promises shew this, for there is no useless promise; but you cannot have a want for which there is not a supply in the promise, you cannot have a fear but there is a suitable encouragement.

Only look up to your heavenly Parent. O what inexpressible glories and riches and blessedness centre in Him as the ever-living and ever-flowing fountain of all good; He has all wisdom and all truth, all power and all tenderness,—all holiness, and all compassion, all majesty, and all love. With such a Father how can you despond! Be of good comfort, God is your Father.

Only look up to the Lord Jesus Christ; the brightness of his Father's glory, (Heb. i. 3,)—your all in all. Do you feel that you are lost? what a Saviour is here for the lost! Do you feel that you are guilty? what a Redeemer for the guilty! Do you feel that you are sinful? what a High Priest for the sinful! Are you sensible of your ignorance? O what a prophet and teacher for the ignorant! Are you thinking that you are weak and defenceless? O what a King you have; the King of kings, fully able to protect all his people. Be of good comfort, Christ is your Saviour.

Or again, if you want grounds of comfort, only look up to the Holy Spirit. He is the very Comforter of the comfortless; the teacher, the guide, the helper of the elect of God. Do you mourn under your corruption? O what a Sanctifier is at

hand to purify you! Do you feel your deadness? O what a quickening Spirit is the Divine Spirit! only pray with David, Thy Spirit is good, lead me in the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake. (Psalm cxliii. 10.) He sanctifieth all the elect people of God.

Do you doubt if you are among his elect? Go to Jesus, and so make it sure. All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me. Do you think that he will not receive you; hear his assurance, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. (John vi. 37.)

Do you fear that your sins cannot be pardoned? O yes, they can, whatever they be; if you go to Christ, his blood cleanseth from all sin: Come now, and let us reason together, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah i. 18.)

Do you doubt whether you shall persevere to the end? Were this left to yourself you might well doubt; but your soul is in better handseven kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (1 Peter i. 5.)

Do you feel the loss of earthly friends who have been a blessing to you? O think of Him who only made them to be any blessing, and who has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and

I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Heb. xiii. 5, 6.)

But my heart is full, and I stop. May our God pour out his Spirit so fully upon you, that you may receive a rich blessing even in our parting sermons, and we may together devote ourselves from this day, afresh to his service. Now our

Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us an everlasting consolation and good hope through grace; Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2 Thess. ii. 16, 17.)

SERMON XVIII.

SECOND FAREWELL SERMON.

2 CORINTHIANS XIII. 11.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

.

I RESUME once more the consideration of St. Paul's address.

We

In the morning, I stated these points as included in our text. 1. The circumstances in which this farewell address was made; 2. The practical directions given; 3. The parting good wish expressed; 4. The promise added. have already dwelt on the first part of the subject, and have also explained two of the four practical directions given. I proceed with the third practical direction.

BE OF ONE MIND.

I must say, thanking God for this grace, that you have been remarkably so hitherto. It has been my joy and comfort to witness your unanimity. When I consider how many hinderances there are to this, how Satan delights to sow divisions among brethren, and how many corruptions in one heart tend to excite and stir up strife and contention in the hearts of many, I cannot but admire the grace of God which has united us together in the bonds of Christian love. I doubt not that God has much blessed our Religious Societies to the furtherance of this, while he has given us a spirit of union in carrying them forward. Our District Visiting Society, formed under the sanction, and with the kind assistance of the rector of the parish, has brought us together on the interesting Christian duty of visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction. Our schools for religious instruction, our Infant School, our Missionary Association, and the other charities connected with Our chapel, have had the same effect; and in all, the spirit of Christian unity has been vouchsafed, disposing us to submit one to another in the fear of God. To God be all the glory. Now let brotherly love continue. Let the same spirit ever characterize all your intercourse with each other, and with the beloved brother who succeeds me.