when we shall no longer "see through a glass darkly, and prophesy in part" only; when we shall see face to face, and know even as we are known." Such modesty and caution should we use, when we speak of God's foreknowledge, predestination, and secret will; of the volitions of men, and of the sovereignty of divine grace. What God has said, we may safely teach; beyond that, let us not presume. Hearken how God, in the book of Job, vindicates himself: To all the petulence and presumption of man, he answers from the whirlwind, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? I will demand of thee, and answer thou me: Where wast thou, when I laid the foundation of the earth? Who laid the measure thereof, or stretched a line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations fastened, or who laid the corner stone, when the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea within doors, and made a cloud for its garments; or said, thus far shalt thou come, and here shall thy proud waves be staid? Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty, instruct him? Wilt thou disannul my judgment? Hast thou an arm like God, or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?" Let us answer these questions before we meddle with still higher mysteries. The best defence of God's ways is the knowledge and confession of our own ignorance.

2. With equal interest and use, our subject may be applied to the exposition of the holy scriptures. Here the ark is handled with great presumption. The knowledge of the holy scriptures men often think themselves possessed of, and qualified to teach,

without learning, or talents, or study. And what better can we expect as the consequence, than what St. Peter notices; that the "unlearned, and the unstable, should wrest them to their own destruction," and not unfrequently, we may fear, to the destruction of others. If the scriptures are the word of God, their exposition surely is a business of the most serious consequence and awful concern. Most unpar donable must be the presumption of advancing our own crude conceptions as the testimony of Jesus; the teachings of God's Holy Spirit; the immutable counsels of the infinite Jehovah. Let us be sure that we know before we teach; or let our teaching be with modest diffidence and becoming humility. Here especially, in declaring God's will to men, let us banish pride. Better it is a thousand fold, that our ignorance be exposed, and our pride abased, than that the souls of men should be in peril, and we should darken ourselves by words without knowledge.

3. The last caution, which in the application of this subject I would suggest, is against rash judgment respecting providential events. "There were some who told Jesus of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices; and Jesus answering said unto them, suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things; or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay." The judgment which our Lord here condemns, is not uncommon. It is natural, though very unreasonable and unchristian, to judge of men's characters from their misfortunes or

prosperity. Designs and enterprises, however daring, imprudent, or presumptuous, if they are very successful, are generally much applauded. They who prosper in this world, are supposed of course, to be the favourites of heaven. If doctrines spread and rapidly increase, the ready sentence is, they are of God. If our enemies or opponents suffer loss or any adversity, we are too ready to construe it a judgment of heaven declarative of their faults; a judicial visitation. And generally, those who are much afflicted in this world, we incline to suppose are sinners more than others. The supposition is erroneous, the judgment rash. In many, very many instances, "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth the son whom he receiveth." Was the false prophet of Mecca sent of God, because his arms were prosperous, and his religion was spread over a large part of the world? Were the apostles of our Saviour sinners more than others, because they were "of all men" most persecuted, and seemingly "most miserable ?" Too often is it a fact, that as St. James says, we are "not doers of the law, but judges." It is not for us to fathom the counsels of the Almighty, nor to say for what end men in this world suffer affliction. It has already been observed, and I trust that with none of you there can remain a doubt, that many of those signal and most tremendous judgments recorded in the holy scriptures, were inflicted not so much to show us the character of the sufferers, as to warn us to repent, lest we also perish. The sudden and awful death of one of them, especially was, as we have seen, to teach us the necessity of strictly observing the word of God; and that no zeal for his

honour or worship, can justify any departure from his commandments. If we would serve God acceptably, we must follow his direction; if we would seek him, it must be after that due order which he has himself appointed.

And if so, if such be the main inferences, then sanctify yourselves. Endeavour more and more, in heart and life, to be conformed to the word and will of God. Worship him, not only with the spirit, but with the understanding, and in truth. All the rites and ordinances which the Lord has appointed, be careful, according to their nature and design, religiously to observe. His church you are to enter as an ark of refuge, but not to touch it contrary to his word. Do nothing to hinder or disturb its unity, nor to cause or perpetuate divisions. Carefully avoid all rash judgment and uncharitable censures; and "be not hasty to utter any thing before God," respecting either his nature, his word, or his providence. View him as exalted above the heavens, and infinite in every perfection. Remember that he is wise and good, whilst we are blind and sinful; and that to speak of him and his ways, beyond what he has revealed to us, is to "darken counsel by words without knowledge."

From such sin and such peril, may the Lord in his mercy preserve us all, through his love to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

SERMON XXV.

THE UNFRUITFUL HARVEST.

Jeremiah, viii. 20-22.

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people, am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

It is an error, or natural propensity of fallen man, to trust in the world; to confide in his own wisdom, or in the things of this life, rather than in him who made and governs all things. The deceitfulness and misery of such an earthly confidence, is clearly exemplified in the history of the Jews; in that part of their history particularly, to which the prophet in these words has reference. Notwithstanding the solemn and often repeated admonitions given them to trust in God, and the painful experience they often had of the peril and folly of departing from his word, they were at this very time trusting in the Egyptians, as their aid and support against their enemies. Here we behold Jeremiah, with great tenderness and deep