SERMONS. SERMON I. THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT. Preached on the First Sunday in Advent, 1829. ROм. xiii. 12. "The night is far spent; the day is at hand let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." THAT season of the year is again arrived, in which the Christian is especially led to reflect upon the coming of the Lord Christ in the flesh, and to look forward to the time when He shall come again in power and great glory, to judge the quick and the B dead. Such a season cannot but be one of peculiar interest to him; it must give rise to the most lively feelings of gratitude in his soul; and call him, at the same time, to the most serious and faithful self-examination. This will, in some degree, be the effect produced upon the mind of the devoted follower of the Lamb, who, having obtained mercy, continues, from one year to another, to witness the return of the present period. But, alas! it is to be apprehended, that there are too many who call themselves Christians, who allow days, and months, and years, to roll away, while they themselves are not led to any close consideration, either as to their present state before Him who searcheth the heart, or to their prospects in regard to another and an eternal world. Is it possible to close our eyes against the awful fact, that while there are some who glory in the redemption that is in the Son of God, and who, as His redeemed and grateful people, are sincerely desirous of giving Him their hearts, and consecrating to Him all the energy of their spirits, and all the activity of their bodily frame, there is a fearful multitude of men who call Him "Lord," while they know not what they say ;a fearful multitude, who can follow up a round of external ceremony, while the living principle of Christian godliness is wanting in their souls; and who can even admire the loveliness of the gospel song, at the very time that their heart is going after their covetousness? And is not this an alarming condition for a dying and responsible creature,-alarming, truly to others, though he himself is indifferent and composed? So alarming indeed is it in the estimation of those who know what it is to be delivered from it, that they cannot but tremble for the safety of those whom they believe to be involved in it; and upon no principle of conscience, or love, or even of common humanity itself, can they be silent. 9 In the collect for this day, we ask, in prayer, of "Almighty God," that we may have " grace to cast away the works of darkness, and to put upon us the armour of light, now, in the time of this mortal life, in which His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility." A part of this prayer, it will be seen, is expressed in the language of the Scripture which forms our text. St. Paul enforces his exhortation by reminding the believers to whom he wrote, that "the night was far spent, and that the day was at hand." May I affectionately inquire of my dear brethren before me, how often they have taken the words of this most spiritual prayer in their lips? May I venture to lead them back to days and years gone by, and ask them, how long they have been attending this place of worship, or any other within our dear and venerable communion? They can tell how long ago it is since their reasoning faculties began to expand, and they became capable, in common language, of judging between one event and another. "Give us grace, that we may cast away works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light." Oh! brethren has this prayer been answered to you? Has grace been given you to do this? Have you been indeed individually called out of the darkness of unrenewed nature, into the light, and life, and liberty, and holiness of the gospel? If not, believe me, however multiplied be the years during which you have the |