and innocence here required differ widely from that worldly uprightness, which is sufficient, in the intercourse of society, to obtain for a man an honorable reputation. Men's powers are weak and limited; the idea which they form to themselves of moral excellence partakes of the imperfectness of their conceptions and the narrowness of their judgments: they are able to judge, besides, of the external conduct only; and even of that their knowledge is imperfect; their decisions regard one side only of our lives, and that the side which we prepare, if I may so express myself, for show and ostentation. Faults long committed they pass lightly over; and into the estimates of human opinion only the evidence of the present, or of a very recent period is admitted.

Far otherwise the Supreme Judge: The duties of infancy, of youth, of maturity, of old age; the duties of health and of sickness; those which proceed from the various relations of citizen, father, child, wife, brother, friend, neighbour, master, servant; duties which relate to piety, to justice, to charity, to sincerity, to

chastity, to temperance; actions public and private; inclinations, desires, thoughts, nay even words, the foolish and unweighed expressions which we inconsiderately let fall, as if they melted into the idle air;-all these will form the materials of the Almighty's decision. He does not rest satisfied with the observation of the surface, but looks into the motives of actions; of which the most splendid, if human passions be the principle in which they originated, are in his eyes as nothing, or perhaps even partake of the nature of sin. We delude ourselves respecting our faults, ten thousand ways: He beholds them as they are. Our corrupt nature overlooks them; before Him they stand naked, and are hateful in proportion to his holiness. We commit them almost without observation; He weighs them in his balance : we forget them, we banish them from our remembrance; He remembers them, and inscribes them upon the records of eternity.

Alas! when I think upon these truths, it seems to me that all nature becomes our accuser, and that every emotion of our souls rises

"If thou, Lord,"

up in judgment against us. exclaimed the Psalmist, when oppressed by a similar feeling, "if thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" "How should a man be just with God?" asked Job; "if He will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand." "There is none righteous," declares St. Paul; "no, not one."Where, then, is that presumptuous mortal, who, relying upon his own righteousness, shall dare, without shrinking, to approach the judgmentseat of the Most Holy? Be assured, that, extravagant as the pride of man is, there is far more of thoughtlessness than pride, in those whom we see animated by this daring spirit. Let them but examine their own hearts; let them listen to that voice which even now speaks from their conscience; and, struck with fear and confusion, they will confess, that man's salvation can be obtained by divine grace alone.

But, you will, perhaps, ask, are we not en

titled to expect that grace, and the pardon which is consequent upon it, through the mercy of our God?

My Brethren, we could have no assurance on this head, unless He himself vouchsafed to afford it to us. In the administration of his providence, justice has her claims, no less than mercy. God himself must speak; it is from him that we must learn not only the mode selected by him for reconciling those claims, and for effecting our reunion with himself, but also the condition upon which this benefit is conceded.

And he has spoken. That mode is the sacrifice offered upon the cross by the great Mediator, the Son of God: that condition is, that we apply to this merciful Redeemer,-it is Faith. Look into the Gospel; there you will find, on every page, that man is justified, not by the merit of works, but by faith; that he is justified, not as human tribunals justify, but after a mode of justification peculiar to infinite goodness. He is not found innocent, but he is restored to the privileges of innocence. What is required of him, is this: that, feeling his own insufficiency, he fix his hope upon Him who dies for the sons of men; that he look to

Him, as the expiring Israelites of old looked to the brazen serpent, lifted up to give them health and healing.

Such is the sole medium of salvation: the language of Scripture is express upon this point." God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."-" Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."-" In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Thus, My Brethren, no sooner does man come to Christ with sincerity, and with all his soul, than (O divine efficacy of faith!) the merits of Christ veil his transgressions, the righteousness of Christ becomes his righteousness, the immunities of Christ become his immunities; and, identifying himself in his wishes and hopes with his divine Saviour, he henceforth becomes "one" with him. From that time he is in a condition to "HAVE PEACE WITH GOD," to have communion with God.

This is that truth which you have never un