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tions, in answer to the prayers of one lover of immortal souls. At all events, however he may be judged by, or succeed with, others; the man who knows and loves a holy God, has an evidence within him, brighter than the day, that he is renewed in the spirit of his mind; and that what is holy here, will be happy hereafter. This temper of the soul, will outlive the ruins of time. It will flourish beyond the grave; for "holiness becometh God's house for ever."

Such, my brethren, is the frame of soul which leads to, because it prepares for, heaven. Such is our high privilege. For the call is to every one, who professes his belief in the living and true God; "Ye shall be holy for I, the Lord your God, am holy." You are invited to become partakers of the divine nature; to feed on food congenial to the soul; to drink of the fountain of spiritual life-of pure and substantial happiness. And all this is offered to you, freely, without money, and without price.

For other riches, men often pass their days in toil, and their nights in restless, sleepless care; and reap no fruit, but disappointment. Yes; all earthly happiness will deceive you in the possession, or make to itself wings, and flee away. But the treasures of eternity endure for ever: and, behold, that bright inheritance is yours. The land

of Canaan lies before you, in goodly prospect; and each of you is invited, after a few more years of trouble are over, to go forth amidst its pleasant pastures, to repose beside its still waters, and to taste of its immortal fruits.

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My brethren, the freeness of this salvation, cannot be too much impressed upon you. For, let your past lives have been what they may; however long and inveterate your habits of sin; however you may have offended against the advice of others, and the light of your own conscience; however alienated you may have been, in heart, and mind, and nature-in the whole bent and current of all the most intimate affections of your soul-from God; however you may have hated his purity, and turned your feet from his most blessed paths;yet, if I address any such here, you, I say, you are not yet excluded. You have had a long-suffering God, to deal with. You have a Saviour, who still liveth, to make intercession for you. Repent; and all your iniquities are atoned for: and that God, whose mercies are past finding out, will cleanse all the sins, whereby you have provoked him to anger, in the blood of his own Son. Behold, then, the everlasting gates lift up their heads: behold, the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers. Enter in, come boldly to the throne of grace and you will then taste and see what God

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hath prepared, for those who seek for him in holiness.

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It is said, that all men would become religious, if they really saw what religion was. And such my belief. For religion, holiness, and happiness, are one and the same thing. It is not that religion implies the leading what men, in general, would call a happy life. Nay, on the contrary, the mind, which contains within it the seeds of endless blessedness, may be exposed to the roughest waves, and hardest trials, of this uncertain life. This, I grant, may appear strange to many. But let us keep in mind, that man contains, within himself, the principles of two natures; one of which is of this perishable earth, while its companion is the offspring and native of the skies. It is only when we live to this latter-only when we sow to the Spirit-only when we set our affections on things above-that we can know how immutably it is fixed, in the eternal constitution of things, and by the irreversible decree of God, that holiness and happiness are the same for ever. Yes: these streams may be separated for a time;—they may be often divided from one another, while passing through the desert of this troublesome world: but holiness and happiness must, at last, unite; and flow, in one tide of glory, throughout eternity. To know this, is part of man's immortal nature: and

he who feels it, has passed from death unto life. He can see the end of all things under the sun approaching, not only without dismay, but with exceeding joy. He can rejoice in tribulation. While all abroad is dark and lowering, he can enjoy a clear sunshine, in his own breast. While storms are sweeping, and tempests are hurling devastation around him; within he can experience that peace of God, which passeth all understanding. He stands unmoved, while every earthly blessing-health, reputation, fortune, all that bound him to the world-go down in one scale for in the other scale, his hopes are all ascending to those celestial mansions, whither his Saviour and forerunner is gone before.

These, my brethren, are the true riches of the soul, These graces are the tokens of God's covenant. These are the laurels which adorn the brows, of those who fight and conquer, in the battles of the cross. These are the treasures of the gospel. These are the triumphs of the pure in heart; their joy, and peace, in believing. O my beloved brethren, make these blessings yours. Be ye holy for the Lord your God is holy.

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SERMON XIII.

ST. LUKE, Xxii. 19.

"THIS DO, IN REMEMBRANCE of me.”

FROM my selection of these words, you will, at once, perceive, that I mean to occupy your attention, with some observations on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But into any general reflections on the history and peculiar nature of this institution, I do not propose to enter. My present object is, in few words, and very plainly, to notice some of the causes, which lead professing Christians to absent themselves from the holy table.

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But before I proceed, it may be well to make two brief remarks.

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I. That through the entire of this discourse, I wholly exclude the case of those who, from any peculiar opinions, or theoretical scruples, withdraw from the holy communion. I address myself to those alone, who profess themselves regular members of the Established Church. And of such, I will take occasion to say, that I never knew one who, on becoming sincerely religious, did not also become a constant communicant.

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