served the creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever; they were altogether without excuse. He might, in just judgment, have given them over entirely to a reprobate mind, and not