gression we can call to mind, needs repentance; and if it remain wilfully and knowingly unrepented, it must leave the unredeemed, unpurified soul, at enmity with God, and therefore without the pale of salvation. And the And the very consideration of such a state, is enough to fill any believer with dreadful apprehension and

remorse.

If these observations suggest matter for grief to many who hear me; if there be many, daily living in acknowledged transgression, living in the habit of neglect of any divine laws or ordinances; and if they should hereby have the pain of perceiving themselves in a dangerous and lost condition, in a state of delusion and death; then, however we may be concerned at wounding and troubling their conscience, and at delivering the awful message of God against their souls, still it becomes us to be faithful, for their sake and our own sake. We would rather disturb their pleasant dream of vanity, than let them sleep, uncalled and unre

approved and rejected. He could stand. only by the self-same means, which the humblest believer must use; by the work-. ing of the spirit in his own heart, with prayer and godly diligence; by personal holiness; by a steady and struggling resistance against every fleshly inclination to evil; by a watchful and perpetual government over himself; by the denial of every corrupt indulgence; by mortifying and putting away the selfishness that clings to the natural man; by "keeping under his body, and bringing it into subjection" to the will and law of his gracious Redeemer and his reconciled God.

In this glass, therefore, we behold, every one of us, in a light not to be mistaken, the fruit of christian faith; the duty, which must be performed by every accepted believer. We must submit our spirit to the Spirit of God; we must keep the body under; we must put down the pride and vanity and gratification of self; we must seek, not our own will and pleasure, but the will and pleasure of our heavenly Father: shrinking not from

mortification or labour, sparing no trouble or pains, so that we may, "whatsoever

we do," do all for God's glory and our own salvation. It is not by what we have already done, not by what we declare or profess, not by what we teach or preach; it is by unfailing earnestness and integrity; by a firm and decided resistance to the carnal principle, by a determined and constant perseverance in the duties of our proper calling, that our faith is to be shewn, our contest is to be maintained, our prize to be won.

Is this a disheartening representation? is the labour too great? Well mightest thou so conclude, if left to thyself. But thou art not left to thyself; thou shalt find a spirit from on high, to give thee courage, and carry thee through every trial, and comfort thee in all thy work. And remember the end: for while the children of vanity are striving, more painfully than thou, for a corruptible crown, that withers in a day, thou strivest for an incorruptible, for an unfading crown of glory. Earth promises but little in com

parison; and often fails in giving that little; thine is the promise of heaven; and that can never fail. Go forth in the strength of the Lord, go forth and conquer. Art thou hesitating? pray for the quickening of the Holy One, and He shall give thee a full purpose and determination. Art thou fearing? take the Lord for thy confidence, whose word is infallible, whose grace is ever nigh. Art thou beginning to be "weary of well doing?" Nay, but thy spirit shall be roused and kindled by the breath of prayer. Dost thou feel thy infirmity? And what poor mortal does not? Betake thyself to thy refuge; cast thyself upon the sufficiency of divine grace; and thou shalt "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Art thou buffeted by the storms of an unfriendly and vexatious world? But remember, that "the eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."* Clothe thyself thus with the armour of the Lord; and again, "go forth and conquer."

*Deut. xxxiii. 27.

SERMON V.

GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE.

1 COR. vii. 10.

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

ST. PAUL, having severely reproved some great misconduct in the Corinthian brethren, had affected them deeply; so much so, as to fill him with concern for his feelings were tenderly alive to their good in every way, and he would not willingly have afforded them the smallest unnecessary pain. Afterwards, however, on finding that their sorrow had been profitably directed; that it had been the

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