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vour after good, however small; his very aspirations des pise not, his imperfections do not sorely rebuke. Strength. en the hands that hang down and the feeble knees confirm. Strengthen by encouragement and support, do not by rebuke and censure drive him to distraction.

Nevertheless, though this change may appear in various quarters of the horizon of a sinner's thoughts and interests, there are marks in its progression which may be laid down. Discontent with oneself, a fear of God's displeasure, a desire after the knowledge of his will, an acquiescence in his estimate of our sinfulness, a joyful reception of the Saviour, a growing peace, and with it a strict obedience, a sense of great weakness, a seeking for help by prayer, perusal of the Word, and waiting for the Spirit, and a progress in the way everlasting:-these things, not by order, as if there were an infallible order, which some in their witless unobservance of Christian life do imagine, but certainly, most certainly these marks will reveal themselves in the course of the progression; and such to whom these truths are not disclosing or disclosed are not christianizing or christianized.

Allow me, then, to gather up the whole that hath been said and dismiss the subject. This world into which we are born age after age, is marshalled into two parts-those who give heed to the Lord's revelations and thereunto conform their lives-those who give not heed to them, but set up a system of life according to hereditary law, honour and custom. To the one or the other we must submit, there is not one in a thousand who dissents from both, and setteth up for himself. tine your children to, to that breed them like a business. Whichever you desThose that have not been so trained, but find themselves confederate with the world, have only to enter themselves to the school of Christ, nothing doubting of success, if they consult and obey the word of God. They shall feel it new, and therefore seemingly more restrictive, but in truth not more restrictive than the old, but otherwise

more liberal, more generous, more ennobling, more peaceful and more joyful.

Come over, cast in your lot with the saints, you have every thing to gain-peace of conscience, a divine joy, a fellowship with God, a special providence, a heritage of promise and blessing, a triumphant death, and a crown of everlasting life. The choice of men are here-the prime specimens of manhood, the royal priesthood and chosen generation of mankind—and worth domestic, with Piety, her guardian genius, is here; and worth public, with Charity, her guardian genius, is here; and enterprise he. roic, with Faith, her guardian genius, is here; and the chief fathers of science and knowledge have likewise clave with the saints; and the greatest inventors, the inventors of reformation in all worthy matters, are here; apostles and prophets and patriarchs are here; and, finally, the first-born of every creature who is God over all blessed for ever! Amen.

ORATION IV.

JOHN V. 39. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

The Obeying of the Oracles of God.

We have discoursed upon the preparation necessary for holding intercourse with the word of God, summoning your souls to it as to a most honourable interview, a feast of heavenly wisdom. We have detailed the place which you occupy, and the part which you should perform, when listening to the voice of your Creator, and receiving the law at his mouth-giving ear as the light did when first summoned from its primeval residence; or the sun, and the moon, and the stars-and as mute Nature listens still. We have searched into that strong reluctance which we bear to the divine law, and sought to overcome it by the fearful picture of the desolation which overtakes transgressors;-arguing sore between the world and the word' of God, and praying you to be reconciled for the sake of Christ. Heaven grant that we may not have spoken in vain and now that we are to address ourselves to a loftier argument, may his Spirit fill us with knowledge and affection, that his mysterious and momentous truths may suffer no disparagement from our weak conception and feeble utterance. The argument for which we now pray to be enabled, is the good fruit which will accrue to all who search and entertain and obey the Scriptures after the manner we have set forth. This we shall display under three heads: the knowledge obtained; the life of heavenly enterprise begotten; and the eternal reward to be gained.

The eternal power and Godhead of our Creator, says St. Paul, speak through the things which are made, and there is no doubt that the oracle of the works of God is loud in commendation of his power and providence. But

it is not easy to be explored by the multitude, little enlightened by knowledge, and much taken up with the necessary avocations of life.-And those who are conversant with it, do generally, in the act of consulting, stop short in admiration of the temple which he inhabits, paying their reverence to its richness and decorations, but seldom reaching the inward sanctuary where his voice is heard. Nature hath changed her song, or man hath lost his faculty of interpreting it; for into his ear she uttereth many a strain in commendation of herself, hardly one in commendation of her God. Now natural knowledge, when thus divorced from the knowledge of Nature's God, satisfieth not the ethereal spirit, which must join league with spirit in order to taste its proper delight. For what communion is there between the soul of man and the superficial beauty of the earth, which they call Taste, or the knowledge of matter's changes, which they call Science ?-a most unnatural match yielding no profitable fruit. When the soul once finds a kindred soul, then beginneth her revelry of delight. Unfeigned friendship, chaste love, domestic affection, pure devotion-who compares the intensity and delight of these conjunctions with the stale and heartless sympathy there is between a naturalist and his museum, or a scholar and his books? The human soul groans in languor till she finds a fellow spirit, or a generous cause of human welfare to engage her affections.

Even such languor, such a dissatisfaction finds the soul when, without a guide, she goes to seek God in his natural universe, groping about and unrested, hungering for larger insight, perplexed with difficulties, and finding no end in wandering mazes lost. How refreshing to such a spirit when the dark cloud God has retired within bursts, and in visible glory he displays himself to his benighted children, speaking to them in an intelligible voice and revealing the mysteries of his nature. Then cometh rest, and with rest refreshment and enlargement of soul.

There is no cause beyond to long after. Than God the mind can ascend no higher, and should be satisfied with his likeness. Here there is perfection without a blemish, which we range the world for in vain,-justice never perverted, which it hath been the glory of man to live under,―mercy, with all the tender affections which pacify and harmonize the life of man,-holiness, holding a spotless reign over the happy fields of heaven-All composed and peaceful within that same Being, who is clothed with the elemental powers, armed with the thunder, and served by the army of heaven and the voice of fate.

Do ye love to meditate nobleness of nature?-Here it is infinitely noble. Doye love to contemplate stupendous power put forth in soft acts of goodness?-Behold it here, pouring the full river of pleasure though the universe. Here is the Father of all families, from the highest in the heaven above to the lowest tribe upon the earth beneath, serving out justice and liberality to them all. What would you more to fill your mind with than the idea of God, which, while it fills, elevates, enlarges, and refines. With what ardour men behold their favourites of the present or past ages, aiming generously to equal or excel them. What silent musings over their history, and estimation of their parts! Now what hinders their rising higher to contemplate the revealed image of the invisible God. He is not seen; neither are the worthies of a former age. They are written of.-He is written of. The one is as lawful an object of thought and imitation as the other.

Nay, the closer to bring you into fellowship, he hath despatched from his highest sphere the image of himself to act the divine part among earthly scenes, and seeing we had fallen from his neighbourhood, and could not regain our lost estate, hath he sent forth his own son, made of a woman, made under the law, down to our sphere, to bind the link between heaven and earth which seemed for ever to have been broken. He clothes himself in the raiment of flesh; he puts on like passions and affections, and pre