ages made by the hands of men, and every other species of idolatry are forbidden. We are commanded to worship Jehovah, and him only to serve. Idolatry is a more secret sin than we may be aware. We may with the - name of the true God on our tongues, and with great visible respect to him in our external conduct, set up idols in our hearts. Covetousness is idolatry. Every inordinate affection to creatures is idolatry. We must keep ourselves from idols, if we would obey the divine will. We are forbidden in the moral law, to prophane God's name, and day; and are commanded to reverence both, in our thoughts, words, and actions. Numerous are the duties which are included in the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." There are mutual duties between parents and children, husbands and wives, ministers and people, rulers and subjects. Each one is commanded to do good unto all men as far as he has opportunity, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. The supreme Lawgiver hath forbidden us to lay the hand of violence on our fellow men. We are required to seek the welfare of others, and to neglect no means in our power to preserve human life,

and to augment human happiness. If we habitually indulge a spirit of malice and revenge, the love of God dwelleth not in us; and if we were unrestrained, we should progress, until we had imbrued our hands in the blood of those whom we hate. Charity is to be maintained in our thoughts, words, and actions; and we are commanded to refrain from every kind of uncleanness. Libidinous desires indulged, expose persons to fall into open debauchery, and to sacrifice innocence to their brutal lusts. In the divine law a guard is placed round the estates of individuals, which may not be invaded by theft or fraud. Neither thieves nor extortioners, nor the unjust shall inherit the kingdom of God. They must repent and reform, or perish for ever. Truth is to be maintained between man and man. The tongue, that unruly member, must be bridled; and not be permitted to wound innocence by slander. The holy law of God forbids us to covet the substance, the domestic comforts, the gifts of any thing that is our neighbour's. It is our duty to rejoice in his prosperity; and to be contented with the portion which infinite wisdom and benevolence have assigned us in the world.

All the particular institutions enjoined on men are to be practised. We are commanded to pour out our hearts to God in prayer, in our closets, in our families, and in the house of God. The ordinances of Christian baptism, and the Lord's supper, are enjoined upon us. We cannot follow Christ, except we strive, in our places, to uphold and car ry into effect the laws which he hath given to his disciples, both with respect to their personal behaviour, and to the watch which they are required to maintain over their brethren in the Lord. In times of declension we are not to sit down in despondency; but are called upon to be watchful, and to strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.

In a review of the duties which are enjoined, must we not adopt the language of the Psalmist, (Psalm cxxx. 3, 4.) "If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." If, brethren, we know ourselves, we shall find constant need of repairing to the blood of Christ for pardoning mercy. Let us adore the riches of God's grace, who can save crea tures as guilty as we are, from the wrath to

come, and can sanctify us for his own sert vice in time, and for the enjoyment of himself in eternity.

4. To pass the time of our sojourning here in fear, we must be patient in tribula-" tion.

Man is born unto trouble as the sparks · fly upward. The godly are not exempted from suffering while in the body. They: have often suffered much more while they have been in the body than the men of the. world. No person's character can, however, be determined from the events which overtake him in divine providence, while on the earth; but character is to be learned from the manner in which afflictions are endured.

The people of God, in all ages, have been visited with the rod; and have been convinced that he hath afflicted them in faithfulness. They are "now for a season, (if need be,) in heaviness through manifold tempta-tions; that the trial of their faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ," (verses 6th and 7th of context.) The righteous are usu

ally recovered from their backslidings by the rod. By means of its strokes their sins have been called to remembrance, and they have been brought nearer to God than ever. The Psalmist saith, in his address to the Most High," before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word." (Psalm cxin. 67.) "We glory in tribulations," saith the Apostle Paul, "knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope." (Rom. v. 3, 4.) Saith James, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your youth worketh patience." (James i. 2, 3.) Again he saith, "take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy who endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

Patience implies a belief in the rectitude and goodness of God's government, and submission to his holy will. It does not imply an insensibility to pain; for " no chastening, for the present, seemeth to be joyous, but