case; he is like a mariner at sea, without his compass; he knows not which way to steer. He is like Bunyan's Pilgrim, when he had lost his roll, and like him, there is no way for him but to go back and seek diligently till he find it. Oh, believer! it is a dangerous thing to trifle with grace given. Were it not so, we should not be so often admonished to "take heed and beware," to "watch and be sober." Remember our Lord's words, "what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch." Let those who have so far fallen from grace, pray for a renewal of this precious faith, for it is by this means only that they can realize the nearness and the preciousness of the things appertaining to God.

In speaking of this certain evidence, that genuine christians have of all that appertains to God's word, let me remind you that this in reality is what we all need, men may have notions of christianity, and they may take it to be true by tradition, even as the Mohammedans take their religion, they may also have a rational evidence of the truth of Christianity, drawn from the consideration of the miracles of our Lord, and the prophecies relating to him; they may know and approve of many of the real doctrines of the Gospel. Yet all these things do not make men believers, these will never produce that certainty that St. Peter speaks of, this divine faith is the gift of God, and is given to those only who, in good earnest, seek it, and pray to God for it ; for " no man knows the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him."

Dear christian brethren, do be in earnest about your souls,-search and examine the scriptures for yourselves, and then compare the same with your own hearts and lives. If you find yourselves devoid of spiritual life, pray, I repeat it, pray earnestly for grace and divine illumination,-rest not until you have attained unto a knowledge of true christian faith,-faith of the operation of God,-faith that worketh by love-of which you have been heretofore ignorant, and it will bring along with it a certainty of the glory of the Lord to be hereafter

revealed. If once you feel the Spirit's power, it will not permit you quietly to go on in sin,-it will draw up your hearts to God,-it will make you holy, and consequently happy. For "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." Oh! that all would repent and turn to God in sincerity, and pray till he gave them such a realizing, appropriating faith, in our Lord Jesus Christ, as Thomas had, when he cried out "My Lord and my God." Then would they be delivered from sin, and realize a peace and a joy in believing, to which they have been heretofore strangers.

2. If the christian's expectation of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ be a certainty, how ought he to realize it on all occasions! and say, "my Saviour will soon appear, I shall see him face to face ere long." If he lived under a constant sense of this, how resigned and patient! How weaned from this world would he be! and thus be brought to "rejoice in the Lord alway."

As this same Lord Jesus, however, will come to be admired in all them that believe, so it should be remembered that he will come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not his word. Ungodly men, scoffers at God's word, who are living in sin, without any compunction of conscience, do you never reflect that this same Jesus, whom you despise, will be your judge, and this same word, which you slight, will be the rule by which you will be judged? Whilst time is now yours, make this Saviour your friend, turn to him, "learn of him, for he is meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

3. From the Apostle's commanding believers to take good heed to the word, "as a light that shineth in a dark place," we may observe the preciousness of the Word of God. Christian brethren, prize this sacred volume more than your necessary food; weigh well in your minds its contents daily, take no step in life without consulting its sacred pages, prize the directions that it gives you, above all the experiences of your fellow men.

Its directions are safe, its counsels salutary, whilst you read, look to the good Spirit of God, and he will guide

into all truth. The looking at the experiences of others, without attending to God's word, has led, and will still lead, many into the snares and delusions of the evil one. When providences are dark and mysterious, and the clouds of adversity seem ready to break over your head, and in sadness "your hands hang down, and your knees are feeble," and all seems gloomy and disheartening around you, then look to Jesus, then read and be guided by his word, trust your all with him, and expect the return of his light, peace, and comfort. Whilst you are thus following him as a God of providence, cast your soul upon him as a God of grace, and you shall then also realize his eternal kingdom hereafter. Here hold fast your confidence, for "we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence unto the end."

Lastly, is it so, that the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, for which we so frequently pray, will come? Shall all his faithful followers wear the incorruptible crown, and with him inherit eternal glory? The Word of God has said it, and it cannot lie. Then how ought this to lure christian pilgrims onward in doing and suffering the will of God, remembering that the christian's motto is "No cross, no crown." Thus writes St. Paul in the fifth chapter of Romans, "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Thus realizing the certainty of the things which we profess, we shall become more zealous and fervent in our christian course; and we shall be encouraged in the arduous and difficult duties of mortification and self-denial; and by these means shall 66 become we meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." And for this end let us pray "Almighty God to give us grace that we

may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which his son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day when he shall come in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal through him who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

SERMON V.

THE GOOD PART CHOSEN.

LUKE X. 38.

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house."

THIS is a very plain, yet highly instructive portion of God's word. I shall endeavour to make such reflections on each sentence, consecutively as they are recorded in the gospel, as the text itself naturally suggests; and I do sincerely exhort you, to ask in fervent prayer for the gracious influences of God's holy Spirit to apply these truths to all our hearts and consciences.

If history in general be instructive, the history of Christ Jesus our Lord must be peculiarly so. It is truly wonderful that the life of such an extraordinary personage excites no more the spirit of attention and inquiry than it does. The four gospels give us the history of a character the most singular, the most surprising, and the most edifying, that ever appeared in the annals of mankind. This single circumstance, that it is the biography of one who lived without sin,-without guile,-in the strictest and most absolute sense of the word, gives it a dignity, and an importance infinitely superior to the life of any other man that ever lived: and here let it be noticed, that it was

"As man he suffer'd, and as man he died;"

and as man he left us an example, that we should follow his steps. To see a person in all cases, views, and circumstances, conducting himself by the rules of perfect propriety, never erring in thought, word, or deed,