have just entered. Yes, my brethren, did we feel as we ought, the momentous truth, that "the time is" indeed "short," it would remain "that they who have wives, be as those who have none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away."

By thus temperately disengaging our thoughts from the things of this world, we should be the better prepared to leave it; by fixing them on heavenly things, we might stand on the confines of the invisible world undismayed; and by the grace of God, with whom a thousand years are as one day, we should be taught to regard the commotions of the earth, and the revolutions of time, with no more concern than becomes immortal beings destined to live for ever, through the merits of Christ, in a glorious city, which shall not be removed, whose builder and maker is God. But unhappily, such is the depravity of our fallen nature; so fatally are we blinded by the deceitfulness of sin; that whilst in each revolving year, the narrowing circle of our friends and connexions, writes, as with a sun-beam,— that “in the midst of life we are in death," many, alas! how many, who call themselves christians, wilfully close their eyes against the appalling

vision, and still live on, in careless unconcern, forgetful, it should seem, that they "have here no abiding city; utterly unmindful that the hour is fast approaching, when their bodies "must go to the house appointed for all living,”—and their "spirits return to God who gave them.” Should any of you, my brethren, be in such a case, I implore you, in the name of that Saviour, "whose ambassador I am," to-day, whilst it is called to-day, "harden not your hearts:" I beseech you "in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Pray earnestly to the Father of Mercies that he will "give you a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within you." And may He, "from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift," SO lighten your eyes, that ye sleep not in death;" and "guide your feet into the way of peace." And " may * the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you all perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

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* Hebrews xiii. 20, 21.

SERMON III.

FOR THE EPIPHANY.

ON THE TRUE LIGHT.

1 JOHN II. 8.-" The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."

It is observable that every christian is disposed to admire the blessed consequences, to acknowledge the inestimable benefits of Christ's incarnation; though too few, unhappily, manifest either a proper attention to those consequences, or a grateful sense of those benefits, by striving to fulfil the end of his coming for Christ came to destroy all works of darkness, which are the works of Satan. He came to take away all sin, and to purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Yet how few christians labour to promote these noble views and excellent intentions? How few abandon their sins and guilty pleasures? How few are zealous for the honour of God, or really anxious for their own

salvation?

Most of us profess to glory in the name of christians, and to boast much of our privileges upon that account: we are very ready to think ourselves honoured with the title, but lamentably remiss in observing the duties of our profession. We are exceedingly desirous of the heavenly inheritance, yet are indolent and negligent in our pursuit after it. We profess to have a strong faith, and heed not how much we are required to believe, so that we may be excused from acting consistently with our belief; but surely the lives of such nominal christians accord not with the glorious schemes of the Son of God. No! They entirely frustrate the end of his coming, and miserably deceive themselves : for Christ came to abolish all hypocrisy and formality; and to introduce sincerity and truth; he came to improve our morals, to make us more virtuous and more holy. Since his appearance in the world, those who have engaged in his service are under the most cogent obligations to walk worthy of their vocation; to lead far different lives from the Gentiles, who were not favoured with the same enlightening revelation,—the same means of grace,-the same hope of eternal glory. As we have put on the Lord Jesus, and assumed his faith, so should we strive to imitate his perfections: as salvation is freely offered and generously brought to us by the Son of God himself, so all christians should embrace and receive it with

thankfulness and gratitude, with love and obedience. These are the fruits of that faith which purifieth the heart; that faith, by which we are justified; that faith, through which, by the free grace of God, we are saved. Examine your

selves then, my brethren, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves; and if you have indeed that faith which worketh by love, “the spirit itself will bear witness with your spirit, that ye are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that ye suffer with him, that ye may be also glorified together." But, let us seriously call to mind the imminent danger we are in, if we find not this witness in ourselves, that we have this sound, this saving faith: for surely, since the darkness of heathenism is past, and the true light of gospel truth now shineth, we are utterly inexcusable and most severely punishable, if we do not awake to righteousness and sin not; if we do not walk as the children of the light.

This expressive metaphor of darkness is frequently used in holy scripture; and by it the inspired writers always intend to express not merely the general depravity of the whole race of mankind, but more especially that ignorance and error, that state of mental blindness, perverseness, and proneness to sin, which so distinguished the gentile world, till God was pleased

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