are bound; to comfort all that mourn, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

1

But lastly, are there not some among us, who are already partakers of the Blessing of which we have been speaking: some, who have already experienced in their souls the power of converting grace; and who, by the effects produced upon their own hearts and lives, assuredly find that they, are indeed, "turned from their iniquities?" My brethren, if you have thus been taught that Conversion from Sin is no imaginary work, no creature of the fancy, no transitory impression on the feelings, but a real, an inward, an abiding operation of Divine Grace on the heart, -if the Spirit itself thus bears witness with your spirit, that you are the children of God, born of his Spirit, renewed to his likeness, and made partakers of his nature, — if things be so; you have indeed cause to rejoice, and be thankful. Rejoice however with trembling; and be not high-minded, but fear. Think not, as

though you had already attained, either were already perfect." "Count not yourself to have apprehended: but this one thing do forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press towards the

66

mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." It is indeed an encouraging thought that" He who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the end:" that He, who hath hitherto wrought in you "to will and to do," will of his mercy continue to work in you: but bear in mind the Apostle's command in connection with this subject, "work out your own Salvation with fear, and trembling." "Be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Occupy" till your Lord come. Use and improve the talents which he has committed to your trust, in His service, and to His Glory. If he has set you free from the yoke of sin, it is that you may the more readily and devotedly take His yoke, and bear His burden, and do His work. By perseverance in holiness, by a patient continuance in well-doing, evidence to the world, and to yourselves, the reality of your Conversion, the sincerity of your profession, your growth in grace and godliness. By giving all diligence to these things, by progressively adding one Christian attainment to another, by daily abounding in every good word and work, "make your calling and election sure." "So shall an entrance be ministered unto you abundantly into the

everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." So shall you be included in the number of those happy and triumphant souls, to each of whom these joyful words shall be graciously addressed, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

SERMON XI.

ESAU DESPISING HIS BIRTHRIGHT.

HEBREWS, xii. 17.

For ye know how that afterwards, when he would have inherited the Blessing, he was rejected: for he found no Place of Repentance, though he sought it carefully with Tears.

THE person here spoken of is Esau; and the circumstances referred to are those, related in the twenty-seventh chapter o Genesis. The subject is one which requires explanation. For the circumstances themselves, as well as the Apostle's mention of them in the text, are often much misunder stood. On hearing the account which is given of Esau's losing the blessing, and of his conduct on that occasion, persons who are not well acquainted with the whole transaction, or who do not attentively consider it, are apt to feel for him a degree of compassion to which his character does not entitle him while the language of the text is understood to countenance this opinion by

stating, as it is supposed, that though he were a penitent, he could obtain no forgiveness; and consequently to contradict the general declarations of Scripture, that all who repent shall assuredly find mercy. In discoursing on this subject, I shall endeavour

I. To remove these misunderstandings, and

II. To point out some of the practical admonitions, which the example of Esau, when rightly understood, suggests to our consideration.

I. The best way of correcting error is to give a plain statement of the truth. Accordingly in endeavouring to remove the misunderstandings of which I have spoken, I shall set before you, as clearly as I can, a short account of the particulars on which they are founded.

Esau was the eldest son of the Patriarch Isaac, and on this account was considered as entitled to the birthright. This birthright was something of a peculiar nature and a clear notion of it is absolutely necessary in order to a right understanding of the point in question. The Birthright, then, does not appear to have had any particular reference to the property and possessions of Isaac, nor to have contained in it any immediate worldly advantage. It referred to