ments; and though these commandments may call thee to self-denial, and to take up thy cross and to follow Christ, yet still they are not grievous, but the joy of thy heart. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" then thou art one who hath overcome the world, and is no more enslaved by its customs, and its fashions, and its false principles, by the desire of its smiles, or the fear of its frowns, or by wishes for its luxuries and indulgences, its riches or its honours; thy affections are set on the things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" then art thou copying his example, treading in his steps, and studying to become daily more like him, in holiness of heart, in purity of conversation, in blamelessness of life.

Such are some of the visible results of that faith on the Son of God, of which we have been speaking. Now let me ask, my brethren, whether you can say that such effects are to be found in you This is the touchstone to which you must bring your profession of the Christian religion. If effects like these have been produced, then may you hope that you have not believed in vain. But if not, the danger is great of your being "weighed in the balance and found wanting."

But from considering these visible effects of believing on the Son of God, let me lead you to some others, which are very different in their

nature, but equally important, though, in some degree, themselves objects of faith.

It may be thy

"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" Is it so, that after thou hast communed with thine. own heart, and thy spirit hath made diligent search, thou canst say, "Lord, I believe?" Then may we pronounce thee a happy man. lot to be poor, or sick, or oppressed with family sorrows and cares; thy way may be hedged up with thorns, and thy worldly prospects dark and gloomy: thy spiritual trials also may be great, and Satan may be permitted to assault thee with many and painful temptations: yet, as a partaker of faith, precious faith, thou art still a happy man; thy hope is fixed on an unseen but Almighty Saviour, who declares, "he that believeth on me shall never perish," and "none shall pluck him out of my hand."

"Dost thou believe on the Son of God," then are thy sins all forgiven thee; they no more shall have dominion over thee, but thou shalt be made triumphant over them all. The days also of thy mourning shall soon be ended. Death shall come, not as the king of terrors, but despoiled of his sting; nay, like a friend, who shall put a final period to all thy sorrows, and lead thee to that eternal rest, that heavenly kingdom, that habitation in thy Father's house, which the Saviour on whom thou hast believed, is gone before to prepare for thee; to that" inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,

and that fadeth not away," for which thou art now

kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation."

How happy, how unspeakably happy is the man who is partaker of this precious faith! And how important therefore, my brethren, that we should carefully attend to the apostle's exhortation, "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves." Consider for a moment what must be the result if we are not. If thou believe not on the Son of God, thou hast no share in all the blessings that he was manifested to bestow. If thou art an unbeliever, if Christ be not "precious" to thee, if thou dost not "live a life of faith in the Son of God," thou art still an unpardoned sinner, thy transgressions are all still recorded against thee, nay, more than this, thy condemnation will specially result from the very circumstance, that thou hast not "believed on the Son of God."

Oh then, dear brethren, let us not for one moment leave the important question undecided; either we are believers or we are unbelievers. The difference, is the difference between being the servant of God, and the servant of Satan; between a pardoned sinner, and a sinner unpardoned; between an heir of heaven, and an heir of hell. "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the

only-begotten Son of God." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.'

99 1

1 John iii. 18, 36.

SERMON XVIII.

GALATIANS i, 4.

WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD AND OUR FATHER.

THERE are some topics in religion, to which we shall have occasion continually to advert. They are to our system, as the foundation to the building; every thing rests upon them; if they be removed, the whole falls to the ground, and becomes worthless. And it is well worth while, occasionally to compare our views of religion, with those which are given us in the Scriptures, in order to ascertain whether we attach a sufficient degree of importance to those points, which are made thus prominent and influential in the inspired volume. If this be not the case, the danger is great of our laying another foundation than that which God has laid; or even if this be not so, we shall be found raising a superstructure of "wood, hay or stubble," instead of "gold, silver, and precious stones." So that though we