wages of sin, must look for very different fare. No! all these afflictions, though called for by sin, are yet the gentle strokes of One, who would save you from eternal woe; and therefore, though they must be received with seriousness, they must not be the occasion of despair. Let them teach you indeed to hate sin— but at the same time to love and trust him, who will not let you slumber and perish in it.

3. Although conversion be the Design of your sorrows, yet it was never intended that these should be the only means used by the Lord; and that you should be left to do all the rest. That would indeed be an Egyptian service-the full tale of bricks demanded, while straw was withheld, and stripes inflicted. NoGod does not always chide. The very expression, "when thou art rebuked," implies that other methods are also employed. He gives "grace for grace"-a Saviour to pardon-a Spirit to heal-promises, innumerable and precious, to encourage and strengthen and save your soul. Only look to him in faith-meekly "turn to him that smiteth you"-and he will make all things straight and plain before your face,

SERMON VI.

GENESIS v. 23, 24.—And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

IN this chapter we have the only record that remains of nine generations of men, who lived between Adam and Noah. Nothing is told respecting them but their birth, their names, their ages, and their deaths. At Enoch, however, the pen of the historian pauses for a moment, to tell of his holy character, and his singular end; and so delightful is the account in a real Christian's estimation, that St. Paul cannot pass over this brief memorial, without giving to Enoch a special place among those worthies, who through faith" obtained a good report."

The subject has even now lost none of its interest, although it refers to matters that occurred more than five thousand years ago. Enoch's CHARACTER is re

corded for our imitation: his END, for our encouragement. Let us meditate on both and may his God and ours, teach us to profit thereby! Here is,

I. ENOCH'S CHARACTER, He" walked with God." This was not his original, or natural character. Without being specially informed, we should have known that he too was born in sin, 66 a child of wrath, even as others." 1 And this seems to be intimated

1 Eph. ii. 3.

wares of sin, must look for very different far all these affictions, though called for by sin the gentle strokes of One, who would save y eternal woe; and therefore, though they mu ceived with seriousness, they must not be the of despair. Let them teach you indeed to h but at the same time to love and trust him, v not let you slumber and perish in it.

3. Although conversin be the Design of ? rows, yet it was never intended that these s the only means used by the Lord; and that yo be left to do all the rest. That would indee Egyptian service the full tale of bricks de while straw was withheld, and stripes inflicted. God does not always chide. The very ex] "when thou art rebuked," implies that other are also employed. He gives "grace for gr Saviour to pardon a Spirit to heal—promis€ merable and precious, to encourage and streng save your soul. Only look to him in faith"turn to him that smiteth you"-and he wi all things straight and plain before your face.

by the language of the two preceding verses ;"Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah and Enoch walked with God, after he begat Methuselah, three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters." For sixty five years he merely lived-lived to the world, and to the flesh. Then a change took place. He began then to walk with God; and persevered in this blessed course, for the remaining three hundred years of his life.—Now what does this imply? It implies,

1. Resemblance to God.-There must have been some similarity of disposition between them, for such an intimacy to be formed, and to last so long, between the creature and his Creator. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"1 Even a heathen can tell us, that friendship can only exist, where there are the same likings and dislikings. Now Adam had this resemblance to God naturally; for "in the image of God made he man ; "3 but he lost it sinfully, and then propagated his own corrupt nature-which was all that Enoch inherited from Adam. Wherever, therefore, this resemblance is restored, it is by a new and heavenly birth.-Enoch, at sixty-five, was "born again of the Spirit," 4 and became "partaker of the Divine nature." 5 So must you, if you would have God your friend. There can be no God," till this change takes place.

66

'walking with

God desires it, but you dislike it; as Adam hid himself, the very first time God came to walk with him after his fall. 6 Have you experienced this change? Are God and you like-minded? If not, it is you that must alter— he cannot. Oh, then, ask of him his regenerating Spirit; and never rest, till you begin truly to love

1 Amos iii. 3. 3 Gen. i. 27.

4 John iii. 5.

2 Idem velle, atque idem nolle. Sall. 5 2 Peter i. 4. 6 Genesis iii. 8.