But, amidst all these just and laudable efforts, forget not, for a moment, I implore you, that unfailing resource against all evils,-the sincere love of God. Fix, and cherish in your hearts, this divine love; and then, in meek dependance on the Almighty's will, employ all human means for your deliverance. Let the love of God be ever the prevailing principle in your hearts; and calmly leave events to Him. Whether they be good or evil, cheering or vexatious, prosperous or adverse ;-whether your fields be fruitful or barren ;-your flocks and herds increase or fail; -whether your family rise or decline; whether plenty or want, health, or sickness, be your portion; whatever of life's calamities befall you, you may be grieved indeed, but not dismayed," cast down and perplexed, but not in despair." For, from each, - from every sad vicissitude, you may derive important instruction : each, if properly improved, may, by the divine blessing, be converted to your essential, your eternal "good,"-by inciting you the more earnestly to love, and honor, to serve, and seek to please, the living God. O! may they be thus blessed and sanctified to you, my christian hearers, and you will then find, by happy experience, that they do, indeed, "work together for your good." But, if, through your own perverseness, or hardness of heart, they fail to produce this salutary effect, then, to you, they will

prove evils indeed: then, may you indeed despair, for you must live and die "without hope," as you are" without God, in the world."

In conclusion, strongly would I urge upon you, brethren, the scriptural truth,—that, the only sure remedy for all the trials of life,--the only certain means of turning evil into good-is, to love God, with all our hearts, and all our souls, to put our whole trust and confidence in his boundless mercy, through Christ, -to repent and forsake our sins, and "bring forth fruits meet for repentance." O may this be our love, and our trust, our faith, and our repentance! and then, shall we have little to fear, from any misfortunes that may asssail us: for the Most High will be "our refuge and strength,”—yea, Christ will be our sure rock and our salvation! Let us but be faithful to God, and "He will never leave nor forsake us:" for "He is faithful, who hath promised "by his holy Prophet,-" when thou walkest through the waters, (the waters of sorrow) I will be with thee, and they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, (the furnace of trials,) thou shalt not be burned:"-" I will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee;" "for I am the Lord thy God, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

That the Most High may thus "hold us up, that we may be safe,"-that He may ever be our "refuge and strength,"—our rock, and our strong salvation,-may God of his infinite mercy grant, through the merits and atonement of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour! Amen.

SERMON XXVIII.

FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

PHILIPPIANS II. 5.—“ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

WHEN we raise our thoughts to the divine Original of our incarnate Lord,-"the image of the invisible God,"-by whom "were all things created,"—who "is before all things, and by whom all things consist,"-how should our hearts overflow, with wonder, adoration, and praise, at that all-surpassing love, that amazing condescension, which led the only begotten Son of God, to leave his Father's bosom, and all the glories of the eternal throne,-to veil the Godhead in mortality,—and, “to be made in the likeness of men,"-yea, of the humblest of the sons of men ;-to "take upon him the form of a servant:"-" and, being found in fashion as a man, to humble himself, and become obedient

unto death, even the death of the cross." And this, for what? O! it was to save from ruin, a "world lying in wickedness,"-to manifest God's nature, and His will, to His rebellious creatures,

-to reconcile fallen man unto Himself,-to point the only way to life eternal,—to help and guide poor sinners in that way,-and make them meet to share immortal joys! Yes, brethren, for this our Saviour Christ came down from heaven, "took upon him our nature, and was, as at this, time, born of a pure virgin.” And when we reflect, that all the interests of eternity, are "briefly comprehended in this saying," "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ;' how infinite in number, how vast in importance, must we acknowledge to be, the mighty purposes of our Lord's incarnation! Yes,-when He, "who is over all, God, blessed for ever,' forsook the mansions of immortal splendour,— and, in unutterable compassion, descended upon earth, not only to dwell among the creatures he had made, but to assume their physical weaknesses and wants, their susceptibility of pain and suffering, and even of death itself,-well may we be assured, that the high object of such humiliation, was worthy of Him who planned the great, mysterious scheme,-worthy the counsels of Omniscience.

By the mystic union of the divine and human nature, in the person of the Redeemer, Christ