tained in each, respectively: and may He, without whom, we can do nothing holy, or spiritually beneficial; but, who can make the humblest instrument, promotive of his own honor and glory, and profitable to the hearers of his holy word; may this great and good God, accompany both preacher and hearer, with His blessing, in this behalf; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only and everlasting Saviour and Redeemer, Amen, amen.

DISCOURSE II.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

MATTHEW, c. v, v. 3.-" Blessed are the poor in Spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

My sermon last Sunday afternoon, will have prepared you, my Christian Brethren, for the subject of our present meditation-" CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT"--the first public discourse, which (according to St. Matthew,) he delivered, after the commencement of his ministry. His audience, as I have before remarked, was of a very mixed and diversified character-for they consisted of convinced and faithful disciples-of bigotted and prejudiced Jews-of those who were drawn to listen to him from idle curiosity--and, probably, of such as came with the malicious design in their hearts, of entrapping him in his words; and of accusing him to the ruling powers of the country. But, · even the most serious of Christ's hearers on this occasion-his own disciples-were not as yet en

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dued with that humility of spirit, and purity of heart, which are necessary in the character of the sincere and accepted Christian. They, in common with the rest of their countrymen, entertained very false notions, of the character of the expected Messiah, and of the nature of his Kingdom. They had misinterpreted the prophecies, which related to "him that was to come and looked for a worldly Messiah-for a triumphant conqueror, who should subdue all nations under the dominion of the Jews; and raise their own nation, (which was now in subjection to the Romans,) far above all the kingdoms of the earth. To root out this false notion from the hearts of his disciples; and to convince his other hearers, and all professors of his gospel, in after times, that "His Kingdom was not of this world;" that His religion did not encourage the expectation of temporal rewards: nor flatter those passions, which, though natural to the fallen state of man, are hateful in the sight of God, who is "of purer eyes than to behold iniquity"-such as pride: vanity: self-conceit and self-dependence: the high spirit: the fierce temper: the cruel, malignant, envious, slanderous, and uncharitable disposition: the lust of gain; and all the carnal passions and desires of a corrupted heart-to cure his hearers, I repeat, and mankind at large, of these false notions: fatal prejudices: and vicious propensities—the meek and lowly "lamb of God" commences his divine sermon,

by declaring that the true Christian spirit, is in utter opposition, to all such idolatry of the world: to all, merely, secular objects and pursuits and to all those high and proud imaginations: lofty and ambitious aspirings: fierce inclinations, and sanguinary doings: malevolent dispositions: and uncharitable judgments; which "the children of this world," are so prone to entertain, and exercise themselves; and to applaud, or at least overlook, in others-and that the spiritual rewards of his religion, were not to be enjoyed here below; but, to be humbly expected; patiently waited for; and eventually possessed; in the everlasting kingdom of" the Lord and his Christ;" "into which, in no wise shall enter, any thing that defileth: neither whatsoever worketh abomination; or maketh a lie."

Blessed," saith the holy Jesus-but, here the question naturally presents itself-upon whom does he pronounce the blessing?--not-upon the great and the rich; and the learned; and the warlike; and the proud; and the worldly-minded; and the lovers of pleasure, more than the lovers of Godbut-"Blessed are the POOR in SPIRIT"-the lowly, and unambitious: they who feel deeply sensible, that, in their highest estate, they are but " miserable dust and ashes;" with a heavy account against them, of innumerable omissions of duty, and commissions of sin-and, what is the nature of the blessing pro

mised to them-not, such as the natural mau, whether high or low; rich or poor; longs after and pursues "the lusts of the flesh: the desire of the eye; and the pride of life"-the money of the miser-the enjoyments of the sensualist-the elegancies, ornaments, and glitter, of the voluptuous and vain-the admiration of man- or the incense of popular flattery-but-" theirs is the KINGDOM of HEAVEN"-a glorious reward in future · everlasting happy abiding, with "the spirits of just men made perfect;" in the society of angels; and in the presence of the everliving God.

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Of a like spiritual character, are all the other blessings, promised by the Saviour, (in the opening of that portion of Scripture which we are now considering,) to all sincere, and humble Christians : to all those, who profess and practise his Religion, in sincerity and truth-blessings to be inherited (as I have already remarked,) by characters, which are lightly esteemed, and often scorned, by misjudging man; but, of high price in the sight of God.

"Blessed," says He," are those that mourn"-those who are smitten with shame; sorrow; contrition and remorse; for their past offences" for they shall be comforted"-they shall experience consolation-in the conviction, that their repented transgressions are pardoned, through the media