the intimation given is at once the application of our subject. If you then, my brethren, have an interest in the legacy first intrusted to the apostles, so too have you in this admonition which is coupled with it, teaching you as it taught them the good account to which you may turn this bequest. Yes, you may lay it out to advantage, and you must do so, or you will receive no abiding benefit from it. Suppose not that it was intended merely for the entertainment of your fancies, or prepared as the words of a pleasant song for the gratification of the ear. Let these blessed truths concerning this precious peace, this pearl of great price,' sink down deeply within you, and duly influence you. 'Let not your heart be troubled' for any evils past or present, considering the interest ye have in this sweet promise; neither let it be afraid' for any harm which is threatened; but remember that the Saviour is always at hand and ever coming; that he is faithful to his people and powerful to help, all things being ordered by him, and nothing occurring without him; and while the 'very hairs of your head are all numbered,' he is causing all things to work together for your good.' Be assured, brethren, that, having an interest in the covenant of grace, and being included in the number of the elect people of God, who are chosen and called and precious,' ye are also entitled to the Saviour's peace, and have no reason to be overwhelmed with cares, fears, or griefs. It is true that in the world ye shall have

tribulation,' so Christ warned his disciples, yet he added in the next clause, But in me ye shall have peace.' For truly it is possible to be in trouble without being in confusion: many of us have been greatly afflicted, and yet were never wretched; and while the Lord gave us plenteousness of tears to drink,' there was no interruption of internal peace,-even peace in Christ, peace with Christ, and peace from Christ: while in this way we have realized the experience of the apostles, thus stated by St. Paul to the Corinthians,— We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.' 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9.

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That you and I, my brethren, may ever realize this peace, through the knowledge of a Saviour and the influence of his Spirit, may God of his infinite mercy grant, for the sake of Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Redeemer!

S

SERMON XVII.

THE PROGRESS OF SAINTS,

FROM THE NIGHT OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS ΤΟ

THE MERIDIAN OF ETERNAL DAY.

PROV. IV. 18.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.'

In these words we have an emblem as pleasing as it is striking to illustrate what I have proposed for the subject of this discourse,-THE PROGRESS

OF SAINTS FROM THE NIGHT OF SPIRITUAL DARK

NESS TO THE MERIDIAN OF ETERNAL DAY; for that is the ultimate expectation of the people of God; upon that the eye of faith is for ever fixed; the anticipation of that is the joy set before the disciple of Jesus, towards the attainment whereof he is ever gradually advancing. For the path

of the just' is the progress of the true believer from the gloomy regions of carnal ignorance and unbelief, through the privileged state of a mind illumined by the Holy Spirit, to the glorious inheritance of the saints in light. By the constraining influences of that same Spirit the christian is brought into this path, and makes daily progress therein, till he reaches the blissful condition of eternal day,-that heavenly kingdom and city of God, where there is no night, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever!' Rev. xxii. 5.

Of this spiritual progress the text, as I have observed, contains an interesting and instructive EMBLEM, which I would first of all consider, and then in the second place shew its PROPRIETY.— And God Almighty of his infinite mercy bring us into this path, and enable us to walk therein diligently and perseveringly! and may we be enabled each to realize a personal answer to the prayer contained in the following beautiful stanzas,

So grant me, Lord, from earthborn care
And stain of passion free,
Aloft through virtue's purer air,
To hold my course to thee.
No sin to cloud, no lure to stay

My soul as home she springs:-
Thy sunshine on her joyful way,
Thy freedom in her wings!

I. THE EMBLEM which the text employs is to claim the first moments of our attention;- The path of the just is like the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' The progressive advance of the man of God in the way of divine knowledge is thus compared to the rising of the sun, which is gradual in its ascent, though certain in its time, and perfect in its kind, as will presently be shewn. But let us bear in mind that night was primeval and existed before the day appeared, which the first chapter of the Bible teaches us; for when the earth in the beginning was without form and void' in its original chaotic state, then was darkness,' yea palpable night, upon the face of the deep.' Gen. i. 2. What a noble sublimity is there in the next expression,-' And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,' the life-giving Spirit of the Almighty, infusing energy into the heaving tumultuous mass, and quickening all things into existence! But what was the first operation of the Creative Word? He who was himself Essential Light could not but dispel the darkness, so opposed to his nature, at the very threshold of the magnificent fabric he was about to erect ;-'And God said, let there be light and there was light, and God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness,' thus ordaining the first diurnal space,' And the evening and the morning were the first day.' Ibid 3, 4. But it was necessary to set in the firmament of