tempted, that he might know how to succour them that are tempted." He delights to wipe the streaming eye, and to still the quaking heart. Confide in him in the worst season. In the midnight hour consider that God dwells in the thick darkness, and in the wildest tumults of the storm, that his way is in the whirlwind, and that he sits on the floods. And shew that the scenes of sorrow through which you have passed have taught you promptitude in mercy. You have been in the house of mourning, let the widow see that you know her heart, and the orphan that his loss is yours. Have you had affliction on your bodies, or temptations in your souls, let the sick and the tempted have as much as possible of your care. In studying the sympathy of our Lord, you must labour not only to catch its tones of tenderness, and its looks of pity, but to imitate its gifts and deeds of mercy.

Live in the fear of God. Did Jesus fear, and shall we have none? The frivolous and the giddy see nothing attracting in this principle. They say there can be no beauty in the sadness of the countenance, and no pleasure in the tremour of the heart; but it gives to the manner all the grace of modesty, and to the soul a calm and solid satisfaction. Its aspect is grave, and when it looks on folly it is with a frown, but its heart is true. Fear in Jesus was not attended with the misgivings of unbelief and of conscious guilt: though he took on him the form of a servant, he had not the spirit of a slave; and the temper of a son was apparent in all the tasks which he performed, and in all the sufferings which he bore. Cultivate this filial fear, and in religious worship it will keep you from levity and formali ty, in your recreations from folly and excess, and in the business of the world from every fraud. In com

from that fear of man which pany it will preserve you suffers profanity to go on unchecked, and from that frivolity which will degrade your profession. In adversity it will render you still, and in prosperity it will make you dependent on God, and humble to man.

You are saved from

Beware of forming harsh conclusions about the piety of those who are afraid of death. It is not every saint who can defy the last enemy. When death stands by thy bed-side, lays his cold hand on thine, and orders thee to come away, thou wilt then find what a serious thing it is to die. But cry to God, and from his throne strength will come to the bed of languishing, and a ray shall descend on the dark vale. He will remove, or at least mitigate your terrors. sin, from the world, and from hell already, and to this list of deliverances salvation from death shall be added. Take heed lest by folly, or negligence, or any criminal act, you call up remorse to aggravate the horrors of the last hour. Give all diligence, by the constant exercise of every Christian grace, to make your calling and your election sure, and "so there shall be administered to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Then you will have no calamity to weep over, no evil to dread, and no want to be supplied. The sentence which shall answer all your prayers, terminate all your sorrows, and reward all your services, shall then be pronounced on you, and shall call you as good and faithful servants to share in your Saviour's rest.

ADDRESS XXXI.

PHIL. 1..21.

"To me to live is Christ."

In these few words, the piety which is formed and animated by the spirit of the gospel, is expressed in a most apt and striking manner. Though this profession was made to men, it was uttered under the most solemn impressions of his presence who searches all hearts; and the apostle might appeal to his conduct as furnishing the fullest evidence that it was not the boast of hypocrisy. To him life was valuable, from the opportunities which it afforded for advancing the cause, and exemplifying the spirit of his Master; and in every theme, and in every labour, Christ was all.

He states this not in the spirit of vain glory, but that the disciples might see that he enjoined no devotedness to the Redeemer which it was not his wish and his study to maintain. There were many things peculiar in the pious attainments of Paul, yet the language which he here employs may be considered as descriptive of the character and aim of every disciple of Jesus, and there is not one whose supreme desire it is not to. live and to die to the Lord.

The grace of Christ is the principle of the believer's life. It is this that quickens the dead soul, which maintains the spiritual life, animates all its graces with vigour, and guards it from the influence by which it might be enfeebled or destroyed. The permanence and

the prosperity of this life depend not on any efforts which we can make, or on any watchfulness which we can exercise, but on his influence who "worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure." This influence he imparts in the use of appointed means, and to wait on him in these is felt by the saint as his duty and his pleasure. "O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit."

The example of Christ is the pattern of the believer's life. While others follow the multitude, or those whom influence or talent have raised to eminence, the determination of the good man is this, "Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Never was excellence so bright and so lovely seen on earth as when Jesus was there, and among all the blessed on high, there are no graces which shine with such lustre, or which have been tried with such temptations and sor rows, as his. Do you make the example of Christ the subject of your frequent study, and do you feel, at every examination of it, stronger regret that you have so little of his spirit, and more eager desires to walk as he did? May the services of this day have a transforming influence on you, and when you shall see him as he is, you will have all your wishes, and all your aims fulfilled in being completely like him.

The service of Christ is the work of the believer's life. His saints are they who do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. They feel that he has a claim to every talent, and to every moment; and so far from supposing it possible that they can serve both God and mammon, or wishing that it were so, they yield their homage only to a Master in heaand abhor the thought of murmuring at any mandate of his will, or any place or degree of labour.

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Lord Jesus, none that knows thee will call thee a hard

master. I am never so happy as when acting for thee, and so easy is thy yoke that it is my delight to carry it.

The glory of Christ is the object of the good man's life. Redeemed for this purpose, he seeks the advancement of it in the knowledge of his will, and the obedi ence of his laws, the magnifying of his name, and the extension of his kingdom. This is the object which he hath in view in all his pursuits, and unless this is gained, no success nor applause will gratify him. O Lord, I will glorify thee in poverty by contentment, in prosperity by beneficence, in adversity by patience and hope, in thy ordinances by spiritual worship, and in the duties of obedience by dependance not on them but on thee.

The presence of Christ is the happiness of the beHiever's life. In communion with him the pious affections are gratified, the sweetest consolation is imparted, and the most painful doubts and anxieties are removed. With him our interests are safe, and our salvation is sure. Is it true, with regard to you, that you cannot be happy but where Jesus is? In looking back on your past life, what you once deemed scenes of enjoyment appear like a vain dream, but the seasons which you have spent with Jesus seem to you like the days of heaven. The bliss of heaven is in his love, and its light in the brightness of his countenance.

Some of you perhaps are now saying, in the despondency of your hearts, Happy are they who can use Paul's language, but I am so feeble, so cold, and so stupid, that I am either a stranger to spiritual life entirely, or it is about to give up the ghost. Instead of the language of exultation, I have been praying since I came to this place, My soul cleaveth to the dust, quicken thou me according to thy word.' I can see