Whoever, therefore, receives Christ as his Saviour, must become an imitator of his holiness and purity. While he renounces all merit of his own, all reliance on his own works-yet, influenced by gratitude for his Saviour's kindness in dying for him, and a hatred of sin, he becomes a new creaturehis affections are set on things above; he lives as a citizen of that new and heavenly kingdom, of the happiness of which he aspires to be a partaker as belonging to that better world to which he must ere long be transferred.

If, then, it can be clearly shewn from the authority of the Sacred Writings, that our sins could not be pardoned without some expiation, and if Christ is that expiation, the cross of Christ should be our glory. What He has done and suffered for our sakes, should be the frequent subject of our meditations. Nor can it be too strongly impressed upon our minds, that we cannot be saved without Him. If the contrary be admitted, the door to numerous and fatal errors is immediately opened; and a specious, philosophical religion would be introduced, which, while it inculcated moral precepts, would leave the heart destitute of true devotion, and that ardent love and gratitude to the Almighty, which is due to him as

our Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer. If it be allowable to expect similar effects from similar causes, it might be anticipated that, as the grossest impurities prevailed amongst the Pagans, and disgraced some of the most enlightened of their moral writers, a great degeneracy in moral conduct would exist, as soon as what are now regarded as vital doctrines were rejected from the Christian creed. One set of Christians has already denied the doctrine of the atonement; and many, it is to be feared, to avoid the charge of enthusiasm, or the ridicule of the infidel, either totally abandon, or regard with indifference, every reference to the sufferings of Christ as the propitiation for their sins. And many, while they affect to regard the scriptural doctrine of faith in Christ as the source of error and wickedness, are themselves the servants of sin. It may be retorted, that many who profess the doctrines of Christianity, are a discredit to the Christian name. The infidel himself, without morals, will not gain much by the concession. For although it may be lamented, that they are not all Israel who are of Israel-although it may be regretted, that there are some spots in every Christian community, some clouds without

water, some trees whose fruit withereth, some raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame, some wandering stars; yet the charge does not apply to all. As in the time of Elijah, when he pathetically bewailed that he alone was left of the true worshippers of God, the Lord said unto him, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him;" so let us rest assured, that there are many worthy the Christian name, whose actions do not discredit their professions-many who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb-who ascribe " blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

The necessity of more fully asserting the doctrine of the atonement, and of pointing out the value of Christ's sacrifice, was perhaps never more apparent than at the present period. To the neglect and obloquy with which this doctrine has been for a long time attended, may with some justice be attributed the prevalence of deistical sentiments, and the fatal effects of which they have been ductive. For when the death of Christ is

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viewed in no other light than that of a mere man, the Scriptures gradually lose their authority as the revealed will of God, and the gloomy and uncertain principles of the deist are introduced. To preach Christ crucified becomes, therefore, a most important duty of the Christian minister. Nor should the doctrine of the atonement which Christ has wrought for us on his cross, be regarded as a vain speculation, which may be adopted, or rejected, as a matter of indifference. It must be embraced and accepted with all humility and gratitude. Finally, let it be remembered, that "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto them that are saved it is the power of God."

SERMON VI.

THE SABBATH DAY.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work, which God created and made.GENESIS, ii. 3.

IT has been asserted by many, that the observation of the Sabbath day is an institution which should rather be considered as belonging to the ceremonies of the Mosaic law, than of any general obligation. The words of the text, however, sufficiently shew, that the day which immediately followed the six days of creation, was blessed and sanctified by God himself: the command, therefore, given to Moses, respecting the Sabbath day, may be regarded as the revival of a custom which had become neglected. The keeping of the Sabbath day must not be confounded with the Levitical ceremonies. The same reason is given for the institution of the Sab