kingdom is a kingdom of truth in conformity to the eternal and immutable standard of rectitude.

Jesus in the dominion of his providence or by his whole work, has portrayed the divine character exactly according to its reality. He has not deviated in his representation from truth in the least possible degree. He attributed to God all those perfections and glories, which must exist in the glorious Creator and Governor of the world.

The account Jesus gives of God, perfectly tallies in all its applications and bearings, with the displays he makes of himself in the constitution and course of nature. Jesus Christ asserted the universal gov erment of God, and this is as certain as that the world was indebted to a cause for its beginning..

2d. Jesus Christ testified to a law, which is binding on all moral beings, and which we may certainly know is the divine law. Human law never in any case whatever respects any other than overt acts. An action must be visible to reach human cognizance. Hence legislative bodies have never undertaken to give law for the regulation of the heart. They do not call men to an account for their secret sins. And it is impossible they should. Because a crime which is latent is not cognizable. But the law which Jesus came to magnify extends to every secret of the soul. Respecting the penalty annexed to this infinitely holy law, Jesus has given us the truth. The penalty is an expression of its infinite authority and shews the law to be like its author, transcendently excellent and pure.

3d. The testimony of Jesus Christ is true respecting human nature in its degenerate state. Men in every age have proved themselves by actions as far removed from God, as Christ represented them. His assertions concur with those facts, which are certain evidence that he knew what was in man.'

Jesus when in the world, did not make a single mistake in judgment. Eighteen hundred years have never detected him in a fault. The portraiture he has drawn of this fallen world, the fountain of indwelling sin, and the degree and seat of it in the mind, as by him described, proves him omnicient and infinitely wise. Jesus' eye is all-piercing, not a passion, not a motion of the heart does he overlook. The correctnes of his sentiments respecting human guilt, holds an assent, even where it mortifies and irritates. His pencil drew a picture we know to be our own. The gospel is a glass, held out by Jesus in which we may see ourselves lost, and that he alone is our helper.

4th. Jesus Christ is perfectly correct and true in the system of rules he has given for the regulation of our moral conduct. You may con over every rule he has laid down, every moral sentiment he has expressed, and you will not find a single article, if adopted, and carried into practice, but would be most excellent in its opperation. Those most hostile to Jesus and his gospel are necessiated to confess his moral rules unexceptionally excellent. While Jesus is made the butt of ridicule and infidel scoffing, the impious assailants, are irresistibly constrained to a confession honorary to the truth, that there has never been a religion in the world so conducive to human happiness, so well calculated to alleviate wo, so friendly to social compact, as the christian religion. On reading the New Testament, infidels themselves, bring in this witness and leave it at the feet of Jesus.

If, therefore, the testimony of Jesus is true upon the points already suggested, his whole system must rest on a foundation which never shall be moved. The mysteries of Godliness, Christ's humanity and equality with God, his mediatorial kingdom, his efficacy and merit are veracity in capitals, known and read of all heaven. High and lifted up Jesus is enthroned,

His name is truth. And for this end was he born, that he might rear a kingdom, from every nation, kindred and language, to be witnesses before him. Whatever clouds may now veil the minds of guilty men, whatever doubts they may entertain of the character of the Redeemer, and the doctrines which he taught; the time will come when the veil of mystery will be rent, when truth all potent-overwhelming truth, will carry conviction to all hearts. Then will every doctrine of the cross be believed; then will Christ Jesus appear in the resplendent glory of his character, and to him every knee shall ultimately bow, and every tongue confess, that his kingdom is a kingdom of truth, righteousness and light, and that in him is no darkness at all.'

NATURE AND POWER OF TRUTH,

ILLUSTRATED IN

TWO DISCOURSES,

BY

DAVID PORTER,

PARTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CATSKILL, N. YORK,

SERMON II.

JOHN Xviii. 38.

Pilate saith unto him, what is truth?

IN the preceeding discourse an appropriate answer was attempted to this great question.

is now invited to the

Your attention

II. Particular, which is to point out the nature and effects of truth.

A subject, frequently rises in its importance, much higher, by attaching to it the effects of its operation, than by resting it on definitions, though ever so correct and pertinent.

Should you find a man who is a total stranger to the compass, and should you define to him all the parts destinctly, and how they are put together, so as to give him a perfect idea of the instrument, he would have but a very contracted view of its importance, its utility, and the immense advantages resulting from it to the world. When you had done this, the subject would magnify in his eye, and he would appreciate it as one of the most useful discoveries ever made by the human mind. It is very much so with truth in application to the object before us. We have defined truth. We have

till you had explained to him