although sin and misery are left to press hard upon us, still can we overcome them, by taking the arms, and using the means, which are prepared for us.

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To this encouragement, let us, lastly, your attention.

We have shown you the effects, which the Gospel has upon our hearts, perhaps, in a very inadequate manner; but, by your own experience, you can judge for yourselves.

You, who have become almost Christians, who have received the truth, and have partly benefitted by it, you can tell, by that little, the benefit which you would receive, were you to become, not almost but quite Christians. It is to this end, that we wish to bring our preaching. We desire not partly to save your souls, but entirely— to make you Christians in heart, word, and deed to show forth your faith by your works-to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.” Yes! we desire "to quicken you, who are

dead in trespasses and sins ;" that your souls may be saved alive in the Day of Judgment. We repeat it; we wish to quicken you-to make you alive; for virtually speaking, you are dead-" dead in trespasses and sins." It is the dull, heavy lethargy of the flesh, that we desire to remove-it is the adamantine bond of the heart that we would break, so that the Gospel of Christ might have easy access there, and thus produce works meet for repentance. We have taken every means to do this in our preaching-we have endeavoured to move the heart with all that is touching and vital. And what, brethren, have you done? we put it clearly to you, and let the conscience of each answer the real and solemn truth. Has the Gospel, proclaimed in all its fulness, had the desired effect upon your hearts? Have you received the glad tidings willingly, or has the Spirit been quenched and grieved whenever its influence has been shed upon your hearts? Do you profit by what you read, and by what you hear? Do feel the value of your redemption? These

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are plain and easy questions; but what are the answers? Are they satisfactory to your consciences? There may be to some a difficulty to apply these to the heart; it may be grievous to the sinner to have plain words dealt out to him, but we would not, on account of the risk of offending you here by telling plain and unvarnished truth, encounter the possibility of losing your souls in the day of the Lord. The minister of Jesus Christ has much to withstand. one time, perhaps, his discourse is measured by the ignorant and unthinking—at another, the critic's eye passes over it with a prejudiced censure-at another, disappointed curiosity doles out bitter and hateful words against his eloquence, his learning, or his zeal; so that, unless he be possessed of more than ordinary confidence, and a determination to go on, be the beatings without ever so violent, or the storm ever so tempestuous, he must sink in his noble cause, beneath the finger of scorn, and amid the taunts of an unheeding world. God grant, that this may never be our case, and that we may be supplied with sufficient con

fidence to meet the outward difficulties to which we are exposed! and that we may be the humble, though effectual means, of saving many, if not all of those, to whom our ministrations are addressed. This has been the humble, though continual, prayer of the preacher, who now addresses you:— and God grant that the full and plentiful outpouring of the Spirit may descend upon each, to enable you to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!" The time may not be far distant, when each, before the whole world, must give an account of the deeds done in the body; and, "if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ?"

Permit us in conclusion to exhort you to receive the engrafted word with meekness and docility. Suffer the Gospel to have due influence upon the heart, that it may receive the glad tidings with joy and with willingness. To you, as well as to the ministers of the church, belong the work of spreading and extending the kingdom of God. Were you to do this, by every means in your power, how soon would

the happy result be felt! There are many idle and negligent people, whom you might induce to attend the preaching of the Gospel. Such a laudable act, upon your part, might tend greatly to quicken" those, who are indeed "dead in trespasses and sins:" great too would be the blessing.

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May God assist us all in this great work! and may his Son, who died for us, still continue to make intercession for us, and may the Holy Ghost "quicken all those who are dead in trespasses and sins!" which may the Almighty, of his infinite goodness, grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.