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love and mercy; so we read every where in the Scriptures; perhaps He generally uses them as his instruments, faithful servants, who do his will with ready and perfect obedience. An angel was sent to foretell the birth of John the Baptist and of Christ. Angels announced to the shepherds of Bethlehem the arrival of our Saviour in the world, and celebrated it with that divine anthem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.” An angel warned Joseph to save the young child's life, by flying from the wrath of Herod ; an angel imparted its healing powers to the waters of Bethesda; angels ministered unto Christ, after his temptation in the wilderness; an angel strengthened Him in his agony; angels were present at His Resurrection and Ascension ; twelve legions of angels were ready at His command, had it been his will to be delivered from the power of his enemies; and when He shall come again at the end of the world, to judge both the quick and the dead, all his holy angels will be with him, and he will "send them forth, to gather his elect from the four winds," and to sever the wicked from among the just.

Well may we believe therefore, that these heavenly beings take a lively interest in our welfare, and are actively engaged in our behalf;

doubtless there is "joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth." And why this interest, and this joy? Because they well know the danger to which we are exposed, and the happiness prepared for us, if we escape it. They know that the salvation of every sinner will add to the glory of the Redeemer's kingdom, and be a fresh cause of triumph over the enemy of God and man; and shall we remain insensible to the mercy that is designed for us, when these holy beings, who know by experience the joys of heaven, are so anxious that we should accept it? Shall we cast away our souls, as of trifling value, when the blest spirits think them to be so precious, that they would exult at the recovery of but one, that seemed exposed to ruin? or shall we doubt that God still waiteth to be gracious, when they so ardently desire, and would so joyfully celebrate our repentance? My brethren, we have every encouragement, we have every assurance; let us not, through folly, nor through hardness of heart, nor through despair, continue at enmity with God; let us disappoint the malicious devices of Satan, and his emissaries; let us pray for strength to "resist the Devil;" friends will hasten down, at the first aspiration of earnest prayer; let us resist him in the name of Jesus, and in the power of the great Friend and

Comforter of all true Christians, and he will "flee from us," baffled and defeated; and if we

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persevere to fight the good fight of faith" in the same name, and in reliance on the same help, we shall "go from strength to strength," and when we have closed this scene of strife, we shall be borne by happy angels, to "the innumerable company" of their fellows, who "stand about the throne of God," and unite our voices with that heavenly multitude, saying, "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen."

SERMON XI.

PROFITABLE AND UNPROFITABLE HEARING.

LUKE VIII. 18.

Take heed therefore how ye hear.

My present text and subject have been suggested to me, by the chapter which was appointed for the second lesson in this morning's service. (Acts xvii.) In it are recorded several instances of St. Paul's exercising the important functions of the "dispensation which was committed unto him," by preaching the Gospel in the cities which he visited, "to the Jews first, and also to the Gentiles."

The various results of his "ministry of the word," on these occasions, the different sort of reception that he met with from his hearers, induce me to propose to your consciences this day this serious question, "in what spirit, and

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