3. He saves from the power of sin tural state are led captive by sin and

Men while in a naSatan, but sin shall

not have dominica over those who believe in Jesus.

4. He saves from the consequences of sin, vix the curse of the law, the wrath of God, and eternal death.

IV. The terms ca vhich this salvation is ofered are the most easy, and the metas by which it is effected the most

1. The terms are repentance, vi confessing and forsaking sin; and faith—a believing with the heart unto righ

tecostess.

2. The means by which it is efected and carried on, are the Spirit, Word, and ordinances of God.

REMARKS —1. What think ye of Christ as a Saviour? 2. What thinks he of you as a people who hear the joyful

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ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE.

PSALM 1, 14, 15.

Ofer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy rows unto the Most High," &c.

“THE fool hath said in his heart there is no God." Whether he was a fool because he said so, or whether he said so because he was a fool, we cannot exactly say; but it seems most probable that he was a fool to begin with, for none but a fool would so abruptly have taken leave of reason, revelation, and common sense, and become such a willing nurse to the carnal mind, as to feed it with misery and evil imaginations till it brought forth such a ridiculous and monstrous sentiment. How foolish, as well as wicked, is such an idea in a man towards his Maker! The silly notions of his wicked heart and confused brain do not at all alter the state of things, nor destroy the existence of a Supreme Being Whatever the fool may say in his heart, the Lord Jehovah still reigns over all, God blessed for ever. And what a fool does such a man shew himself amongst his fellow men! If he exhibit this offspring of his folly—and fools will talk-all sober and intelligent men will at once recognize him as an unlearned and self-conceited coxcomb: and if he should unfortunately bring a few of his own unhappy cast of mind to the same opinion as himself, they will

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but trouble him here and curse him hereafter. But, above all, what a fool he is towards himself! So long as he fosters this dark sentiment in his heart, it will entirely obliterate every good feeling, and his enjoyments-if such they may be called, will be fewer and lower than those of the beasts that perish. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib." Most animals have the sagacity to know the hand that feeds and caresses them, and they shew by their looks and actions that this knowledge affords them pleasure; but the fool that says in his heart there is no God, cannot feel that pleasure, because he does not acknowledge any superior to whom he can manifest his gratitude. The wounded dog will come to his master to take the thorn out of his foot, but this fool will admit of no comforter to whom he can go in the time of pain and distress, in the day of trouble, or in the hour of death. Then what a consummate fool must this be, thus wilfully to deprive himself of the delightful emotions of gratitude, fortitude, and hope! Let this brief consideration of his folly teach us wisdomSuperior sense may we display!" In all our ways let us acknowledge the Lord. Let us daily offer unto God our thanksgiving, and pray, &c.

I. Offer unto God thanksgiving.

1. This is our duty. Ingratitude is exceedingly sinful. It is an act of the most shameful injustice and cruelty in man towards his fellow, but it assumes an infinitely more criminal character when man wilfully and habitually insults his Maker with it. The unthankful are classed in Scripture amongst the vilest of men, (2 Tim. iii, 2,) and it is mentioned as an aggravation of the guilt of the wretched and degraded Gentiles, that "they glorified not God as God, neither were thankful." Rom. i, 21. Reason itself suggests to us that we should be grateful to the donor of all our enjoyments; and revelation enjoins it upon us as a law. Hence we are commanded to "praise the Lord;" to "enter into his gates with thanksgiving:" in every thing to give thanks :" to " be careful for nothing, but in every thing with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to let our requests be made known unto God;" and here in our text, to" offer unto God thanksgiving.”

2. It is also our interest to be thankful. A grateful heart is a blessing that brings with it its own reward.

It

is always attended with that humility, confidence, satisfaction, and love, which constitute a continual feast. The children of God have ever been remarkable for this precious virtue, and particularly when under extraordinary influence. David in ecstacy exclaims, Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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Psalm ciii, 1. Daniel in confidence

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prayed and gave

thanks before his God." Dan. vi, 10. St. Paul, in joyful anticipation, thanks God for the conversion of the Gentiles. And the Lord Jesus, our Divine Teacher, frequently "gave thanks." Now it is surely our interest, in this respect, to followers of them who through," &c. (Heb. vi, 12,) and especially of Him who has left us an example that we should follow his steps.

be

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3. The duty of thankfulness belongs to us all, inasmuch as we are laid under infinite obligations to Almighty God— all have received mercy. We are all transgressors—we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God; and our iniquities have called for the righteous judgment of Heaven : it is therefore matter of unfeigned gratitude to the Lord, that he has not before now driven us away in our wickedness, down to the regions of everlasting darkness, torment, and despair. We are all the subjects of a kind Providence. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. In him we live and move, and have our being." It is he who gave us existence, and it is he who sustains and preserves it. He makes bountiful provision for all his numerous family: not only for man, but "The beasts with food his hands supply,

And the young ravens when they cry."

It is true there are poverty and distress in the world, but these are not to be attributed to our faithful and merciful Creator, but to the tyranny, the wickedness, the imprudence, or the idleness of man. The Lord crowns the year with his goodness, and men ought therefore to praise the Lord for, &c. Psalm cvii, 8. But those who are made the adopted children of God through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, should incessantly offer unto God thanksgiving for the rich blessings of grace-for that Divine light which gave them to see their situation as sinners-for that power which enabled them to cease from evil and learn to do well —for that humble boldness with which they were enabled to come to a throne of grace-for that mercy which forgave

all their transgressions—for that direct witness of the Holy Spirit which sealed their regeneration-for that comfort, assistance and encouragement which they have hitherto received, and for those great and precious promises held out to them if they continue faithful to the end. O, ye that fear the Lord, offer unto God thanksgiving.

II. It is required of us that we pay our vows unto the Most High.

1. A religious vow is a solemn promise, or covenant, into which a person enters, to perform a duty, or lay aside a hindrance, the observing of which he conceives will be for his own advantage and the glory of God. The first vow of this kind that we read of, is that which was made by the patriarch Jacob on the Syrian plain. Jacob had borne a heavy heart along the dreary plain, under a hot sun, without a companion, during the day; and when the curtain of twilight was drawn over the creation, he laid him down to sleep. The ground was his bed, the canopy his curtain, and a stone his pillow. In this solitary situation, he was favoured with a refreshing visit from the heavenly world— for in a dream he saw the angels of God ascend and descend on a ladder, at the top of which stood the Lord, who blessed and encouraged him. And when he awoke, he entered into a vow, saying, "If God will be with me," &c., (Gen. xxviii, 20,) which vow he punctually performed. In after ages vows were frequently made, both by individuals and by the whole congregation of Israel.

2. And vows are very common in our day. To say nothing about baptismal vows, (which however old-fashioned and ridiculous they may be looked upon by some, would be much better observed than controverted,) persons of mature years are often in the habit of making vows, which, however, they are too apt to forget. The young sometimes vow that they will serve the Lord when they have had their full of pleasure, and got settled in the world. In the time of danger and sickness, or when something very striking has happened, men very often vow that they will be christians indeed, if the Lord will but deliver them this once. Sometimes, when the Word is quick and powerful, and makes them tremble as if an awful midnight thunder-storm had overtaken them, they exclaim, Go thy way for this time, and when I have a convenient season I will yield." But,

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alas! too many forget these promises. The young get settled, the sick man restored, the trembling Felix again gets hardened and worldly-minded, and all good resolutions are forgotten. Are there any such covenant-breakers here? The vows of the Most High are upon you! What! will you add to the rest of your sins that of lying unto God? Arise, arise! even now, and pay thy vows unto the Most High.

III. We are also directed to call upon the Lord in the day of trouble; and if we faithfully follow the direction, he hath promised that he will deliver us, and that we shall glorify him.

1. All men have their peculiar days of trouble, arising from various causes and considerations; and our plain duty in those times of trial is simply, humbly, faithfully, and perseveringly to call upon the Lord. If we do this, he will either remove the trouble from us, or us from the trouble; and in either case we ought then to glorify him. In reading Scripture biography, we find that good men had their days of trouble; that they called upon God; that he delivered them; and that they did glorify him. In illustrating this part of our subject, therefore, we will mention a few cases which we think to the purpose, and from which we may learn how to conduct ourselves in the day of trouble.

2. There is the case of Joseph, son of Israel. He had his day of trouble. It is true he left his father's house in peace, and went, not amongst strangers, but to his brethren, little suspecting the dreadful plot which their envy had conspired against him. But great indeed must have been his trouble, when he was by those very brethren cast into the pit, and afterwards sold to the Ishmaelites. We are not expressly told that he called upon the Lord, but we may infer that a young man of Joseph's piety would do so. The Lord delivered him, for he was promoted in the house of Potiphar, and he glorified God by his uprightness and integrity. Afterwards he was most unjustly thrown into prison, where he would undoubtedly call upon God. And the Lord again delivered him—not immediately it is truebut when matters were so arranged by Providence that his deliverance was more remarkable; for he was not only taken from prison, but he became the second man in all the land