down before God. Implore mercy. Seek admission to his family by Him who is the way, the truth, the life.

I pursue the same train of thought in reference to you who are no strangers to prayer, and whose minds we would stir up by way of remembrance,—“ Ask, and ye shall receive." There is God's condescending love. What might we not receive, if prayer were more frequent; if prayer were more thoroughly prayer? You are permitted to consider even this. There are blessings which you need. "Ask, and ye shall receive."

2. But it is your positive duty. Nor is that word irksome to the truly Christian man. He loves Christ's yoke. He seeks not to hide it. It is his glory. It is the badge of true spiritual and mental freedom. He who wears it is "the Lord's freed man." And one part of that “yoke”—and no part is more truly "easy and gracious "—is prayer. God has given unnumbered blessings; he promises unnumbered blessings; "but for all these things will he be inquired of by us, to do them for us."

And is there hardship in this? hardship to cast your care on Him who careth for you? to make known your wants to Him who can supply them all? to pour out your heart before Him who is "touched with the feeling of your infirmities?" Duty is thus invested with all that makes it honourable; connected with all that can make it a privilege. From this time enter fully into the spirit of the text. Mercy shall then compass you round about; and the constant prayers of earth shall obtain blessings to prompt the ceaseless praises of eternity.

THE SACRIFICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord."-PSALM iv. 5.

THAT sacrifices ought to be offered to God.
What those sacrifices should be.

The frame of mind to be preserved in connexion with their presentation.

These are the points suggested by the text for consideration. The first will show the principle of the subject; the second and third, how to apply it.

I. Sacrifices are to be offered to God.

1. We are led to this by the consideration of the evidently original and unalterable constitution of our moral nature. You need not be led into abstruse questions. The facts of the case are all plain. Our very nature leads us to compare ourselves with other creatures. We see the properties of their nature, and of our own. We have at once a perception of superiority. Man is, not by mere pride, but by simple truth, the noblest of all the creatures with which we are acquainted. What, then, are the proper exercises of his nature? How may his faculties be improved? What are the right objects of his affections? Even in his fallen state there is a movement towards something out of himself, and better than himself. Divine revelation shines on man; explains the mysteries of human nature. The distinguishing property of man is, that by which he can make God the object of thought, intention, and affection. Inferior animals cannot hold real fellowship with man; but man may with God. For this sacred intercourse man was made. Deprived of it by sin, its restoration is effected by redemption. Recollect the simple, yet sublime and energetic, language of St. John :-" That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Now, offering sacrifices, is one of the various exercises of this fellowship, expressed in language derived from the ritual law; and then only do we act like men, act up to the level, and according to the essential properties, of our created and redeemed nature,—when we thus offer sacrifices to God. Beasts cannot do it. He who does it not, acts unnaturally, as well as wickedly.

2. I remind you of the divine supremacy, and of our own absolute dependence. God alone possesses being in its essential fulness. He is the "I AM." "In Him we live, move, and have our being." God is in the universe as in his holy temple:

man as the Priest. God's greatness, man's dependent subjection, are all to be acknowledged. It was made a charge against Belshazzar, (Daniel v. 23,) "Thou hast praised the gods of wood and stone: the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, thou hast not glorified." Among the rules and documents of the court of the Sovereign to whom we owe fealty and homage and allegiance, and by whom we shall one day be judged, we thus find a regular form of indictment for neglect of this duty, implying this as one ground on which the duty itself rests. We ought to glorify him, because we are his.

3. Gratitude requires that we thus present our free-will offerings and thank-offerings to Him from whom all our blessings come.

There is creation.-Such a nature; designed for so much blessedness.

Preservation and supply.-We live on his bounty. We may not see him for the second causes by which it pleases him to convey his blessings to us. Too often we practically rest where the Atheist dwells. It is God who filleth all things living with plenteousness. We are more the objects of particular care than we suppose. His love is paternal, and calls for filial return.

There is that wonderful plan, redemption by Christ.-Its blessings are ever new. Its best-known wonders always awaken new admiration, where the heart is rightly disposed. But look at its claims. It restores forfeited blessings; delivers from most fearful evils. But for it, where, what, should we be?

Combine all these. Not as novelties. Put them before you. Deliberate on them. Ask to what result they bring the judgment? how they affect the conscience? Can you doubt of this, that you OUGHT to offer sacrifices to God?

II. What, then, ought they to be? Wherewith shall we present ourselves before the Most High God?

The history of man seems to be a history of sacrifice in some form or other. The mind naturally moves in this direction, however ignorance and sin alter the expression. We find the subject fully exhibited in Scripture. The

Mosaic law is a code of sacrifices. The New Testament shows of what they were symbolical.

It belongs to God, the Creator and Lord, to fix the homage, and its expression. This preserves the character of subjection, against which human pride revolts. We do it, not because we think it right, and choose to do something, but because God commands. We acknowledge sovereignty in doing as we are commanded, and bringing what is required.

God has told us. We have only to refer you to some leading instances.

1. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. This is fundamental. They cannot, indeed, atone for sin. Only the sacrifice of Christ could do that. But it is fitting that a sinner should feel the evil and bitterness of sin, and come to God most penitently acknowledging it. The sacrifices of the wicked are sin: you must eat the Lord's passover "with bitter herbs."

2. Take hold of Christ's sacrifice, and plead its merit for yourself. Begin with this. Go on with this. The Lamb before the throne newly slain calls for renewed exercises of faith.

3. Personal devotion is described as a sacrifice. We are to present our body to God. Spirit, soul, body, are to be sanctified, to be consecrated, and made holy, both in character, and in inmost entire nature. All our acts, internal and external, are to recognise the divine supremacy and will.

4. Along with these more general rules, there are some particular instances to be enumerated.

(i.) Sacrifices of praise.-Offer to God thanksgiving. (ii) Prayer. True incense: our meditation and convictions supplying the matter: the Holy Spirit kindling affections. Thus the fragrant perfume comes before God; brought into his presence by the great High Priest, standing by the altar of incense in the true tabernacle, the heavenly sanctuary. (iii.) Doing good to others.-Expressly called a sacrifice with which God is well pleased. And in this is implied,—the poor, especially of Christ's flock;-the cause of God, in its regular ministry, and in provision and support of places of worship; and in its missions to the Gentile "regions beyond."

III. Put your trust in the Lord.

Not in yourself: not in your offerings. Your confidence must be in the divine mercy and truth; as made known in that great expiatory sacrifice on which the sinner is to rest all his hopes for time and eternity.

Trust in him; notwithstanding your growingly clear and strong conviction of unworthiness. What are we? what all we can do? Our goodness extendeth not to Him. He needs us not? Yet in his infinite condescension and love, he promises to accept and bless. The intercourse shall be mutual. He will meet with us, and do us good. Lay the sacrifice on the altar that sanctifieth the gift. The fire of acceptance shall descend.

Live not without God. That is degradation as well as sin ; misery as well as guilt. If thus you have lived hitherto, cease now, penitently seeking pardon by Christ.

Ask-as a privilege, a blessing—ask a heart always going out after God in holy devotion. Ask thus to dwell in his house, to live by his altar; that every action may be a cheerful, humble, acknowledgment of divine sovereignty, offered in connexion with the flames of love, kindled by the Holy Spirit. It is meet and right that all should thus be presented. You acknowledge it; you long for it. It is the happiest life that is thus entirely hallowed by the Spirit of God, and accepted by Christ. Call upon God, and this grace shall be yours. He will so cleanse the thoughts of your heart by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit, that you shall perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy name, through Christ his Son, your Lord and Saviour.

THE LOST SHEEP FOUND.

"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,