thus: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Besides, if this grand truth concerning the person and righteousness of Christ, is not sufficient to give peace to a conscience wounded by a sense of sin, why did the apostles always propose it to such, as we find they invariably did?

Upon the whole, when any sinner is really brought to believe in Jesus, he will have an experience of that peace which passeth all understanding; for "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shines in his heart, to give him the light of the knowledge of his own glory in the face of Jesus Christ."

(3.) He who really believes in the Son of God will have extensive views of the malignity of sin, and its opposition to a God of infinite perfection; from which will arise absolute hatred of it, and unfeigned sorrow for it. No person can understand the exceeding sinfulness of sin like the believer, nor sorrow for it as he does. He looketh on him whom he hath pierced, and mourns, as one mourneth for an only son; and is in bitternesss, as one who is in bitterness for a first-born. The very secret corruptions of his heart, which are unnoticed but by God and his own soul, give him keen distress. He mourns his felt unlikeness to the divine character, and many times cries out in the language of St. Paul, "O wretched man that I am who shall deliver

me from the body of this death ?”

(4.) Connected with which are his fervent longings after perfect sanctification. He who has

obtained this spiritual deliverance is led to dis

cover the real beauty of holiness as it is an essential perfection of the Deity; without which he feels that he must be forever unhappy. That rectitude in which God first created him, he lost by his connexion with the first Adam, and became vain in his imaginations; his evil heart being darkened. So long as he remains under the ruins of the apostasy, he must be unlike to God, therefore miserable in himself, and unfit for heaven; into which nothing shall enter that defileth, worketh abomination, or that maketh a lie. The man who believes in Jesus knows this, and can never be contented while he is unholy. Hence he often breathes out his soul before God in the language of the psalmist, "Then shall I be satisfied, when I awake in thy likeness." Welcome heaven, says the believer at certain seasons, because I shall there be near and like my God!

(5.) Love to the children of God is another evidence of this spiritual deliverance, or of our faith in Jesus. For, says John, "he who loveth him who begat, loveth them also who are begotten of him." In another place the same apostle speaks still stronger, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren." Observe, the brethren are the persons loved; and this religious affection is fixed on them, solely because they are so; or because they appear to be the real disciples of Jesus Christ, who have drank into his spirit, and are studious to be like him in temper and conduct. It matters not whether they be rich or poor, bond or free; if brethren in the Lord, the real

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believer will love them in their poverty, or meanness of outward condition, for Jesus's sake. And it has always been remarked, that love to the brethren has most prevailed, when religion has flourished most.

(6.) Every person who knows the truth as it is in Jesus, will be careful to maintain good works. True faith is influential, and leads him who has it to search out the will of God, and to yield obedience to every known part of his duty. "Faith," says James, "without works is dead.”

(7.) Another effect of this spiritual deliverance is, readiness to distribute to the relief of the brethren, when in our power. This we shall surely be ready to do, if we love them for Christ's sake, and see that they are reduced to necessitous circumstances, while we ourselves have all and abound, or at least have enough for ourselves, and something to spare for a suffering brother. "For whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ?”

(8.) In fine-All such as are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, find the truth sufficient to support them under the heaviest afflic tions. They have, in many instances, overcome the world, and rejoiced in death. The army of martyrs, animated by the gospel of Christ, suffered with patience and greatness of mind, knowing that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with that glory that should be revealed in them. And many believers of later date have resigned to death with peace

and calmness of soul, which the truth of Christ only could inspire, knowing that to die would be gain.

Having thus enlarged on those truths, which, in my view, are of infinite importance, because they stand connected with our present peace and future happiness, I shall omit those reflections which arise naturally from the subject, and address myself to the prisoner, who must very soon appear at the judgment-seat of Christ.*

Unhappy AMES, how cutting is your condition! A youth but little more than twenty-one, having filled up the measure of his iniquity, bound with fetters, appointed to death, and on the verge of a vast eternity! Who can bear the thought? The solemn day is just at hand, when you must make your exit. Time, which stays for no man, is on the wing, and will speedily introduce Thursday, the last of days to you then you will go whence you shall not return, and be unalterably fixed either in bliss or wo! See what sin has done! It has brought you, in the bloom of life, to ignominy and death, and has exposed you to eternal condemnation hereaf ter. All All prospect of living longer than the time appointed is cut off. I hope you will not flatter yourself with longer time. That which most

concerns you is, how you may escape the wrath to come? Where is there a ground of hope for the guilty? In answering this question every circumstance demands solemnity, faithfulness and truth. I would therefore attempt it, as in the presence of that God at whose tribunal I know I shall

* What was delivered in the conclusion of this discourse, by way of solemn caution to the youth, is deferred to the next

sermon.

shortly meet you, with the whole congregation of the living and the dead. May the Spirit of the living God accompany plain truth to your and every man's conscience! AMES, as a sinner you are lost; the law of God condemns you, for it curseth every one who continueth not in all things written in the book of it, to do them. You have gone astray from God, even from the womb. From the fountain of corruption in your heart have issued all those sins in life, which have been repeated and inconceivably provoking to Jehovah. The law is exceedingly broad, and reaches to the thoughts of your heart. It demands perfect obedience, and will accept no less, And as the requirement is just, so will be the punishment which will be finally inflicted on all unbelievers. You are wholly in the hands of a sovereign God, without a single personal circumstance to plead in your favour. If he condemns you, his justice will remain perfect. Nor do I mean by thus addressing you, to single you out as the only guilty individual: no; "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Perhaps you are saying, who then can be saved? Authorized by this inspired volume, I assure you that there is peace on earth, and good will to men. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, hath made an end of sin, and brought in an everlasting righteousness. He, by his obedience to the law in life, and his death upon the cross, hath finished such a righteousness as lays a ground of hope for the chief of sinners. This is the matter and cause of acceptance with God.

By this, all who believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by