It is no uncommon case for a man to over-rate his own abilities. Many things are very easy to the sight, which are difficult in the execution. This deception prevails in morals to a very alarming extent. You are, many of you, like the son in the gospel, who made a boast of what he would do, and did nothing. You talk about virtue, and yet remain the vassals of vice. Ask a man who has tried his strength, why do you go on swearing in that horrible manner? He will answer you, "I have got a habit of it-I cannot leave it off-I scarcely know when I do swear - oaths slip out involuntarily, when I am in a passion-my provocations would make a parson swear. Inquire of another about drunkenness, why do you make a beast of yourself? Do you not know that you are ruining your family, your constitution, your soul? "Yes," says the sot, “I know all this very well, and I have often resolved about leaving it off; but when I have been going past a public house, or when my old companions have invited me to one, I have had no power to resist the temptation." He speaks the truth. Vicious appetites, after long indulgence, become as craving as those which are natural, and they are equally as difficult to subdue.

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I have been saying all this, not to persuade you that to commit iniquity with greediness is necessary, and salvation impossible; but to induce you to look out for one who is mighty to save, and strong to deliver. Do you exclaim, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" I answer with the apostle," I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. vii. 24, 25.) He spoke his own experience as a christian, when he said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

According to the scriptures of the New Testament, the prince of the power of the air worketh in the children of disobedience. (Ephes. ii. 2.) They cannot deliver themselves out of his hands. They are taken captive by the devil at his will. (2 Tim. ii. 26.) The complete dominion of devils over wicked men, cannot

well be expressed in stronger terms. But Jesus Christ can deliver. Read Luke xi. 14-23. Our Lord had cast a devil out of a man. The pharisees said, “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils." One part of his answer to this blasphemous assertion was, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth." From the whole passage we learn, among other things, that satan is the strong man armed; his palace is the sinner's heart, and he keeps possession of it till a stronger than he, Jesus Christ, dispossesses him.

Thus have I shown that Christ, and none but Christ, delivers from the world, the flesh, and the devil. But it would be impossible for him to do this, if he were not the omnipresent and the almighty Jehovah ; for such a salvation requires his presence at all times, with all the saints, and the exertion of an omnipotent

arm.

You are perpetually complaining of your enemies. Keep it in mind that you have a divine Saviour, and you will be courageous. Jesus governs the world: he will give you the victory both over men and things. Your hearts, you say, are unmanageable, deceitful

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above all things, and desperately wicked; you almost despair of their being made better. But remember, God is greater than your hearts; he can destroy the strongest corruptions of human nature. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." (Acts xvi. 31; Heb. vii. 25.) Satan is a strong man armed; the prince of this world, yea, the god of this world: never mind that. The devils were subject to Christ when he was in this world; and when he went into the other, he led them captive, and made a show of them openly. Keep close

to your divine Captain, and encounter them manfully. The conflict may be severe, but the issue is not doubtful: they shall flee before you, or fall under you. (James iv. 7; Rom. xvi. 20.)

3. It is necessary Christ should be the omnipresent God that he may attend to the devotions of his saints. The apostle Paul thus inscribes his first epistle to the Corinthians: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Ver. 2, 3.) This is a very encouraging passage. As God, the Lord Jesus hears and answers the prayers of all, in every place; they call upon his name, they receive from him both grace and peace. If he were a creature, he might be like Baal, either talking, or pursuing, or on a journey, or sleeping; and it would be very foolish, as well as very wicked, to pray to him. The papists pray to many creatures, not to give them grace and peace, but to intercede with God for them. Suppose ten thousand people, in different countries, praying to Mary, at the same time, how can she attend to all of them at once? I know that Jesus is a God at hand, and not afar off; but where is Mary?

4. It is necessary Jesus Christ should be divine, that he may be properly qualified to judge the world. "The Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment to the Son." (John v. 22.) No creature can exercise this office; for it requires not only a knowledge of the whole of the conduct of the whole human race, but also a knowledge of their hearts. At the general judgment our destinies will be determined according to our characters; and in forming an estimate of these, our principles, tempers, and motives, must be taken into the account, as well as our actions. "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Eccles. xiii. 14.)

This doctrine speaks to you, sinners. How much mischief have you conceived in your hearts, which never saw the light? How often have you pleaded a good principle as an excuse for a wicked action, when your hearts have been as bad as your deeds, and even worse? How frequently has it been the case, that your good works have sprung from the worst of motives? Jesus Christ will put all these things to rights. Repent and pray to him to cleanse the thoughts of your hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit.

This doctrine speaks to you, believers. Your principles are better than your practices. Your aim is to glorify God in all things; but you sometimes fail through error of judgment. Wicked people brand you for this as hypocrites-they set up a shout, "Now where is your religion?" They know not how to show mercy. What they condemn, your Judge will excuse. David was disposed to build God a temple. His heavenly Master approved of the principle: "Thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:" but he saw it best to defer the work till the next reign. See that your heart be right with God, and then all will be well.

But it is also necessary that the Redeemer of man should partake of human nature. 1. To make atonement for sin. "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." (Heb. ix. 22.) The divine nature could not suffer; and the assumption of any other nature than the human, would have been improper. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins

of the people." (Heb. ii. 14— 17.)

"Thus by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead." (1 Cor. xv. 21.)

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2. To sympathise with his people. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb. ii. 18; iv. 15.) How consolatory is this! In all your times of trouble, come unto the Saviour. His heart is full of tenderness. He will enter into all your feelings. You frequently complain of the insensibility of your earthly friends; and even when their hearts are touched, their hands are often tied; but Jesus melts with pity, and he will give relief.

3. To intercede for his people. "He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. vii. 25.) This includes in it an act of worship, and, therefore, is only proper to an inferior nature. Consider the closeness of the union betwixt the divine nature and the human, and you cannot doubt about the prevalence of the Saviour's prayers. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. iv. 16.)

4. To set us a perfect example. You say there is some defect in every man's character, and you urge this as an excuse for the imperfections in your own. You do not, I hope, include Jesus Christ in this general statement. "He hath left us an example that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Peter ii. 21, 22.) He carried the practice of every virtue to its highest possible state of perfection. Instead, therefore, of looking at the failings of others, emulate the virtues of your Lord. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked. (Phil. ii. 5; 1 John ii. 6.)

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