called by the man who was sent from God to testify concerning him, "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

There are systems, very beautiful as a whole, and in some particulars unexceptionable, which yet have parts inferior in symmetry, grace, and worth. When such sytems, are exhibited, it will be desirable, to give the greatest prominence to that which has least to fear from inspection; and to withhold or disguise that which is defective but to act thus with respect to the Gospel, would be most injurious. It is excellent and beautiful altogether, and in all its parts; therefore, to conceal the smallest portion would be to diminish its splendour and effect. Like the church which it is designed to form and to edify, it is a building fitly framed together: there is no deficiency; no excess. Every word of the truth is so necessary to the information and sanctification of mankind, that every degree of reserve ministers to ignorance and depravity. Your professed design, is the promotion of light and holiness amongst men; should you withhold the minutest portion of the Gospel, you would become, to a certain degree, the agents of darkness and of sin. "Seeing then that we have such hope," let us preach unreservedly.

In the course of your reading, you have found that the much admired systems of philosophy, prevalent in antiquity, were not intended for the common people. The design of the philosophers seems to have been, not the general diffusion of knowledge: but the creation of a sect, that should know more than others. They were more gratified by their own superiority, than by the improvement of their fellow creatures; therefore, they adopted mysterious terms, and conversed chiefly with those who had already become their disciples. Some things, indeed, were communicated to the vulgar, in order that they might feel their inferiority to their sages but the higher branches of their systems were reserved for the favoured few. In their esteem, knowledge was a treasure too precious, to be commonly distributed. Even the Legal Dispensation was not entirely destitute of these characteristics. The ceremonies appointed for original Hebrews, were more numerous, solemn, and magnificent, than those to which proselytes were admitted: and there were worshippers of the inner, and of the outer court. You will not suffer yourselves to imagine, that in these, there is any thing like a precedent for the preaching of the Gospel. On the contrary; this system is designed wholly for all: and all its parts are designed for every one. Con

templating all men as possessing human nature, and as sinners before God; it adopts none of the distinctions which we have formed; and knows nothing of the initiated and the uninitiated. Therefore all want of explicitness and fullness, is decidedly uncongenial with the Gospel.

We use great plainness of speech,

3. Because of the important relation which the Gospel bears to the happiness of men. Our Lord thus strikingly asserts this fact: "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." To suppose that the Gospel exists, only for the melioration and improvement of mankind; is to entertain an opinion, very inadequate to its genuine import and design. Its purpose is, not so much to repair, as to renew: not to advance but restore. It is something, for which, the world is not merely the better but which it is eternal death to want. This and this only is life eternal: for this alone communicates the knowledge of God and Christ. Without this, our ignorance, prejudices, and sins, will be our destruction but a genuine faith in the Gospel, gives us a property in all things; and opens to us the gates of endless bliss. This faith, com

municates a new existence; causes to expatiate in a refined and exalted sphere of enjoyment; and is a well of water springing up into everlasting life. According as men embrace or reject this blessed gift of God, they have power to become his sons, or seal themselves 'the children of wrath'. Without faith in the Gospel, the pomp, the pleasures, the wealth of the present world, form but the gaudy and noisy procesion, which attends the immolation of an Indian widow: to the believer, the poverty, the obscurity, the afflictions of this life, are but the discipline necessary to form and mature the heir of glory. The Gospel is the only effectual refuge in trouble, guide in difficulty, and support in death; and as we are placed where these trials perpetually occur, the well-being and happiness of men are deeply implicated in this great antidote of evil. So frequent is the recurrence of the seasons in which we need its aid, that were it withdrawn but for a moment we should feel its absence. Its importance and value in this life, are inferior, only to its importance and value in the life that is to come. From these considerations arises the great suitableness of the Gospel thus it is brought home to our business and bosoms.-Were all these things constantly before our eyes, could we give way to levity of manner? Could we jest at a funeral; or strive to entertain

with jokes, a man who was uttering his dying groans? Yet this would be equally seasonable with the ludicrous performances of the pulpit, Or, while so many are perishing for lack of knowledge; shall we withhold that which is able to make them wise unto salvation? Shall it be said, that through our backwardness and obscurity,

"The hungry sheep look up and are not fed ?”

While so many of our fellow creatures are on the very verge of eternal destruction, are we capable of being cold, inanimate, and careless, in warning them to flee from "the wrath to come?" Oh! what a painful spectacle is presented by the condition of mankind! What an awful summary, "the whole world lieth in wickedness!" You cannot be unmoved while you see so many of your fellow creatures "dead in trespasses and sins;" destroying themselves by. that in which they are so infatuated as to place. their happiness; nourishing in their bosoms the worm that shall never die; and feeding those flames which will never be quenched. Alas for men, who are sick of a mortal disease, and yet flatter themselves they are in perfect health: who indulge the hope of eventual salvation, while they are quickening their steps to eternal perdition! You are not left to unavailing com