bles and difficulties, as we have it in our power; and also, at the same time, omit no fair opportunity of informing and enlightening their minds with the knowledge which Christ brought to light, which may prepare and fit them for that unseen everlasting world, to which we are all going:

This may be a surer index to us, that the love of God dwelleth in us, and that we are in his favour, than if it were to be signified to us by a heavenly messenger: because in this last there might be room for delusion; but in what passes within us, in the temper of our own minds, manifested by the constant train and tenor of our actions, we cannot, be mistaken.

PRAYER.

O eternal God! Father of mankind! the inexhaustible fountain of all benignity and kindness; who art good beyond all expression and thought; whose mercy is over all thy works, and who art able to overrule all things to serve thy gracious purposes towards all thy creatures, especially towards us thy children of the human race, whom thou desirest and intendest all to be saved from sin and misery, and be brought to everlasting happiness!

Deeply

Deeply impressed with the sense of this thy unspeakable favour to ourselves, suffer not the vain thought to arise in our hearts, that by these our prayers and empty praises, however due, or by any the like services of ours, we can discharge our whole duty, or make ourselves acceptable to thee.

But incline us evermore to consider this our application to thee, and our services, all as the gracious means appointed by thyself to draw down thy favours and needful assistance, and to fix us in the love of thee our God, and to dispose us to serve and do good to others who may stand in need of our assistance.

O thou most benevolent parent! who art the equal impartial lover of all thy creatures, although some of them for a time are left more destitute of support than others, and of that fuller knowledge whereby they may recommend and approve themselves to thee, in order to excite and give scope to the kind affections and exertions of their brethren for them, and for many purposes of thy wise and good providence: incline us to follow thy sacred leading herein, and to endeavour after some faint resemblance of that goodness which is most perfect in thee, and without which, the highest

highest of thy creatures would be but nothing before thee.

And permit us not meanly to content ourselves with thus serving thee and our fellowcreatures, with what costs us nothing; no virtuous self-denial, or personal labour and trouble :

But whilst others place their chief delight in accumulating riches, and honours, and worldly enjoyments, which yield but a temporary satisfaction, and too often indispose and unfit the mind for higher attainments, for that happiness which ariseth from virtue and an obedience to thy will; enable us to take pleasure in labouring in those things whereby we may serve and profit others, in relieving or diminishing present unhappiness and misery, or furnishing them with better means of knowing thee and recommending themselves to thy favour hereafter: that we may thus approve ourselves thy children, O Father of all, who delightest in doing good to all; and that at the last approaching day, we may hear with joy those blessed sounds from Jesus, our great appointed judge; "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: for inas

much

much as ye have been serviceable to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have been serviceable to me.'

Now unto Thee, O Father of all! who art the only living and true God, &c.

The Lord bless us. &c.

December 19, 1784.

SERMON

SERMON XII.

LUKE vii. 1—3.

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was bigbly valued by him, was sick and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the fews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

Ir is a character of great virtue and goodness that is exhibited to us in this centurion, to which we find some of the principal Jews bear pleasing testimony; and which also merited the highest commendations from our Lord himself.

It cannot, therefore, but be a suitable and useful employ for us at present to take a view of it; and where it may be needed, thereby to reform and correct our own conduct; that we also may be such as Christ our Master shall

approve.

But