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seriptures, which are able to make her wise unto salvation; they will, as her youthful faculties expand, point her to the rock of ages, whence she is to derive support, protection, and consolation; they will teach her, at all times, (and especially when her earthly parents shall be removed,) on whom she is to repose her brightest hopes of happiness; they will teach her, while a sojourner in this weary land, to take shelter under the overshadowing wings of her ALMIGHTY FRIEND, of that everlasting Father who can never die ; they will teach her to come up from this wilderness leaning upon the Beloved; in one word, they will give her joy and uninterrupted peace, in believing the true sayings of her God.

From my long acquaintance with, and close study of the sacred pages, I am persuaded their worth is very little known. The volume of inspiration exhibits, in its connexion, a complete view of the redemption of the human family. The splendid truths contained in the Old and New-Testaments, have, even from the early days of christianity, been obscured by commentators; but the doctrines of revelation are consistent doctrines; and this is, as I conceive, a strong proof of the divinity of the oracles of our God; and I repeat, that an accurate investigation and comparison of scripture testimonies, will abundantly elucidate and confirm this fact.

I am persuaded I shall not proceed far in this vast undertaking, but the hints I may collect, when the passages to which I shall refer, are fairly transcribed, and placed in their own natural and luminous order, may produce reflection, reflection may produce inquiry; persons possessing superior abilities may engage in the subject, new paths of light may open, and the religious world may be enriched by new discoveries.

'SKETCHES OF SERMONS.

SKETCH I.

EXODUS, XV. 7, 8.

And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sendest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble, and with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together; the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the hearts of the sea.

First, WHO were they who rose up against Israel? The adversaries of God's people were many. All those who were round about them combined for their destruction, but the enemies particularly alluded to in this passage are described in the context, Pharaoh and his host. Pharaoh, as the enemy of Israel, may be considered as a type of the grand adversary.

Secondly, Of whom was Israel a figure? Israel is considered as an epitome of mankind; the Jews of the elect, the especial inheritance of God. The Gentiles we know were without, but the middle wall of partition is broken down and the Jew and Gentile are made one. Zechariah, ii. 8, "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye.” Thus thinks and thus speaks the LORD of hosts, in every age and in every place, of those whom he hath selected as his inheritance. But in the eleventh verse of this chapter, Zechariah decidedly alludes to the abolition of the then existing distinctions. "And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of them."

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Thirdly, Wherein is the greatness of the divine excellency displayed? In overthrowing those that rose up against us, the context is full to this purpose. The LORD is a man of war, the LORD is his name. God spake the word, and the horse and his rider were thrown into the sea. When the God of Israel girded the loins and strengthened the arm, Gideon with his little company, with his trumpet, his pitcher, and his lamp, chased his thousands; Sampson, with the jaw bone of an ass, proceeded conquering and to conquer ; and, nerved for the combat by the God of heaven, the son of Jesse, with a sling and a stone, became victorious over Goliah of Gath. It is remarkable that the stone of the brook, chosen by the youthful warrior as his weapon of defence and attack,entered the head of the Giant. Thus did the seed of the woman bruise the head of the adversary. Fourthly, Did God accomplish the destruction of the enemy by the manifestations of his wrath? The enemies of mankind, of Israel, who are the inheritance of God, are destroyed by the breath of the LORD. "By the blast of God they perish and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and with fire."

The vauntings of the enemy, in the ninth verse of the chapter which contains our text, are truly in character. ❝ I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." The description of the catastrophe, as given in the tenth verse, is (beyond expression) beautiful: perhaps it is hardly surpassed by that oft cited passage in Genesis, i. 3, " And God said, Let there be light, and there was light." Let us attend to this tenth verse: "Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them they sank as lead in the mighty waters." This corresponds exactly with another divine testimony: "Thou wilt cast all our sins, as a stone, into the depths of the sea ;" and in the book of Revelations we are told, "That the abominations of the earth were as a great millstone cast into the depths of the sea.

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Thus gloriously victorious is the Redeemer, in the cause of his people. In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit; therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Then he remembered

the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? that led them through the deep as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O LORD art our Father, our Redeemer, and thy name is from everlasting.

SKETCH II.

EXODUS, xxviii. 2.

And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.

First, ALTHOUGH Aaron was the brother of Moses, yet Moses was appointed to act as a God unto Aaron. Exodus, iv. 16. "And he (Aaron) shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God."

Secondly, Aaron was the Priest, the high Priest, whose office is pointed out. Leviticus, xvi. 2. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark, that he die not; for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat."

Thirdly, The garments of this high Priest were holy garments. The term holy is, in the sacred volume, occasionally applied to inanimate matter, as to the temple and the consecrated vessels. It is sometimes used to designate the whole Jewish nation. Exodus, xxii. 31. “And ye shall be holy men unto me." Leviticus, xi. 44. "For I am the LORD your God; ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy." Numbers, xvi. 3. "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy."

Fourthly, Christians will never forget that Jesus Christ, of whom Aaron was a luminous type, is their high Priest. Hebrews, ii. 17. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in alt

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