Yes-he has hated sin exactly in the same degree in which he has loved the soul of the sinner. This, really felt in the soul, must give a deathblow to sin. It furnishes the soul with the wings of the Almighty, enables it to leave the sun far behind, and present itself before the throne of God, in the righteousness of Christ! Some pursue one science-some another; but he is a truly happy man who seeks the knowledge of the one great sacrifice for sin. Some one may be saying, 'I tremble now and then, and ask-is it possible mercy can reach so great a sinner as I am? Yes, I see mercy as infinite as justice; I see all the perfections of God, met together in Jesus, descending to seek the sinner, clothing him in his own perfections, and raising him up to glory for ever. In consequence of knowing in our own bosom the difference between sin and holiness, we shall be able to enter into more intimate communion with God throughout eternity than any other beings.

I would further observe, that the Spirit of his Son is also necessary to accompany revelation-the Bible itself, indeed, is only effectually made known by the Spirit: " no man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." 1

1 Matt. xi. 27.

Again though we have a revelation, yet we should abuse and forget it, were it not for the Spirit this every believer knows in his own experience; the Spirit is to fulfil his covenant office in man's redemption, as the source or fountain springing up into everlasting life: such was the state of Adam after the fall, that he could not present to his own mind a true sense or understanding of his state before the fall.

If

In conclusion, I would solicit your attention to three things: first, a regard to the revelation of God. Happy is the man who has contracted a taste for reading his Bible; happier than if he were exalted to the throne of a monarch. you have a taste for the truths that are there revealed, you will soon learn that piety is its own reward. It throws a flood of light into the mind, unknown without it. To the word then and to the testimony-try every doctrinetry every practice by the word of God. If it is asked, What am I to believe? the answer isWhat does God say? If what is to be done? What does God require me to do? The second thing is, the individual attached to his Bible will be continually applying to God for the light of his Spirit. I am authorised to compare this Bible with an affectionate letter from a parent to his child; the parent may say to his child, 'You cannot understand the reason of

many things I tell you, but it is not from any defect in the letter, but from your ignorance. The third thing is, that we shall be very desirous of leading the attention of others to the Bible; this is the only book that infallibly teaches the way to eternity; the darkness, even of our own favoured land, is greater than its light; yet, thanks be to God, he has led the nation to consider the importance of the education of the young but the believer, when he looks beyond time to eternity, considers that nothing can be of greater importance to the young than leading them to the study of the Bible.1

1 Here Mr. Howels applied the subject on behalf of the Charity School of St. Martin's Parish for educating and clothing the parish children.

SERMON XXXII.

June 7, 1823.

FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.

For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.-JOв v. 23.

ELIPHAZ speaks here not only as an excellent divine, but as a poet. He here speaks to Job with more tenderness than his other friends; "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands. make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou

shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee." He leaves second causes, and ascends to the first cause. We are not to consider this language as hyperbole; many important truths of scripture are thus insulted: true it is metaphor; but the text has been literally fulfilled in many instances, though not universally. Considering the language as figurative, it comprises one of the most important of truths. Attend to the inferences to be deduced from it.

I. THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE CREATOR AND CREATURE, AND ITS BLISSFUL CONSEQUENCES.

II. THE REBELLION OF THE CREATURE AGAINST THE CREATOR, AND ITS TERRIBLE

CONSEQUENCES.

III. THE RENEWAL OF THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE CREATOR AND THE CREATURE (AS A TRANSGRESSOR) THROUGH CHRIST, IN CONNEXION WITH ITS GLORIOUS EFFECTS. "For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee;" in allusion to the stony places through which travellers are obliged to pass in Arabia, which is supposed by many to have been the country wherein Job lived: this corresponds with

1 Job v. 17-23.