grave—whenever he becomes powerfully and savingly impressed with these momentous considerations, his mind and his heart will undergo a change; He will lose his relish for the world and the flesh, and will "set his affections on things above:" he will sustain a new character, he will "walk in newness of life." Every thing around him, in this perishable state of being, will appear in a new light, will be desired and used in entire subjection to a higher object. He will bear about with him the remembrance, that he has to die and to rise again; he will walk as one, who has a portion in the resurrection of the King of Glory and having this hope in him, it becomes a living principle of daily thought, of daily desire, of daily exercise: he is following his gracious and triumphant Lord, is ever watching and praying that he may follow Him more closely.

This, my brethren, this is the fruit of the resurrection, in the life of every accepted believer; compare it with your

own, and see how you stand: See if you be risen from the grave of sin to a new state of righteousness. Does your conscience bear witness, that this is, day by day, the real purpose of your soul? If the individual question were put to you, by a friend or a minister, could you answer safely and truly? This is my heart's desire, this is my continual thought and endeavour: amidst many infirmities and failings, God knows; but God knows also, thanks to His goodness and grace, that this is my purpose and delight, to walk in His new way of righteousness, to rise with my risen Saviour, in heart and affection, in all godly conformity, in the paths of holiness and truth. Yea, God forbid, that I should willingly cleave to any evil habit, when I am "looking unto Jesus," who died to "cleanse me from all unrighteousness;" God forbid, that I should be knowingly walking in darkness, when "I have seen the great light;" when my glorified Lord has lifted up the everlasting doors, and opened to

me the portals of a heavenly day. My brethren, are ye like-minded; thus to do, and thus to live? then if ye be, rejoice on this day, and let your joy be full; for as ye live in the image of your Saviour, and as ye fall asleep in His image on the bed of death, ye shall, on the latter day, "awake up after His likeness, and be satisfied with it."*

* Psal. xvii. 15.

1

SERMON VIII.

THE VICTORY OF FAITH.

1 JOHN V. 4.

This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

A GREAT dispute has unhappily prevailed in the Church, with regard to the respective efficacy of faith and works; and the dispute has been generally conducted, on both sides, with far more animosity than profit, and often in total ignorance of the real merit of the question. They who have contended for the efficacy of works, have frequently been unjustly accused of advocating them independently of the principle of faith; and their oppo

nents have been as uncharitably condemned for denying the necessity of works, when they had no such object in view. The proper way of coming to a right understanding on such points, is to leave the idea of disputation totally out of the case; to apply to the fountain of knowledge, the holy word of God, with a teachableness of disposition and a simplicity of heart; with humble earnest prayer, that the Spirit of truth will lead us into all truth."

In the verse before us, we meet with the plainest possible declaration of the power of faith: how unwise, how irreverent and impious would it be, to suffer any prejudices we may have formed, respecting the abettors of the doctrine of faith, to prevent us from receiving, with humble deference and holy regard, the truth which this passage contains. Because some persons may have carried the doctrine, on other occasions, to extravagant and mischievous lengths, are we therefore to pass over lightly the unequivocal assertions of scripture; or to approach them with any