believer's faith confirmed-sure I am that no new article of saving truth, no doctrine to be believed as of necessity for salvation, remains to be discovered in our day. I have therefore, as you know, always preferred to the indulgence in speculations, however fashionable or attractive, pressing on your most serious attention those vital and essential truths, by a cordial, lifeinfluencing belief of which alone your souls can be saved, and yourselves made meet for participating in the promised blessedness and glory of the Redeemer's reign-of whatever nature it may prove, and at whatever period it may commence; for however interesting or important these points unquestionably are, manifestly, to each individual, of immeasurably greater interest and importance, to ascertain on scriptural grounds, whether he is himself capacitated for sharing in the triumphs of Messiah's reign, by being a loyal and obedient subject of that spiritual kingdom of the Son of God, which, (with whatever of visible

it is

splendor it may be eventually invested,) is, in its very essence, as to its constitution and glory, "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

There is a tendency, in the present day, to approach scripture in a spirit of rash and presumptuous speculation, rather than of sober and reverential research; to elevate points of confessedly great-but still subordinate— importance to an undue prominence in the Christian scheme, as if they were the very sun of the system, instead of (what they can at most but be) its attendant satellites; and to prefer those portions of the Divine Record, which are easily perverted or mistaken, so as to excite, dazzle, and bewilder the imagination, to those which are specially designed to form the character, and regulate the life, so as to mould them into a conformity with Christ, and a meetness for heaven.

The evils that have resulted, as might have been apprehended, have indeed been great and glaring.

A frightful mass of high-sounding, but hollow and heartless profession-unsanctifying, and therefore unsaving, has prevailed. A restless kind of religion, exhibiting more of the overstrained and dangerous excitement of mental fever, than the sober and salutary activity of spiritual health, has become fashionable. An Athenian spirit, ever desiring to hear or tell some new thing--as if Christianity was designed to furnish matter merely for curious inquiry, or amusing conversation, has been fostered; and last, and perhaps worst of all, disunion has been created among those, whom love to the same Saviour ought to have linked together, as the members of one holy and happy family, in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace; and thus the strength, which should have concentrated against the enemies of our common Christianity and church, (and which might then, with God's blessing, have proved invincible,) has been worse than wasted in the weakening divisions, and embittering animosities of a civil war.

We have imitated the infatuation, (oh! that we may escape the doom,) of the Jews of old-fighting amongst ourselves within the temple, while the Roman-Heaven's appointed instrument of vengeance—is thundering, in all his pride and power, at our gates. That there is nothing in these Sermons, calculated to spread these dreadful evils, I can safely affirm. Should there be any thing, which the Almighty Head of the Church would vouchsafe to bless, as in the smallest degree the means of mitigating them, and advancing the progress of genuine Christianity, while giving Him all the glory, I would indeed most thankfully rejoice.

I have thus briefly glanced at the character of the Sermons contained in this volume"And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified by faith in a Saviour's name!" Whether I shall be permitted to enjoy the happiness of again meeting

you, and ministering among you, in the house of God, is known only to Him, in whose hands is the disposal of health and sickness—of life and death and in His hands I desire most cheerfully to leave it-sweetly assured that He will appoint what is most conducive to His own glory, and His servant's good-What can I desire more? I cannot, however, but feel tenderly and deeply solicitous, that "your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ; that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel!" and may this be the only strife that ever takes place amongst you. Finally, brethren, farewell! The Lord bless you all, and keep you! The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you! The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace”even that peace of God which passeth all understanding! and "the very God of peace

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