Is

the formation of our character for eternity? it possible to hear of these glorious anticipations of future triumph, without feeling the heart burn within us, without the kindling of devotion, and the elevation of hope? Who can look forward to the day when he shall be clothed with immortality, without longing to shake off those defilements of the flesh, which depress the energies of the soul? Who can dishonour, by the indulgence of sin, those very members of his body, which shall hereafter be raised in glory, and rendered meet to participate in the purity of heaven? If the hope of the resurrection be indeed settled in your hearts; if the true estimate of earth and heaven be realized in your souls, strive to rise here from a death of sin to a life of righteousness. Pray that you may be quickened by the Spirit of life and truth, that you may henceforth yield your members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness, and that you may gradually increase in that preparation of the soul for heaven, which shall render all the pleasures and honours of this worldof less value, in your esteem, than the small dust of the balance. For assuredly, it is to those who are now the sons of God, that the promise of future glory is revealed: they alone shall be like to him, for they alone shall see him as he is.

And to him who thus looks forward, with good hope through grace, to the triumphant

morning of the resurrection, what other thought can give equal comfort amid the difficulties and cares of life? To have a home of refuge which will shortly be open for his reception: to know that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed; to look forward to an union of peace and holy affection, and a participation of bright and lasting enjoyments with the spirits that are at God's right hand; to indulge the cheering thought, that even in this flesh he shall see God; may well cast into shade all the toils of life-may well diffuse a calm over his heart, which the storms of the world can scarcely ruffle or disturb. And are not these mighty truths the basis of that comfort, which is administered to the soul at the last trying hour; the assurance, "that because Jesus died and rose again, even so those also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." And is it not the same consolation, that throws around the tomb of our departed brethren a chastened sorrow, which yields to the aspirations of hope; nay, which breaks out into the calm expression of thankfulness, that they, at least, are delivered from the miseries of this sinful world; and which raises in our hearts the longing desire to depart and be with Christ, that we also may behold his glory, and partake the happiness of his children.

May the Spirit of truth give effect to these

feelings of hope; may he awaken in us the desire after holiness and peace; and raise us up from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that after living here in the faith of the Son of God, we may, at length, be welcomed as the blessed of his Father, and receive the kingdom prepared for the faithful from the foundation of the world.

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SERMON XXII.

CHRISTIANS BORN OF GOD.

JOHN i. 12, 13.

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is impossible to contemplate the condition of man by nature, without being convinced of the utter impossibility that by his own merits, or by his own unassisted endeavours, he can attain the favour of God. If the rewards of eternal life were offered to the perfect obedience of God's holy law; if the conditions of salvation were the fulfilment of righteousness; and if freedom from the guilt of sin were the title of admission into heaven, where is the man that could be so presumptuous as to offer himself to the scrutiny of a God of holiness, with the hope of acceptance

at his hands. Again, let it be supposed that pardon is granted to sin, up to a certain period; that the sinner has received the remission of sins that are past; and that these transgressions will be no more remembered against him; yet this will not be sufficient for his final acceptance. The remission of past transgressions involves no pardon for those which may be subsequently committed; and each day would require fresh indulgence at the hand of a merciful Father, and renewed exhibitions of divine compassion. Furthermore, grant that even through the whole life of a human being, the pardon of each day's transgression should be successively accorded; grant that a free acquittal should be pronounced by the Judge of all; yet even then, it is possible that the pardoned sinner might not be capable of that happiness, which is reserved for the children of God. With reverence and diffidence be it spoken, yet it would seem that pardon is but a small part of the great and inestimable blessings, which the gospel gives. To leave a pardoned sinner in that situation, in which the grace of forgiveness alone would place him, great as would be the privilege of an escape from condemnation, would, nevertheless, fall immeasurably short of that consummation of happiness, which could satisfy an immortal soul. Hence it is that the plan of redemption, of which the Scriptures speak, involves far more than mere pardon of sin: it provides for