not say it is but this, and it is but that, it is of no use sacrificing such a trifle as this to GOD. For what, at best, can we offer which is worthy of GOD? What of the greatest which man can give, but is too little for God to receive? It is not the thing given, but the heart which gives, namely out of love to Hiм, and a wish to obey HIM, that GOD accepts, and rewards with a greater measure of grace. Let us not, then, say it is but a trifle in which we may be denying ourselves. It was this which ruined Adam, and us in him; for he thought it was but a trifle, and self-denial in a trifle could not please GOD. It was because it was only a trifle, and therefore easily done, that God visited Adam with vengeance. It is because a thing is only a trifle, and therefore easily done, that God's mercy is so transcendently manifested, in that He will receive a trifle, when offered aright, and reward it above all we can conceive or desire. And this agrees with that deep expression of the Psalmist, "THOU, LORD, art merciful, for THOU rewardest every man, according to his work." If He were to "bid us do some great thing," far beyond our strength, we might haply feel dispirited, 1 Ps. lxii. 12.

but He requires from us only that for which HE HIMSELF gives the strength. The Gospel, it has been observed, is a law of liberty. He treats us thereby as sons of GOD, as brethren of JESUS CHRIST, and according to the wondrous promise of God's Word, HE guideth us with His Eye." He knows how this world would try to steal away our hearts from our Heavenly treasure-and HE calls to us to turn away from it: He knows that it will go hard with us, when the few short years of our life are past and gone for ever, and we lie down to close our eyes on this world, if we have not prepared to leave it-and so He would have us daily die to it.

One point more the text enforces on us as to Fasting, namely, that it be done unto "our FATHER WHICH Seeth in secret." And I abstain, on the present occasion, from urging this point on you at full length. I need not do so, for not in reference to Fasting alone, but to every other duty too, we must be very careful to do nothing "for to be seen of men." At the same time, let us be no less careful not to refuse to do a duty in the right way, because others may do it in a wrong one; not to neglect Fasting to "our 1 Ps. xxxii. 9, for the day. 2 S. Matt. xxiii. 5.

FATHER WHICH seeth in secret," because others may make a show of the practice, "that they may appear unto men to fast."

And, in conclusion, be sure that " 'your FATHER, WHICH seeth in secret, shall reward you openly." He shall reward you openly in that Day. And when that happy time comes, we shall be no longer oppressed in our Heaven-ward course by these sluggish bodies these lumps of the earth, earthywe shall no more have to mortify and keep under our bodies, "lest they get the dominion over us;" we shall have no will but to will our FATHER'S Will-we shall be made like unto the Angels, we shall be made like unto GOD: we shall eat and drink to the full, yet never be satiated, of the pleasures at the Right Hand of our FATHER, our Lord, and our GOD.

In the mean time, elect brethren, we are on our trial-and, in the great Day, we shall, among our other accounts, have to give an account of how we have received or rejected the Scripture-command to fast.

May God give us all grace to get our answer ready against that Day when our FATHER, WHO seeth in secret, shall judge us openly.

SERMON XII.

CHRIST CRUCIFIED, MAN'S GOOD.

For Good Friday.

PSALM IV. 6.

"THERE BE MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHOW US ANY GOOD?"

"So

"GOD created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of His own Eternity. Nevertheless, through envy of the devil came death into the world, and they that do hold of his side do find it." GOD created man in His own Image, in the Image of GOD created HE him; male and female created HE them.""2 Man's nature was raised to Heaven. Man rebelled, and

1 Wisdom ii. 23, 24.

2 Gen. i. 27.