a thing of less value than the perishable gains or transitory pleasures for which they so greedily barter it? It is because they do not know its worth! They know not, or seem not to know, that it is immortal; that it was impressed originally with the Creator's image, and destined for an immortality of happiness. Did man know, did he really believe all this, he would not sacrifice his best interests for so inadequate a return as the world at best can yield. He never would hazard an eternity of peace for all the treasures and enjoyment of time. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. xvi. 26.) Nothing, nothing if he understood what he was about. If he knew how to reckon the comparative happiness of this world and the next, he would spurn from him, as dung and dross, all that exchange for the ex

might be offered him in cellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. (Phil. iii. 8.) One thing is absolutely needful, and only one. We could do, as thousands have done before, without all those things which constitute the happiness of this world's children. But we cannot do without pardon. The chastisement that sin deserves must be borne by some one. We cannot live, we cannot die in peace, under the apprehension that we shall be the sufferers. But to believe that the punishment has been endured by One every way com

petent to make our peace with God, may well satisfy our minds and dissipate our fears. Let us seek then, above all things, a personal interest in Jesus' atonement, and we shall be happy at rest in Him for evermore.

DISCOURSE V.

DILIGENCE ESSENTIAL TO THE ATTAINMENT OF PEACE WITH GOD.

SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.Isaiah lv. 6.

To feel at peace with God is the consummation of human happiness. The man in quest of this blessing will be satisfied with nothing short of its attainment. He learns from the Gospel that the conditions of peace between heaven and earth are ratified by the Son of God; and that the Father is prepared to be reconciled to all that repent of their rebellion against Him, believe in this revelation of His will, and embrace His proffered mercy. But, although this knowledge is essential to the enjoyment of peace, it does not necessarily produce it. This, like every other species of knowledge, must be applied to its appropriate end, or it will serve only to reproach the negligence of its possessors. To be informed that a creditor were willing to cancel our debt, would

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be quite enough to induce us to apply to him for the purpose, with every demonstration of gratitude, if we really desired to have it remitted. But should we take no notice of his kind intention, would he not, would not every one conclude, that we were indifferent about the matter? And our knowledge of his wish to befriend us, instead of confirming his purpose, would have the opposite tendency. He would be much more likely to renew his demand for the amount we owed him, than to blot it out of his books.

So, to know that the Lord our God is gracious and ready to forgive, is one thing; earnestly to call upon Him to forgive us, is another. We must not confound this knowledge and its application, as though the former necessarily implied the latter. It is so improbable that a debtor should thus act in reference to a human creditor, that you may be inclined to doubt the necessity of this caution. But are not the children of this world still wiser in their generation than the children of light? (Luke xvi. 8.) What multitudes are resting in the bare knowledge of the leading facts and doctrines of the Gospel, without taking any pains to apply them to their souls? This stagnation of thought and feeling is ruinous indeed! If many of the wicked will perish, notwithstanding their ignorance of God's will to show mercy, what judgment may be expected to await those, who, knowing all His gracious purposes towards mankind revealed in the Gospel,

shall die without repentance and earnest supplication for remission of sin? To warn all whom He addressed against such a result, our Lord delivered this admonition :-When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke xii. 58, 59.)

Here the Almighty is represented, First, as our adversary. It is hard to think God the adversary of man, seeing that He surrounds us with so many tokens of His friendship, and gives us such repeated assurances of love. There is a sense indeed in which He cannot be our enemy. He cannot delight in human misery, as Satan does, nor, like that cruel foe, seek our destruction. This is the Devil's express design, and he pursues it in opposition to God, whose avowed object is, to promote our happiness.

Truly is God the friend of man. We, however, have made Him our adversary, by disregarding His claims upon us. It was but just and reasonable that the Creator should demand of His creatures a strict conformity to His will. And though His right to their allegiance is unquestionable, yet, so far is He from exercising an arbitrary authority over them, or acting in any way opposed to their happiness or liberty, that