hate discord, to walk in love, and never to descend into the arena of strife, till the interests of truth and godliness absolutely compel you. Principle alone is to be dearer to you than peace. You are to remember, that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God;" and that they who freely "take the sword, shall perish by the sword."

2. In the next place, I may be addressing myself to some individuals who feel nothing of the temptation to "faint in their minds," adverted to in the text, and who, therefore, may attach no importance to any of the preceding observations. To them I would say, If, indeed, your courage and perseverance are the result of principle, and are combined with zeal and holy vigilance in the cause of God, then have you reason both to congratulate yourselves, and to thank "the Author and Finisher of our faith" for the mercies thus bestowed upon you. But 1 must be permitted to add, that there are minds fearless only because they are insensible; and in no danger of "fainting" in their course, simply because they have not yet entered upon it. Am I speaking to any such persons to-day? To them I must say, Your supposed strength is your real weakness-your feeling of security, the very prelude to ruin-"wo to them that are at ease in Zion." I must not, in the language of the text, direct such persons, in their present circumstances, to "look unto Jesus" as their Friend. But still I would desire you to fix your eyes upon him. Behold the Son of God bleeding on the cross, and see if there is nothing in the image of that crucified Saviour calculated, beyond all the reasonings of man, to convince you of the guilt and danger of your present frame of mind. He

quitted the throne of heaven, and was nailed to the "accursed tree" for your sins; and can you be insensible to them? Hasten, then, to the feet of this offended Lord, whilst he continues to invite you. Soon he will lay aside the golden sceptre of compassion, to unsheath the sword of justice. The "judgment shall be set ;" the "books opened;" the "dead, great and small, shall stand before Him," and we shall be "judged according to our works." "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way." Awake from a sleep which is the sleep of perdition, that you may draw nigh to God, before the way to the mercy-seat is shut up for

ever.

3. Lastly, I would speak to those real servants of God, who, with every desire to resist sin, and continue in the steady and calm discharge of their duties to God and man, are still in danger of fainting under the severity of the trials to which they are exposed. I would call on such individuals to notice another clause of the text. It is there said of our Lord, that " he endured the cross"

for the joy that was set before him." Let me, then, remind you, my Christian brethren, that the "joys set before him" are the joys set before you. You may occupy the same throne; walk by the same living fountains;" feed on the "fruit" of the same tree; stand in the same glorious and delightful Presence, and bask in the same beam of love and joy. It is His own promise, that He will come again, and receive you unto himself, that where He is, there may ye be also." Endeavour, then, ye lowly and disquieted servants of God, in the anticipation of these joys, to forget the trials which are but for a

moment." Endeavour to escape from this valley of tears; and, lifted up on the strong pinion of faith, to survey the mansions of light and life. They are "yours," if" ye are Christ's." "When He who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory." Oh, glorious and delightful intelligence! Then shall " the days of our mourning be ended," and "sorrow and sighing flee away" for ever. Then shall "resistance" to sin be superfluous, for all shall be "holy, just, and good." Then shall" everlasting love and delight fill the whole soul in the vision of God." May this happy hour be hastened, and each of yourselves participate in the joys then to be revealed! May the contemplation of it cast a sunshine over every step of your pilgrimage! May you be enabled to wait on that God who, whatever be the weakness of his servant, "fainteth not, neither is weary;" and He shall renew your strength; you shall mount up with wings as eagles; you shall run, and not be weary; you shall walk, and not faint."

SERMON VIII.

THE INWARD TESTIMONY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD.

1 JOHN v. 10.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.

It has pleased God to surround the Gospel of his Son with a body of outward evidence, which it is difficult for a reasonable and candid mind to resist. And, accordingly, many who are altogether unacquainted with the species of testimony referred to in the text, have, on the authority of this outward testimony alone, both received the Gospel themselves, and powerfully proclaimed its truth and its importance to others. Nor will this outward evidence of religion ever be neglected with impunity. Every man, who has bent an attentive eye on the circumstances of society, will be disposed to impute to such neglect much of the fluctuation of opinion and instability of practice which prevail in the world. Far, therefore, from discouraging the investigation of what may be termed the visible foundations of faith, I would rather say, in the language of Scripture, "Walk about Sion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof: mark well her bulwarks, consider her pa

laces." Search, you that are able, into the testimony supplied by miracle, by prophecy, by fact, by the character of the witnesses, by their voluntary sufferings, by the harmony of their statements, by the beauty, wisdom, purity, and fitness of the whole volume of truth. It is enthusiasm, and enthusiasm of a most mischievous nature, to fly from these witnesses to the truth, and to expect others of a more convincing character to arise. "If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe, though one rose from the dead."

Notwithstanding, however, the value of this kind of evidence, it is obvious that there are many to whom it is nearly inaccessible. Their reading is necessarily small; their reasoning faculties are perhaps weak; they find little leisure, amidst the struggle and perplexities of life, for patient investigation. If, therefore, such persons are to be convinced at all, it must, in most instances, be either by the weight of authority, or by testimony more accessible, and more universal, than that to which we have referred.

Nor are these the only individuals to whom evidence, in addition to that which is outward, is of the highest importance. If it is essential, on the one hand, to be convinced that the Gospel is true; it is no less essential to be convinced that our view of the Gospel is just. Now, doubtless, no conviction, as to the justness of our views, is sound, which is not founded upon the strictness and most devout examination of the record of truth of which our circumstances admit. The Bible is to be searched, and the aid of the Holy Spirit to be sought, by every man who would arrive at truth, and escape from fanaticism. But,

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