you glory in it as the very joy of your heart. Let others neglect the one thing needful, but do you learn to see more and more, the necessity of living to God. And be not surprised, and be not staggered, if you find there are those, who with much of this world's wisdom, have no regard for the Saviour or His salvation. Be not surprised, and be not disturbed, if you find that those who neglect their Saviour, think lightly also of His lowly followers. You know your joy and peace depend not on man's favour, but on the favour of God. Your being saved from perishing, is from first to last, bound up in the cross of Christ. He, and He only, is your Saviour. He, and He only, can deliver your souls from hell, and exalt you to the joys of heaven. He, and He only it is, who has borne away your sins and carried your sorrows. It is He alone, that has the words of eternal life; and if we hear not His voice and follow not His guidance, we shall never attain to the blessedness of heaven. Forsake not then your Saviour, nor grow slack in serving Him, although in this ungrateful world, few seem to care for His salvation, or to be influenced by His love. Follow "the holy fervour," with which the thought of His love has "fired thy breast." Go where He calls. Live to show forth His praise. In the midst of all the stir and bustle

which surrounds you, as well as in the peace and calm of solitude, hear His still small voice addressing you with tender earnestness, and telling you not to fear, for "it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Yes, my brethren, live daily in sight of the cross, musing on that work of wonder which was there accomplished, and live daily in the hope of soon beholding the Lord you love, coming down from heaven in the glory of the Father, and then you will feel less the trials and troubles of this present life, and be daily going on in holy preparation for that long expected hour, in which the Lord will take His people to that place of blessedness, which He is now gone to prepare for them in heaven.

SERMON XIV.

THE WAY TO PLEASE GOD.

1 THESSALONIANS iv. 1.

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more."

THESE words may lead us to consider these three points: first, how we ought to walk so as to please God; secondly, what the chief motive is, to induce us to do so; and, thirdly, how far we have hitherto been living in the way, which the Scriptures teach us to be pleasing to God.

First, then, let us consider, how we ought to walk, if we would please God. And it is plain, that if we would please God, we must keep His commandments. Resistance to His will, cannot but be displeasing to Him. But this statement though true, is too general. We must enter somewhat more into detail, and consider the motives which must be at work in our hearts, before ever our conduct will be such as to be acceptable to God. This then, is what I shall now

proceed to do.

And it may be laid down as the first thing required towards pleasing God, that it be our heart's desire and intention to do so. It is this intention of pleasing God which sanctifies our ordinary occupations; gives dignity to the humblest employment; and connects with the hope of heaven, the uniformity of our every-day life. And the more entirely our lives are brought under the influence of this principle, the greater will be our joy, and the more glorious our reward. For it is not on great occasions only, that we have it in our power to please God. Nor is this principle to be reserved for our government in the discharge of those duties only which are more directly religious. Its influence is not to be confined to any stated times and seasons, or to any particular occasions and circumstances. It is to go with us wherever we go, and to influence us whatever we do. In little things as well as in matters of greater moment, this motive is to guide us. In short, whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God.' In our worldly business, as well as when worshipping God; at our homes as well as at church; in the week as well as on the Sunday; in our recreation as well as when we are at our work; in all our

1 See 1 Cor. x. 31.