selves in our true light, as frail, sinful, and impotent creatures; and then to revert to that holy character of God, which is utterly opposed to all our ways and threatens our eternal punishment, could not but excite thought and inquiry. Thus viewed, the contemplation of God becomes supremely interesting. It is not a neutral subject; it is one calculated most forcibly to arrest the mind of man, to stop the sinner in his heedless course, and to fix itself upon the conscience by the most powerful associations. The chief wonder is, that, knowing that God exists, and believing in those awful attributes which render him "a consuming fire," we should be able to expel him for a moment from our thoughts.

2. But, in the second place, let us view God in the abundance of his love.-The former aspect is calculated to excite salutary awe and attention; but it by no means calms the heart, or renders the contemplation of the Godhead inviting and welcome; and it is on this very account, namely, by reason of the uneasiness excited by this view of the Almighty, that men fail to reflect upon him. But in this new and equally appropriate aspect, He becomes an object on which we may gaze without terror; for His perfections and attributes are as attractive as they are majestic. "God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not

imputing their trespasses unto them," is of all possible themes, that which is best calculated to soothe and tranquillize the heart of a conscious sinner, who is anxious for pardon and mercy. Here the spiritual eye may repose, without being terrified by the awful glories of the Godhead. Thus we learn to unite our own

interest with the contemplation of God. We behold Him as exhibited in the face of Jesus Christ; who, by assuming our nature, and becoming a High Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, has rendered the Godhead capable of being viewed through a medium which we can better understand; and has so united the beams of mercy with the attributes of justice, that we learn to contemplate Him who is Almighty, and inflexibly just, as a reconciled Father, and an all-gracious Friend. Let us then cultivate those affections towards God which may render our reflections upon him grateful and interesting. If we learn thus to connect our own personal salvation, our happiness here and hereafter, with the character of God, as revealed in the person of his Son, we shall not desire to be freed from his presence, but rather shall keep him ever in our thoughts, in all the endearing relations in which he has been pleased to reveal himself to us. We shall thus advance in love to him; and this love will lead to new and more en

dearing contemplations. We shall also be increasingly conformed to his image; we shall grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; till at length, having made Him the great object of our meditations and delight upon earth, we shall be translated into his kingdom in heaven, where we shall become perfect in knowledge, and see and know even as we are seen and known.

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SERMON XXXII.

ST. PAUL READY TO BE OFFERED.

2 TIMOTHY iv. 6-8.

I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.

WHEN that venerable reformer, Melancthon, was asked, upon his death-bed, whether there was any thing more that he desired, he is said to have replied, "Nothing else but heaven." How happy such a frame of mind! to have seen the vanity and folly of every thing in comparison of religion; to have been detached in spirit from the sins and pursuits of the world; to have had the affections fixed upon God; and to be able to say, with the Psalmist, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of Thee!" Yet, great

as is this privilege, it is often the blessed lot of the advanced Christian. This was remarkably the case with the Apostle in the text; and though at our first setting out on a religious course such high attainments may appear far beyond our reach, yet if we steadily persevere, in humble dependence upon the Spirit of God, and in the diligent use of the means which he has mercifully provided for our spiritual edification, there is scriptural reason to hope that even the weakest of us may arrive at a similar, if not an equally triumphant, degree of Christian experience. Our duty is "to follow on to know the Lord;" and in so doing, God will be faithful to his promises; he will comfort and support us in trouble; he will raise us when we are drooping; and even in death we shall be more than conquerors, through Him that loved us and gave himself for us. St. Paul himself bears witness that the blessings which he describes in the text were not confined only to a few eminent saints or martyrs, but were to be the lot of Christians in every age; for he adds, And not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

In order, then, to animate our hearts in the pursuit of such inestimable blessings, and to teach us in what manner they may be obtained, we shall consider,