things, which belong unto your peace. Would! that ye would spiritualize the mind, subdue the passions, and avoid the temptations of the world. There is a grand work to be accomplished; and that is in the power of each of us. There is not one among us, who heareth the words of eternal life, who shall not, if he will, be saved. The mercy of God is unlimited; it extends over the heart of the poor man, of the sinner, of the world's outcast, with power, equal to that, with which it passes within the bosom of those, who are clothed in purple, and fare sumptuously every day. Indeed, it is to the poor, that the Gospel is preached: it is to the poor, when deprived of every earthly consolation, that it pours in the oil and wine to his soul, as he presses forward, endued with spiritual aid, to eternity. The message, which we have from God, is to be delivered to the poor to the poor in worldly goods, as well as to the poor in spirit; to the sinner, to the fallen in Adam: for they who are whole need not a physician, but they who are sick. “I came not," said our Saviour, "to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance." With this persuasion, then, believe, however low you may be in the world's estimation, that "there is one in heaven, who careth for you." "Seek ye first, then, the kingdom of God, and all other things shall be added unto you."

SERMON XII.

EPHESIANS ii. 1.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

THE wonderful effect, which the Gospel of Jesus Christ had upon the first converts to Christianity, was no less striking, than the effect, which it has upon men in these our days. Then, by extraordinary powers, men were moved to turn unto the Lord their God. Now, by the ordinary influence of the Holy Spirit, men are "quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

The extraordinary effusions were solely confined to the first propagators of the Gospel, in order to show men the mi

raculous power, which they wrought. The working of miracles was imparted by Christ to the twelve whom he had chosen. Theybefore mere artisans and fishermen-were almost ignorant of their own language; but, when the Holy Spirit "quickened' them, every tongue became familiar to them, and in the presence of multitudes, they manifested their power, by teaching, by preaching, and healing the maladies of the people-so great was the effect and power, which the Spirit had upon them!

Look to the time, when these men of God were called to their great and arduous undertaking. One, while sitting at the receipt of custom, employed in the collection of taxes; others mending their nets, preparing to follow the trade, upon which they were bent; and Saul, while "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," taking with him letters to Damascus, empowering him to bring bound to Jerusalem every one, "whether they were men or women," who had embraced Christianity-became followers of Christ. In his bold undertaking was this

persecutor of the church defeated; for,

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as he journeyed," "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." By this vision, one of the most inveterate against the church of God was converted, and became as arduous in her cause, as before he had been violently her persecutor. But look to all the apostles on the day of Pentecost, when the "cloven tongues, like as of fire, sat upon each of them;" when "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance;" so that, by their means, through the power of the Lord, numbers were "added to the church daily." Yes! these men of God went forth with full and mighty power, performing, whenever an opportunity occurred, numerous and astonishing miracles. But see the effect, which their preaching had throughout every country