without being able to assign any reason whatever to justify it, save the conciousness itself. They not only reject good works like others as causes of salvation, but they reject them even as evidences too. They are not satisfied like others to exclude them from their justification; they exclude them even from their sanctification too, which with them means only a relative change. May you be preserved, my dear Brethren, from this dreadful perversion of "ungodly men, who 66 turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." Remember nothing can be so awful as final deception; and nothing can more certainly expose you to it, than imagining yourselves the favourites of Heaven, while you are strangers to the renewing power of divine Grace, and your tempers and lives are under none of the PURIFYING and AFFECTIONATE influences of the. Gospel. "The secret of the Lord is with them that

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FEAR him." "The MEEK will he guide in judgment, "and the MEEK will he teach his way." They, to whom there is no condemnation because they are in Christ, "WALK not after THE FLESH, but after THE "SPIRIT." "He that is born of God OVERCOM

ETH THE WORLD." "By this we KNOW that we DO "KNOW him, if we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS." These are the true sayings of God; and such is the invariable reference of the Scripture.

Suffer me then to ask you what you know of these things. Are you doing righteousness? and are you doing it, not reluctantly, but with pleasure? not occasionly, but constantly? not partially, but without reserve? Do you "esteem all his commandments con"cerning all things to be right," and do " you hate

66 every false way?" Are ?" Are your infirmities your afflictions; and do you derive from them motives to vigilance and prayer; or are you satisfied and careless under them? Do you "love your brother also?" Do you regard all your fellow-creatures and fellow christians? And as you have opportunity, do you do good unto all men; especially unto "those who are of the "household of faith?" Does this principle actuate you to afford them relief, to bear their burdens, to seek their welfare, and serve them at the expense of self-denial?

If this be not your condition, it is well to know it; and it will be your mercy to lay it to heart. For your case, though bad, is not desperate. If you are now sensible of your sin, and really desirous of conversion, he calls, he encourages you. "Wash ye, "make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings "from before mine eyes; cease to do evil: learn to "do well: seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge "the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, "and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as "wool. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the un"righteous man his thoughts: and let him return un

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to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; "and to our God for he will abundantly pardon." And what he requires, he also bestows. Read his promises in connection with his commands. While the one determines your work, the other insures your ability for the performance of it. Beseech Him to create in you a clean heart, and to renew a right spir

it within you. Depend upon his grace, which will be "sufficient for you;" and "being made free from sin, "and become servants to God, you will have your "fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen.

SERMON XIX.

DOMESTIC HAPPINESS.

PSALM CXviii. 15.

THE VOICE OF Rejoicing is in the tabernaCLES OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

Life.

NOTHING can more usefully engage our attention than Human Nature and Human The proper study of mankind is Man. His origin and his end; the structure of his body and the powers of his mind; his situation and his connections; are all capable of yielding us boundless and edifying instruction.

In observing mankind, the private and familiar views of their character are by far the most curious, interesting, and profitable. The greater part of our history is composed of minute and common incidents; and little and ordinary things serve more to discover a man, and conduce more to render him useful than splendid and rare occurences. Abroad a man appears cautious; at home he is unreserved. Abroad he is artificial; at home he is real. Abroad he is useful; at home he is necessary; and of this we may be fully assured, that a man is in truth what he is in

his own family, whether vicious or virtuous, tyrannical or mild, miserable or happy.

My Brethren, we are going to enter one of those houses, of which David speaks; a tabernacle "filled "with the voice of rejoicing." Domestic Felicity is our present subject. Let us consider two things; the IMPORTANCE, and the SOURCE of this happiness. 1. WHAT MAY BE SAID IN COMMENDATION OF IT. II. WHAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO THE POSSESSION OF IT. O Thou, who hast said, "It is not good for "man to be alone," "God of the families of all "the earth," may thy secret be upon our tabernacles 5 under the influence of thy Providence and Grace may we derive from our unions all the blessedness they are capable of affording; and to this end guide and sanctify our meditations.

PART I. One of the most agrééable scenes we can ever survey upon earth, is a peaceful and happy family; where friendship comes in to draw more closely the bonds of nature; where the individuals resemble the human body, and if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, and if one member be honoured, all the members rejoice; where every care is divided, every sorrow diminished, every joy redoubled, by discovery, by sympathy, by communion; where mutual confidence prevails, and advice, consolation, and succour are reciprocally given and received. To such a sight God himself calls our attention; "Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for "brethren to dwell together in unity!" Some things are good but not pleasant, and some things are pleas