under grace repentance is accepted, and such obedience as mere man can pay allowed instead of the perfect obedience paid by CHRIST.

He is the

author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Heb. v. 9.) If we do His precepts, as laid down in His discourses, we build on a rock-if not, on the earth, on the sand. (S. Matt. vii. 24-27; S. Luke vi. 47-49.)

2. "Faith, which worketh by love." (Gal. v. 6.)

The root of our obedience, to make it acceptable at all, must be faith. Obedience on any lower motive has the nature of sin, (Art. xiii.) proceeds from something merely human, and all that is merely human is stained by the fall. There is somewhat of vanity, or selfishness, or alloy of some kind to deteriorate it. It is not the pure work of love. But he who firmly believes who CHRIST is, and what CHRIST has done for him, works on a principle of infinite gratitude and self-devotion, and abounds in deeds of piety and mercy, in love to all mankind, as to CHRIST's redeemed, in love to the Church, as the congregation of CHRIST's faithful. Such deeds alone will follow us to heaven: works done in His love, bright with the smile of His approval, will shine in the splendour of the great day, whose light will but reveal the deformities which lurked in the fairest and most renowned of mere human actions. See Bp. Jeremy Taylor's Fides For

mata.

3. "A new creature." Gal. vi. 15, kawỳ Kтíois, a new creation.

The spiritual circumcision is that temper of mind

which is, as far as possible, the image of GOD in which Adam was created, and which he lost; but which the second Adam bears, and which we, in Him, may in a measure bear, and must, if we would live with Him hereafter. Grace for this disposition was given in holy Baptism. By this disposition all the evil desires, motives, and deeds of unregenerate nature are rejected, and those most opposite substituted in their place. (Rom. xiii. 14; Gal. iii. 27; Eph. ii. 10; iv. 22 -24; Col. iii. 9—14; S. James i. 21.1)

O may a faithful scrutiny of our hearts show that we possess "the true circumcision of the spirit!" and may a sincere and faithful use of the Collect for the day enlarge the blessing we enjoy, or procure that which we do not! May we be "under the law to CHRIST!" (1 Cor. ix. 21.) May we "live by the faith of the Son of GOD!" (Gal. ii. 20,) and may the new year find us indeed "new creatures!" Old things are passed away! how many old pursuits are become tasteless, old pleasures valueless! How many old affections, alas! change and mortality have swept away! How ample have been the ravages of the last year in this regard! We have entered on another: certain, ere that is out, to lose something which endears the world to us, or to leave it ourselves. How then ought all things indeed to become new to us! how ought we to awake from old delusions to new and solemn convictions!

1 In which text repioσelav is, not improbably, an allusion to the rite of circumcision, and a translation of

obsolete, superfuit. See Parkhurst, voc..

how ought we to live with new aims, new affections! that the retrospect of another year, should it be granted, may present us with hopes which defy disappointment! that, if it should be that in which we are to be called away, we may obey the call in the spirit of Abraham, and leave country, kindred, and father's house, in the well-grounded hope of re-union in a better land. (Heb. xi. 8-10.)

VOL. II.

VIII.

The Epiphany.1

Subject. GOD no respecter of persons.

Text. Acts x. 34, 35. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him."

Gen.

Illustrative Scriptures. On the calling of the Gentiles. xvii. 4, 5; xlix. 10; Ps. xxii. 28; lxvii.; lxxii. ; lxxxii.; lxxxvi. ; lxxxvii.; c.; cxvii.; Isaiah throughout; Jer. xvi. 19 ; xxvii. 7 ; Mic. iv. 2; Hag. ii. 7; Zech. ii. 11; Mal. i. 11; S. Luke xi. 10, 31, 32; Acts of the Apostles, and Epistles to the Romans and Galatians throughout; Eph. ii. iii.; Col. i.; 1 Tim. ii. 7; iii. 16; 2 Tim. i. 11.

Parallel Texts will occur in the course of the outline.

Principal Word. προσωπολήπτης.

(This sermon would serve for Easter Monday, and Whit Sunday and Monday.)

THE present festival is intended to commemorate the blessing we enjoy in becoming God's people, by the manifestation of His SON to us. It preaches to us, Col. i. 21-27. The call of the Gentiles was foretold by the prophets; but the Jews did not understand

1 For an outline on the adoration of the Magi, see Pastoralia, Serm. VIII. (2nd Edit.)

2 Only a few of these can be instanced. The subject overflows the Bible.

them. Hence, S. Paul calls it a mystery. (Ibid. and Eph. iii. 3-6.) The Jews thought their GoD a respecter of persons-of the patriarchs-of their nation —of every Jew-that no Jew could be lost-no Gentile saved. It was the last error the Apostles parted with. Even at the great Pentecost they had no clear notion of it. (Acts x. 45; xi. 2, 3, 18, 19.) S. Peter was the first to admit it, compelled by the circumstances attending the conversion of Cornelius. Then he saw that fearing GOD, and working righteousness, not descent from Abraham, was the qualification for the Divine favour; that no man was common or unclean merely because he was not born a Jew. To us, the call of the Gentiles has no mystery: we are ourselves the objects of it. Yet to be called, is not necessarily to be accepted. latter blessing we must

In order to attain the

I. Fear GOD. This is a general expression for religion—for all the duties of the first table-for reverencing, worshipping, devoutly acknowledging GOD. It acknowledges

1. His power.

x. 28.)

(Job xiii. 11; Jer. v. 21; S. Matt.

2. Our sinfulness. For if we be not sinners, there is nothing to fear.

3. His mercy. For, without this, we should have no hope; and therefore, properly, no fear. (Ps. cxxx. 4.) 4. His presence. He who fears GOD lives as always in His sight, prays without ceasing (1 Thess. v. 17; Acts x. 2)—at the hours, (Acts x. 3, 9,) at the services, (S. Luke ii. 36, 37; xxiv. 53); receives the Holy Communion, fearing those words, S. John vi. 5.