We shall also desire to be upheld in the path of righteousness. Knowing well our proneness to do wrong, we shall pray for the restraining influence of the Spirit of holiness; that by his quickening grace we may be freed from the dominion of unruly passions; "that all carnal affections may die in us, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in us:" that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus may make us free from the law of sin and death:"" that we may stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and not be again entangled with the yoke of bondage."" It will be our humble desire and constant endeavour to press forward in the way of duty; to " approve things that are excellent; that our love may abound more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment; that we may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." We shall pray to be upheld in rectitude of principle, in purity of life, in humble communion with heaven, and in the diligent practice of all good works.

We shall, moreover, pray unto God to uphold us with his free Spirit in the hour of danger, and at the approach of death. In this world we are surrounded with enemies, subtle, pown Gal. v. 1. • Phil. i. 10.

m Rom. viii. 2.

erful, and malignant; and in contending with these we need the counsel of the all-wise, and the arm of the all-powerful God; the consolations of his Spirit, and the help of his heavenly grace. If God should cast us away from his presence and take his Holy Spirit from us, we should quickly perish; but he has promised to uphold us, and he is faithful and true. If we cry unto him, he will endue us with much strength; he will clothe us in his whole complete armour; "he will teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight;" he will grant us a firm, bold, elevated, and princely mind, in passing through the dangers and temptations of the present world; for his servants "are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." The ungodly and profane, the slaves of sin, may despise and revile them, while in fact they "are kings and priests unto God the Father" through faith in his Son, and are upheld and comforted by his free Spirit. Their "glory is great in God's salvation" amidst all their trials in their journey through life, and they look forward in humble hope to that blessed inheritance which their Lord has prepared for them in the heavenly world.

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Ephes. vi. 11. 1 Pet. ii. 9. Rev. v. 10. Psal, xxi. 5.

We may pray to be thus upheld by the free Spirit of God while we "pass through the valley of the shadow of death." In that solemn hour we shall not wish to lean on any mortal arm, to trust to any uncertain guide, or to fetch our consolations from a a perishing world; but we shall desire Him to be with us who has passed triumphantly through the grave, who is risen again from the dead, and who is "become the first fruits of them that slept;"" that He may uphold us with his free Spirit, and keep us from sinking under grief or fear, "who upholds all things by the word of his power," who holds the keys of hell and of death, and who has graciously declared with respect to his people, "they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” If we have a right faith and a well grounded confidence in this Redeemer, we may humbly say, even at the approach of death, "Behold God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid : for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song, he also is become my salvation." is the ressurrection and the life; all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and he will swallow up death in victory. He will uphold our soul in life; he will rescue us from the dominion of the grave; and he will finally exalt us in body and soul to his heavenly kingdom. *Psa. xxiii, 4. "1 Cor. xv. 20. *Heb. i 3. John x. 28. 'Isa.xii. 2

He

SERMON V.

FREEDOM FROM GUILT A SOURCE OF

THANKSGIVING.

PSALM LI. 13, 14, 15.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

O Lord, open thou my lips and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

IN our last Discourse, on the words preceding the present text, we left the Royal Penitent in a more tranquil state of mind, praying for the joy of God's salvation, and desiring to be

upheld by his free and gracious Spirit. We observed how he proved the soundness of his repentance by entreating God to create in him a clean heart, and to renew a right, constant, stedfast spirit within him. On this ground we pointed out an essential difference between him and insincere penitents, who may be very earnest in seeking the forgiveness of their sins, and yet are not anxious to procure a renovation of their souls. In the passage which has been read to you for our meditation at this time, the true Penitent advances a step farther; he declares his intention to teach transgressors the ways of God, that sinners might be converted unto him; and that if God would deliver him from the guilt of shedding blood, his tongue. should sing aloud of his righteousness: and that his lips being opened by the Lord, he promises, that his mouth should show forth his praise. Here he manifests a sincere desire to vindicate the honour and glory of God; to make all the reparation in his power for the injury he had done to the cause of godliness; that his great fall and recovery might prove an occasion of good, in the conversion and comfort of his subjects, who might have been led into sin by his eyil example.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;