and practical; on which he may rest, calmly, and joyfully, and triumphantly, as on the "anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast," amidst all the storms and trials of this world of change, and perturbation, and dispute. Others, partly because he cannot put them in possession of the facts by which he is convinced, may be astonished at his confidence. They may possibly impute it to rashness or enthusiasm. But he knows it to be sober and just, because founded upon the soberest and most practical of all principles; "by their fruits ye shall know them :" and, in reply to every objection, he will simply ask, "Can men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?"

But I now hasten in conclusion, to address certain classes of individuals deeply interested, as it appears to me, in the foregoing argument.

1. And, in the first place, let me speak to the poor and ignorant.-A state of ignorance is such an evil, my Christian brethren, as that a man should be no more satisfied to remain in it, than to live in perpetual darkness, when he might enjoy the pure beams of the sun. Still, as "the poor shall not cease out of the land," there will always be much necessary ignorance in every stage of society. There will be many who are able even less than the rich and instructed, to satisfy themselves, either of the truth of the Gospel, or of their own view of the Gospel, by the means of reading, or argument, or outward proof. Behold, then, what the goodness of the Lord has done for you. It is true that you are carefully to employ every outward means by which your understanding may be informed, and your belief established. You are, as far as you are able, to "search the Scriptures." You are devoutly to

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pray over them for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. You are humbly and diligently to listen to the ministers of religion, and to the counsels of the wise and good. But, in addition to these means, the mercy of God supplies you with a plain practical test of the highest value, “he who believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself." What are the fruits of your principles? Do they make you "happy?" do they make you "holy?" do they accomplish for you what nothing else can accomplish? are they gradually lifting you above the cares of life? are they gradually strengthening you against its temptations? are they speaking peace, and giv. ing purity to the mind? Then, here, my brethren, is the inward witness. Here is an evidence which, when it comes in support of the other testimonies to which I have referred, nothing ought to shake. We may say of these principles, as the blind man said of Christ: "if" they were "not of God, they could do nothing." And I may add, if such be your state, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

2. Secondly, let me speak to persons who are doubtful and anxious about their own state before God. -You, my brethren, perhaps under mistaken views of religion, have been longing for some sensible mark of the Divine favour; for some voice from heaven; some peculiar manifestation; some "sign" from God, to assure you that yyur principles are just, and your persons accepted of him. But "no other sign shall be given you," than that suggested by the text; "by their fruits ye shall know them." If our principles be such as appear to us, after serious prayer and investigation, to have the warrant of Scripture; and if, through the Divine mercy, they are rendering

us holy and happy, no other testimony is wanted. Such principles, and such individuals, have the "seal of God," that "they are his." The Lord is with you, though you know it not. His presence in the soul is manifested by the sanctity and peace which he has diffused over it.

3. In the third place, I would speak to those individuals who, with much respect for the principles of the Gospel, are in the deepest alarm as to the abuse of them to purposes of enthusiasm or vice.Behold, my brethren, the real practical character of the principles you so much dread: “he that believeth in the Son of God, hath the witness in himself;" he that really believes, will carry along with him this testimony of his faith, that he is growing in general goodness, and in pure and abiding joy. This alone is the "faith" which "justifies :" this alone is the faith which connects us with the Redeemer, and invests us with the promises and privileges of the Gospel. "Faith without works is dead." Real faith is a living and active principle, and such are its fruits.

4. And, finally, I would say to all whom I am addressing, Seek, by earnest and devout cultivation of the "fruits of the Spirit" in your temper and conduct, to obtain more and more of that inward testimony which we have been contemplating. If these reasonings be just, you cannot separate Christian peace from Christian conduct. Peace without holiness and usefulness is delusion-is the calm of disease, and the prelude of death. "Give diligence, then, to make your calling and election sure;" to have a well-founded hope of eternal life; to possess, in every moment of doubt and distress, a testimony sanctioned by Scripture and acceptable to God; to be enrolled

amidst the numbers of those to whom God will

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give in his house, and within his walls, a place and a name better than of sons and daughters.' Remember, for your eternal consolation, the promise of the great Father of a fallen and disquieted world; The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed. No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.... This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."-May these promises, my brethren, be yours! May you enjoy in its fullest measure the testimony described in the text, till you exchange faith for sight, in the glorious presence of your Father and your God!

SERMON IX.

THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS.-ON DECAY IN RE

LIGION.

REV. ii. 1-7.

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen; and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

THE Saviour, of whom so sublime a description is presented to us in the verses which precede the text, is introduced by St. John, in the