skill and judgement, to separate the dross from the precious metal; or if the treasure consist in coin, it may have contracted rust, which will obscure its brightness, tarnish its lustre, and possibly hide the inscription that it bears. "How has the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed;" yet it is gold still, and retains all its original, intrinsic value. In regard to the first idea, we are certain, that nothing valuable can be obtained without labor. Accordingly we are directed to "dig for wisdom as for hidden treasures." The treasures of the kingdom of heaven can never be obtained, unless we deeply explore the field that contains them. Human nature must be studied, to enable a man to improve or moralize his species; as otherwise he will see no good in man, and of consequence never attempt to develope the good. Successful labor in doing good must depend upon extensive knowledge of the mind, its laws, and operations. Send out a man, who professes to believe, that the world is naturally a mass of sin, and depravity, who, to use common language, has little knowledge of human nature; commission him to convert the wicked, to evangelize the heathen, and like Sterne's traveller, he will pass "from Dan to Beersheba," and return crying, "it is all barren." The truth is, the mine of intellectual wealth has not been opened. Suitable labor has not been employed, or that labor has been ill-directed.

The other points in this analogy are easily made apparent. Man was created in the divine image, which he still bears. But his lustre is dimmed; his moral worth is obscured; the marks of heavenly origin seem to be effaced. But as the pearl needs polishing, to discover its beauties and its value; as coin that has contracted rust, must be burnished, to exhibit its intrinsic value, and as gold in the mine must be separated from the dross, so man needs the operation of his great proprietor's power, he requires the "fire of the refiner," to purify him from defilement, and bring forth the original image of the Deity. A new nature

is not necessary. It is but to remove what is extraneous, the habits, feelings, and desires that man has contracted, and he will be saved with the salvation of God. But we may view this part of the subject in another light, and that without making an application of the text which will clash with the preceding. There may

be a treasure in a field, for which we need not dig deep, for it may be found upon its surface. The soil being tilled, the purchaser will find himself amply remunerated in its productions. To support this application of the parable, it should be considered, that the same soil, which now produces only briars and thorns, may, with suitable cultivation, repay the labor of the husbandman with the choicest and most delicious fruits. It is in this circumstance that the hidden treasure, or secret worth of the field is to be found. An ignorant or inattentive observer would discover no value in the field; and if a man should part with all he had to purchase it, and finally give a great price to obtain it, he would probably call him a fool, supposing that he sacrificed his property for nothing. "This land," he would say, "is in a state of nature; it is unproductive, except of the most useless and deleterious vegetables, nor can any better fruit ever be expected." This, however, is a hasty and premature judgement, formed too much "after the outward appearance." The purchaser would inform the person who held this language, that "no just decision could be formed against future profit, by the present condition of the soil; that unremitted labor and skilful culture never fail of suceess; that he intends to eradicate every plant but what is useful; that he calculates much upon improvement; that he did not purchase the field for the sake of its present productions; and that being convinced of the good qualities of the soil, he had felt justified in purchasing it, and had not, nor expected to have any cause to repent the bargain he had made.”

For several reasons, I am induced to consider this application of the parable as most consistent with the

nature and design of the moral system. Riches, that are dug from the bowels of the earth, may soon vanish. The permanent wealth of nations is obtained from cultivating the earth's surface. Besides, the gospel goes wholly on the ground of improvement. Its riches are not accumulated in a moment. The gospel contemplates a vast series of ages, of dispensations, events, causes, and circumstances, all of which are more or less necessary to its establishment and success. The gospel is progressive in its operations. Its beginnings are small. Its laborers often "sow in tears." They frequently "go forth weeping, though they bear precious seed." They must "have long patience, till they receive the former and the latter rains." Surveying the whole field, we shall find, that the work of improvement progresses, and probably as rapidly as circumstances will permit. But, not unfrequently. the expectations of a glorious harvest are cut off. "Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God only can give the increase." The christian must be willing to wait, "as the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth."

We may add, that this application accords with the language of much of the Old and New Testament, in relation to the progress and final establishment of the kingdom of God. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice and sing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God." I will plant in the wilderness, the cedar, the shittah-tree, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine and the box tree together." "Until the spirit be poured upon us from en high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field." If it be asked how all this is to be realized; we answer, by regular and continued

improvement, commencing with "rooting up every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, breaking up the fallow ground of the heart, and sowing not among thorns;" scattering the seed of the word, and watering it with the rain from heaven, and the dew that gently distils from above. This process will bring forth the treasure which the ignorance and wrongheadedness of man have not permitted him to discover.

The second particular will now be considered. It will consist in showing, that to obtain the treasure of which the text speaks, the purchaser will cheerfully part with present possessions; "he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

No valuable acquisition can be made without an adequate consideration; and the attainment of a great object will sometimes require great sacrifices. If a man will acquire knowledge, he must forego many of the grosser pleasures of sense, and inure himself to painful studies. The acquisition of wealth is attended with the sacrifice of ease, and frequently of many of the simple, homefelt joys, which the moderate and unambitious most highly prize. The foundation of a kingdom cannot be laid, nor the short lived glory of a conqueror secured, without many personal sacrifices of ease, of quiet, of reputation, and sometimes even of life. In the constitution of things, intelligent beings are so situated, that they can attain scarcely any position of future good, without surrendering many present comforts and conveniences. Even the objects that the gospel presents, the most freely bestowed by divine bounty, cannot be enjoyed with a high zest of pleasure, unless they cost us exertion and labor. The cross must be suffered, to obtain the crown.

By the man, who sold all he had to purchase the field, we are, undoubtedly, to understand Jesus Christ, because the representation corresponds to him. The Apostle, speaking of our Savior, says, that "tho he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich,” and in

another place he represents that he became thus poor, that he might enrich himself. "For the joy set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame." In applying the first of these texts to the present case, it is not necessary to be very critical, and still less -1 to run into the extravagant notions that have been entertained of our Lord's laying aside his divinity, and the glory which he previously possessed. The text shows that Christ was willing to forego worldly considerations, to endure trials, to be slandered and vilified, and finally to meet death, that he might secure the permanent establishment of his kingdom, and exalt his people to thrones of imperishable glory. For. this he labored, for this he toiled, for this, "in the form of a servant," he "went about doing good," and for this "he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself." The text expresses as much as this, and it is not necessary to our purpose, that it should express more, or take a more extensive signification.

If the preceding discourse has contributed to assist you in forming any simple and rational ideas of the kingdom of heaven, I shall have cause to be satisfied, that in this respect, I have not "labored in vain." The subject may likewise prove useful in another way; it may furnish a clue to a correct understanding of many other parables of the New Testament, in which we shall find the same subject advanced, tho, as we have already remarked, it may be placed in a different light. It is always important to have this consideration before us, when we look into the parables, as otherwise, "seeing we shall see, and not perceive, and hearing, we shall hear, and not understand.".

It is to be recollected, that every christian is a co-worker with his Master in the duties and labors of the kingdom. Accordingly, he must expect, and prepare himself to suffer such sacrifices as the gospel demands, and to surrender whatever, as an heir of the kingdom, he cannot possess. "Buy the truth and sell it not." Our prejudices, prepossessions, and attach