to rule the night. It does so; and no philosopher or astronomer could discover that they were made for any other purpose than that which they answer. Then will any person be so bold as to say, that when the Son of God was sent into the world to save the world from sin, that his coming does not, and will not, answer that purpose? This I would be reasoning contrary to all reason, and drawing conclusions contrary to all fair rules.

Jesus was given to the world for this purpose, namely, to effect the salvation of the world from sin He was given to the world to manifest God's love to the world-He was given to the world that by his suffering he might fulfil all the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament-to remove that legal dispensation which operated as a wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, so of the twain, that is, Jew and Gentile, to make one new man, so making peace; and to preach the doctrine of Christianity and to fix it on a rock that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.-He was sent into the world to suffer patiently, that so he might set an example to his diciples-He was sent into the world, that through his death and glorious resurrection we might be introduced into eternal life and immortality. Not to constitute the doctrine of immortality-not to make it a truth; it was always a glorious truth, and he came to introduce believers to the sweet consolation of eternal life and immortal blessedness. This is the character of the Son of God that was born to us-that was given to us.

And in order that we may close this discourse in a proper manner, let us contemplate how God has blessed us. He has given us the natural sun to enlighten and warm us, and we ought to enjoy this blessing in a manner honourable to God, as well as

to the benefit of ourselves. He has given us the earth that we might cultivate it, and increase the fruits of it in a manner useful and honourable to ourselves. He has given us friends that we might treat them in such a way as to improve ourselves and them; and he has given us his dear Son to be a light to lighten the Gentiles. "It is a light thing," says God by the mouth of his prophet, "that thou shouldst be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Isaiah xlix. 6.

This is the language of the Saviour's invitations: "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink-Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke npon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt. xi. 28-30.

And, again, in the context, "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.* Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." This is recorded of the Messiah ---this is also the true character of Jesus. In him you have the doctrine of the Father; love to God, and love to mankind---mercy, peace, pardon and forgiveness to every transgressor. We cannot be his diciples without suffering losses and crosses for his honour. A great many people, my hearers, may be convinced of the truth of the sentiments that have been taught to them, and yet, notwith* See Note (a.)

standing, may reject the true Christian doctrine; but, what does Christ say on this subject? "He that is ashamed of me, and of my words, in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in the glory of his Father and of the holy angels."

And this was wonderfully fulfilled in the generation in which our Saviour was on earth; for they rejected him and were miserably destroyed by the Romans, and wasted among the nations of the earth, and similar calamities must ever await those who rebel against the wisdom and authority of God. Let us improve then by this blessed gift of God; and let us improve in imitating the character and following the doctrine of our blessed Saviour; let us embrace him in spirit, in truth, and in love to his honour and to his glory, and it will certainly result in our own felicity and benefit.

E

SERMON

PSALM LI.. 13.

THEN WILL I TEACH TRANSGRESSORS THY WAYS; AND SINNERS SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE,

You will perceive by the first words of this passage, the writer signifies that there was some preparation necessary for him, in order to fit him for the work mentioned: namely to teach transgressors the ways of God. "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways." This was an indication that the writer himself was unfit in his then present situation to teach transgressors the ways of God; but if something was performed for him, by way of preparation, he could enter upon this work. You will be good enough, my friends, to direct your attention carefully to that preparation which was necessary in order to prepare the author of the text for this work. This question is answered in the context. He acknowledges before God his sins and transgressions, and he uses a variety of phrases to signify the baseness of the moral character which he had formed. He then proceeds in a prayer to God, that these transgressions, this iniquity, these sins might be removed, and the words which he makes use of are such as follow: "wash," "purge," "cleanse;" he prays that he may be washed from his sins; and when this work is done, when he is washed from his sins-when he is purged from his iniquities, then, he says, " Will I teach trans

gressors thy ways." He would be prepared by such a process. Without this process he was unprepared for such an employment.

The next subject to which I wish you to give your attention is the ways of God. "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways." A man cannot teach to others the ways of God until he knows those ways himself. A man cannot teach to others what he himself is not acquainted with.

sor.

The

prophet here prays that he may be washed, cleansed and purged from all his sins and transgressious, so that he may teach God's ways to the transgresI wish to have you carefully attend to what is to be taught. The ways of God are to be taught. Now, my friends, keep your thoughts directly to the text; and observe this question. What did the prophet mean by the ways of God which he would teach to transgressors? There is no doubt that he meant this, namely, that he would teach his ways in purifying and cleansing the transgressor from sin; for he had just prayed that this work might be done for himself, and when done for him, he then would (as he says to God) teach the transgressor "thy ways." "Thy ways" in what? Thy ways in purifying and cleansing sinners and transgressors from sin and transgression. This idea may be represented by the following simile. A man who is sick, might say to a physician, "Physician, remove my infirmities, cure me of these painful disorders which rack my system, mitigate these pains with which I am tormented, restore health to me, and then will I teach other people troubled with my disorder how to be recovered from their complaints, how to be cured of their disease, and how they may be restored to health." I will now bring you an example from the scriptures. You all recollect the ac