mind is tenacious to hold it fast. And 2d, it proves that more light is needed. We may accuse the nations, if we please, of an aversion to the true light, and in return we may receive their recrimination ; but if we travel to the ends of the earth, we shall never find the people who will say they do not desire the knowledge of divine truth. Light to those who are in darkness, is surely most desirable. "God is light," and he has given Jesus, "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel." When all the dark and dismal clouds of error and superstition shall have passed away, this eternal sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his beams, and be the fulness of universal desire. It has already been noticed, that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, promised these fathers, that in their seed, which is Christ, all the nations and all the families of the earth should be blessed. This, most certainly is the desire of all nations. There certainly is not a nation so grossly ignorant, there is not a people on earth so bigoted in error, as not to desire to be blessed. There is not an individual who has become so contracted, however he may have exclud. ed millions and millions of his fellow creatures from the sympathies of his bosom, and however he may have made his mad calculations to be blessed in heaven, in seeing his dearest earthly connexions in everlasting misery, who has no desire to be blessed himself. So strong is this desire in the most stupidly contracted soul, that he even hopes he shall be blessed for ever, and feel his bliss increase even by the torments of his own offspring. Standing in the light of this subject, we can clearly understand, that the doctrines which have been generally held up for gospel, are altogether inadequate to the fulfilment of the promise made to the fathers, or the promise in our text. My friends, you may make the best you can of any doctrine which excludes any of the human family from the blessings of God's favour, and that doctrine is not the desire of all nations, nor can all nations and families of the earth be blessed in it. We must then find a doctrine in which all are blessed, then we have found the desire of all nations. This doctrine, this precious desire of all nations, is announced to the world in Jesus. The testimony of the Angel to the Shepherds, on the birth of this universel desire, is full evidence of this truth: "Fear not; for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." How evidently does the desire of all nations appear in this angelic declaration,-" Great joy which shall be to all people." Surely there is no nation, no people on earth, not a single individual, who has no desire for joy. We may search among the treasures of human inventions in vain to find a doctrine which contains great joy, which shall be _to_all people. But this we find in him whom the Father sent, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. We have the same blessed desire of all nations expressed in the heavenly doxology, sung by an innumerable multitude of the heavenly host, immediately after the angel had announced his glad tidings: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." Peace is the desire of every living, of every rational being. All want peace for themselves, and there are none who do not desire good will to themselves. When the precious babe of Bethlehem was brought into the Temple for the accomplishment of the rights of the law, aged Simeon beheld this desire of all nations with transport, stretched out his feeble, withered arms, and clasping the heavenly treasure, said, "Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gen tiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Salvation is the desire of all nations; this desire was then in the Temple, and this prophecy of Haggai was fulfilled. This was the desire of all nations, and this was the glory which filled the house of God. Casting our eyes round on this newly erected Sanctuary, which indicates so much in commendation of the zeal and liberality of those who built it, and realizing at the same time, that it was their intention to dedicate it to the worship of the God of Abraham, who promised to bless all the families of the earth in Christ, fervent desires arise in our devotional hearts, that this house may be filled with that glory which is the desire of all nations. My brethren in the Lord, had your souls been satisfied with those doctrines which men have invented, creeds which, so far from being the desire of all nations, are not the desire even of those who believe and preach them, you would never have appropriated of your earthly substance to the raising of this house, but would have been striving with Ephraim to feed on wind, and with the wandering prodigal to satisfy yourselves with husks. But the bread of our heavenly Father's house has invited you to that "feast of fat things," which the Lord of hosts hath made unto all people. The glory, which we trust will in future days, and for a long time to come, fill this house, is that pure and rational doctrine of Jesus Christ, which teaches the unchangeable, impartial love of God to all men, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. These divine truths are things which cannot be shaken, things which will for ever remain, when every invention of the wisdom of this world shall have vanished away. The evidences which support these most glorious and soul-rejoicing truths, shine with unfading lustre in the book of Nature, and also in that of Revelation. What learned Doctor would undertake to defend a partial creed by evidences. adduced from the works of God? Would he present his dark invention of eternal exclusion from the divine favour to the glorious luminary of day, and ask his beams to witness and support its unmerciful cruelty? Every ray of light would admonish him of his impious arrogance, and eloquently defend the truth of impartial goodness. Should he appeal to the rains, which water the earth, to vindicate his partial scheme, they would inform him that Jesus has long since improved them in support of a contrary doctrine. Let him next solicit evidence from the rivers and fountains of water, or from other elements of material nature, they all, with one voice, testify that the Lord is good unto all, and that his tender mercies are over all his works. He will carefully avoid the testimony of the parental affections, for they are loud in their remonstrance in his own bosom against his unmerciful creed, and will not consent to give to their hungry offspring a stone instead of bread, nor in room of a fish, a serpent. Nor will he now go to the scriptures to find evidence to exclude the ransomed of the Lord from redemption through his blood, for he is now aware that the scriptures testify of Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men, and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and that it is recorded in their faithful testimony, that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." My brethren, this is a joyful day to our hearts. We here witness the increase of that glorious cause, which some of you espoused many years ago, giving it the limited support which scanty circumstances then allowed. Yet in those days, you saw the glory of God, and were refreshed with the doctrine of his universal grace. Now what you have long desired is granted. You have broken forth on the right hand and on the left, you have lengthened your cords and strengthened your stakes; and this extensive, convenient house is completed, and dedicated to the worship of ALMIGHTY GOD, who has removed those things which are shaken, brought in that blessed doctrine which is the desire of all |