and consolation of those who may be called upon to sail in these deep waters. Let them be directed, in this season of distress, to look back on the evidences, which they formerly gave of their faith in Christ and love to Him, when their minds were unclouded, and their lights were burning. And let them not pretend to judge of their state by what they may feel and think, in a time of conflict, darkness, and temptation. There are many reasons, why it may be thus with them, even though they are the Lord's people. Perhaps their faith is to be tried and proved: or some hidden corruption of the heart is to be discovered to them or they are to be more sensibly taught the power and strength of sin and and the fury and malice of satan: or they require some particular correction: or by a peculiar discipline are to be fitted for some peculiar service. For some of these, or for some other reasons, there is a need why they should be "in heaviness through manifold temptations." Then let them not be cast down as men without hope; nor suppose that some strange thing has happened unto them; nor conclude that their present sufferings are certain indications of the Lord's anger and of their own unregenerate state. Rather let them hope in his mercy; and recollect that the Lord loveth whom He chasteneth." Let them submit themselves under this heavy trial to his almighty and all-wise disposal: let them pray for strength to bear, and for grace to profit by their trials. Let them endeavour to possess their souls in patience; and to wait in bumble faith, till this tyranny shall be overpast, and the Day Star shall arise in their heart.

Having thus separately stated and considered the different ways in which the Lamentation in the text may be understood in its spiritual application, I shall now conclude with a short address to Persons of a description not comprised in any which has been yet noticed. The Persons to whom I allude are those, who on good grounds are conscious that these words in the text do not belong to them. Once perhaps they may have thought otherwise. The time may have been, when they were led to fear that their "Harvest was past," their "summer was ended." But they have been brought to see that such fears were vain. They have found that the Lord in exciting these fears in their minds, was in fact most gracious and merciful to them; and by these very means was leading them to Himself. He brought them into the Wilderness, that he might speak comfortably unto them. Their hope nów is, that they are saved:" that they have been translated out of a state of wrath and death into a state of peace and life that they are reconciled unto God, have an interest in his favour now, and shall be made partakers of his happiness hereafter. And what are the grounds on which this hope is founded? is founded on a consciousness of their having fled to Jesus Christ for refuge, of their having put their souls into his hands, and of their now daily living by faith on him, in a watchful obedience to his commands, and under the guidance and influence of his grace. It is founded on the witness of the Spirit, who testifies to his own work of grace on the soul, enables those in whom. he dwells to discern the sincerity of their own profes--

It

sion, and thus "bears witness with their spirit that they are the children of God." Happy are all those who without self-deception or presumption have within them these grounds of hope and joy. Let them however still remember that it is only by perseverance in well-doing, and by growth in grace that this hope is to be maintained, and this joy increased. The present time, and whatever term of life may yet be continued to them, are the Harvest, the Summer, in which they must labour in the service and to the glory of Him, who hath called them into his vineyard. It is by now bringing forth their fruit unto holiness, that they must prove themselves to be "Trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord." It is by now abounding in good works, that they must evince their gratitude, adorn their profession, and display their meetness for partaking the inheritance of the saints in light.

SERMON XX.

THE FALL AND RECOVERY OF MAN.

ROMANS, V. 19.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made Sinners so by the obedience of One shall maxy be made Righteous.

EVERY considerate person must be convinced,

that man is at present in a fallen state. Compa.ing what he now is, with what at first he was, it is, lain that he is far gone from original righteousness, and has lost the Image and favour of his Maker. fe is prone to evil, and subject to decay, and bears evident marks of being under the divine displeasure. On this review of the case two questions press on our notice. First, How did man fall into this state? Secondly, How can he be recovered from it? These are questions which reason never could have answered. It is Revelation alone, which could answer them. And in the text we have a short, but plain reply to both. We are there told that "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners;" on the other hand," that by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." This is the account which the Scriptures give of the fall, and recovery of man.Let us separately consider the two particulars here stated.

Like

1. "By one Man's disobedience many were made 'sinners." The man here spoken of was Adam, the first man, the common Father of the human race. all the other works of God, he was originally good. He was created in the Image of God,"a holy, and happy, disposed to do God's will, capable of doing it, and finding his own happiness in doing it. And had he continued thus, we may justly presume, that he would have enjoyed a blessed immortality. But he fell from this holy, and happy state. He was guilty of disobedience. As a trial of his submission to the divine will, he had received from the Lord an express command not to eat of one particular tree in the Garden of Eden: and he had been threatened with instant death as the consequence of disobedience. The Lord had said unto him, "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." But nothwithstanding this command, enforced by such a threat, Adam was disobedient. Forgetful of the many obligations, which he was under to believe, and love and fear the Lord his God, he fell into the snare of the devil, and eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Judgment followed the ́act of disobedience. The sentence denounced against the transgression was executed. In the day that he ate thereof he died. He immediately passed from life unto death. His body became subject to disease and corruption; his soul lost all spiritual life, and feeling: and the whole man, both body and soul, was condemned to suffer the bitter pains of eternal death. What a dreadful change did Adam thus undergo! Instead of a Genesis, i. 27. Genesis, ii. 17.