Christ; and they made his life a life of dependance on Christ, of patience in suffering, of diligence in duty, of simple obedience to the will of GOD, and a steady desire to give him glory. But, my brethren, effects are not without a cause. What was it that thus changed the ordinary selfishness of his nature? What was it that could bring humility out of pride, and make the ungodly heart seek, as its chief aim, the glory of GoD, and the whole life tend towards the attainment of celestial happiness? When you have looked at some rapid and sparkling river, which seems to flow on so gloriously to the ocean, from some mountain summit which had caught the dews and snows of heaven, and as though the bright sun had shone on a thousand rivulets sparkling from rock to rock, had swelled that noble stream, so steadily flowed the current of his habits towards eter- | nal glory; and, as surely as the river finds its way to the ocean, such habits have led him to eternal glory. But they existed not without cause. What was it, again I ask you, which gave them their existence and their course? IT WAS FAITH ALONE. "Considering the end of their conversation," says the apostle, imitate their faith. This mighty cause is adequate to the formation of those habits, and nothing else. The unbelieving world might strive to find their source in the original rectitude of his nature, but such a rectitude the proud affections of an ungodly heart have never traced as habits to such a source; on the contrary, how often have you heard him feelingly deplore, in this place, the mighty depravity of nature, and then urge you to seek earnestly that antagonist course which faith alone supplies. It was to faith, therefore, he himself ascribed his spiritual victories, and he was certainly best acquainted with their origin. His faith, too, was obviously adequate to accomplish them. He believed the scriptural account of the Divine perfections, and could therefore comprehend, in a measure, the intensity of God's hatred of evil. He could see that it merits all that Scripture threatens, he felt, therefore, his errors, and therefore humbled under the holiness of God, and, with full convictions of his helplessness and ruin, he acknowledged his absolute need of Christ. It was faith, then, that brought him to acknowledge it. Believing further, that Christ had offered a divine sacrifice for sin, he saw all the divine attributes displayed on the cross, and God's holy hatred of sin, especially so magnified, that henceforth GoD could freely forgive the guilty, without imputation on his moral government; and therefore the atonement made by Christ was complete, and as Christ, through those sufferings which originated in a love which passes knowledge, had become an all-sufficient Saviour, for whose sake the worst might be forgiven justly, and would be, without doubt, forgiven, the very instant that he heartily accepted salvation so freely offered-could this persuasion-could the belief of this surpassing love fail to quicken his gratitude, or could the grateful mind be without contrition? But, if grateful and contrite too, would he not rejoice to live no longer to himself, but to him who had loved him, and died to rescue him? It was faith, then, that made your minister contrite, grateful, and devoted. Again, he believed likewise in the work of the Holy Spirit, as sent forth from GOD for the sake of Christ, to carry on the sanctification of his people, and ultimately to make them perfect. Acquainted as he was with human depravity, and anxious as he was to triumph over it through grace, could he fail to welcome such effectual aid; and when contemplating the truth, that GOD has designed to make the heart of the sinner his temple, and there to effect a work more glorious than the calling forth this beautiful world from original chaos, could he fail to recognize, with a transport of admiration, such Divine condescension? The direct tendency of such belief was to carry still further the gratitude and the contrition which had been previously excited by a sense of his redeeming love. But besides this, let it be remembered, that faith is the means, according to GOD's appointment, by which the Holy Spirit is obtained. What soever ye shall ask of him ye shall | receive. I need not say that grace, by whatever means it may be conveyed to the soul, is the real agent of our whole sanctification; thus may faith lead to the cultivation and attainment of Christian graces, and the formation of Christian habits. glory beam on the soul like the sun But besides these greatest truths, which being realized by faith, have so mighty an influence to transform the heart and to new mould the life, the moral glory of GoD, the merit of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost-there are many other truths which, being embraced by faith, have no small power to aid the great consummation of the entire subjec-surance of better joys. By faith he tion of the revolted sinner to GOD. Who can believe in heavenly glory as he believed it, and not be powerfully moved to seek it? Who can believe in the promises of GOD, suited to every emergency of an eventful life, so gracious, so consolatory, so endearing, and not feel their constant influence on the heart and conduct animated still to new efforts, and filled full of refreshing joy? Who can believe that God is present as a GOD who hears and answers prayer, and not be awed into deep solemnity, quickened into confident expectation, and melted into grateful love? Who can believe his constant providence and not learn to bless him for every joy, and every severe dispensation, patiently submitting to his appointment, if not cheerfully acquiescing in it? And thus faith, repressing all that is evil in us, and cherishing all that is good, exercises a plastic influence on every part of our character. Faith is that which, by God's divine appointment, is essentially connected with the gift of the Holy Spirit to the soul, and without which those sanctifying influences are in vain. As well might we separate the superb motion of the gallant vessel through the ocean, from the wind which fills its sails, as separate the believer by grace in holiness from that influence which is its necessary cause. Faith is that which brings the soul under the influence of all Divine truth, particularly reveals to us the work and character of Christ, thus making his can surmount the world, because but is walking in darkness, and But ye, brethren, are not in darkness; your venerated and beloved pastor had not so taught you Christ. 2 F You know how he valued faith; and you know, therefore, how he would have you value it. Are you not then prepared to receive stronger impressions than before, from the exhortation in my text, "Remember them that have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of GOD: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Imitate their FAITH. If faith be, indeed, of that inestimable value, then it may teach Christians to imitate departed saints in the few particulars involved in this direction. They will believe the same truths, they may and will endeavour to gain more extended and vivid views of Christ and God as may powerfully impress the heart. They may strive to obtain the same belief as their departed Christian friends, and to obtain it in the same, or in a higher degree. This is the exhortation which GOD addresses to you by his Apostle. You well know, my brethren, the great truths of faith in which your pastor passed through life, and met death so well-those truths bind to your heart as essential to your present and eternal peace. Beware of whatever may unsettle you respecting them, and of what may displace them from their just pre-eminence. Jesus Christ so near to our souls that his glory eclipsing the glory of the world may give a brightness to the whole of life—may light up the hour of death with a stronger and a lovelier radiance, and fill eternity with glory. Whether we be busy, or whether we have much leisure at our command whether educated or illiteratewhether young or old, we must think much of Christ, we must bring him often to our view, we must walk with him, we must abide in him if we would imitate the faith of this departed saint, or if we would have his happy and his glorious end. Why should we not, dear brethren, imitate him? Could he have collected you around his dying bed, and summed up all his warm wishes for your welfare into one expression, what would that have been? But that you might surpass his faith, and that abiding in Christ, you might live a happy life, while still travellers on earth, and then peacefully wing your flight to that heaven, for which your life had previously prepared you. Seek then from GOD, I pray you, by prayer and by steady exhortation, the accomplishment of what was unquestionably his wish, while your hearts are yet bleeding. Also while your memory is yet busy with his virtues, while his voice, so lately heard, seems now almost echoing in your ears, execute "Be not carried about," the Apostle what, doubtless, was among the dearadds, "with divers and strange doc-est wishes of his heart. You grieve trines." Some frivolous notions must arise in society so intelligent and so brief as that in this great city; such agitated waters must have some froth on their surface; let us not give them undue attention. Some mischievous-by those sobs that would not be errors in an era of so much speculation will scarcely fail to obtain currency; let us be watchful, as your pastor ever was, to repel them. So adhere to those grand truths on which depend our sanctification and our peace-you will so far imitate his faith. at your bereavement; let not that precious sorrow be wasted. By that affection with which you crowded to his burial-by that look of grief with which many of you gazed on his bier suppressed-by those affecting farewells which you looked, or sighed, as you passed by his coffin in the court by that sincerity of respectful sorrow, and by all those emotions which are now working in your hearts, if you would ever meet your venerated pastor in glory, if you would honor his memory on earth, imitate his faith. But his faith was lively and strong, fed by frequent meditation, and matured by many spiritual conflicts in Do you not wish to honor his mewhich grace had made him conqueror.mory? By what means can you do it so We too, my brethren, must seek a vigorous and a conquering faith-we must seek by faith to bring the Lord effectually as by a strength of faith, and a devotedness of conduct, which shall mark to the world the power with which GOD endowed his ministry. | joy, ought not to be thought of as an Would you imitate those excellencies for which you loved him, when living, and which make you cherish his memory now that he is dead? How can that take place but by putting your selves, in the exercise of faith, under the influence of those truths, which, through God's grace, made him what he was? Does the memory of those hours in which his habits have drawn you nearer to GOD,make you think with satisfaction that you may yet again meet him in happier circumstances, where every infirmity of the flesh shall be thrown aside, and every grace of the Spirit be expanded into celestial beauty; then imitate the faith which alone brought him hither -imitate your minister's faith; and, as for him, "death is" absolutely "swallowed up in victory;" and his humiliation, and his pains, are forgotten in the bliss and glory by which it has been succeeded; so may the pain which it has caused to you be alleviated and sanctified. He is dead, and those who have been converted by his ministry, or have since been strengthened and consoled by it, may feel as though their loss were irreparable; but the truths, which early wrought those effects, and of which he was only the messenger from GOD to you, still live as vital, as mighty, as transforming | as when you first heard them from his lips. Imitate his faith; and painful as your loss may be to your feelings, the spiritual principle will suffer no decay. inanimate mass of clay. He ought not thus to be thought of who has been, indeed, taken from his people, but living in a more exalted being will be the spectator of the welcome of each among them who dies in the Lord,-the welcome which each shall have when his time comes also to soar away to GOD. You knew him energetic and affectionate; he is more energetic and loving now, living an intenser existence; and dear as you may be to his celestial spirit at this moment, and more because he better appreciates your trials and conflicts, yet worlds, I feel convinced, would not bribe him back again to be at home in the body and absent from the Lord. Let not our thoughts and affections dwell in the dark vault which may hold the mortal remains of him who was once dear to us, but which hold not and never can hold the emancipated spirit; because if Jesus died and rose again; even those also, who sleep in Jesus, will the Lord bring with him. Even now they are present with the Lord, and thither we are tending to renew under more auspicious circumstances the Christian fellowship which we found so sweet on earth. And yet these considerations, powerful as they are, are not strong enough to raise the spirit of the dejected, or to assure the doubting. We have lost him, is the ever recurring thought -we have lost our friend and our guide. It is true, my friends; let nature weep, they are sacred tears, and they are due to friendship; but you remember well who said to those who were about to suffer a severer loss than yours, "I will not leave you always." If their desolation who lost the personal presence of Christ, was more than compensated by the spiritual presence given to them through the Spirit of GOD-is not that enough for you? This was the grand motive by whichSt. Paul urged the HeBut I do wrong to bid you consider brew Christians to "follow" the faith him as dead; removed in view he is of their pastors; and this above all indeed from us. But one who resting things should encourage you to follow from the earthly conflict is with Christ, it, as "Jesus Christ is the same yesenjoying among congenial spirits all terday, and to day, and for ever." that the love and power of the Re- Imitate his faith at parting, because deemer, can overflow his spirit within these blessed words you are as He is dead, but if you now improve those deep and solemn feelings which that sudden removal has excited, if you recall his earliest warnings now made more affecting to you, because his living voice can be heard no more, the voice which comes so solemnly from his grave may be yet more influential, and you may be blessed through the trials which threatened the greatest injury to your souls. of faith, the same aim in living, and the same reward when your faith shall terminate in vision. sured that you have the same object | He is so mighty, that those environed with every danger may trust his power. If you realize those perfections -if you walk beneath their steady lustre, all will be well. Does his intercession ever fail? Is his merit ever exhausted? Can his love cease? Is not his power immutably perfect? Can he not bring each one of his followers to everlasting glory? And if he, who now from the dead beckons you to follow him to his glory! if he found that in Christ which could carry him through life, and sustain him in death, why should not each of you, realizing the adorable perfections of that Saviour, imitate your minister's faith? You have been comforted by the ministry you have lost. It is taken from you, and you apprehend that you will suffer loss. Perhaps, brethren, you would necessarily suffer it if you stood alone; but Jesus Christ, in whom you believe, who gave to him his faith, and who is now his portion and reward, is the same to you as he was to him. See then, in his victory the pledge of your own! What if he is taken from you, Christ still remains! and though you may suffer much by the loss of your pastor, and without watchfulness you probably will, yet you need not. One of your lesser aids is removed; but your greatest remains immutable-realize it now in your bereavement-make use of it-lay hold of the blessing offered; "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." He is the same-immutably the object of your faith—immutably the author and finisher of faith-immutably its crown and its reward. Oh, my brethren, whatever the weak, the guilty, the ignorant, and the wretched, may want in a Saviour, that has been proved demonstrably to be in Christ; and therefore you may find him all-sufficient for your wants. Other graces which, distributed among our brethren, so partial in their exercise, look so lovely there in him harmoniously combined, shining forth in adorable perfection. What may not Christ be to you if you realize his perfections? He is so merciful, that he will never turn away from the weakest, the most guilty, or the most desponding suppliant. He is so sympathizing, that he feels for your every sorrow. He is so condescending, that the lowest amongst his disciples is never overlooked. He is so patient, that reiterated provocation can never surpass his love. He is so holy, that he will never love one among his people who is slave to a single sin. He is so true, that not one of his promises shall fail, he is so wise, that those most embarrassed with their affairs may safely commit themselves to his guidance. Besides this, Jesus Christ is immutably the author of faith. Tell me not, then, of the difficulties with which you have to contend-of the temptations by which you are surrounded-of your habits to break through-and of your natural infirmities. Cling only to Christ; steadily seek his blessing in your prayers, and I ask whether Christ does not love you enough to sustain your drooping spirits? And I ask whether he has not power enough to implant the liveliest faith in your bosom? And I ask whether, if he bestows upon you the Spirit which is at his command, he cannot raise you to a place in the family of God above, and give you grace to adorn the place which you hold in that family here? He has prepared a mansion for you in the skies, to which those who are departed in his faith have gone. Believe in him-believe in him, and then he will bring us safely thither. Do you want any other motive? Even another is supplied. Jesus Christ immutably the object of faith, and immutably its source, is likewise its crown and its reward. Other things may pass away, but if we are going to that place where he shall be with us for ever all glorious and good, he will never change; and what he is now to demand, the rapturous homage of the admiring myriads that surround his throne, that he will be to you and me when we stand before him, after dying, when ages shall have passed away, leaving us still immortal in blessedness and perfection. Meanwhile, if other good is transient and mutable, as the aspect of this church too sadly demonstrates it to be, so |