of his word, above all, in the sacrament of his body and blood. Whatever you may have been in past times, yet if you would at this moment resolve to yield yourselves to him, and determine to lead a new life, following the commands of God, and walking henceforth in his holy ways, you may draw near, and not only receive a confirmation of your resolutions, but a pledge of your pardon.

Let not conscience make you linger, nor fondly dream of fitness; for all the fitness which he requires is, that you feel your need of him. There is no case of guilt, or obduracy, or depravity, beyond the reach of his all-sufficiency: he both can turn the heart from the love of sin, and will do it. He is exalted as a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance unto Israel. Think how happy the change to you to be delivered from the dominion of the fear of death and apprehensions of God's wrath! to pass from all these to progressive holiness and peace!

Lastly, he is sent to bless with continued blessings, those who have begun to turn from iniquity. Though we continue not in any deliberate habit of sin, yet alas! there is much unrighteousness in our hearts; and guilt with its concomitant sorrow attends us still. For our deliverance from both, the Lord has commanded us from time to time to meet for the purpose of remembering, in a more lively manner, by the help of outward symbols, his dying love.

Let us then at this time renew our ap

plication to him for pardon, and that he may be pleased to bestow on us the spiritual comfort that comes from the right receiving of this holy sacrament: above all, praying that he would turn us away from unrighteousness, let us submit to every dispensation, however painful, which he sees necessary for this end. Let us not be surprised at affliction, the fruit of which is to take away sin: for if the issue of our trials be conversion from iniquities, troubles are only promoting his gracious purposes. Let us learn then to accept kindly the dispensations of our Savior and Lord, whereby he expels sin and folly from our hearts. Let us understand and believe that there is most happiness in that heart in which there is least sin, and that he is then blessing us most when he is taking measures for delivering us from it: therefore let us be submissive and thankful. The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness, and assurance for ever!

SERMON XIII.

1 CORINTHIANS i, 1-3.

Paul, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 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 their's and our's: Grace be unto you, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

HAD man retained the innocence in which God created him, the inhabitants of the world would have been all united in the bonds of charity; each would have found in his fellow-creature an affectionate friend. Men of different countries would have scarcely needed an introduction to cach other's acquaintance; and the meeting of strangers with each other would have been an occasion of mutual delight. But alas! sin has changed the face of things. Such is the condition of mankind that an unreserved communication with them is become impossible.

Whatever romantic notions we may have entertained at the out-set of life, a very short acquaintance with the world is sufficient to convince us of the necessity of reserve: for amidst the general duplicity and inordinate selfishness. of men, we are liable, without being in some degree upon our guard, to become the dupes of treachery. As long, therefore, as men continue to act upon a principle of selfishness, mutual suspicion must ever check the flow of reciprocal affection. But if there be a people united by ties which are independent of worldly considerations, their communication with one another will be cordial: such are the people who compose the church of God. By having one faith, one hope, one baptism, one God and Father of all, but especially, by having one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom, and in whom they are all united, they can address one another as friends wherever they meet; and can, moreover, enjoy the communion of distant spirits though they meet not at all. Thus St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Colossians, speaks of the great conflict in prayer he had for them, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.* With the same enlarged affection he sends that salutation which the text contains; not to the Corinthians only, who were a church planted by his own hand, but to all those, who in every place called upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

* Col. ii, 1.

In discoursing from these words we propose to consider

First, The Apostle's description of true Christians;

Secondly, His salutation of them.

1. The followers of Christ have the most honorable appellations assigned them in the word of God. They are called the excellent of the earth-lights in the world-a chosen generation-a royal priesthood-a holy nation -a peculiar people. They are likened to a well-watered garden, to a fountain of waters, to a lily among thorns, to a palm tree and cedar in Lebanon. They are related to God as his habitation and temple, his flock, his jew els and treasure, his beloved, his friends and children, his heritage and portion; but the light in which they are represented in this place exhibits them in their highest dignity, viz: as subjects of the appropriate operations of all the persons of the sacred Trinity. They are called, saved, sanctified: called by the Father, saved in the Son, and sanctified Spirit. They are called of God the Father: for the name given to them in the text, the Church of God, signifies, according to the original, a body of persons called out from the rest of mankind: and such are Christians if they deserve the name. They are called to separate from an ungodly world, not only by the voice of God speaking in general terms by the Scriptures, but they are called by the voice of the Spirit in their hearts, which voice

the