of worldly disgrace, and of the displeasure of the Almighty. It is not only careless of attaining to high degrees of faith and obedience, but even of making the first advances towards the crown of immortality, for such a spirit; all that is disinterested in Christian conduct; all that is touching and sublime in Christian precept; the renunciation of self; the sacrifice of gain, and pleasure, and reputation, to the temporal and eternal good of others; the devotedness to God; the preference, in short, of eternity to time; of the distant to that which is present; of the invisible, to that which is seen and felt: is quite incomprehensible. To pass through this transitory world, with the least possible attention to its duties; to avoid all that requires effort, and self-denial; to pluck the few flowers that bloom along the desert of life; and to forget, in the occupations of the present hour, the awful responsibility and high destination of man: this is its sole wish and endeavour. This selfish, indolent, careless spirit, is not the "poverty of spirit," recommended

commended in the text-is not that spirit, to which is promised the happiness of heaven. The disposition pronounced by our Saviour to be "blessed," blessed," lies at the root of all Christian belief, as well as of all acceptable obedience. It is the first step in the Pilgrim's journey. It is the preparation of heart which is necessary, before we can sincerely and strenuously seek the blessings of the Gospel. It is the first earnest that we shall obtain them. "The poor in spirit" are they, who have been awakened to the strictness of the law of God, and the dreadful consequences of disobedience: they, who have learnt to examine their hearts and lives, and to compare them with the requisitions of a Being of infinite perfection: they who have laid aside every flattering delusion, before so fondly and contentedly cherished; and have seen their sinfulness in its true colours, and genuine deformity. Once, if they moved with approbation, or even without censure, in the sphere of common virtue and worldly morality; they were satisfied. Once, if they

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lived as others live; if they walked with the multitude, of whom the Scriptures declare, that they are treading the broad and easy path of death; their conscience breathed no whisper to warn them of their danger. Once, if they lived up to the maxims of the age, they thought they had done much for heaBut now, they know the spirit, as well as the letter, of that volume, which says: "cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, that are written in the book of the law, to do them :" and " he that offendeth in one point, is guilty of all." Now, they have discovered, that our Saviour's strict and spiritual explanation of the commandments, condemns the conduct and temper even of those, who think themselves unblamable, and walking in the foremost ranks of the upright and the perfect. Now, they are awake to the idolatry of the heart; to coldness in the service of God; to habitual forgetfulness of his presence; to ungovernable anxiety for the honours, interests, and pleasures, of the present world; to the indulgence of angry and malevolent

malevolent passions, amidst outward courtesy and affected benevolence; to the sensuality of the thoughts, amidst outward decorum and correct habits of life. They cannot now balance their vices against their virtues, and flatter themselves that the latter will preponderate. Whatever their conduct may have appeared to those, whose standard is different from that of the Scriptures; they feel that, tried by that standard, they must be found wanting. Of Christian virtue, of the graces of the Gospel, of the life of faith, they have known nothing. They have been good citizens; but of" the house not made with hands," of "the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God;" they have been totally regardless. They have been faithful friends; but he "who sticketh closer than a brother;" he, "whose love was strong as death,” and who proved that love by dying on the cross for his enemies; has never excited an emotion of gratitude in their hearts. They have been obedient children; but "God has not been in all their thoughts;"

their "Father, which is in heaven," has been disregarded. They have even been at variance with his perfections, by cherishing" the carnal mind, which is enmity against God." With eyes thus open to their spiritual poverty; with a deep conviction that there is nothing in themselves, to avert the Divine displeasure, and extenuate the guilt of sin; like "the poor" of this world, who come to the rich that their necessities may be supplied, "the poor in spirit" fly to "him, who is mighty to save ;" to him, whose "unsearchable riches" can relieve the wants of all mankind, and who will not be indifferent to their's. They do not come to him in vain. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of Heaven." Their's, in this life, are all the blessings of the covenant of mercy. From the moment that they renounce a proud dependence on themselves; and cease to arrogate as a right, what is an unmerited favour: from the moment that they seek pardon, and righteousness, and sanctification, where alone they can be found, at the foot of

the