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culiar people, who are neither ashamed of the ways of holiness, nor of that kingdom which is not of this world? The question is important, not only as it discloses how far there is a spirituality of the mind as to its desires, but whether we can adduce the additional testimony of love to our brethren, as a comfortable token that we have been knit into the mystical body of Christ.

I come now to observe upon the last of that string of resolutions in the text: "Thy God shall be my God." All the former links of the chain would have been defective without this. But herein lies its main strength and solidity: mere general declarations mean nothing; they are only expressed by the world's disciple, because they make a part of a religion of mere forms. General purposes of amendment do not meet the wants of a sinner. Every heart has been a wanderer, and turned to its own way, and the remedy must be ministered especially to itself. It must be a sense of individual unworthiness that will teach us the publican's prayer, and lead the hand to smite upon the breast, and the lips to say, "God be merciful unto me a sinner." We may recognize the high and the lofty One establishing the world so that it cannot be moved, and keeping all the parts of it in harmony and order; we may say, the Lord is king, and hath girded himself with ma

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jesty and strength," but there is no comfort in such a heartless confession as this. If he be my God, he will be dear to me in all his attributes as the framer of a new and everlasting covenant, I shall rejoice in him:—as a heavenly Master, I shall delight to serve him :-as a reconciled Father, I shall adore and love him. If he be my God, I shall heartily believe on him whom he hath sent. It is lost labour to draw a line of separation between the Father who grants pardon, and the Son who has purchased it they are distinct indeed in person, but one in nature. He who has trodden the wine-press of God's wrath alone, has exclusive possession of the robe of righteousness; it is he who flourishes eternally as the tree of life, that scatters his leaves for the healing of the nations; it is he who was lifted upon the cross, that he might draw all men after him, and be lifted up with power in our hearts. He never will be the Saviour of those who cannot sit under his shadow, and be refreshed with the consolation it imparts. Now, with what appearance of truth can we call him ours? We bear his name.-Yes! but a name is a poor substitute for the thing itself. We have passed from heathen idolaters to the worship of Jehovah. Yes! but this was an act perfected, not by our wisdom, but by the wise of another

generation. We can show vows without number-I allow it; but has the Holy Ghost brought them to any effect? Are we followers of Christ as dear children? We are the com panions of a Christian people; but are they such virtually and in spirit, approving things that are excellent, pressing towards the mark of their high calling, emptied of every vain imagination, and rejoicing in none other than the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls? And, lastly, we kneel at the throne of God, and make the acknowledgment, that he is our God. Alas! all this is questionable Christianity. He looks neither to the bending of the knee, nor to the multitude of words, but to the contrition and low estate of the heart. If his perfections, his promises, his covenant mercies, are worthy of acceptation, you have here firm ground to fix your faith upon. But I cannot too often

remind you, that this is not to be done but by first embracing Jesus as a Saviour. "Our life is hid with Christ in God." Enter the ark, and the delugeof wrath shall never touch you. Come away from every lying refuge, and you shall find a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest. Oh! what is death to you who can thus repose upon Jesus? it may lay hold on you, but your Captain will be the plague of death. What is the grave? it will

retain the dust, but he will be the destruction of the grave. And what is eternity? O! happy eternity! that is a home, a rest, a city of habitation, your exceeding great reward.

103.

SERMON VII.

CHRIST THE SUPPORT OF HIS CHURCH.

MATTHEW xiv. 28-31.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water; and he said, come; and when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus; but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me; and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

THIS, my brethren! is a most profitable scripture; every line in it has a force peculiar to itself; here is real life: all the occurrences have actually come to pass; they show us man as he ever was, and the disciple of Jesus as he ever will be; they show us what the true value of human resolution is, when unsupported by the arm of the Lord, how it rises up in some

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