The astonishingly rapid and general propagation of Christ's religion can receive no other explanation. How could the son of an obscure carpenter, and a few poor illiterate fishermen, have established a religion which should supersede every other-even the Mosaic, the Divine authority of which it acknowledged, but whose shadows were to give place to its substance? How could they have triumphed over the Jewish priesthood, the philosophers of Greece and Rome, the ministers and the votaries of Gentile idolatry? How? but by the manifest power of truth, and by the effectual operation of the Holy Spirit, which, even in so licentious a city as Corinth, rendered multitudes, addicted to the basest sensuality, pure, and spiritual, and heavenly-minded? Compare the weapons of Christian warfare with those employed by Mahomet, or any other teacher of false religion. Compare the influence of their respective systems: see what is the character and effect of Mahometanism; what that of genuine Christianity. Alas! I speak not of the spurious Christianity too generally prevalent-I speak not of Christianity as debased by Popish superstition, or by worldly and inconsistent professors of a purer creed; but I speak of Christianity as exhibited in the lives and actions of its first disciples; ay, and as exhibited now in many humble holy characters, who silently tread in the footsteps of their Saviour. They know, by infallible experience, that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation; and those who witness their behaviour must at least confess that in them it is a truly efficacious principle-a principle by which it were happy were all mankind directed.

I would appeal to the most sceptical amongst my hearers (should any under the influence of scepticism be present); what would be the state of mankind if the precepts of the Gospel were universally received and fully acted on? Would there be any more war any more oppression—any more injustice-any more licentiousness? Would slavery exist? Would abject poverty prevail? Would there be tyranny on the part of rulers? sedition or treason on the part of subjects? Would not all the world form, as it were, one great family, living as children of the same bountiful Father, and rivals only in their endeavours to resemble him, and advance the common happiness? Surely, Paradise would be restored. Surely, any one nation completely governed and peopled by real Christians, would be the most powerful and the most blessed of the nations of the earth. O that Britain were that nation! It would be, were the religion we profess the vital principle of all our actions. With our natural and political, our scientific and commercial advantages-with the influence we possess, and the far greater influence we should acquire,―to what an elevation of greatness, and still more of beneficence, should we not attain !

Alas! that this should be but an imagination-that the real picture should be so lamentably different! But this is because we are not what we profess to be. Let us indeed become a truly Christian nation, and blessings more than imagination can conceive will flow down upon us.

But if Christianity be thus excellent, what must its Author be? Can he be other than the source of excel

lence, the fountain of truth? Can we hesitate for a moment to admit him to be true, whom none could ever convict of falsehood or of sin-whose doctrines have triumphed over the opposition of men and devils-whose declarations are daily receiving fuller attestation? Yes, I say fuller attestation; for all that Christ declared concerning the kingdom which he was about to establish in the world, is either accomplished, or in a course of accomplishment. How soon was fulfilled his apparently improbable prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple! and is not the mysterious vision, which, after his ascension to glory, he gave to his Apostle John, receiving daily fresh light? a vision which will probably ere long be fully understood and universally acknowledged to be an anticipated history of the Church, and a most exact description of the Messiah's kingdom.

I shall not press this part of the subject further; but shall maintain as proved, that Christ is true, and that every assertion made by him is entitled to the most unreserved acceptance.

II. I proceed, therefore, in the second place, to explain the declaration of Jesus—“ I am the truth.”

"In

He is so in the highest sense; for to him is given the title of the " Word, or Wisdom of God." the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." He is "the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and know

ledge." "He is the brightness (the effulgence) of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person."

I fear, my brethren, to attempt any comment on

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these most important declarations, lest I should "darken counsel by words without knowledge;" for I feel that they convey ideas far surpassing the grasp of human intellect. Perhaps, therefore, it may be better to let the sacred writers speak for themselves; and only observe, that, as in God truth dwells in its very essence, so by his uncreated and co-existing Word that truth is made manifest to intelligent creatures. All, therefore, who would discover truth must seek for it in him. He condescended to take our nature, not only that he might redeem and purify it, but that he might impart so much of the knowledge of his Father as that nature is capable of receiving. The Evangelist says"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." The same Evangelist tells us that the law was given by Moses; but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Here is a contrast between the condemnation pronounced by the moral law against all who transgressed it, and the grace revealed by the Gospel ; between the types also, and shadows of the ceremonial law, and that real substantial truth, which is only to be found in the Messiah. The law was but our schoolmaster, to lead our minds to him. Its threatenings shew our need of his salvation—its ritual in every part prefigured him. He is the true priest-the true sacrificethe temple-the altar-the scape-goat-the light of the sanctuary—the bread which came down from heaventhe near kinsman, who redeems the lost inheritance. "The blood of bulls and of goats could never take away sins;" but "his blood cleanseth from all sin;"

his meritorious intercession is that sweet incense which makes the service of the saints acceptable; his righteousness affords that clothing in which alone they can be admitted to the Divine presence. I can only glance at these topics, for the elucidation of which volumes have been written, and on which the more we meditate, the more will our souls be edified.

As Christ is the truth of all the types, so is he the substance of all the prophecies. From the first consolatory assurance vouchsafed to Eve, that the woman's seed should bruise the serpent's head, we have a continued series of predictions, describing more and more fully the character, the offices, the inestimable benefits of the Redeemer.

He is the Shiloh foretold by Jacob-the Star and Sceptre seen by Balaam-the anointed One whom David typified and predicted — Isaiah's Man of sorrows Zachariah's Branch- and Malachi's Sun of Righteousness. "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

I am thus led to another sense of his declaration, which is supported by the other parts of it; for the whole saying was, "I am the way—the truth—and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." He is the true way and the true life. If any man hopes to gain access to God except by his mediation, he will be fatally disappointed. Whether he rely on his own righteousness, on his repentance, his resolutions of amendment, his prayers, or his alms-giving, all will be vain-Christ, and Christ only, is the door of entrance.