have been extended and opened before us in relation to the ground of faith.

We not only, friends, are permitted to adopt the language of the psalmist," Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God," but in the opening view, the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, what an indubitable assurance is given of the love of God, and of his unfailing care; how richly is that love set forth in the coming, the humiliation, and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The power of God was marvellously revealed in his resurrection from the dead, for he was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; the word that was in the beginning with God, and was God; the word that was made flesh and dwelt amongst men, that he should die for us-it is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Brought to this sure ground of faith in Jesus Christ, how strong is the assurance, my friends, in the promises that are set forth before us, that "When we were without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly; and if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

These great principles, my friends, are set forth as necessary for us to build upon, the fabric of christian character-of christian obedience,-of works of righteousness;-they must be built upon the only sure foundation, Christ Jesus, the rock of ages. His language was, "If any man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love

him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him ;" and can we love him, my friends, without believing in him? No, it is impossible; we must believe in the character that he claims, as the Son of God, as heir of all things, as being one with the Father; because, if he claimed any divine attribute that did not belong to him, he was not an object of love, or of faith, or of obedience. "If any man love me, he will keep my words ;"-"We love him, (said the apostle,) because he first loved us ;" and is there a believer that has been brought, upon the ground of conviction and repentance, that has been made sensible of the sinfulness of sin, and the terrors of Almighty God, for sin and transgression ;-and has been brought to look unto Jesus, even as those in ancient ages looked unto the serpent in the wilderness, and felt peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ,-is there a believer that ever felt, in any degree, the remission of sin, and the flowing of the streams of consolation, through Jesus Christ; that has not felt the glow of love divine, to Him who first loved us? No, it is impossible in the nature of things ;-the heart must be warmed with the feelings of gratitude; thankfulness and praise must arise to God for his unspeakable goodnessand this is through Jesus Christ.

Brought to feel the sweet consolation, which the believer only can know, we are on the ground of obedience, acceptable obedience to the precepts of Jesus Christ, we are brought to the observance of that exalted system of morality, which he enjoined on his disciples, and all believers in him. We love him, because he first loved us- -we love him, because he laid down his precious life for us, that we might be delivered from the powers of darkness, and from the wrath to come, and translated into

his own glorious and eternal kingdom; and through the power and efficacy of this love, we are enjoined to keep his words in the way of obedience of faith. And, my friends, how animating and encouraging is the gracious assurance, that "The Father will love those," and that the Father and the Son will condescend to abide with those. However they may be tried, whatever may be the trial necessary for their probation, they have something whereon to lean, because the assurance is felt, through living faith, for it can be felt through no other medium, that the eternal God is, and will continue to be, their refuge, and underneath them, the everlasting arms; though they may pass through the waters, and through the swelling streams, they shall not be overwhelmed; and through the fire, they shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon them.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," is the breathing language of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and keep the word of his patience. We feel, while travelling through this wilderness of woe, this vale of tears, we deeply feel the trials we are called to undergo: we feel our own weakness-we are unable to contend with our enemies; they are too numerous, and too strong for us; yet the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have believed, declares "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth;" and casting our care on him, and looking to him, who is the captain of our salvation, we have the assurance of his love, his faithfulness, and his omnipotent power; and when in travelling on, we feel that we are coming to the close, or nearly to the close of our pilgrimage here, the_sweetly responding language of our hearts, is, "Even so come Lord Jesus."

SERMON III.

June 2nd. 1834.

OUR Lord Jesus Christ pronounced a sharp reproof on those who could observe the indications of the face of the sky and of the earth, and yet could not discern the signs of the times; and while my mind has been led to contemplate in some degree the signs of the present times, I have felt a deep and increasing solicitude arising from gospel love, on behalf of my beloved young friends; those who are about entering, or have entered, on the active stage of life. And yet the objects which have been most impressively brought to my view are such as demand not only their attention, but the consideration of us all.

I believe the present is a time of renewed divine visitation, that there has been extensively an awakening to a deep consideration of the principles by which we should be governed; and it is an impression which is attended with a feeling of thankfulness; it is a cause of rejoicing and yet it is attended with fear, because when enquiries are awakened, when the mind is brought to a solemn sense of the importance of a close examination of the ground upon which it is resting and upon which it should rest, it is very important that this enquiry should be rightly directed, in order to come to a right result. The example of the vessel that was wrought upon the wheel, by which the prophet was formerly instructed, remains to be instructive still; for while it is cause of rejoi

cing, that the forming hand is in operation to form a vessel according to his own will and wisdom, there is still a possibility that the vessel may be marred upon the wheel; and I believe, my dear young friends, that there is very great cause for encouragement, but not the less cause for care.

You have been placed in a position of peculiar advantage; your education, in many respects, has shielded you from dangers and temptations. I apprehend, as a general observation, that in reference to the corruptions that are in the world, there has been a guard of education; and not only so, but I believe, while I am abundantly persuaded, that the mercies and goodness of God are widely dispensed and diffused in the human family; while I believe, that in the various religious societies there are blessings and privileges, for which the members of those societies should be reverently and deeply thankful; and while I desire to be preserved from making any invidious comparisons between the Society of Friends and any other religious denomination; I have felt the desire to call the attention of my beloved young friends, and in an especial manner, of those whose minds have been awakened to serious, deep religious enquiry-I have felt a desire to call your attention to some of the blessings and the advantages which you enjoy.

As I have travelled through this nation, my mind has been again and again recalled to the early history of our Society; when, in passing along, I have been pointed to places where many of them were cast into dark and noisome dungeons, for the testimony which they held; when the scenes of their sufferings, or the spots which. are commemorated as the scenes of their sufferings, have been brought into memory, the thought