public discourses, to enter into detail: so much depends upon the nature of men's talents, and the endless variety of their circumstances. But one principle upon this subject, I would desire to leave impressed upon your hearts. It is, that the surest and best mode of securing our usefulness to others, is to live to God ourselves.

In the first place, this is the best means of obtaining that help from above, without which all our labour and anxieties are vain. Every good and every perfect gift descendeth from the Father of lights. If, then, we would wish to be the instruments of good to our families, our friends, our neighbours, what course so wise, as to endeavour to please that all-powerful Being, who can turn the hearts of men, as it seemeth best to his godly wisdom? The man who lives to God can pray to him -pray on the behalf of others, as well as his own. And in this way, how much may the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man produce! When a child of God enters into his closet, and shuts to his door, and prays to his Father which is in secret; at such hallowed moments, who can estimate the extent of those blessings, which his petitions may draw down? Or who can tell what showers may descend upon the place beneath, when his supplications have pierced the clouds? As to the world at large, perhaps she owes her

sunshine and her rain, her blooming springs and plenteous harvests, to the prayer he makes. With respect to national mercies, also, what is it that shortens the day of visitation upon any people, but the prayers of the elect? Or, was it human wisdom, or human power, which has, at sundry times, delivered this country, with so high a hand, out of all her difficulties and dangers? No: it was prayer. It was the supplication of believers, offered up in faith, to a prayer-hearing God. For their sakes alone, is any country saved, or worth saving. For their sakes alone, is there peace to Jerusalem; safety within her borders, plenteousness within her palaces, or salvation around her walls. In all the private relations of life, persuaded I am, that, in the last great day, many will find, that they have owed to the prayer of some relative, so secretly offered up that they knew not of it, their share in those eternal blessings which now await them. He, then, that would be a benefactor to others, should himself be a man of prayer.

There is another way in which this principle applies. If we are saved ourselves, we shall be best fitted to benefit and save others. There is a virtue in holiness, in faith, and love, by which the man who eminently possesses, and constantly exhibits them, becomes quick and powerful, in

acting upon the minds of those around him. There is a meekness in the wisdom which is from above; there is a secret charm in a calm and well-ordered soul, in a quiet and truly humble spirit, which wins upon our hearts, and inclines us to love and to embrace a religion which yields such peaceful fruits. Little as such a man may intend it, his light cannot be hid. It will so shine before men, that they will see his good works, and glorify his Father which is in heaven.

But, above all considerations, the man who loves God will love his brother also; and where love is, there is the image of God, and, in some sense, the power of God also. The man who can feel towards sinners, who can converse with a brother when taken in a fault, as if he pitied his infirmities, and loved his soul; he, and he alone, is furnished for the blessed work of saving the lost, and converting sinners from the error of their ways. He alone can be a labourer together with God; for God is love. He alone acts like God; for God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son to save it. He alone imitates the example of Christ; for he loved sinners, and gave himself for them.

In conclusion: I would not break off this train of thought, so important, and so animating, to every real Christian, without breathing a fer

vent aspiration to Heaven, that both I and all of you may be inclined, in the words of my text, "as we have opportunity to do good unto all men." May we seek this best of means for so high an end, even the entire sanctification of our own souls in love; that we may be enabled to offer up prayers, which God will hear and answer; ceaseless prayers, that we may be made instrumental in saving others by becoming ourselves partakers of the full salvation of the Gospel. Happy and enviable state! to dwell in love, and thereby to dwell in God, and God in us! Happy state! to love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbours as ourselves! Happy state! in this life to shed around that blessedness which we feel within; to comfort those that mourn, and to heal the broken heart; and, when the day of eternity dawns, having turned many to righteousness, to shine forth, in those brighter heavens, as the stars for ever and ever?

373

SERMON VII.*

SAINT JOHN, iii. 16.

"GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLYBEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

"CANST thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?" Such is the language of the friend of Job; a language which admits of but one reply; "such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for us; we cannot attain unto it." We are all, indeed, conscious how little we can comprehend of the supreme and infinite nature. But men are, in general, I doubt not, more sensible of this truth, as applied to the severer, than to the softer attributes of God. When contrasted with his greatness, they feel their utter abasement. Their own power, their wisdom, and the extent of their horizon, vanish into nothing, before the omnipo

* Preached in the Chapel of the Magdalen Asylum, Leeson Street, Dublin, on Sunday, March 30, 1828; and originally published at the desire of the Guardians of that Institution.