fear of the Lord; is not only made partaker of the divine nature, but, as far as is possible for flesh and blood, becomes "filled with all the fulness of God. *"

But, you ask, How can these things be?----I answer: Look unto Jesus: "Him hath God "exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince "and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto

Israel, and forgiveness of sinst." As He is the object, so he is " the author and finisher of

faith." He has been lifted up, to draw all men unto himself; and no man cometh to the Father, but by him. Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved. He will be all in all to you: Ye shall be accepted in the Beloved, God's beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased. His blood is a sacred fountain, ever open for sin and uncleanness. It is a precious balm for all your wounds; the Divine Physician, our good Samaritan, will himself apply it. Will ye then not come unto him, that ye may have life? He hath shed blood enough,---blood divine!---for ten thousand such sinners as you. Whether your debt be an hundred pence, or ten thousand talents, if ye, with sincerity of heart, apply to him, he will freely forgive you all. Your sins shall be no more re

membered

* Eph. iii. 19.

+ Acts v. 31.

Heb. xii..

membered against you; they shall be cast into the very depth of the sea. Though like crimson and scarlet, though more in number than the hairs of your head,----- -they shall be all cleansed from their impurities in the sacred fountain; and appear before God like the newly-shorn wool, white as the driven snow!

Thou poor, dejected penitent! Thou hast nothing to offer; but this blessing is all "with"out money and without price." Thou art helpless and forlorn: Confess thy misery into his bosom. "He feeds his flock as a shepherd: "He gathers the lambs with his arm, and car"ries them in his bosom; and gently leads those "that are with young.'

But thou wouldest have, not only the pardon, but the removal of thy sins. 'Tis well. Such is the disposition with which all should come to Christ: And he is sufficient for this also --He is willing, as he is able. He was named Jesus, the Saviour, because he saves his people from their sins: Not only from their guilt, but also from their corruption. He came to "re"deem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto

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himself, as a peculiar people, zealous of good "works." He came to establish for himself

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a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, "or any such thing :---a people of priests, and

an holy nation." The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. By his grace ye may be completely saved, through faith ;---and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast; not of works, lest all men should despair. Do but continue looking unto Jesus. Trust not in your own righteousness, but in that which is of God, by faith Seek this continually; strive after it; or rather, strive after Christ,-to be found in him,-to have his Spirit dwelling and ruling in your heart; to be any thing, or nothing, just as he would have you.

Oh that you could all cry out, " My beloved "is mine, and I am his! He is fairer than "the children of men; full of grace and truth, "and of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace!-True, we are sinners,--"the chief of sinners:-but Christ came into "the world to save sinners; to call them to repentance, faith, holiness: And, blessed be "God! the life that we now live in the flesh,

we live, by faith in the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us, yet not we, but "Christ liveth in us. While we trust in him, " he will never leave us, nor forsake us; but "will preserve us faithful unto death, and give us a crown of everlasting life." B

May

May this be the language of all our hearts May we know nothing, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. May we "glory only in the "cross of Christ, whereby the world is cruci"fied unto us, and we unto the world!"

Thus shall we indeed become truly wise,. wise unto salvation. For, let us search the Scriptures, in which we think we have eternal life, and they are they which thus testify of Christ as the way, the truth, and the life:

the head over all things to his church; their prophet, priest, and king; their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: by whom, and in whom, and through whom, and to whom, are all things, for ever and ever.

Thus also shall we become the truest patriots. We shall arm our country with the favour and protection of Almighty God. Our prayers and our alms will ascend before him. He shall give his angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways; and not only ourselves, but our families, our relations, our friends; and we may hope for some share of his blessings on our country. "Behold, God will be altogether our salvation: "We shall trust, and not be afraid: for the "Lord Jehovah shall be our strength, and our "song. He also will become our salvation."

Which may Almighty God grant to our prayers, for the sake of his dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!-AMEN

PRAYER BEFORE OR AFTER THE SERMON.

Collect for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, and the Litany.

“O GOD, who knoweft us to be fet in the midst of so many and great dangers, that, by reason of the frailty of our nature, we cannot always ftand upright; Grant to us fuch ftrength and protection, against the crafts and affaults of the Devil,-as may fupport us in all dangers, carry us through all temptations, and, finally, beat down Satan under our feet, through Jefus Christ our Lord!"

The Devices of Satan.
SERMON I.

2 CORINTHIANS ii. 11.

Lest Satan fhould get an advantage of us: for we are not igno rant of his devices.

T is not my intention to enter into a con

IT

sideration of the particular circumstance which gave rise to these words; wishing rather to treat them in a general view,-as leading to instruction more profitable to us all.

We find, then, in the Sacred Scriptures, two agents represented as exercising their opposite dominion over the children of men; the Evil Spirit, and the Holy Spirit of God.

1. With respect to the Evil Spirit, we observe him described as under the form of a Serpent, seducing the innocence of our first parents,thus establishing his power in their breasts, and

A

[W. Appleton, Printer, Darlington.]

those