ye remem

the secret springs of human feeling, hath thus described the consequence of free forgiveness, and the happy sense of present reconciliation: "I will accept you with your sweet savour," He first graci-* ously promises," and ye shall know that I am the Lord. And then shall ber your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed, and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings,”

And again, after the most encouraging assurances of mercy, and sanctification, it is added, "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations." And again, "I

will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. Then shalt thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed."

Oh, never does the real Christian so deeply, so truly mourn over his past transgressions, and present short comings, as when his heart is melted with a sense of the undeserved love of his God. Never does his past ingratitude appear so black, as when viewed in the light of God's reconciled countenance. Then he has something of the sorrow for sin described in the word of God, "I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son." Yes, dear friend, if our feelings of joy and peace are unconnected with this remembrance of the past, this unfeigned contrition, this abasement of soul, we may well suspect that all is not

right. Instead of a holy fire lighted at the altar of God, we have every reason to fear they are sparks of our own kindling, sparks of religious excitement which will speedily go out in utter darkness. Real scriptural comfort makes the soul more humble and contrite, according to the short, but comprehensive description by the prophet, who had been previously dwelling on great spiritual blessings:"Then, thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged." And, "They shall fear the Lord, and his goodness."

You also think, dearest, that a hope of present acceptance would make you inactive and slothful; that you would become careless, and remiss in your religious duties, when not stimulated by the fear of danger. You thus consider fear a more powerful, and effective passion than love; but all nature proclaims a different truth, which the God of nature has sanctioned by His

own treatment of us. The influence of fear is uncertain, wavering, and often transitory but "love is strong as death;" nay, even stronger, as the whole history of the church of Christ proclaims. Never was the influence of fear more awfully tried, than on Mount Sinai, when "there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the Mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people trembled." "And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and waxed louder, and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice." Yet, how very transient were the impressions made by this fearful scene! and how quickly the feelings called forth by it, passed away! after three days the very people who had thus trembled, in

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sulted God in the most dreadful manner. But love, in all its gentleness, and stillness, and power, was tried on Mount Sion, and through eighteen hundred years its blessed and powerful influence has been felt. We may also learn from the method pursued by the Author, and Finisher of our faith, which feeling is most conducive to the sanctification of the soul. Abram for the trial of

How did he prepare quitting his home, nearly all that he

and father's house, and knew and loved on earth? Not by exciting his fear, and only a trembling hope of being finally accepted;-but by giving him a gracious assurance of present acceptance. It was this, which made him willing to part with all; raised him above all earthly ties, and made him only anxious to follow the Lord his God. In the same manner was Moses strengthened for his most arduous office, and mighty enterprise. Assured that the Lord "was with him," and that he had "found grace in his sight,"