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by this silent sepulchre, where, wrapped in bloody shroud, the body reposes on its bed of spices, and while Roman sentinels walk their moonlit round, Death, a bound captive sits within, as soon as the sleeper wakes, to be disarmed, uncrowned, and in himself have death put to death-faith can believe all that God has revealed, and hope for all that He has promised. Reading on that manger, on that cross, deeply lettered on that rocky sepulchre, these glorious words-"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?-Faith lifts an eagle eye to heaven, and rising to the boldest flights, soars aloft on the wings of prayer. DR THOMAS GUTHRIE.

THE BELIEVER'S RULE OF LIFE.

BUT, after all, what is "the rule of life" to a believer? Is it a series of rules? No, it is life itself; it is that which is the true life of the soul; the right condition of the Spirit of God and man, out of which all right thought, right feeling, right action, must come; that life which is derived from and sustained by Christ; and what is it? What, but love to God and man? All rules are but channels cut out by our wise and gracious Master, along which the water of this divine life in the Spirit ought to flow and will flow. To go from Christ, then, to the Decalogue for a rule of life, would be to me like going from the sun at noon-day to the moon at night, for light to guide me in my journey. To the believer Christ is all in all. Through Christ he finds peace with God, being reconciled to God by His atoning death, and receives the adoption of sons; and with the spirit of freedom and of love shed

abroad in his heart, cries "Father!" He abides through faith in Christ, and learns of Him as a disciple; being disciplined to put off the old man with his affections and lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of his mind; and to put on the new man which, after God, is renewed in righteousness and true holiness.

DR NORMAN MACLEOD.

SERMON ON THE THREATENED INVASION IN

1803.

By a series of criminal enterprises, the liberties of Europe have been gradually extinguished; and we are the only people in the eastern hemisphere who are in possession of equal laws and a free constitution. Freedom, driven from every spot on the Continent, has sought an asylum in a country which she always chose for her favourite abode; but she is pursued even here, and threatened with destruction. The inundation of lawless power, after covering the whole earth, threatens to follow us here; and we are most exactly, most critically placed in the only aperture where it can be successfully repelled-in the Thermopylæ of the world. As far as the interests of freedom are concerned the most important by far of sublunary interests ! —you, my countrymen, stand in the capacity of the federal representatives of the human race; for with you it is to determine (under God) in what condition the latest posterity shall be born; their fortunes are entrusted to your care, and on your conduct at this moment depend the colour and complexion of their destiny. If liberty, after being extinguished on the Continent, is suffered to expire here, whence is it ever to emerge in the midst of that thick night that will invest it? It remains with you

then to decide, whether that freedom at whose voice the kingdoms of Europe awoke from the sleep of ages, to run a career of virtuous emulation in everything great and good; the freedom which dispelled the mists of superstition, and invited the nations to behold their God,-whose magic torch kindled the rays of genius, the enthusiasm of poetry, and the flame of eloquence; the freedom which poured into our lap opulence and arts, and embellished life with innumerable institutions and improvements, till it became a theatre of wonders; it is for you to decide whether this freedom shall yet survive, or be covered with a funeral pall, and wrapped in eternal gloom. It is not necessary to await your determination. In the solicitude you feel to approve yourselves worthy of such a trust, every thought of what is afflicting in warfare, every apprehension of danger must vanish, and you are impatient to mingle in the battle of the civilized world. Go then, ye defenders of your country, accompanied with every auspicious omen; advance with alacrity into the field, where God himself musters the host to war. Religion is too much interested in your success not to lend you her aid; she will shed over this enterprise her selectest influence. While you are engaged in the field, many will repair to the closet, many to the sanctuary; the faithful of every name will employ the prayer which has power with God; the feeble hands, which are unequal to any other weapon, will grasp the sword of the Spirit, and from myriads of humble contrite hearts, the voice of intercession, supplication, and weeping, will mingle, in its ascent to heaven, with the shouts of battle and the shock of arms. The extent of your resources, under God, is equal to the justice of your cause. But should Providence determine otherwise, should you fall in this struggle, should the nation fall, you will have

the satisfaction (the purest allotted to man!) of having performed your part; your names will be enrolled with the most illustrious dead, while posterity to the end of time, as often as they revolve the events of this period, (and they will incessantly revolve them), will turn to you a reverential eye, while they mourn over the freedom which is entombed in your sepulchre. I cannot but imagine the virtuous heroes, legislators, and patriots, of every age and country, are bending from their elevated seats to witness this contest, as if they were incapable, till it be brought to a favourable issue, of enjoying their eternal repose. Enjoy that repose, illustrious immortals! Your mantle fell when you ascended; and thousands, inflamed with your spirit, and impatient to tread in your steps, are ready to swear by Him that sitteth upon the throne, and liveth for ever and ever, that they will protect Freedom in her last asylum, and never desert that cause which you sustained by your labours, and cemented with your blood. DR ROBERT HALL.

ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

In the mighty designs of Providence, the same valour which is called to defend our land is the great means by which we can relieve the sufferings of the world around us. Amid that wreck which we have witnessed of social welfareamid the dethronement of kings and the subjugation of kingdoms-amid the trembling neutrality of some, and the silent servility of others, this country alone hath remained independent and undismayed; and it is upon the valour of our arms that Europe now reposes its last hope of returning liberty and restored honour. Among the nations

which surround us, whom either the force of the enemy has subdued or their power intimidated, there is not one virtuous bosom that does not throb for our success; the prayers of millions will follow our banners into the field, and the arm of the soldier will be blessed by innumerable voices which can never reach his ear. If we fail,—if the ancient prowess and intrepidity of our people is gone,there is then a long close to all the hopes and all the honours of humanity; over the fairest portion of the civilised earth, the tide of military despotism will roll, and bury, in its sanguinary flood, alike the monuments of former greatness and the promises of future glory. But if we prevail —if the hearts of our people are exalted to the sublimity of the contest-the mighty spell which has enthralled the world will be broken; the spirit of nature and of liberty will rekindle; and the same blow which prostrates the enemy of our land will burst the fetters of nations, and set free the energies of an injured world.

The historian of future times, when he meditates on the affairs of men, will select for his fairest theme the record of our country; and he will say, Such is the glory of nations, when it is founded on virtue, when they scorn the vulgar "devices of the human heart," and follow only the "counsel of the Lord;" when they act from the high ambition of being the ministers of that "Ancient of Days" whose "judgment is set" in nature, and before whom the "books of the universe are open."

There is yet, in such hours, a greater consideration. If there be something inexpressibly animating in seeing our country as the instrument of heaven in the restoration of happiness to mankind; if to us be given the sublime charge of at once defending our own land, and guiding the destinies of human nature; there is something also equally

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