different from this, a faith in things which flesh and blood have not revealed to us, a faith which opens the kingdom of Heaven, and in which the Christian Church has laid its ever

lasting foundations. "And Simon Peter, answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." St. Paul teaches us, "that it is a true saying and worthy of all men to be believed, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' This is the faith upon which Christ hath built his Church, the belief in his office, and a reliance on his power

to save.

Now, it is to be observed, that however the faith of the Heathens might agree in one characteristic of true faith, inasmuch as it gave evidence of things unseen, it is only the Christian faith which can be truly the substance of things hoped for. The Heathen, let us suppose, believed that there was a God, and that he was the rewarder of all that diligently sought him—but evidently this belief might be accompanied as well by terror as by hope. He had a belief of a great being who was to recompense him according to the life he led, evil for evil, as well as for virtue a reward ; and the consciousness he must have had of his frail and corrupt nature would, most assuredly, prevent him from feeling in his faith the com

fort of an abiding hope. But what is the Christian's faith? It is a principle which gives him an assurance not of God's justice only, but also of his love; a principle, which not only convinces him that there is a better world, but directs him to the way through which he is to gain admission. It is a principle by which he is taught, that as he was born in sin, Christ died that he might be born again unto righteousness. It is a principle, which teaches him that he who is to judge him hereafter, is at this moment his intercessor. In short, it is a principle which, convincing him of the future world and the judgment to come, brings into his heart, with all their spiritualizing and consoling efficacy, the promises and encouragements so gloriously promulgated in our Saviour's life and death, and so faithfully registered in his everlasting Gospel. Such is the faith upon which Christ hath founded his Church, the faith by which the just man shall live.

Pause here for a moment, and say, whence did the Apostles learn this great doctrine, of a saving faith? Could they learn it from the Jews, amongst whom all flesh had corrupted his way, amongst whom the love of God had grown cold, and religion had degenerated into ceremony and ostentation ? Was it from

such a people the doctrine of faith could be learned-from the Sadducee who believed not in a resurrection-from the Pharisee who challenged to himself the approbation of God, because he fasted twice a-day, and gave thanks that he was not as the repentant publican? Was it out of these whited sepulchres-fair without, within the tenements of death-full of all uncleanness-that the power of faith could come forth as a mighty principle to animate the doctrine of the Apostles, and to subdue the kingdoms of this world, "that they should become the kingdoms of God and of his Christ ?"-Or, was the doctrine communicated by the Gentiles? Did the Apostles, from the deceived or the deceivers in "the nations," learn the power of a principle before which the rites and the iniquities of Paganism would be rebuked, and which could convert the cry of " great is Diana of the Ephesians," into an universal acknowledgment, "that they be no God's which are made with hands?" The whole frame and essence of Jewish polity and Heathen idolatry, declares that it could not. Where the power of faith was known, idolatry could not abide, and the disguises by which hypocrites might hope to deceive, must be far unlike those which the Pharisees assumed. What shall we say then

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that the humble uninstructed followers of our Lord discovered of themselves, this grand principle, this corrector of the evils of our nature, this adjuster of the irregularities of life, this earnest and assurance of eternity;or shall we admit as a more natural explanation, that he who gave them strength to declare good tidings to mankind, revealed to them the mighty doctrine which was hidden from the wise and powerful of former times, and which was now communicated that the servants of the Lord might sojourn on this earth in hope-and that they might depart from it in peace, when, though their eyes may not have seen, their souls have apprehended the assurance of God's salvation.

Do you ask whether this great salvation shall be granted to faith alone? Whether faith ungraced by the endearing qualities, or the sublime virtues which Christianity teaches, shall insure everlasting life? I hope to call your attention at some future period to the connection between faith and works-my answer at present is, that a true lively faith cannot be imagined alone, but may be expected as naturally to bloom into good works, as a healthy tree bears fruit and blossom. How could it possibly be, that any man appreciating duly the privileges which Christ purchased

for him at so vast a price, should not shew himself most anxious to set forth his Redeemer's praise; that he who felt himself called out of darkness into the marvellous light of the Christian covenant, could hold fellowship any longer with that darkness out of which he was called.

Allow me to direct your attention to the efficacy of a far inferior principle. Allow me to suggest to your minds, remembrances which history may have traced there, and to remind you of those agitating emotions by which you have been sometimes moved, as you read of the proofs of loyalty and love exhibited by the subjects of some insulted monarch. Have you not read of times and circumstances, in which this feeling strongly influencing a gallant people, has sent them forth in defiance of peril and disaster, to support with energy their Sovereign's cause, or to perish, if it sunk, amidst its ruins? Have you not read of the passionate throbbing of young hearts, and of age bracing on unwonted arms, and of mothers sending forth their sons with patriot pride, and almost without a tear, to the field where their King had called them? Have you not read of whole nations feeling, as if in one bosom, a lofty emotion which made ordinary cares and individual interests be scorned, and

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