merciful to the wicked and the unthankful, and causeth showers to descend on the evil, and on the good. Hear him now say, "Let the skies pour down righteousness, and let the earth open;" yea, poor, thirsty, perishing sinner, open thy heart, and receive the soulrefreshing shower; it is sent to cheer thee, to refresh thy fainting spirits, to inspire thy soul with life from the dead. Come, then, open without delay, and receive these waters of life to slake thy distressing thirst. Wherefore wilt thou perish in the midst of the profusion of Heaven's blessings? Come and let righteousness, and peace, and joy spring up in thy soul as an overflowing fountain, and as a well of water, which springeth up to everlasting life. The Holy One of Israel calleth thee to bring forth salvation. "Arise, shine, for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Wherefore dost thou hesitate? Come and take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord, who will fill thy soul with peace; yea, he will satisfy the perishing soul with the waters of salvation; yea, thou shalt drink and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord.

Christians, Friends of Jesus! Behold the heavens already dropping down from above! See! from the ocean of grace in the skies, the Lord is pouring down righteousness. In the time of this gracious visitation, you are called to be workers together with him who thus graciously favors you; come then, ye lovers of Immanuel, open your hearts for the reception of the residue of the Spirit, that you may be prepared to enter more fully into the designs of your divine Master. Gird up the loins of your minds; be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer; come, and make use of the language of the text as a prayer, and still plead, "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness," until the wilderness shall bud and blossom as the rose; and while the showers are descending, call on the earth to open, and bring forth fruits of righteousness to the glory of God. Remember, human efforts. must co-operate with divine influence. Contribute, then, of your substance to send the gospel to the heathen, and to the destitute around you. Bring forth salvation; send the Holy Scriptures to those who are perishing for lack of knowledge; break the bread of life to the hungry, and give the cup of salvation to the thirsty; send the message of liberty to the oppressed, and let the slave go free; devote your influence, your talents, your prayers, and the whole weight of your characters to promote a general reformation of morals, and a revival of pure evangelical religion in the land; unite with all them. that call on God out of a pure heart, and let righteousness and salvation spring up together, until the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Amen.

SERMON III.

BY REV. ENOCH MUDGE,

DUXBURY, MASS.

ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S LAW.

PSALMS, CXIX. 18.

OPEN THOU MINE EYES, THAT I MAY BEHOLD WONDROUS THINGS OUT OF THY LAW.

THE pious Psalmist had been accustomed to contemplate the nature and attributes of Jehovah, in the heavens, which declare his glory; and in the firmament, which showeth forth his handy work. He had seen his invisible perfections shining out in the sun, and moon, and stars, which he had formed. Their immensity spake his omnipotence; their variety, his wisdom; their order, his design; and their constant revolution, his superintending care and providence. He had contemplated his paternal love in the creation of angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. He had contemplated the divine goodness, in making man a little lower than the angels, and crowning him with glory and honor; and in making him to have dominion over the works of his hands. He had contemplated the wisdom and skill of the Creator in the creatures which he had formed to inhabit the earth, the air, and seas. This had led him to exclaim, "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth.' He had, doubtless, often contemplated the divine majesty and authority of Jehovah with Moses, from the burning bush; in the great things he had done in Egypt; in his wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

But now, what a spectacle is here presented to our view! The holy man of God is seen with the book of the divine testimony before him; his eyes and heart are lifted to heaven, breathing out his

soul in the language of our text, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

No doubt, he had already discovered many wonderful truths in the Word of God, which occasioned him to say, "O how love I thy law; it is my delight all the day. Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellors!"

Such glorious things are contained in the sacred volume, that angels might desire to look into it. Here are glories brought to view that might entertain, delight, and overwhelm those flaming spirits which minister to the heirs of salvation. Yet hath God made it the duty and privilege of his people to read these sacred records, while they set in their houses, and to talk of them while they walk by the way; and to teach them to their children, that they may know the way of the Lord.

How then does it become us to receive with meekness, simplicity, readiness, submission, and with reliance on the Holy Spirit, those lively oracles which are able to make us wise unto salvation. Every candid and attentive mind will discover much of the truth and excellency of the divine word. They will, at the same time, feel the need of divine illumination, in order to attain a spiritual and saving knowledge of the truth. The natural man discovers not the things of the Spirit. The veil must be taken from the heart, that we may fully realize their spirituality and deep design.

LET US PREMISE A FEW THINGS RELATIVE TO THIS LAW OF THE LORD, OF THE WONDROUS THINGS IT CONTAINS; AND THEN CONSIDER THE NECESSITY OF DIVINE ILLUMINATION, AND HEAVENLY INFLUENCE, FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF A PROFITABLE and SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF ITS HEAVENLY TRUTHS.

By the law of God, as the term is used in the text, and throughout this psalm in general, we are to understand the whole system of revealed truth with which the Psalmist was acquainted. The psalm treats of the natural excellencies of this divine word of truth, and the great happiness of those who take it as the man of their counsel, and delight in it after the inward man. The various appellations used in this psalm are designed to set forth its peculiar properties, excellencies, and uses, in the most diversified manner possible.

It is God's system of instruction, by which men are taught the knowledge of God and themselves, directing them how to walk so as to please God; to redeem them from the crooked paths of sin, and guide them in the way everlasting.

It is perfect, as a whole, wanting nothing, and having nothing redundant. Its instructions are presented in a clear, simple, and intelligible manner. They are the testimonies of truth, accompanied with infallible evidences of certainty. They are the sure

words of prophecy; and instruction to which we do well to take heed. They are right, for the conducting of man into the way of peace and holiness. They rejoice the heart, by bringing the knowledge of salvation from sin; and opening to him the way of acceptance with God; and showing him how to walk so as to please him, and receive joy and comfort from him. They are pure in their nature, requirements, and influence. They enlighten the eyes, bringing, through grace, the saving knowledge of God to the heart. They are true and righteous altogether; emanating from God; they present a transcript of his nature, a chart of divine providence, and a revelation of his grace. Hence, they are more valuable than gold or silver, and more precious than honey and the honey-comb.

The oracles of God, as they are now completed and sealed by the Holy Spirit, are the most astonishing and wondrous system that can be conceived. They begin by giving us a marvellous description of the creation, as the work of an omnipotent and glorious God, who, by the word of his power, called things into existence which had no being; of giving motion to matter, and endowing it with all the variety of wonderful properties which have been the study and astonishment of philosophers of all ages; and a discovery of a few of these properties have been the source of pleasure and usefulness to the world, and will yet continue to be the study of the wise and good,until the universe shall be dissolved and God make all things new.

Here, on the grand chart of providence, these wondrous events are unfolding and filling up the scene, to the astonishment of men and angels. The mysteries of redemption, which were conceived in eternity, and have been hidden for ages in the all-pervading mind of Jehovah, are here brought to view for the information and salvation of God's wonderful creature, man.

It is in this sacred testimony that all we know of the spiritual and invisible world is opened to the view of mortals. The existence of intelligencies of a nobler order than man is revealed. The realities of a future state, the immortality of the soul, the certainty and nature of its future existence and final destination, are here brought to light.

The wondrous system of types and shadows is here shown to be admirably adapted to the state of man in the age of the world in which they were given. As shadows of good things to come, they presented to the eye of faith the infinite atonement and efficacious merits of our great sacrifice for sin, and the power of the Holy Ghost to cleanse the sinner from all unrighteousness. While they served to keep the holy seed distinct, and to preserve them from idolatry, they assisted in the exercise of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.

The astonishing prophecies are a cabinet of wondrous things.

which God alone could foresee, and he only can furnish the key to unlock the amazing treasury.

Here also are recorded marvellous miracles, wherein we see the laws of nature suspended, superseded, or altered; at once displaying the power and wisdom of God to beget and confirm faith in his own glorious revelation.

Indeed, the doctrines of salvation by Jesus Christ are wonderful. The means employed are admirable. The operations of the Holy Spirit on the hearts and lives of sinners and saints are astonishing. The grand end of the whole scheme still surpasses in wonders. Well might the Psalmist cry out, "Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of thy law."

But it may be inquired, cannot man, as a rational, intelligent being, understand, believe, and practise the truths of revelation? He undoubtedly can. By the same faculties by which he receives the evidence of truth in any other subject, he may discover the evidence and force of truth contained in the divine oracles. He may investigate those subjects contained therein, and discover the historical, doctrinal, and practical truths presented to his mind. He may discover the nature and fitness of the civil, moral, and ritual institutions; he may entertain a great respect for them, as being wisely adapted to answer the most important purposes in society. He may discover their adaptation to the present state of the world, or to individual cases, and make very important uses of them for his own benefit and that of others.

In proportion to the clearness of his perceptions, the strength of his memory, and force of his reasoning power, joined with literary advantages, he may improve these truths to good purposes in all the relations of civil and social life. A man of taste, of genius, and science, will find much pleasure in the study of the oracles of God. Here are beauties of composition, force of reasoning, splendor of imagery, pathos of diction, clearness of narrative, variety of character, and inimitable beauties of description. Hence, the various natural sensibilities of the soul may be drawn forth by these subjects adapted to excite them; and an entertainment, pleasing and rational, be enjoyed in the study of the Holy Scriptures. Still further, we are ready to acknowledge that the natural man may have a clear and rational conviction of the truth of the doctrines, of the fitness and excellency of the precepts and institutions of revealed religion, and strenuously and ably advocate them, and conform his outward life to them in a blameless manner before his fellow men. Thus Saul of Tarsus had profited above many in the study of the law and the prophets; and so strict was he in their observance, that he had acquired fame for his morality, and was celebrated for his zeal for God and religion. Yet was he in darkness and ignorance,