of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set our feet upon a rock, and established our goings?" The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts-his illuminating rays have dispelled the darkness from our minds, and a new song is put into our mouths, even a song of thanksgiving to our God? What striking demonstrations are these, my brethren, that love is a distinguishing feature in the character of the Almighty! If such, however, be his character, is it not reasonable to conclude, that faith, since it is produced by his operation, will work by love? If he, whose very nature is love, produces an operative principle in the soul, must we not infer that such a principle will operate by love? Effects partake of the nature of their cause and as faith in the heart is an effect which can be traced to no other source than the God of love, the only fair conclusion is, that faith must necessarily work by love.

The object on which faith is principally exercised will also tend to confirm this sentiment. This object is the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is exercised upon him as the Saviour of the soul, with reference to his exalted character, his having freely undertaken our cause, and suffered and died for us as his enemies. And this exercise of faith necessarily works by love. While it is placed on Christ as that exalted Being, "by whom all things were created that are in heaven,

and that are in earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers," it leads the soul to admire his condescension, and to adore the riches of his grace. And while it has an eye to him, as having voluntarily resigned the highest glory to undertake our redemption, the warmest affections spontaneously flow from the heart. Pure and disinterested love produces, of necessity, a re-action of love. When also faith is exercised upon the Saviour, as having suffered and died for us while his enemies, high and adoring thoughts of him are necessarily experienced. Then the language of the soul is-" And did the blessed Redeemer stoop from his exalted Throne, and condescend to die for me whilst a rebel against his authority, and a despiser of his grace? O goodness infinite! goodness immense! and love that passeth knowledge!" Thus, therefore, it is evident that faith and love are inseparable.

The same doctrine may be further confirmed, by considering the distinguished place which faith holds in the Christian religion.Trace this religion to its real source, and you will find it founded on love-everlasting love-love unspeakable, and past finding out. It breathes the highest degree of love to the human race. In this religion is exhibited the tenderest compassion for the wretched-full and free forgiveness is pro

claimed to the guilty-encouragement is vouchsafed to the most disconsolate-invitations are given to induce the vilest to return from their wanderings-and an eternal weight of glory is promised to the righteous. Such is the religion of the gospel. And, be it attentively remarked, that faith is one of the principal graces which this religion inculcates. Faith holds a most distinguished place in the system of genuine Christianity. How reasonable therefore is it to infer, that faith worketh by love! If faith be a principal grace, in a religion which exhibits such unspeakable love, nothing can be more evident than that love must necessarily be the effect of faith. Having thus established our first point, let us hasten to consider

II. The nature of that love by which faith works.

Its nature is most excellent. Mankind are united by it in the closest and happiest ties-celestial Spirits are also cemented together in an indissoluble union by its attractive influence, aud all who are under its operation both in heaven and earth, are joined in one spirit to the Almighty. In treating of its nature distinctly, we begin with observing that its most natural exercise is towards GOD.

Faith brings us into a justified state. It

enables its possessor, therefore, to view God as a reconciled Father and Friend through his beloved Son. Under the influence of faith, a hope of sharing the full and free forgiveness of all trespasses is in lively exercise-free access to God as a present help

in

every time of trouble is enjoyed-a sense of adoption into the family of heaven is felt -an anticipation of the unutterable joys of eternity is experienced, and, in short, a claim to all the unutterable privileges of God's covenant love is granted to the soul. This blessed experience converts the stony heart into a heart of flesh-and excites the warmest effusions of love and gratitude, to the author of such transcendent goodness. “Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee," is then the language of the soul. Even the reproach of Christ, is esteemed greater riches than all the treasures of earth, or all that the world calls good and great. Thus an Apostle's assertion is exemplified in the experience, "We love him, because he first loved us."

Such is the nature of that love by which faith works. Does your faith, my brethren, produce a love of this description? Does your faith operate so powerfully on your hearts, as to be an assurance to yourselves, and an evidence to others, that the blessed God is the object on which your supreme

affection is placed? If this is the case, there is reason to conclude, that you are partakers of a faith which worketh by love, in the very sense which the Apostle intended.

The love by which faith works is also a love to the Brethren. The heart which feels a love to God, will necessarily feel a love to his people. "If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother he is a liar." Faith, therefore, is particularly operative in love to the followers of Christ. When any discover by their lowly dispositions, spiritual mindedness, holy conversation, and upright conduct, that they belong to the Lord, faith unites the soul to them, and causes it to participate in their experience. A mutual exercise of joys and sorrows-hopes and fears-desires and aversions-is experienced by God's people through the influence of faith. It is this operative principle, which leads the Christian to say, in reference to all on whose hearts the lovely resemblance of the Saviour is stamped-" These are my Brethren in our one common head, the Lord Jesus. We are all united to the same Redeemer; are partakers of the same grace; enjoy the same privileges; experience the same access to the God of all our mercies; are travelling in the same celestial road; have the same glorious reward in view; and shall for ever and ever, be favoured with the same uninterrupted pleasures, in the realms of