fear of God: in all things making the law of God our rule as to things which are common and natural to us, and so sanctifying them, not resting our view on plenty, or wealth, or enjoyment of any kind, or rest, or ease here, but looking forwards still to better things to come, and making them our object, we should learn, after the example of the Apostle, to "press forwards towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." This also is the privilege, brethren, that we have by our Baptism, having been baptized into the death of Christ, that we may be partakers also of His resurrection. And this power and renewal unto a life well-pleasing unto God is given to us by the Holy Spirit of God when He giveth also the remission of our sins,Baptism, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, being the form and means of imparting them by the will of Him who purchased them by His own death. Being baptized thus, we are baptized into the death of Christ, that is, into the favour of God by the remission of our sins, and the power of leading henceforth a holy and harmless life. This, brethren, was our entrance into the Church, which hath the promise of eternal life, of which promise we, as members of the Church, are made partakers; and this also, if by repentance and faith we stand to it and continue in the love of God by keeping the commandments of God, shall lead us on unto perfection. For, as in the child that hath been but just born there is but the beginning of life, which being well nurtured and taken

care of may afterwards grow up to the strength and beauty of a man, though all the while liable to many dangers and mishaps, so in the new birth of Baptism, that indeed hath a beginning which shall lead at length by perseverance to the fulness of the Christian stature, but in the beginning indeed it is not and cannot be perfect. Now Baptism, by the grace of the Spirit of God, is the beginning; and let none persuade us to think that, being as it is the Sacrament of our salvation, it is of no avail, nor the sinner learn to say that he is in no respect the better for it; for let us be sure of this, that if as Christians we are to be saved at all, we must be saved by Baptism; for know we not that as many as were baptized were baptized into the death of Christ, by which alone we have remission of our sins and live?

True it is, that they who are baptized must walk in the faith and fear of God, that is, they must love God who first loved them, and they must keep His commandments. And if any have departed from this rule, they must be brought back to it by repentance. Having injured and offended the Church by their ungodly lives, they must not fly in her face and set at nought her doctrine and her holy ordinances even that Baptism itself by which they were admitted into her bosom, and born again with a new and heavenly birth, though now well-nigh sick unto death. But they must learn to humble themselves and confess that the truth and promises of God are hers, but sin their own; and if they would find mercy, they must go and sin no more.

The door is yet open to repentance, though the obstacles in the way of repentance and the difficulties are so much greater as men have sinned against their knowledge and conviction, and have neglected the advantages which the goodness of God provided for them. For the Church is as a holy mother, loving her own children, and able by the help and favour of her Lord to bring them up with wholesome nurture till they have arrived at that perfect state when they may be able to go alone, and not only that, but to teach others also.

Therefore the Church teaches us to pray her Lord and ours, that we may not fail at last to attain His heavenly promises, which exceed all that we can desire. Therefore she bids us call to mind the death of our Lord and Saviour, and the effect it must ever have on those who are baptized, that they must live holy and religious lives, keeping the commandments of God. And, therefore, lest we should be deceived with the deceitfulness of sin, and think to be saved by the knowledge of God's word and will, and reckon upon the promises of God while we keep not the commandments of God, nor live according to His rule, she calls to mind and rehearses our Lord's admonition and warning upon this head in the Gospel, where alluding to the Pharisees of His own time-men who believed in God, who acknowledged His dispensation by Moses and the prophets towards their own nation, who professed their expectation of a Messiah, and believed a future state and the resurrection, and lived in strict observance of all the forms of their religion,

but were in themselves covetous and unmerciful, and careless of observing the laws of God in spirit and in truth,-He admonishes His disciples: "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven;" and she warns us of the weight and moment of the time,-to make up our accounts with justice and mercy towards our fellows ere we stand before the Judge, that is, while the day lasts, and ere death prevent us with that night wherein no man can work. "Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.”

God grant that this sentence be not ours! God grant that we may observe His laws, not in the letter only, but also in the spirit,—not only doing no murder, but not being angry even with our brother without cause, neither thinking lightly of him, nor treating him with contempt,-so also in all other things shewing ourselves true, and just, and chaste, and dutiful; proving the truth of our having been baptized into our Lord's death by the religious holiness and purity-by the newness -of our lives; in fine, praying God that He will pour into our hearts such love of His Name, that we, loving Him above all things, may at length obtain His promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON XXI.

The Care of God for the Penitent.

Ps. xxxii. 9.

“I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go, and I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

UCH is the promise of instruction which God

SUCH

vouchsafes to the penitent and believing, and He hath ever fulfilled His word to His servants under all dispensations. Under the law, they who were willing to be led had for guides Moses and the prophets, not without the secret assistance of the Spirit in the hearts of the faithful and devout, and the more apparent inspiration of a chosen few; such as David for instance, who uttered and wrote many things of Christ, and who was the author also of the Psalm from which my text is taken.

Greater still and more perfect hath been the body of instruction which is given to guide our feet in the way of peace, who are blessed with the Gospel light. Us He teaches by His Word; our minds He enlightens and our hearts He purifies by His Spirit, and for our good, who believe in Him, if we keep His commandments, doth He provide; for it is by His power and providence brought to pass that all things work together for good to them that love His Name.