petration of others of a more serious nature. More alarming sins have followed these; still more heinous have succeeded, until the man has become hardened in iniquity, and ready for the most desperate enterprizes. The bitterness of such a slavery, and the dreadful issue of it, both here and hereafter, cannot be contemplated without terror. But notwithstanding the sad effects of such a servitude, so often witnessed, how many still "fall into the snare of the devil, and are taken captive by him at his will." They are the servants of men, slaves to their passions and their vices, slaves of the world.

But let us, my brethren, pray to God, that by his grace we may be emancipated from the slavery of the world, and our own sinful passions, that we may become the servants of Christ, and thus be made his freemen, citizens of the spiritual Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem; that we may take upon us his yoke, which is easy, and his burthen, which is light. There is no yoke so easy as a conscience void of offence; no burthen so light, as a heart pure and free from guilt; no hope more delightful, or which will more tend to alleviate the evils of this world, than that which anticipates, through the

merits of Jesus Christ, a joyful resurrection to eternal life.

Finally, brethren, whatever our calling may be, whatever our situation in life, whether we are rich or poor, masters or servants, let us be content, rejoicing in this alone, that we are called to be the servants of Christ, and endure every thing, and do every thing for his sake, as done in his service. "Let this mind be also in us, which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God," was not desirous of possessing while on earth an equality with God, "but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant."

SERMON X.

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.-ROMANS, xiii. 14.

OUR church has appointed for the four Sabbaths, previous to the day on which we celebrate the nativity of our blessed Saviour, such selections from the sacred Scriptures, as may tend to awaken our minds to a serious and devout commemoration of the solemn event. They form, as it were, the harbingers of the joyful tidings which will then be announced, and which must always be heard, by the sincere believer, with fresh interest at every repetition. The words of the text are selected from the Epistle for the day. The Apostle had been giving some short, but important precepts, for the regulation of the lives of his Christian brethren; these he enforces on the assurance, that the period was fast approaching when they would be for

ever with their Lord.

“Our salvation," says

the inspired writer, "is nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand." As if he had said, When we first embraced Christianity, we anticipated the joyful day when we shall be freed from all the cares and sorrows of the world, when we shall be relieved from the burthen of that sinful nature, which now presents so many obstacles to our Christian course, when we shall be introduced into the presence of our Saviour, and be with him for ever. Do not be dispirited, do not fear lest you should, at the period of your dissolution, sink into a state of annihilation, or that Christ should not acknowledge you as his disciples. Be assured that the day of your release, the day of your salvation, is rapidly drawing nigh-" Your salvation is nearer than when you believed." That night of sin, and sorrow, and death, in which you are now involved, will soon have passed away," the day is at hand," its dawn has already commenced-the clouds and darkness, which now envelope your horizon, will soon be dispersed. You will soon behold the Sun of righteousness, that Sun which will never set, in the brightness of whose glory you will for ever dwell! Ye