their wickedness, to humble them, and excite repentance for their sin, before he expressed forgiveness. He possessed a forgiving temper, during the whole course of trial; but, before he would exclaim, “I am Joseph, your brother," he must have evidence of their compunction and abasement. When he saw that they were sufficiently humbled, and about to be overwhelmed with grief on the account of their aggravated sin, he addresses them with words of consolation. "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life."

The conduct of Joseph towards his brethren, in this respect, is godlike, and an excellent pattern for our imitation. The Lord is a gracious and merciful God, abundant in compassion; but he never has, and never will, pardon any who have rebelled against him, before they are brought to true evangelical repentance. In like manner is the duty of forgiveness inculcated upon mankind in the holy scriptures. If others have trespassed against us, and they confess their faults, or exhibit evidence of genuine repentance, they are to be forgiven. Even against our enemies we are not to cherish a spirit of enmity and revenge, but a friendly and forgiving temper. Some injuries do, indeed, demand reparation, but where true penitence is, there is also always a disposition to make restitution. Even the sacred volume does not demand the expression of forgiveness, till there is confession of fault, or a manifestation of sorrow for the wrong. When we are required to forgive our enemies, the true import is, that we should exercise a forgiving and not a revengeful disposition, that if they exhibit repentance, we should put forth the act of forgiveness. As we would hope to obtain the pardon of our sins from God, when we confess and forsake them, so we should be ready to do towards our enemies; and more than this, certainly is not required. The

Lord is pleased to see penitent, returning prodigals, and such only does he forgive. So we should heartily desire to have our enemies, even those who have greatly injured us, become at peace, be reconciled; and when they manifest a spirit of penitence, we should exhibit the spirit of the gospel, a spirit of forgiveness.

5thly. The subject should inspire us with great humility. Joseph was now governour of Egypt, intrusted with its richest treasures, and distinguished by its highest honours. He was arrayed in silken robes, wore on his hand the royal signet, and around his neck hung a golden chain. He rode in the king's second chariot, and the heralds proclaimed," Bow the knee before him." He indeed ruled all the people with undisputed authority. But this governour ruled himself. He remembered, that he was Joseph, a Hebrew-the son of an old pilgrim, who now sojourned in Canaan, and the brother of these plain strangers, who were depending on his compassion and soliciting his clemency.

How amiable is humility, especially in those whom Providence has distinguished by office, wealth, and power. To Joseph, this virtue was a brighter ornament than the royal adornings of the signet, the chain, and the robe. It was the meekness of his spirit, not the trappings of his regal dignity, which embalmed his memory, by transmitting his name with honour to the most distant ages. Though he wore the badges of the highest power of courts, they appear like mere trifling toys, compared with that almost concealed, brilliant, durable gem, humility.

We

We are very strikingly taught, that God can raise to eminent stations the lowest of the sons of men, and use a feeble mortal as an instrument to effect the grand purposes of his goodness. see Joseph, the lad whom his brethren had doomed to death, or perpetual slavery, employed as heaven's agent in the transactions of concerns and

events truly singular and momentous. Hence, though dead, his conduct on the divine record addresses us in a living language of imperishable characters, and says, "O man, in the height of human glory, be humble."

6thly. This subject is calculated to give us clear and striking views of the perfect righteousness and adorable mercy of God.

Whatever excellent or amiable natural talents any possess, they must experience a vital change, or they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. However engaging or pleasing the manners of some may be in the view of men, without that repentance which is unto life, they must perish. All the honours, the enjoyments, and the esteem of this world can neither purchase nor procure that honour which cometh from God.

On the other hand, if sin shall have polluted the soul like that of Manasseh, or Mary Magdalene, and it be created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, it will triumph with seraphs in eternal life. Neither the number nor the magnitude of our sins will exclude us from immortal bliss, if we have repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the adoring grace and mercy of God, by godly sorrow and repentance unto salvation, some of the greatest sinners and vilest wretches that have ever lived, have been received to mansions above, to sing for ever the glorious songs of redeeming love. Hence, to every penitent believing soul, the language of its Maker is, I am thy reconciled God, thy everlasting inheritance, and eternal glorious recompense of reward. But unless the heart be renewed by grace, there can be no qualifications to prepare for heaven; nothing that can render it consistent for our only God and Saviour to pardon our sins, to make intercession for us at the supreme court of the universe, and crown us as conquerours with those imperishable, divine gems, which grow brighter and brighter for eternity. Amen.

SERMON XVIII.

ON GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

EPHESIANS IV. 30.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.

THE sacred oracles of divine truth alone unfold the existence of God in the persons of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and point out the particular office which each person sustains in the completion of the divine works. And they teach us, that the official work of the Father is to be the Creator of all things, and to give laws to all worlds, though not independently of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The peculiar, official work of the Son is to make atonement for sin by his sufferings and death, that he may be the Redeemer of sinners. The Divine Spirit has the office of sanctifier; hence he convinces mankind of their guilt and wretchedness, and seals the benefits of redemption. The consequence must be, that some of the sins of mankind are committed more directly against one of the persons in the Godhead than another. Sin in general, or the violation of the moral law of God, is an offence more particularly against the person of the Father. To despise the way of salvation as made known in the gospel through Jesus Christ, is a sin more directly pointed against the person of the Son. But to resist that voice, which calls for the application of the purchased redemption, is more peculiarly to sin against the person of the Holy Ghost. In this view we are addressed in the exhortation"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God."

To illustrate this subject I shall mention some of the ways, by which the Holy Spirit is grieved, and then consider the consequences.

1st. Mankind grieve the Holy Spirit of God, when they strive to quench his awakening influence in the convictions of conscience.

When the light of divine truth shines into the minds of men in an unrenewed state, and illumines their darkened understandings, the Holy Spirit with beams of a heavenly ray enlightens conscience, which discovers their sinful state and wretched condition. They are now convinced of being sinners against a holy and just God, who, as his word declares, is angry with the wicked every day. The natural consequence is, that alarming fears are excited, which fill the soul with painful anxiety. In this state of conscious guilt and alarm some arise and call upon God, if peradventure they may obtain mercy, and their sins be forgiven them; but others exert all the energies of their minds, in devising means to banish their convictions. Thus whilst some cherish the awakening impressions, effected by the Spirit of God, others resist his enlightening and convicting operations.

The official work of the Holy Spirit in the great plan of salvation, is to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. And impenitent sinners are sometimes so convicted, and stung with guilt, that they are constrained to see themselves as wretched, and without excuse before God. They now and then feel, that their own righteousness is no better than a refuge of lies; and that without the righteousness of Christ, they must perish as miserable sinners. An enlightened conscience does at times bring eternal realities near, and cause even a Felix to tremble in view of his exposure to the wrath of God. Divine truth is sometimes set home forcibly upon the consciences of men in opposition to their utmost efforts; but whether the effects of the truth impressed, be continued, or withdrawn, often depends upon their agency, either in cherishing or resisting them.

He is the Spirit of grace and unbounded love, that strives with mankind; and in the most tender mercy