phesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Have we not been flaming professors? Have we not exhibited our gifts and graces to the admiring world? Have we not preached to them with zealous fervour? Have we not prayed with eloquence in the assemblies of the saints? And what is the answer of Jesus Christ? "I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." Then, my brethren, shall your simple reliance on your Saviour, your quiet continuance in well-doing, your conformity to the spirit of the Gospel, meet, through the merits of him who died for the contrite and the humble, their due recompense of reward.

A

SERMON XIII.

On laying up Treasures in Heaven.

6TH. CHAP. OF ST. MATTHEW, 19TH, 20TH, AND 21ST VERSES.

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Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

IT cannot be too often repeated that Chris

tianity is a religion of motives. It seeks to instil into the mind those right principles of action which will not fail to produce the fruits of righteousness. In the conduct of

men,

men, it does not so much censure the neglect of particular duties, as the indulgence of that worldly spirit, which is the origin of all evil, the source of all the mistakes which disgrace our religious profession, and the cause of the little progress which we make in the paths of holiness. The contradictions which are visible in our characters, and the disappointments under which we mourn, arise from the want of that renovation of motive and of purpose, which changes" the gloom of mortified worldliness" into the serenity of Christian resignation, and the uncertainty of conflicting passions into the steadiness of reason and of truth. If this world were viewed in all its native insignificance, its trials would not agitate us so violently, its sorrows would not wound us so deeply. We place our hopes of happiness on objects which are rapidly passing away, and which would not satisfy the capacious desires of an immortal spirit, even if they were stationary. We

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lay up for ourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves

thieves break through and steal;" and then we are surprised that the "broken cisterns which we have hewn will hold no water." Jesus Christ knew all this, for he entered deeply into the elements of human character. He was 66 tempted in all points like as we are, though without sin." In his admonitions therefore to those, whom he wished to redeem from the misery of sin as well as from its guilt, he dwelt on the absolute necessity of "setting the affections on things above." It was not so much his aim to correct the errors which obstruct our temporal interest, as those which endanger our eternal salvation. The duties incumbent on our respective stations; the laudable effort to advance our fortunes, and to promote our own comfort and respectability, as well as those of our friends and connections; the innocent relaxations which shed a passing gleam upon the darkness of this vale of tears; the tender ties and endearing connections, which are the fairest flowers that have survived the fall; are not in themselves sinful, nor do they ne

cessarily