great mountains or the laws of nature-immutable. This is the light and the rule of our moral nature. All else is darkness, uncertainty, and conjecture; but the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. This expresses the supreme will of the divine Lord and Governor of all mankind, whom all are bound to obey by the most sacred ties; and whom none can disobey without incurring his displeasure, and exposing themselves to eternal ruin. This way, which his word points out, is the way to secure his favour, to obtain peace of conscience, and a place in the heavenly inheritance. He that created the sun to light the world, sends his word to instruct all in the knowledge of his will. The light of the sun is not more clear than the light of revelation. It shows all men plainly how they "ought to walk and to please God." Divine truth is not a jewel shut up in a casket, or locked up in a cabinet; but like the rivers and fountains of water, it flows freely, and constantly, and abundantly for the use of all. It is a lamp, bright and steady, hung over our path to guide our feet, and making clear and sure to us every step of our way, as well as our entrance by the strait gate. "Thy word is a light to my feet, and a lamp unto my path."

2. The testimonies of God are to be especially understood of those new commands under the gospel which have been added to make the way still plainer, and to remove all the impediments to our going in them, which arise from the sinfulness and weakness of our nature. The divine testimony, therefore, concerning all sinful creatures is, that they should repent and believe in Jesus Christ, that they may both receive a free pardon for all their offences, and be renewed by divine grace; that they may run with delight in the way of God's testimonies. "This is the will of God, that ye believe in him whom he hath sent." We must not suppose that we are able, even with the assistance of gospel grace, to keep perfectly all God's commands-our obedience will still be imperfect; and hence we need, and must earnestly seek, forgiveness through that precious blood of Christ, which alone affords the hope of salvation to such guilty and helpless sinners. He who looks to the law alone, will find that it leaves him in hopeless condemnation and despair. But he

who looks to the gospel, and places his confidence there, shall find mercy to pardon, and grace to help. Therefore, Christ calls us all to come to him that we may partake of his grace; that by repentance of sin, and faith in his atoning blood, we may receive eternal life. We are all morally and mortally sick. A divine and infallible physician comes to our door with a sovereign remedy, proffering his help. If we are unwilling to let him in, or disinclined to take his remedies, we must die; and we must die with the physician before us, and his medicine in our hands. The patient deserves to perish who will not invite the physician to come; and he is sure to die who will not accept his help when it is graciously offered.

3. Observe wherein consists the excellence of these ways of God's testimonies. "I turned my feet to thy testimonies," because I perceived that they pointed out the sure and happy way of salvation. They lead in the way of righteousness. They mark out the path of divine wisdom, of purity, and peace; and the way that all the good and wise have chosen, in which they have served God, and through which they have attained to true honour and felicity in this life, and glory in the world above. The blessedness of them is experienced while we walk in them; for by them we escape the misery and ruin of sin, secure the favour of God, enjoy peace of conscience, and, finally, reach everlasting life. Here, then, we see the supreme excellence of those ways of God to which his testimonies invite us. The way of transgressors is hard," and "the way of the wicked shall be turned upside down." "There is a way that seemeth right to a man ; but the end thereof are the ways of death." On the other hand, the way of God is the way of life: it surely leads to honour and immortality. The Saviour has made it plain and easy. He has gone before to set us an example, that we should tread in his steps. It may not be pleasant to our corrupt nature and proud hearts. But the assurance that it will lead to the crown of glory should suppress reluctance, and determine us to conquer every difficulty. He who says, "Come and follow me," will not only show us the way wherein we should walk, but sustain and guide us in every step of our onward progress. The end of every man

should be his salvation-his salvation can be found only in Christ-Christ can be received only by faith-faith can be excited in us only by divine grace-grace can be given us only by God-God can be approached only by fervent and importunate prayer. This is the way; walk thou in it—it is made plain to the meanest capacity in the Scriptures-therefore, these testimonies of God lead in the way of life; and this is at once the best and happiest way; because it ensures the final acceptance and everlasting salvation even of the chief of sinners that walks in it.

"How blest are they whose feet are found
In Wisdom's sacred way;

They soon shall reach the happy ground,
And there for ever stay:

Where sorrow ends in purest joy;

Where no complaint remains;
Where hope before its object dies,
And love triumphant reigns."

III.—We now call you to observe in these words, the best ways pursued. Here is a great change effected-the most important and happy change any one can experience-a change of life, originating in a change of heart, and that commencing in serious reflection. "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to thy testimonies."

1. Let us review the source and nature of this great and happy change. There is a turning away of the feet from one way, and a directing of them to another. The way forsaken was bad, because it was his own-the way pursued was good, because it was God's. This began in his thoughts, so far as he was concerned in it, or was conscious of it. Yet there was something in Providence, or something from the secret influence of God's Spirit, which gave his thoughts this particular turn. He thought first of what his ways had been, and then of what they ought to have been, and he found there was a great error in his practicethat his ways had been altogether wrong, sinful, and destructive —that it was high time to awake to a sense of his danger, or he might be gone too far to recover his steps. He saw that either his ways must be abandoned, or hope would abandon him for

ever.

Thus his eyes were opened, or his mind enlightened. He awoke as from a dream, and saw that sin had seduced him from the way of holiness and safety-that he was treading with hasty steps the path to ruin and death. This discovery of his own bad ways was, doubtless, to be ascribed to a divine influence upon his thoughts; and it is this which you need—which you must be sensible you need; and which, surely, you will humble yourselves to ask, if once you feel it to be essential. The change must begin in your heart. Your thoughts must be directed to the subject; and that they may be so directed, both powerfully and effectually, you must become both convinced of your danger and anxious for a change-you must both feel your own inability, and value that divine aid that is offered. We who preach to you the testimonies of God, can hope to effect nothing valuable till you are made to think—to retire into your closet, and there ponder your ways, and lay open your heart, saying, "Lord, search me, and prove me, and see if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." The change must begin in your heart-that is the spring upon which the divine power must work; and all will be unavailing till that is touched by a divine agency. Every means must be used calculated to awaken that heart which is too easy and quiet under the dominion of sin. Study how it may be best roused to a due sense of the unspeakable importance of an entire change. If God's word should seize you, either by the terrors it reveals against sinful ways, or by the tender and melting love with which it wooes you to the right path; then you will be always thinking—“ What shall I do that I may escape the wrath to come?" Then you will cry out as one in the agonies of death, "Lord, save, or I perish!" Here will repentance begin; for it will not be a bare thought of your ways, but a sad and mournful thought of their obliquity. They who have a journey to perform will enquire for the nearest and best way; and, therefore, in your journey to heaven you must seek direction of heaven· You will not long remain in perplexity, for a voice already sa"I am the way,"- -come to Jesus, our divine and precious Saviour! He will give you remission, through his

lutes you.

blood, for the past; plain and sure guidance for the future. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.” Hold fast by the hand of your faith his promise of salvation, and he will hold you fast by the hand of his divine power, that you shall not miss" the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

2. The change of the heart must lead to a change in the conduct. You must not presume upon a real change if it ends in feeling, and never proves its power in the life and conduct. If the seed is sown, it proves its vitality by growth. If the tree is made good, the fruit will be good also. If the fountain is made pure, the stream will be the same. When David says, he turned his feet, that implies effort, motion,-a purpose put into execution. Here then is action, progression-a walking forward. So your change must not be a change of opinion only-a mere speculation—a mere change of sentiment, or of doctrine. Persons may change from one denomination to another; but never leave off their sinful ways, nor follow God's testimonies. A man may go through many changes of profession and principle; but none of these amount to a change of heart, producing a change of life. All such are, therefore, unimportant and worthless as to the great object he ought to have in view-to become a new man, and show himself a new creature in Christ Jesus. Therefore, you may count every change useless which falls short of the great and important one, or which leaves you still a slave of sin, and practically pursuing the downward road. Let it be remembered, we live by faith; and yet, our faith does not live if it produces no obedience. We infer the want of sap and life in a tree if we find barrenness in its branches, and if season after season returns and leaves it fruitless. If it either have bad fruit, or no fruit, it is equally fit to be cut down. So is faith no faith, or a bad faith, if it brings forth no fruit unto perfection. We must keep in the way of righteousness, if we would attain the end. Adam was put into this way at first, but he soon lost it. We are put-not into a new way—but a new method of keeping the old way. We must remember, we are not exempt from our obligations to serve God by the grace of the gospel; but we are pro