God; bad men often exalted, while the good man's lot is bitterness and pain; virtue depressed, and vice triumphant. He who caused light to arise out of darkness, and order and beauty to spring from chaos and confusion, can correct these irregularities. He not only restrains, and says, "Hitherto, and no "further:" He also over-rules and makes the wrath of men to praise him. Hear how he gives commission, and sends Sennacherib against Israel, as a general sends a weapon of war. "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, I will "send him against an hypocritical nation, "and against the people of my wrath, to tread "them down like the mire of the streets. "Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth “his heart think so;" that is, neither doth his heart think that he is a mere instrument in the hand of God. David was raised to the throne of Israel by those steps which his foes devised against him. The The enemy of mankind seducing our first parents, was the means of their being elevated to a greater degree of happiness and glory.

Lastly, With respect to our departure from this world, and entering upon a new state of being: We know that the time is appointed when dust shall return unto dust, and the

spirit unto God who gave it. But it is awful, it is alarming to nature, to call up the hour when the union between soul and body shall be dissolved; when our connection with all that we held dear in life shall be broken off; when we shall enter upon a new state of existence, and become inhabitants of the world unknown. But even then the providence of God will give us comfort. king for ever and ever.

will

The Lord reigneth The dominions of kingdom; time and

the dead are part of his eternity, the world that now is, and the world that is to come, confess him for their Lord. When thou goest through the dark valley, he go with thee: In the hour of dissolving nature, he will support thy spirit. Thou canst not go but where God is. Around thee is infinite love, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms.

SERMON IX.

ON A LIFE OF PROGRESSIVE VIRTUE.

PROVERBS iv. 18.

The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

HUMAN life has been often compared to a journey, for this, as well as for other reasons, that we are always making progress in our way. In whatever path we set out, there is no standing still. Evil men wax worse and worse: the corruptions of their nature gather strength: the vices which they have contracted grow into habit; the evil principle is for ever on the increase, till, having attained the ascendant over the whole man, it subjects him entirely to its own power, the willing and

obedient servant of sin. Good men, on the other hand, make advances in the paths of righteousness. The grace of God, which is given unto them, lies not dormant. The better mind with which they are endowed, incites them to virtue: the new nature which they have put on, pants after perfection. They give all diligence to add to their faith virtue, and to virtue temperance, and to temperance brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, until, having abounded in every good work, they perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. Such a life is here called

the path of the just. By the just in Scripture, are not meant those who merely abstain from doing unjust and injurious things to their neighbours. The just man is he who possesses that sincerity of heart, and that integrity of the whole life which God requires of man.

The life of such a man is here compared to the light of the morning. Nothing in nature is more lovely than the light. When the Spirit began to move upon the face of the deep, light was the first effect of his creating power; and when the six days' work was finished, light collected and centred in the .sun, continued to be the grandest and most beautiful work of nature; so grand and beau

tiful, that among many of the heathen nations it was worshipped as the visible divinity of the world. What light is to the face of external nature, the beauty of holiness is to the soul. It is the brightest ornament of an immortal spirit; it throws a glory over all the faculties of man; and forms that robe of beauty with which they shine, who walk in white before the throne of God.

But it is chiefly on account of its progressive nature, that the path of the just is here compared to the shining light. In order to illustrate this, I shall, in the first place, shew you how we shall know if we have made progress in the paths of righteousness. Secondly, give you some directions how to make further progress. Thirdly, exhort you to a life of progressive virtue.

I am first, then, to shew how we shall know if we have made progress in the paths of righ

teousness.

In the first place, Let me ask you, are you sensible of your faults and imperfections? The first indication of wisdom is to confess our ignorance, and the first step to virtue is to be sensible of our own imperfections. The novice in science is puffed up with his early