powerful in its nature, and works by love; for satan can transform himself, he can adapt his devices and deceivableness of unrighteousness to every individual of the human family, and every prejudice of education. But it is the Spirit which quickeneth, and when brought under its quickening influences, which we shall not fail to be if we yield to the visitations of divine love, we feel the awful approach of the Majesty of heaven. How awful, how humbling, when even the seraphim veil their faces in the presence of Jehovah, how awful then for us, poor, frail, transgressing creatures as we are, to come before the Majesty of heaven and implore his immediate attention to us, under a humbling sense that His eye will see us as we are, that every secret thought and wandering of the imagination will be known to Him, and that, therefore, it is not drawing near Him with the mouth or any attitude or mode of asking; no, it is by the Holy Spirit operating upon the heart, and bringing it down in awful humility and prostration before God, and raising in it a feeling of triumphant faith; it is by the blood of Jesus that we have access into the holiest of all. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated, that is to say, his flesh, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith; let us endeavour to draw near in the spirit of supplication, to spread our case before our heavenly Father, feeling that

he is, indeed, an everlasting Father, and in the effusion and under the influence of his Spirit, adopting the language of Abba, Father. In these solemn reverential approaches to the throne of grace, under a deep sense that it is through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and the means brought to bear by the Almighty God, through the coming of Jesus, and by a living faith in him, which is still able to quench the violence of fire, let us endeavour to draw near to God, and it is in this way that we shall experience, "That being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith, into the grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Here is the rejoicing, and this is the ground of a christian's hope, but it is not a dead faith. No, my friends, quickened and made alive by the life that was, and is, in the eternal Word; that Spirit brings forth fruits of righteousness and true holiness. But how shall we, if we be dead to sin, live any longer therein? How can we reconcile for a moment, continuance in that for which Christ died? How can we take delight in that, which he died to deliver us from?" For he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity; and purify unto himself a peculiar people," Mark, my friends, the importance attached to it" Zealous of good works"-and it is still applicable to us. When we become cleansed by the operation of the divine power, and become par

takers of that living powerful faith, we become zealous of good works, and the language becomes applicable to us; "This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise," and our dear Lord and Saviour in speaking to his followers, and speaking not only of the blessedness to which they might attain; but to all his followers in every age, he speaks of them as a city set upon a hill. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It is the fruit of the Spirit to produce goodness, virtue, temperance, and brotherly kindness. O my friends, let this never be forgotten by us; O how do I desire that that only true faith once delivered to the saints may increase, and may increasingly abound among us, and that we may shew forth this practical evidence of our faith, by our life and conversation, for we know that faith without works is dead. Under a sense of the responsibility of man, as an intelligent and accountable being, let us, my friends, lay fast hold of that impenetrable shield of faith, by which we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, not failing to have our loins girt about with truth, having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and for a helmet, the hope of God's salvation; let us maintain the watch and warfare, feeling the assurance, that we shall be made more than conquerors at last, through Him that hath loved us; and when we

look to the militant church, conflicting and suffering as it is, let us bear in remembrance the declaration of the great head of the church, "All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world ;" and this is the reason, why the church, in this wilderness world, has been sustained--and, my friends, if we as members of it, keep on the whole armour of God, we shall be made more than conquerors, receiving the joy, and rejoicing, and finally the eternal crown; but though the church must suffer in the present state of things, yet we find, that the accuser of the brethren was finally cast down, and the command was to rejoice in heaven; but woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time :-and then is brought into view the renewed tribulation of the church, not only from the devouring jaws of the dragon, but by the floods cast out of his mouth. But was she left unprotected and undefended? No, she was provided with a way of escape, and found a place of refuge, though in the wilderness, yet she was sustained there for a time, times, and half a time; and we have the assurance, that she shall come out of the wilderness fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, because the mighty power of God will prevail ; and the language, in all its comprehensive bearing,

will be pronounced, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Then let us rejoice and be glad, in the renewed evidences of his never-failing power and care, for though evil abounds in the world, and it may seem to prevail in an overwhelming manner, yet the oil and the wine is to be preserved amidst every convulsion, and the kingdom of the beast will not only be shaken to its dark foundations but gloriously and for ever overthrown, when the devil and the beast, and the false prophet, and all who have been identified with them, will be cast into the lake of fire; when, my friends, the great white throne, and him that sitteth upon it, will be displayed before all intelligent beings, and "The heavens and the earth shall flee away, and there shall be found no more place for them, for the Lord God omnipotent that now reigneth, will manifest his divine power, for the Lord Jesus must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." Then, trusting in him, my friends, under whatever discouraging events may arise, those believing on him may still have, not only the assurance of hope, but a foundation of joy, arising from the assurance that the Eternal God is their refuge, and underneath them are the everlasting arms, that, though in this time of trouble we may have to pass through the waters, we shall not be overwhelmed; the waves of trouble will not be permitted to roll their fury over our heads, for though the deep may rage, the power is the same, yesterday, to day, and for