ments. And for this reason, conscience is the faculty which receives conviction, and over this the heart has no control. If the heart has no control over the conscience, then nothing prevents men from uniformity in religious sentiments, except an equal degree of conviction, and this they will ultimately have. For since truth is unchangeably the same and independent, and tends in its very nature to produce conviction, it is impossible for conscience when enlightened to view truth otherwise than it is; and when the moral universe shall be brought to this issue, there will be no more disagreement in religious opinions henceforward forever. We may reason thus with great safety, because we know from fact, that the vilest men, even thieves and murderers, have exactly the same opinions of right and wrong, so far as they are enlightened, as the best men living. So soon as Pharaoh, king of Egypt, became convicted, he concurred in opinion with Moses and Aaron respecting his own vileness and God's goodness. From numerous instances it is easy to see, that the result will be a perfect agreement in religious opinions, between moral beings, even from beelzebub up to the highest seraph before God's throne. Hence

2. Truth is complete master of natural conscience. Conscience is a power in man of accusing and execusing according to rectitude and not a pow er of controling the positions of virtue and vice. Conscience is obliged to report correctly, even though it reports against us. If truth were not master of conscience, it would be impossible for us to feel guilt. A sense of guilt however small, is certain evidence, that conscience is under the government of truth. It is true, conscience may be blunted for a while, it may not accuse at the very instant of sinning, but it will act in due time. It will-it must of necessity witness for Jesus, that his work is perfect. It is in vain for the wicked to make attempts to destroy conscience or keep it down. The business between truth and conscience must of necessity be done. The heart may

revolt at it, but truth will find its way to the sinner's retreat and sue up its demand, exacting the uttermost farthing; neither will conscience dispute the account. The wicked will as one, be brought to a spot of which they little dream. In an hour, when they think not, the inward monitor will make a report completely ruinous to the ungodly. They have the ingredients of a dreadful hell in their own minds.

3. We may infer that God's goodness will be as conspicious in punishing the wicked, as in saving the righteous. Some suppose that God's goodness will shield them from his vindictive wrath, and hence that there is no danger in sinning. This is making God the servant of their wishes, at the expense of his honor. A greater insult cannot be offered to God than this. It aims destruction against his throne. For the same reason God will save the redeemed, he will cast off the wicked. He will save the righteous because it is for the honor of his name, and he will damn the wicked for the same end. It is as right to punish the rebellous as to reward the obedient, and thus God, from his very nature, is bound to do. Should God depart from this rule of acting, and reward promiscuously, virtue and vice would stand on a level as viewed by him. But such procedure is incompatable with infinite goodness, and a violation of the eternal rule of rectitude as it exists in the nature of things. The very quarter from which the wicked are expecting peace and safety, is the place of alarm. God's goodness signs the doom of the incorrigibly wicked, and makes their ruin inevitable. The vindictive displeasure of God at sin, has been too often witnessed in the world to be disputed. His goodness and truth will cut short the sinner's vain expectations to his overthrow.

4. We may see the reason why Christ's kingdom has stood and cannot be destroyed. It is a kingdom of truth, and therefore permanent of itself. Nothing is so weak, but is capable of being held up by exteri

or strength. Human power may for a while support in. consistency and error, but error cannot support itself. Withdraw support from false theories and they fall by their own weight. But with christianity it is not so. It can stand of itself, yea, it has resisted all that wicked men and devils could do to effect its ruin.Its foundation, its superstructure, the whole edifice is eternal truth, and therefore no weapon formed against it shall prosper. When earthly thrones shall totter and crumble, Jesus' throne shall stand immoveable through eternal ages. Hence,

5. We infer the safety and blessedness of those who are united with Christ in the truth. Christ is their chosen king, and if he be for them, who can be against them? 6 Happy followers of Jesus, because he lives, ye shall live also. Forget not the ruin from which you were taken, and the price of your ransom. You were conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity. You were cast out into the open field to the loathing of your persons. You were without hope and without God in the world. Your sins gathered over your heads like a thick cloud. Sinai's mountain was all. on fire, and the penalty due to sin was ready to fall on you and plunge you into endless pain. But then did the arm of the Lord bring salvation. Then, O then, was a time of love. I have found a ransom said the father; and the Son responds-Lo I come in the volume of the book that is written of me, I delight to do thy will. And did the Son of God descend so low as to take thy place thou most unworthy of all God's creatures! Yes, he did bleed for thee, and thy life is the price of blood. Rich, free grace, has brought thee out of darkness into God's marvellous light, and made thee an heir with Emmanuel, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. As Jesus is of the truth, so art thou, O thou highly fa vored of the Lord; and what manner of person oughtest thou to be! How faithful, how devoted to the kingdom, how valiant for the truth, how indefatigable in

the vineyard of God! Ye sons and daughters of the Lord, born of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth for ever, by the side of such prince will you ever grow faint and let down your watch? Remember ye have nothing to fear. Though the sea rage and the heavens gather blackness, though the hail descend, lightnings play, thunders roar, and the earth shake from its centre, yet in Jesus ye are secure. He lives. As he is true and faithful, your feet shall never slide. Keep your eye upon his blessed character, stay yourselves upon his truth, follow him whithersoever he goeth and glory in his presence.

6. We may infer, the wretchedness of those who are opposed in heart to the truth. The foundation of your hope is in the sand and cannot stand the day of trial. As you are opposed to the truth, you are opposed to God. You are dreaming of peace and safety, in a place of the utmost hazard. Do not for the world be indifferent to your situation, and the steps you are taking. Stop and pause! Remember you are in arms against a king more mighty than yourselves. Your disaffection with the truth is as preposterous as it is base. You are completely in God's hand, from which there is no release. While you are imagining your fortress is strong, and are defying the Almighty, you are shut in at every avenue, and absolutely taken. While you are at ease on you pillow, judgment slumbereth not, damnation lingereth not. From whatsoever pretext you have come out in hostile array against the truth, will you deem it too much to review, the ground you have taken, and the strength and excellence against which you are contending? If find on you mature deliberation, that your situation is unsafe, that your prospects for eternity can yeild no rest in the moment of dissolution, will you not flee for refuge to that rock which is higher than you? Hitherto you have been feeding on an airly phantom, but believe, if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed.' Reader, if this moment thou art a

you

despiser of gospel grace, yet reflect, you are hastening to the judgment to receive thy last sentence from which there is no respite, no reprieve. • If once fall beneath his stroke, there is no deliverer there.' 7. We may infer, that ministers of the gospel hold a place of immense responsibility to God and the souls of men. If they suppress the truth as it is in Jesus, for fear of offending their hearers; if they substitute laxness of principle, for the doctrines of the cross, dry outside morality for practical godliness, they do it at an awful peril. They are not placed on Jerusalem's wall to amuse the multitude with a mock religion in human attire. They are not sent forth to fabricate new theories, or gloss the truth, to render it less offensive to the carnal heart. For no such end was the christian ministery instituted. The gospel heralds are not at liberty thus to aspire. They are embassadors from God to deliver his message in its true spirit and genuine simplicity. If from this they depart, through cowardice or thirst for popular applause, they are no longer embassadors of Christ, but traitors to his cause. And can there be a higher crime committed against the Supreme Majesty, than coming out under a cloak of friendship for Christ, and then aiming destruction at his throne. Verily God will not hold them guiltless. Such treachery will not escape with impunity. And with what face will the unfaithful preacher meet his hearers at the judgment bar? He had taught his hearers; but had taught them to disbelieve. He had confirmed them in their guilt by refusing to expose it. He had blinded their eyes about God by keeping his character out of sight. He had feasted their pride, when they needed humbling. He had pleased their fancies, at the expence of their souls. He had inflated them with expectations of heaven, when on the brink of destruction, and closed their eyes, giving them God-speed with a lie in their right hand; and how is he to settle this account on the day of final reckoning! How is he to clear himself from