those who close the ear against every evidence and every promise, and have no eye but that of sense; nor yet of that sceptical philosophy, which debars the activity of the intellect from the most exalted subjects of research and contemplation, which sees every thing past and present, and yet is blind to all things future, all things beyond the limits of this sensible creation; passing by at present the melancholy consideration of men in this condition, we may perceive the difficulty of maintaining faith by the very errors of religious men. It is the want of faith, and not the excess of it, which makes some require sensible tests of the influences of the Holy Spirit; and others seek for positive assurances of election or salvation, in the stead of patient and scriptural hope; which makes one man zealously assert the reality of recent miracles, as if the evidence of the Gospel had not been long ago securely established; and another eagerly anticipate the fulfilment of all prophecy, as if the present age were the only one within the prospect of the Divine prescience. And to what again but to the want of constant and enduring faith in the Divine promises must we attribute our daily, hourly, transgressions not of the laws of God alone, but of our own best resolutions? our perpetual preference of the things that are seen to the things that are spiritual but unseen, though they are great and

gracious as the influences of the Holy Spirit, and important as everlasting life? There is not one among us who does not need to be perpetually reminded, amidst the toils, or the distresses, or the anxieties, or the pleasures of this life, that he also is but "a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.” Not one who does not perpetually need to lift up that humble prayer, Lord, increase our faith." Not one therefore who has not ample cause to receive and to use with devout gratitude all those gracious means with which our heavenly Father has blessed us, in order to strengthen our conviction of His faithfulness, and to invigorate our hope and trust; until our pilgrimage be past, our race run, and we at length, through the precious blood of Christ, receive among them that are called "the promise of an eternal inheritance."

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DISCOURSE VI.

ANTICIPATIONS OF THE GOSPEL IN THE OLD HISTORICAL SCRIPTURES.

GALATIANS iii. 8.

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, (saying,) In thee shall all nations be blessed.

ALL Scripture is derived from one Author, and discloses His will and His dealings towards His own creatures. Even as it is written, "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world;" and again," All Scripture (is) given by inspiration of God." We cannot therefore be surprised if some intimations and disclosures of the last and best dispensation have been vouchsafed in all that preceded it.

And the fact has been so. Not only were the truths of the Gospel, even in their minuter linea

a Acts xv. 18. 2 Tim. iii. 16.

ments, foreshewn by the Psalmists and the Prophets; but they were remarkably foreshadowed under the Law, and implied and even announced in the Historical Scriptures of the Old Testament. So obvious indeed is the fact, and so little are Christians usually inclined to dispute it, that the prevailing current of opinion runs only too much in its favour. There is perhaps a very general disposition to overstate the fact; to undervalue the distinctions between the later and the earlier dispensations; and to read the very truths of the Gospel directly and immediately in the first pages of the book of Genesis. From the popular language of theology, for example, it might almost be imagined, that Abel offered his acceptable sacrifice with a degree of knowledge as well as faith little inferior to that with which a Christian celebrates the Eucharist; and that his offering procured the actual forgiveness of his sins, even as if the great sacrifice upon the cross had been already offered and accepted. In a word, truths implied have been mistaken for truths taught; and Christians have often overlooked the distinction between the sentiments of faith entertained by the old fathers, and their actual knowledge of Gospel doctrines; and between truths understood by us in the full sunshine of Christianity, and the same truths concealed amidst the obscurity of the elder dispensations.