the other," the unity of the spirit in the "bond of peace."* This is that truly Christian bond, which, linking together every heart, leaves every judgment free, and from the seeming discord of many different parts, makes up the entire consent and harmony

of the whole.

By a conduct formed on these genuine scriptural principles, we shall give the most effectual answer to the great objection which has been here combated, and the fullest confirmation to the several propositions that have been advanced, and I trust established in this discourse. We shall confute by example, as well as by argument, the heavy charges of cruelty which have been so often urged against the religion we profess. We shall show (in perfect conformity to the preceding observations) that these cruelties are in fact no just ground of reproach to the Gospel; that they are imputable only to those who have totally misapprehended or wilfully perverted its doctrines and its precepts; that the constitutional temper of the Christian Revelation is not SEVERITY, but MERCY; and that although this was * Ephes. iv. 3.

for a while obstructed or suspended by the operation of adventitious causes, and the influence of local and accidental circumstances, yet these having now either wholly ceased, or lost much of their original force, the divine benevolence of our religion has evidently begun, in this and many other countries, to produce its genuine effects. And we have every reason to believe, that, as scriptural knowledge advances, these effects will diffuse themselves, though perhaps by slow degrees, over the whole Christian world; that "the kingdom of God" shall finally appear to be, in a temporal as well as a spiritual sense, what the Scriptures affirm it to be, JOY AND PEACE*; and the effect of righteousness, QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE FOR EVER.t

*Rom. xiv. 17.

+ Isaiah xxxii. 17.

SERMON XIII.

LUKE ii. 14.

ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD-WILL TOWARDS MEN.

THE sacred hymn, of which the text is a part, is that which the heavenly host were heard to sing at the birth of Christ; and the meaning of the words is generally allowed to be, That this great event would be productive of peace to all the inhabitants of the earth, and was a most striking proof of God's good-will to mankind.

One cannot help observing with what solemnity our blessed Redeemer was introduced into the world. He had not indeed any of this world's pomp to follow him. The grandeur that attended him was, like his kingdom, of a spiritual nature; and it

earthly magnificence. He was welcomed into life by the united congratulations of those celestial spirits, whose abodes he had just quitted, to take upon him the form of a man. It is the only event recorded in history that was ever dignified with such rejoicings, except that of the creation. When the "corner-stone" of the earth was laid, the sacred writers tell us "that the "morning stars sang together, and all the "sons of God shouted for joy."* This corner stone † of the new creation was laid with the same solemnity. It should seem that these were the only two occasions which deserved so glorious a distinction; and that the redemption of mankind appeared to the heavenly host to be a work no less glorious to God, and beneficial to man, than their creation. It is indeed in this light that the Scriptures do all along consider it. They represent it as a new creation, as an entrance upon a new life §, as the production of a new man ||, and

*Job xxxviii. 6, 7.

2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. vi. 15. - Eph. iv. 24. Col. iii. 10.

+ Eph. ii. 20.

§ Rom. i. 4.