fore had no higher object than the perishing vanities of the world. Thus for him all things are become new, because he is in Christ. Life is happy, not in proportion to the abundance of things which he possesseth, but in the dominion over his heart in all its concerns, of that peace of God which passeth understanding.

5. He is a new creature in his prospects. Here old things are passed away. He is released from the bondage of the fear of death, from the condemnation for sin, which made the wrath of God to abide upon him. He has in the blessed promises of the Gospel, the assurance of that perfect love in God for him, which casteth out all fear. He has an abiding testimony, that he has been bought with a price, and an abiding hope of a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which has been also, by the same price, bought for him. His actual expectations are thus changed, because the facts before him are immeasurably changed. He looks forward to no sorrow, or pain, or death, in eternity. No flames of anguish rise up in his path. No undying worm is preparing for ravages upon his soul. God the Saviour has opened the way to bliss and glory; and there is prepared by him, for the new creature whom he hath formed, a crown which is incorruptible, and unfading for eternity. All that God can bestow to fill up the measure of his perfection and bliss, is secured to him by a covenant, which cannot be removed, and which equally keeps, and keeps with equal certainty, him for glory, and glory for him.

This is a brief view of the text, considered as a privilege for the Christian. "If any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." This is the present actual privilege of the renewed man. It is now his property, and he now enjoys it, far more certainly than the house in which he dwells, or the food by which his body is sustained.

6. My brethren, you see here the worth of real piety, the true value of the religion of the Gospel. It can be regarded only as a source of lasting enjoyment and peace, to the heart which is governed by it. He who considers the service of God but as a duty which must be accomplished, sees none of its real worth. He who looks upon it as the perfect freedom which man desires, the highest honour, and the only happiness of an immortal being, sees it, as it is revealed, and finds it even more to his soul than he could have anticipated. O, my friends, thus seek, and thus embrace the Gospel! It is all you want; and your regenerated souls will rejoice forever in the unsearchable riches of its grace.

he seeks.

You see here the actual encouragement for the Christian's hope and the Christian's effort. There is no uncertainty in his attainment of the end He is pressing forward in a path of life. He is a new creature; formed by God, with whom there is no change or shadow of turning, for high, and noble, and heavenly ends. No created mind is competent to describe the issue which awaits him, and for which he is set apart by the grace of God. Between him and that glorious issue, though there are many difficulties, there is no uncertainty. He may soar upward through the shining path to glory, perfectly confident, that what God has undertaken, he will certainly

accomplish, to the eternal honour of his own most holy name. He has in this certainty of the result before him, the greatest possible encouragement to steadfastness and effort.

Here we also see the real test of human character. Is man a new creature? Has he passed from death unto life? Has he been begotten again by the power of the Highest, to the enjoyment of a Gospel hope? Is he a converted man? The answer to this single question involves all that man can look for for eternity. Heaven and hell are suspended upon the decision of it. This question must be answered here or hereafter. Its affirmative answer will be here, the only fountain of peace; hereafter, the only possible charter of hope, and preparation for glory. The unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God. May God give you grace to seek this glorious character, and glorious hope! May he lead you thus, at once, to enter upon that progress of conformity to him, which shall result in the bliss of his own presence forever!

SERMON VII.

THE LORD'S SIDE.

EXODUS XXxii. 26.-Who is on the Lord's side?

IN man's apostacy from God, the native dispositions of the human heart have become universally opposed to the divine will. The carnal, or natural mind has become enmity against God, and refuses to be made subject to his commands. Its affections are enchained by concerns of transitory interest, and follow without control the attractions of sensible objects. Its will is determined in the way of selfish gratifications, and has no ability to withdraw itself from them, to seek after the things which are above. Man has become the slave of appetite, the victim of corruption, and by wicked works the enemy of God. This aversion to the divine government, exists in every unconverted heart; and it is the difference of circumstances alone, which causes a difference in its development in the outward character and conduct. The exercise of amiable and affectionate dispositions towards man, may gild and conceal its purposes. Education and the restraints of surrounding society

may prevent the full exhibition of its odious charac teristics. The very principle of its own selfishness, may often cloak its plans of sin. But the native enmity of the heart to God still remains. Often it betrays his aversion to the purity of the divine commands, to the view of his fellow-men. Often it rises up to his own awakened conscience, under a terrific and remorseful aspect. By the searching eye of Almighty God, it is unceasingly marked with abhorrence for its guiltiness, and with sorrow for its effects.

This fact of the natural and universal enmity of the human heart to God, is made the foundation of all the plans of divine grace. While we were enemies to him, and because we were enemies to him, God hath given his only begotten Son to die for us, that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. In the midst of this world of enemies, God hath accomplished this mysterious and glorious scheme of redemption for man. By a method which angels desire to understand, but which is elevated, in its operation and influence, above the reach of all created comprehension, he has reconciled rebels unto himself; and has gathered from among them a peculiar people, who, by his own Spirit, have been made submissive to his holy will. He has established a spiritual and unchangeable dominion in the very midst of the powers of darkness, against which the gates of hell shall not be permitted to prevail. Thus the world has been divided. Its unconverted portion of men still remain the disobedience, the subjects of the prince

children of

of darkness, vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction. But God has drawn out also, from among them, another portion by