return from his ways and live?"

Judgment is, indeed, his "strange work," and the last thing which he carries into effect. But if his laws be thus disregarded, and his mercy set at nought, justice must of necessity take place. He can no more abstain from punishing the finally impenitent than he can cease to bless his people who are saved in his dear Son. To this refuge, then, let all flee who would escape the just judgment of God. Of that blessed hope which is set before us, let all lay hold who would be delivered from the wrath to come. Let all acknowledge their guilt, and all sue for mercy. Let none think to outbrave the laws of heaven, nor vainly attempt to hide their sins from God. Let each one confess his own sins before God, and cry for mercy through the blood of Jesus. Let the nation's guilt be bewailed in the same manner, and all supplicate for the nation's pardon and peace. As all have had a share in the accumulation of our national crimes, let all lift up their voice for national mercy. Where was Israel's safety when the Egyptian first-born were destroyed? In the blood sprinkled over their doors. Why were they not cut off when Pharaoh and his armies were overwhelmed in the waters?

Because the Lord was their protector and guide. Oh! then, let us seek the same mercy, and the same security, and we shall be safe, like them. He that blessed them can bless us; and if we are interested in the Saviour's merits, who fulfilled all righteousness, we shall never come into condemnation, but pass from death unto life.

SERMON VII.

GOD'S REVEALED WILL THE ONLY SAFE RULE FOR ALL INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE, AND THE ONLY LEGITIMATE FOUNDATION FOR ALL NATIONAL LAW.

JOSHUA, 1. 8.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

ONE of the greatest fallacies existing at the present day is, the supposition that the things recorded of the ancient Jewish people chiefly regarded their temporal concerns, and were exclusively confined to themselves. It is evident that, if this were true, we are at once stripped of the largest portion of the inestimable treasure of the word of God; or that we can derive profit from it only in an indirect manner, by inference or deduction; and could not consider

the ancient records of Divine wisdom as intended for our own advantage; and therefore, as not binding upon ourselves. But if this were the case with one part of Scripture; why not with the other? And then, again, if so, how easy the process to lay aside the word of God altogether, and leave men to act according to their own will, without a sure guide, and without any effectual restraint! Considering the awful consequences of such a supposition, there can be no doubt from whence it proceeds, and to what it would ultimately lead; nor can anything more effectually further the devices of the enemy, or tend to bring down the anger of God upon guilty men, than the adoption of such a sentiment, and acting according to the spirit with which it is imbibed. A decided stand must therefore be made against the encroaching inroads of this maxim by every one who would maintain the cause of God, and urge the claims of truth and holiness.

The Author of His own Word tells us of its · extent and application. We are assured that

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every word of God is pure." We are admonished-" Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."* Nor * Prov. xxx. 5, 6.

can anything be more alarming than the awful denunciation with which the sacred canon closes:- "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."*

That this was the principle by which the inspired apostles were guided in their interpretation of the sacred writings is manifest: and especially in the use which they made of the various events recorded in Israel's history of old. Improving the manner in which God dealt with them in the wilderness for their various murmurings and rebellions, St. Paul says: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (TUTTO) and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."+ Nor is this confined to events;-in another place the states-"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope." Can any one read the eleventh chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, and not see that a mere +1 Cor. x. 1-12.

*Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

Rom. xv. 4.