with a high reputation for justice and kindness; but he has one fault: he neglects, he resists, he disobeys, he hates and outrages a tender Father. Do you call him virtuous now? Does not this vice, like a thick cloud, shade all the brightness of his character in your eyes? Do you not now regard his show of virtue as a mere mask and mockery-as a whited sepulchre, hiding beneath it bones and rottenness? Surely then you are bound to come to the same decision with regard to the man who, however adorned with the show of moral virtue, has not in his soul the love of God his Father, and of Christ his Saviour. I say nothing of the defects of his justice, or kindness, or benevolence, though all these qualities are inevitably of stunted growth in the heart unvisited and unwarmed by the love of God and a Redeemer. But I speak especially of the want of that very love to his Creator and Redeemer. And, suppose him with all the moral qualities of an angel, yet, if he want this, I must contend that he is, as yet, a rebel against his Father's authority, and therefore unworthy of commendation. Tell us not of his "justice" is he just to God? Tell us not of his "meekness;" does he acknowledge and feel the long-suffering and tenderness of the Redeemer? Tell us not of his "love:" does he love the Saviour who loved him, and bought him with his own most precious blood? Does he act, even when his actions are the purest, from a right motive, on a right principle, with a right object? Is he not "living without God" in a world where all is the work of God, all the property of God; where all was lighted up by one touch of his hand, and will be extinguished

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by another? Is he not paying back the love of Christ with indifference, his graces with neglect, and, by daily acts of sin and worldliness, crucifying the Son of God afresh?" My Christian brethren, the day is rapidly approaching when the pretensions of all are to be determined. Then we know that all the impenitent and unconverted shall "mourn apart. But, perhaps, amidst that miserable company, there will not be a more miserable creature than he who has been substituting names for things, worldly virtues for spiritual graces, scanty and irregular kindnesses to men for deep devotion, and faith, and love to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and who, buoyed up for a time by his self-conceit, or the flattery of others, sinks at length into the awful gulf prepared for all that "love not the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."

In bringing these observations to a close, I must be permitted, in the first place, to guard against an abuse; and, in the next place, to point out the proper use of the doctrine we have been endeavouring to establish.

1. In the first place, then, let me guard you against any such abuse of the subject we have been considering, as to conceive that because certain moral or benevolent dispositions and practices are not necessarily the fruits of the Spirit; therefore a man under the influence of the Holy Spirit may want these qualities. Consider, my Christian brethren, amongst a multitude of other passages, the language of the text; "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness, and truth." Wherever, therefore, the Holy Ghost is in possession of the heart, as infallibly as the effect will follow the

cause, will these dispositions, and the acts which flow from them, display themselves in the temper and life. You wonder that the world should often calumniate the doctrine of Divine influence as the tenet of enthusiasm and imposture. But have none of the pretenders to this sacred influence on their own souls furnished a pretext for such aspersions? "By their fruits ye shall know them." Bring yourselves to this practical test: search into your character for every quality which is the proper fruit of the Spirit; and, amongst others, for those qualities by which some worldly individuals are characterized. Have you the very "honesty," "meekness," "kindness," which they manifest? Have you these qualities in a higher degree, and of a nobler cast, than themselves? Strive, by the grace of God, to surpass them even in what is, as it were, their peculiar and staple produce. Strive that in a world where religion has many enemies, she may be "justified by" the purity and loveliness of her children." Let it be visible in every act of your lives that " ye are washed and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of your God."

2. In the last place, let me add, that the proper use of the preceding observations is evidently this, to set yourselves to the task of earnest and devout supplication to God for the sanctifying influence of his Spirit on your own souls, and that of all in whom you are interested.-What a happiness is it, my brethren, that, in touching upon the infinite value of this sacred influence on the soul, I am not speaking to you of an unattainable good-of a "pearl" so "hid," as that the hand only of a few may be permitted to reach it. It is the gift of

God, and the purchase of a Saviour's blood: therefore seek it from Him who has promised to "send the Comforter" to you. It is his gift to all who desire it: therefore let "whosoever will" go to this "fountain" of life. It is his gift to those who pray therefore seek it in prostration of soul at the foot of the Cross. Thus draw near to Him, who has pledged himself "to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it," and you shall enjoy his precious influences, and be imbued with all his graces. He will supply you with holy thoughts, and pure desires, and strong resolutions, and heavenly affections. He will

"take of the things of Christ, and shew them to the soul." He will "reveal" the Saviour to you in a manner in "which he does not reveal himself to the world." He will give you the "goodness, and righteousness, and truth," which are the unchangeable elements of the Christian character, and "the crown" and perfection of the spirits in glory. Strive, then, to win for yourselves, not the applause of the world, but the approbation of God. Covet for yourselves, and for those you love, the fulfilment of that glorious promise; "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."

SERMON V.

LIFE A RACE.

HEB. xii. 1, 2.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race which is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

THE author of the Epistle to the Hebrews was not of a disposition to contemplate the triumphs of religion, in any age or country, as a mere pageant designed to catch the eye, without influencing the conduct of himself or his countrymen. Accordingly, having, in the chapter which precedes the text, surveyed and recorded these triumphs, he proceeds, in the present chapter, to draw from them the lessons they are calculated to teach. Let us endeavour, in dependence upon the Divine blessing, to follow the track of his argument.

It is not unusual, in labouring to kindle the valour of the untried or shrinking soldier, to remind him of those who have fought in the same field, and conquered the same enemies with whom he is about to contend. And it is deemed a still higher encouragement if we can point to