us by his wiles and seductions, we would, that the remembrance of what we had heard on the Sabbath should press upon us, and thus enable us to resist him, and come off victoriously in the conflict. Of what avail the preaching of the Gospel?of what avail the bended knee, the suppliant form, and the humble prayer, unless these observances affect us during the week? It is a mere mockery in the sight of God, to listen to these things, unless the remembrance of them be ever with us, guiding and directing our future conduct. The object of the Sabbath is to give to us a day of rest,—a day of peace and consolation, -a day, on which we may hear the Gospel preached; but what avails the preaching of the Gospel, unless it has that effect upon us, which should regulate our daily conduct? The report or message, which we deliver unto you, is one of interest; it is no mean theme; it is one, that demands our whole soul; it is one, that concerns our present and future welfare. Immortality, considered even by a finite capacity, is of awful and mighty import

ance; but how greatly is this importance increased, when we consider, whether the future is to be spent in happiness or misery! for, notwithstanding the blessings, which the Gospel affords in this life, the future is a theme,upon which every mind should dwell, to which it should be anxiously looking forward: yet we appear careless under these grand truths: if we do not reject them, we become so indifferent at their delivery, as to endanger our very salvation. We again repeat, that our report is one of interest. The fall of man may be a melancholy theme :—the primitive virtues lost;

-the image of the Deity defaced ;—the moral rectitude degraded ;-oh! yes, it is a melancholy picture; but what! if we draw the veil aside, and exhibit the Saviour upon the cross restoring these lost properties to man, and atoning for the sins of the world; what! if in the place of the first Adam, an apostate, we bring to your view the second Adam-a Saviour. What! if we call to your mind the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended to comfort and to cheer the disciples of our

blessed Lord. What! if we tell you that this same holy Spirit will abide with us for ever. Oh! yes, we have enough on our side to secure the attention, and to fix the mind upon the blessed truth. But do we do this? We appeal to you, my brethren, this day, whether or not the Gospel hath secured your affections; whether it hath made you more spiritual,—more mindful of your future state, more desirous of becoming Christians,-more vigilant about your immortal and eternal destiny,-more virtuous in your families,-more charitable to your neighbours; for unless the Gospel achieves these things, it is not promoting its object;—it is not making you fit for the kingdom of heaven. We would, that the Gospel could affect you; that our preaching were not in vain; that your hearing were not in vain. We have souls in our keeping, and if we be zealous about them, it is only that we may obtain their salvation. The meeting of men before the throne of Majesty will be an awful one, if only few of us are chosen. There we shall see each other as we do now, but no longer as hear

ers of the Gospel preached, but as those about to be judged according to the works done in the body. "Who hath believed our report ?" As ministers of Jesus Christ, we put the question to each of you, and we tell you, that it is one of life and death. They, that have done good, shall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is an awful consideration, and an awful report; but though the Gospel has energy enough to measure out to sinners the certainty of their eternal doom, it is fine and delicate enough to paint, in the most vivid colours, the glorious beatitude, which mercy has prepared through the crucified God. Mercy, the grand and favourite attribute of the Deity, is ever before us, rising triumphantly before the eye of faith, and cheering the heart, as it pants forward to eternity! imparting to us increasing vigour in hope and well-doing, that, just as the devout pilgrim of old proceeded from strength to strength, till he appeared before the God of gods in Zion, we also, when Christ "shall appear, may have confidence, and not be ashamed

before him at his coming."

When sin

and misery, and wretchedness, and death crowd around us,-when the nerves begin to relax, the heart to grow cold,—the pulse to cease,—the blood to stagnate,— the eyes to become fixed,-the limbs to stiffen,-when these things come upon us, will it not be a cheering spectacle to behold mercy radiating from the Deity,-to see the Saviour on the right hand of the Father pleading for us? For humanity is but a mass of wretchedness and discomfort, unless the Divine assistance pour fresh life into the soul, and certify it of its high and immortal destiny. The grave's trappings are but sad appendages; but what are they, if they are to be changed for the glorious apparel of heaven! The coffin is but a gloomy receptacle for us to look forward to; but what is it to those glorious mansions, where we all of us hope to rest? For our corrupted bodies shall break through the impediments of mortality, the graves shall be opened, the earth shall give up her dead, and the Judge shall demand of the aroused and startled throng, “Who

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