among other things, in order to be so, I must part with my grand idol, I must go away sorrowful."

Thus God said to Abraham, Walk before me, and be thou PERFECT: be entire: be a real character; one that fears God.

With respect to Asa, it is said, The high places were not removed: nevertheless, his heart was PERFECT with the Lord. He did not do all that he ought to have done: he discovered that imperfection which accompanies the best men: yet his heart was sound and entire: the heart of Asa was perfect.

Mark, therefore, the sound and entire character.

2. There is a further advancement: for some ACTUALLY ATTAIN: and they are called perfect, on that account: in contradistinction to those who have just set out, though sound and entire.

Our Lord compares the Church to a field of corn: in this respect, that there is first, the blade; then, the ear; after that, the full corn in the ear. They are all living characters, which are distinguished by this metaphor; but not equal in respect of growth. Thus St. Paul says of himself, in his Epistle to the Philippians, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after: I am pursuing the point to which God purposes to bring me: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us, therefore, he adds, as many

as be perfect, be thus minded: and if, in any thing, ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. So that there is an advanced stage: we are not only to be babes in Christ, but young men : and not only young men, but fathers. There is the ripe corn-full ripe-those, who are perfect and mature Christians, in contradistinction to those who have just set out.

3. There is a third stage of advancement spoken of in Scripture and that is CONSUMMATE.

It is this to which the Apostle alludes, when he speaks of the spirits of just men MADE PERFECT: sinless-without flaw, or blemish-without fault before God.

Our departed brother steadily answered the first and second of these gradations. He was not only a sound, sincere, and real character: but he was a ripe Christian: he was, in both respects, a perfect man. And now he is advanced to a state, where he will be made perfect in the higher sense

-CONSUMMATE.

His integrity seemed almost proverbial. When the Sierra Leone Company required a testimonial of his conduct as a minister in this place, I could not avoid writing in such terms as these :-“ If the philosopher, who lighted a candle at noon-day to find an honest man, were to appear again on earth,-know the character of Gilbert,-and ever discover therein any thing mean, improper, or false, instead of lighting his candle again in fur

ther search of his honest man, he would throw it away in utter despair." He was an eminent instance of a pure and simple-hearted, yet wise and discerning Christian. He shone among us as a light in the world. Mark therefore his end:

which leads us to consider

II. The END of the righteous man.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the righteous man, says, The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. We have before us an illustration of this truth. The end of the upright man, whatever may have been his troubles and imperfections in life, yet, sound and sincere in religion, his end shall be peace: there is prosperity: there is rest: there is happiness!

Far different his end from that of those of whom the Psalmist speaks in the verses before the text: I have seen the wicked, says he, in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay-tree. Yet he passed away; and lo, he was not! yea, I sought him; but he could not be found. He shone as a meteor: he blazed like a comet in his day but still he passed away! he was gone like a dream or a vapour: he seemed to be something, but he was nothing he passed by, and I could hear no more of him!

Such a man was Balaam. He shone in his day. He had considerable gifts: but, says the Apostle, he loved the wages of unrighteousness: he was a wicked man.

Such are the men, who have looked to be something, with great splendour and consequence: but, put it to their consciences when they come to die, as the poet expresses it, that, if they think of heavenly grace, they should lift up their hand and make signal of hope-they die and leave no sign!

Such also are they, whom our Lord describes as coming to him, in the Last Day, and saying, "Have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils, and done many wonderful works: the people looked upon us as if we were some great ones; and marked our eminence in the world." But, says Christ, I never knew you. Depart from me!

The end of all such men shall not be peace: but the end of a righteous, sound, sincere character shall be peace.

1. They have REAL PEACE WITH GOD.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory. of God, and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience hope; and

hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Such peace had the man of whom I am speaking. 2. They have PEACE WITH MEN.

For true religion produces a disposition of love and peace even towards enemies, not to be conceived by him who is not under its influence. A true Christian would do good to his enemies: he would say, with Christ, " Father, forgive them! They know me not therefore they act as they do." He would say, with St. Stephen, "They are destroying my body with stones, and expressing their enmity in every possible way: but they know me not: therefore, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

3. Such a man has PEACE WITH HIS OWN CONSCIENCE.

It is a high attainment, to be able to look round, and at length to find a resting place; while it is the misery of men in general, that they think not at all on their condition. Ask your consciences: say, "I must soon be carried away! the very boards are perhaps prepared that are to make my coffin; the stuff woven, that is to make my shroud! and have I never asked where I shall set my foot in eternity! Does conscience declare that I have not accepted the Gospel?-Not fled for refuge to the hope set before me? On what ground can I stand?"The end of such a man as Gilbert is peace.

After all his difficulties and troubles;