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and Saviour, and Redeemer united; but he will not put forth his hand to take them. What does the Apostle say?" Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life: endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ."

Do you then, my friends, set the younger Christians the example of this holy violence; of this struggling against every impediment, and drawing out of the grace that is in Christ Jesus; ever remembering, it is not natural violence, or rash zeal, or intemperate strife, of which we are speaking; but the violence of holy love-or, rather, the pressure of faith coming nearer and NEARER to Him, who, the more clearly he is seen, shines in fuller glory and more perfect beauty. His rays cast so bright a light, that when Love, the child of Faith, would press too near, her twin-sister, Humility, pauses at his footstool, and, casting her crown before him, unites with the assembled host around his throne in saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour and blessing."

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SERMON XV.

THE PRIVILEGES AND ORNAMENTS OF THE
CHILDREN OF GOD.

COL. iii. 12, 13.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

DURING the season which has just passed, I have, in accordance with the service of our Church, drawn your attention to some of the grand truths connected with the second coming of our Lord. I have done so from a full conviction that, to those whose faith is grounded and settled in the atoning sacrifice and perfect righteousness of our blessed Lord, there is no part of Divine truth more calculated to deaden the heart to the world than an habitual view of the glories of his appearance. It is like the

beams of the noon-day sun, which dim, if they do not extinguish, every inferior fire. There is an inquiry of our blessed Lord connected with that subject which well merits our attention. He asks, "Who is that faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." This question, and the blessing connected with it, is as if our Lord should say to his servants, When my family have a lively sense of my Advent, give them the food which will best prepare them for my coming. Enter not into minute points of unfulfilled prophecy, but set before them that which, by the Divine blessing, will strengthen their faith, and lead them forward to the city which has foundations.'

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It is in agreement with this counsel of our Divine Master that I have selected my text as a motto for the present year. It contains that, on the one hand, which may strengthen the faith of the Christian, for it declares some of his most BLESSED PRIVILEGES; and, on the other hand, that which may excite his spiritual desires, for it exhibits some of his most PLEASING ORNAMENTS. Oh, my dear brethren, in what happy circumstances do the sincere followers of Christ commence the year! They

are the "elect of God, holy and beloved :" and what beautiful ornaments are here provided for them! "bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another." Surely this is a new year's dress which whosoever wears will both feel comfort themselves and recommend the religion of our Lord to others. Let us, then, meditate a little upon these words, that, seeing the excellence of the privileges and the beauty of the ornaments, we may adopt the text as our motto for the year.

I. THE PRIVILEGES: holy and beloved."

"The elect of God,

1. I need not say that this expression," the elect of God," is one of those terms which is much misunderstood, and which has excited much prejudice in the world. No sooner does a person seriously contemplate the religion of the Bible, and act agreeably to that course which the word of God inculcates, than this is the sarcastic taunt of some of his former companions: You are now, then, become one of the elect!' This is among the "bitter words that, like a "sharp sword," is thrust at a Christian, to wound his feelings, if not to turn him from the truth. And it proceeds frequently upon this idea; that the world suppose that

Christians consider that they are invested with their privileges, as the subjects of earthly kingdoms acquire theirs, from their own merits. Does an earthly sovereign grant a subject titles of honour, or a larger domain? It arises from his considering that the person on whom he confers the honour has either merited it by his past services, or has some claim to it from his superior qualities. This opinion makes the world suppose that Christians arrogate something to themselves; and therefore, when they say, 'You are one of the elect!' they mean to affirm, that You are one who suppose yourself to be better than others, and on that account you are one whom God has chosen.' There cannot be a greater mistake. It is not any thing good in them which is the cause of God's choosing his people. God sees no difference in any of the fallen race of man: they are all, in their natural state, alike sinners before him: but he chooses them as vessels of mercy; and, after this free and gracious choice, He, by his Spirit, regenerating them, uniting them by faith to the Saviour, and renewing and sanctifying their hearts, makes them meet for his kingdom. So that whatever good there is in them, it is not previously, but subsequently to his choice. He has chosen them "to be holy and without blame

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