templation of God's mighty works of creation, was struck with wonder at the goodness which condescended to visit the sons of men, may not we much more gratefully admire the love of God, who has made us his children by adoption and grace; who has promised us the aid of his good Spirit, to purify us as a peculiar people unto himself? Where can we find a more powerful principle of holy zeal than a grateful acknowledgment of the love of God? Where have we a higher privilege than that sacred communion with God, which he vouchsafes to those who love his name? Where is the mind which can comprehend the mighty thought, that "he who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, will dwell also with him that is of an humble and contrite spirit ;" and will make his holiest sanctuary in that heart which is given up in faith and humility to his service and glory?

How cheering also is the reflection, that all the members of the church of Christ share equally his love, his protection, his support! He has said, and he is able to perform his promise, that against the rock on which his church is founded, the gates of hell shall not prevail. We may rejoice, then, in confident reliance upon that stability of our hopes and our privileges which this promise implies. We may rejoice in that unbroken communion with our fellow-Christians, which this stability of the church of Christ en

sures to us.

This communion affords us the means of holiness here: it will be a source of happiness to us hereafter. On earth we participate in the means of grace, the sacrifice of Christ, the influence of the Spirit, the prayers of our brethren for our advancement in godliness. Even when those who are dearest to us are separated from us by the stroke of death, we have their hopes for our encouragement, their example for our guidance, and the prospect of an everlasting re-union with them for our abiding consolation. Thus are we surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses of the truth; examples of the power and sufficiency of God; and from them we can also look off to fix our stedfast gaze on him who is "the author and finisher of our faith ;" on him who will be "our guide unto death, and our exceeding great and everlasting reward."

If, then, to the church of Christ belong these inestimable privileges, is it not a matter of the greatest and most instant importance, that we should determine whether we are truly members of this communion, and inheritors of these promises? Let us not deceive ourselves by the zeal of a mere outward profession. Let us not imagine that our participation in the ordinances of the church is, necessarily, a satisfactory evidence that we are members of the body of Christ. We may bear upon our brow the symbol of our

* Αφορῶντες εἰς Ἰησοῦν, &c. Heb, xii, 2,

Saviour's warfare; we may join in the prayers and praises of the assembly of his saints; we may kneel with them at that sacred table, where he dispenses life and sustenance to the souls of the faithful; and yet we may be in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. The simple criterion of our union with Christ is, are we bringing forth that fruit unto holiness, which, as living branches of the true vine, we are expected to produce? The life which we live in the flesh, do we live by the faith of the Son of God? Do we adopt the maxims and principles of the world around us? or do we derive all the motives of our actions, as well as our rules of duty, from the principles and demands of God's word? Do we "walk in the light as God is in the light?" If not, if we are careless or indifferent about the things of eternity; if we seek our pleasures and our happiness among the things of time and sense; we have yet to learn the very rudiments of the doctrine of Christ: at least, we require that the Spirit of truth should impress upon our hearts the knowledge of him, by whom we may attain life and peace.

Do we, then, feel an anxious desire to be of that company of all nations, and kindreds, and tongues, and people, which are redeemed to God by the blood of Christ? Let us cherish this desire, as the holy impulse of the Spirit of truth. Let us trust that he who hath impressed this

anxiety upon our hearts, will not neglect the good work which he has begun; he will bring to good effect those good desires which he has himself prompted, if we fail not to supplicate his gracious assistance. To that Spirit we must look for further advancement in holiness; to his wisdom we must submit; on his sustaining arm we must rely. In patient continuance in welldoing, with unfeigned humility, and confident faith, let us wait for the salvation of God. He will support us under all our difficulties; he will protect us amid all our dangers; his " grace will be sufficient for us." Then, when our conflicts with sin and Satan are ended; when our last trial is over; and when we join that white-robed host, who wear the crown of victory, and bear the palm of triumph before the throne of the Highest, we shall unite with them in that deep and unfeigned humility with which they cast their crowns at his feet, ascribing to him the glory, and the majesty, and the victory, and the "Unto him that hath loved us, and power. hath washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

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SERMON X.

CHRIST AN EXAMPLE TO THE YOUNG.

LUKE ii. 51, 52.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

THERE is one peculiarity of the Christian religion, which distinguishes it from all other systems of morals, that its founder was not only the lawgiver, but the example of his people. This peculiarity arises from the nature of Christ's dispensation as a method of atonement. It was necessary that one to whom such a dispensation was committed, namely, the reconciliation of man to God, should be himself free from the stain of those sins for which he offered his life as a sacrifice. He must needs be a pure and spotless victim; he must fulfil all righteousness,