off your last year's garments, as faded vestments, and now put on this beautiful dress which the Lord here recommends; recollecting that whatever ornaments he calls upon you to wear, he provides them freely for you. The graces of the Spirit are as freely offered as the righteousness of Christ: and if we do not obtain a larger measure of them, it is, that, not simply accrediting his word, "Ask what thou wilt, and it shall be done unto thee," or not waiting the Lord's time when we have asked, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and do not receive the blessing. But do you, my beloved friends, wait in faith, and encourage yourselves with his promise, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name; he will give it you."

Finally if this motto should not appear suitable to those who are living in the world, let it be remembered that it is their disregard of the privilege which, as baptized persons, is their portion that is the cause of this. Why are not they, who in their infancy were brought to the font that they might be born again of the Spirit, now in truth sincere Christians? Whatever other cause may have operated, this has been one, that they have not, when of riper years, attended to our Lord's first precept, "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel." Let them, however, recollect, that though they may

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cast off the privilege of baptism, they cannot cast off its high responsibility: they are bound to renounce the world, the flesh, and Satan, to believe the articles of the Christian faith, and to walk according to God's commandments. They are not like the Heathen, or those unto whom he never sent such privileges. To them, therefore, on the entrance of the new year, we give this motto, "Let the time past of your life suffice to have wrought the will of the Gentiles;" remembering, that, as members of the visible church, "you are not your own; you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your bodies and your spirits, which are his."

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SERMON XVI.

THE WALK OF GOD'S CHILDREN.

EPHES. V. 1, 2.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

IN some previous discourses I have called your attention, my Christian brethren, to our happy privilege under the Gospel dispensation,—the privilege of adoption, or of being esteemed and dealt with by the Lord Jehovah according to the relation of a father and a child. I have shewn, that each Person of the ever-blessed Trinity concurs in effecting this: that it is written of the Lord Jehovah, that "as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him;" that it is written of the Son, that "to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;" and that it

"Ye have

is also written of the Holy Spirit, not received the spirit of bondage, again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father; the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." Upon so sure a foundation does this blessed privilege depend: upon the compassion of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the testimony of the Spirit. I have been thus particular in unfolding this truth, that you might both enjoy your privilege, and rise to that higher standard of holiness to which such a relation invites us. For it is as we become acquainted with the blessings of the Gospel, and as we realize them in our own experience, that, by the grace of God, we become desirous of carrying the religion of our Saviour into the ordinary affairs of life.

This morning, then, I would pursue this interesting subject, by setting before you the desires of God for his children. You observe the engaging terms in which they are addressed, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." Not as children only, but as dear children; as those who are the objects of his tender love: an expression, my beloved friends, which may well surprise us, when we consider the state of man-that of a fallen sinner, conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity; naturally

inclined to evil, and shewing that inclination by going astray from the birth, and increasing in sin as strength increases--but still, indeed, an expression which is fully supported and illustrated by the many gracious words, and by the still more gracious acts, of our Heavenly Father. What kind and cheering language do the Scriptures contain! "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee:" "The Lord's portion is his people:""He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye:" "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom:""Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world." These, my friends, are some of his endearing expressions. And the following are some of his gracious acts: Choosing them before the foundation of the world; giving his well-beloved Son in due time to redeem them; and sending his Spirit, first to regenerate, then to guide, comfort, and sanctify them; never leaving them, but still following them with his goodness, till grace begun on earth is completed in glory in, heaven. Such are his acts, the acts of a loving father towards his dear children.

My beloved Christian friends, I bring these things to your remembrance again, that you