As this armour is all of a heavenly nature, so nothing earthly or corruptible can ever affect it.

But what is this faith? Is it a mere nominal belief? No, verily: But when we have experienced the terrors of the Lord, in baptism, for sin and disobedience, and have also felt, that in the midst of judgment, God has also remembered mercy, and spoke peace to the soul, season after season, there is begotten in us a living faith and holy confidence, which stands not in a knowledge of the Scriptures or of systematic religion. It results from our own experience of the operative power of God. This is that faith once delivered to the saints, that living faith, which supports all those who become partakers of the joys of heaven, and is the life of all them which are sanctified. Faith stands not in opinions; it is not bounded by time or outward circumstances, but it stands in the power of God. It unites the true believers to him; and in this, is that declaration fulfilled: "I in them, and thou in me, that they also may become one in us; and these he is not ashamed to call brethren."

This is a shield which will quench all the fiery darts from the enemy of souls. This is that sword of the spirit which is the word of God. It is the same whereby the worlds were spoken into existence, which "took flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." It is he who was in the church in the wilderness; who did mighty miracles in Egypt, and wonders in the field of Zoar; who divided the Red Sea and brought Israel forth like a flock. And in this exercise of

his power, he commanded them not, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices; but this thing he commanded them, saying, "Obey my voice."

This is the end of all righteousness; the design of all true, of all pure and undefiled religion; and as we come to this, we learn to handle the weapons of our warfare, until every enemy is cast out, and every adversary brought into subjection to the angel of God: And Michael, the prince of angels, will rule, and the power of God reign predominant. But if our own will governs and rules any part, and not the power of God, he will not have dominion over us; for he will not dwell in a moted temple. It is essential, therefore, that we serve him in the beauty of holiness and in newness of life. When we come to attend to his spiritual admonitions, then we shall know another declaration fulfilled: "Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

While clothed with this armour, there will be no end to the increase of his righteousness

and peace, upon the throne of David, the throne of the Lord's elect and chosen, to order it and to establish it, throughout all generations. This operative power of God is what I want us all to come to. As to the baptism with water, it is obviously inefficient; it never cleansed the soul of man from sin. If we look to the situation of Simon Magus, we find it recorded, that through the instrumentality of Philip, the Samaritan, he believed on Christ with one accord, and when baptised he was baptised also, but continued a sorcerer. He offered money, the love of which, is the root of all evil; and which is the root of a great part of the religion of the present day. For, convinced I am, that these self-styled ministers, if they had no pay, would do but little preaching.

Here is an example of Simon Magus' religion. He went with the apostles, and when he saw that the Holy Ghost was received, by the laying on of hands, his natural thirst for gain was excited, and he offered them money, desiring that they would give him this power; that on whom he should lay his hands, they should receive the Holy Ghost. But "Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money; thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." And the bread and wine,

that relic of the old Jewish passover, has no effect to nourish the soul up to everlasting life. This is proved by the account recorded of Judas, who was a partaker of the last passover, which was shortly before the crucifixion, and yet it did not preserve him: But the record says, that with the sop satan entered into him. I do not wish to undervalue any thing that is called religion, or support any thing ceremonious, or which is made the object of interest more than the object of righteousness.

Simon was baptised, but remained a sorcerer: Judas partook of the last supper, even in the presence of his divine Master; and yet Judas was a devil.

But when we come to be partakers of that Heavenly gift, and live under the influence of the divine requirements: it strikes at the root of every evil and brings the mind into harmony, unity and love. It unites us to God, erects in us a new heart, and begets a right spirit; and we can thankfully acknowledge, that the Lord is our righteousness.

Has it been from an attendance to this divine gift, that there are so many sects and parties now in christendom? No. It has been from a neglect of it. And do we not find those who not only neglect, but who deny the existence of revelation to man in the present day?

They say that all revelation is contained in the Scriptures of truth; when it requires a revelation immediately from heaven to give us an understanding of the Scriptures. We shall never be benefitted by them, except they are opened to us, by the same divine spirit which first dictated them. They are not the word of God, nor the only rule of faith and practice. Parts of them, no doubt, are the words of holy men, who were influenced by the Holy Ghost. They testify of that which is justly entitled to the word of life: And when we are brought to the same state, and are influenced by the same feelings, which they experienced, these scriptures will be precious to us: They will be corroborative testimony; they will answer, as face answers face in a glass; they will come home into our souls and govern our minds. All this governing principle is love. It is not found in splendid churches, so called. It will not be found in pompous ceremonies and declamations. It operates in our own minds, where it will regulate the springs and motives of our conduct, and cast out the enemies by which it is assailed; and thus bring the mind under the influence of that heavenly virtue, in which we can testify; "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." And they are all ministering spirits sent forth, to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation.