societies, and above all, the great company of believers who are the strength and safety of the land, will it be too much to apply to the world in general, even in this nineteenth century of the Christian era, what was originally spoken of the antidiluvian race, ' and God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' The earth also was corrupt

before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth?' Gen. vi. 5, 11, 12.

Such are mankind in general: and what is every individual saint in particular?-Will he not humble himself with pious Job, beneath the mighty hand of God, and confess, Behold I am vile! Does he not feel, that from the sole even unto the crown of his head, there is no soundness in him, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores? Is it not his daily experience, that he is sold under sin, while he is ready to exclaim, ‘O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' though he triumphs in his Saviour, and can add, 'I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!' And yet, thou gracious God, how wonderful is thy forbearance! Surely thou art long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, not willing that any should perish, but that men should turn from their evil ways and live! How patient art thou, though thou art pro

voked every day! else, hadst thou dealt with us according to our works and deservings, the entire human race, the myriads that have lived, or are presently to exist, from the beginning to the end of time, had been for ever lost and punished with everlasting destruction from thy presence and from the glory of thy power!'

But if we inquire into the USES of this subject, or consider how it may be improved, who can avoid the inference, that by nature we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,— that man has no dignity in himself, and no power to procure his own salvation on the score of merit? How just, then, is the language of another article of our church, the tenth, which, speaking of Free Will, declares, that the condition of man, since the fall of Adam, is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength, and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: ' while every man, of only moderate spiritual experience, has but too much practical illustration of the latter portion of the same passage,-wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.'

This quotation of one of the excellent articles of the Church of England, the doctrine of which is still more fully developed in the first homily on the misery of man, may serve to remind us of one

inquiry more, without which the subject will be imperfect-if man has thus fallen from his original righteousness, HOW MAY HE BE RESTORED AND RENEWED AGAIN AFTER THE IMAGE OF GOD? For man was not irretrievably ruined: lost indeed he is; but then there is one who saith, I have found a ransom.' He is a 'prisoner of hope,' and though he be condemned, there is the possibility of escape from the flames of hell. For ever blessed be our God, and magnified eternally by angels and by saints be the riches of divine goodness and love towards man! Even the valley of Achor is made a door of hope;' in the midst of wrath God remembers mercy, and a SAVIOUR appears as 'the way, the truth, and the life,'-a SAVIOUR arises as the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in:' a propitiation for sin is made, an atonement for the guilty is accepted, and GOD IS MANIFESTED IN CHRIST, as reconciling the world unto himself, as not imputing their trespasses unto men!' Yes, beloved brethren, in Jesus Christ the sinner's refuge, the believer's rock, mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' Thus can God be just as well as the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, in whom alone have we redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of divine grace. For Jesus has fully met the requisitions of the law of God. He indeed hath magnified it and made it honourable, filling up the lack of service

in them who broke it. Jesus became obedient unto death that we might live. He suffered in conformity to his manhood, smitten of God and afflicted, while he bore our sins and carried our sorrows. He rose again in attestation of his acceptance, in illustration that the work of redemption was perfect. He passed through the region of death and conquered, in the transit, him that had the power of death. He disarmed Hades of his terrors, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. He ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts for men; and there he sitteth, he reigneth,-he liveth evermore, making intercession, and preparing in the many mansions of his Father's house, a place for those who love him: whence he will come again and receive his people unto himself, that where He is there may he be also!

Art thou, then, an humbled sinner, alive to the inbred depravity of thy heart, and total corruption of thy nature, as well as convinced of thy sins in particular, and of thy guilt, contracted by actual transgression? Then art thou, my friend, in a proper state duly to appreciate the value of thy Saviour's blood. Lift up thy downcast eyes and look on him whom thou hast pierced: see Jesus bleeding, agonizing, dying on the cross, and behold in him the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!' Find in thy crucified Saviour both 'wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification and redemption,' and receive through his intercession

and mediation the influences of that Divine Spirit, whose regenerating power shall renew thy soul, shall create thee again after the image of God, cleanse thee thoroughly from every stain of sin, free thee eventually from the whole bondage of corruption, sanctify thee fully in body, soul, and spirit, and make thee most blessedly meet to be hereafter a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light,' and dwell for ever in the presence of God the Father!'

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