we heartily rejoice with you, that, "by the grace of God, ye are, what ye are, "-ill should we discharge our duty as the ministers of Christ, if we did not bid you "rejoice with trembling.” Not that we would excite in you any fear or doubt of His Almighty Power "who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light,and is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him :-but we must warn you of the great danger of resting satisfied with the progress you may have already made in your christian course;—of the great danger of relaxing in your vigilance;-and thus, from fancied security, perhaps falling a prey to the wiles of Satan, —who, as "a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." devour." We would warn you of the weakness of the inherent corruption of your own hearts;-of the temptations that will perpetually assail you, from within, and from without;-we would remind you, that the Christian life is a state of warfare, and that,--as faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ, you are required to "fight the good fight," till you have "finished your course,"—if you would look forward to that "crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give at the last day, to all them that love his appearing." "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind:"-" be sober, be vigilant:"--and O, think not that ye have already attained, either that ye are

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already perfect," but "forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth to those things that are before, press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus:"-" counting all things but loss, if by any means ye may win Christ," and at length "attain to the resurrection of the righteous."

Such was the spirit that influenced the Apostle Paul;-such is the spirit which should influence all those, who profess to be followers with him, of the meek and lowly Jesus. Imitate then his ardour, his perseverance, his humility. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." So shall the "Holy Ghost the Comforter," be now and ever present with you:-his gracethe free gift of God in Christ Jesus, — shall abound in your hearts more and more, — and make you perfect in every good word and work;"-until at length, for your Saviour's sake, ye be “made meet to be partakers of the saints in light."

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In conclusion, let me entreat you all, brethren, to ponder deeply the great question in which your present peace--your future happiness are so materially involved:-to ask faithfully your own hearts, whether you are indeed "Christ's," or not? Let me beg you to receive the Scriptural tests now presented to you," not as the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth :"-and may He, of

his infinite mercy, give you that spiritual discernment which shall enable you to "see those things that belong to your eternal peace, before they be for ever hidden from your eyes." May He stablish you in the faith, and give you all diligence, to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity." And, in the great and glorious day of the Lord, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and it shall be proclaimed before the face of men and angels, who "are Christ's," and who are not "Christ's,"-may your names be found written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," and so may "an entrance be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!"

SERMON XV.

ON THE CONNEXION BETWEEN FAITH AND

OBEDIENCE.

JAMES II. 19.-" Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble."

Two very opposite systems of religion have extensively prevailed in the world ;-one, based on faith alone, to the disparagement of holiness; the other, presuming to afford salvation by what are called good works, without the principle of faith. That both systems are equally erroneous, the discreet and unprejudiced Christian need not be informed. But as it is a Christian minister's duty to correct error, and "to give understanding unto the simple," I will endeavour, by the grace of God, to prove, from these words of Saint James, that both faith and obedience are alike binding upon every professor of the Gospel:-for Christ came not "to destroy the moral

law, but to fulfil it :"-"He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Now, a great portion of mankind are apt to run into one or the other of those baneful extremes, infidelity, or incorrigible unbelief, and credulity, or belief,—without due evidence. Infidelity is a principle that rejects all religious truth; and generally springs either from an affectation of singularity, or an attachment to vice;-its abettors "loving darkness rather than light," (as He who knew the hearts of all men affirms,) "because their deeds are evil." However, from whatever source it proceeds, it is in itself a principle highly prejudicial to the interests of virtue, and injurious to the welfare of society. It would destroy faith in the existence of a God, -the belief of his superintending providence,the belief of the soul's immortality, and of a future state of rewards and punishments :-thus fatally would it relax those strict obligations from which religion derives its best security,destroy those sacred fences by which the sanctuary of conscience is protected,—and overturn those holy foundations upon which the happiness of society is built.

The other extreme-credulity,—consists in a proneness to be led away "by divers and strange doctrines," to believe every tenet-every asser