unsusceptible. But every faculty and propensity have, like the limbs, their alternate necessity for exertion and activity, and for rest. But no motive will influence it longer than its appropriate faculty or propensity is in activity. Hence, every character must be in a perpetual state of alternation and inconsistency, as its various faculties and propensities rest or exert themselves; unless it be possible to find a round of motives and objects which, though addressed to all the faculties, shall yet all bear upon one and the same end, and thus unite their different means and resources in labouring for one common object. On having found, or not having found, such a stock of motives, so connected, depends all consistency or inconsistency of character. It is owing to this necessity of alternate exertion and rest in all the faculties, and owing to not having found one common object for these motives to bear upon, that we so often behold the most astonishing extremes in the same character; that we see in the same person the most astonishing and exalted talents, often united with the most debasing profligacy: nay, we often observe the very same thing in reading the biographies of persons who have afterwards settled into truly and exemplarily religious characters. There is often a period in the

history of such persons, when the good leaven, the grace and word of God, has been received by some of their faculties, without having yet spread itself, and furnished their appropriate sphere of activity to all the faculties. During

The

this period, in which the leaven is hid in the meal, before it is thoroughly leavened, the character often exhibits the most monstrous contradictory examples of devotion and of evils; and those who are inattentive to the workings of the human mind, would often be tempted to imagine those hypocrites, whom a little patience would soon exhibit settled Christians. case is, that the grace of God, or Gospel truths, are only as yet apprehended by some faculties. The recipient, in his zeal, sets all the converted faculties to work together, and endeavours to still the activity of the rest as he may. After a time, however, the evangelized faculties need rest; and the unevangelized ones, wearied of the durance in which they have been kept, suddenly start up without control, and plunge in headlong disorder: and thus arise the alternations of zeal and lukewarmness, of love and distaste for religion, to which new converts are subject, till all their faculties and propensities have discovered their true religious object and sphere. Hence it follows that no affection, or

no taste, can be always and at all times influential, that does not address all the faculties and propensities and furnish them all with full scope for their activity; and this in an eminent manner the revelation of God, and that alone, does.

Again; some 'faculties and propensities are both much more commonly met with, and much more early developed than others. Now, it is remarkable that the mode in which the truths of God are revealed in Scripture, as well as its doctrines, are precisely adapted to all these multiplied wants. Every faculty and propensity finds in scriptural truth its highest object: but those are yet most abundantly provided, which are most early and most commonly developed.

God revealed in Christ, and set forth not only as Jehovah incarnate, but under the types of Husband, Father, Friend, and Brother, and Captain and Leader of his people, becomes an object within the grasp alike of every devotional and elevated feeling to which the mind can soar in the retirement of the closet, and of every endearing, social, and affectionate feeling which goes forth with us in the intercourse of life. Our veneration here turns from rank, from talent, and the debasing great things on earth, to receive its highest object in God him-

self. Our faith is established, not on the doubtful calculation of human probabilities, but on Him who is truth itself. Our conscience is not left to waver in the uncertain projects of expediency of causes in producing effects, beyond the powers of man to calculate; but its fluctuations are at once fixed by the unerring rule of right. Human caution and circumspection are not the sport of vain terrors; but learn to fear alone the Lord of Hosts himself; and, He being the only fear and dread, all others vanish. Our determination is no longer the servant of idolatrous self-will; but is determined, like St. Paul, henceforth to know nought else but Jesus Christ, and him crucified; and to live to him, who died and rose for us. Our veneration is henceforth superlatively fixed on that Parent, who, though the mother may forget the sucking child, will not forget his children; and who, like a true and tender Father, bids the bow of peace smile again in beauty, even from the frown of the darkest cloud. Our heart adheres to that Brother, who wished to appease our heavenly Father's wrath, even by the sacrifice of his own blood-to that Friend, who came to us in our need, who sticketh closer than a brother. Our heart is united to that heavenly Bridegroom, with whom the believer being united, is one spirit. Our benevolence

henceforth no more vacillates between the good and the pleasure of its objects. It henceforth knows its own true good, and the true good of others. Its self-love and benevolence both receive accession and amalgamation by that one heart-affecting consideration, Christ died for sinners! of which number they are, and I am. One blood has been shed, the ransom of all; one Spirit is poured out, the Teacher of all; one God is the Father, who accepts all, in the one beloved.

The revelation which informs us that we are citizens of Mount Zion, the city of the living God, and which unfolds the wondrous mystery of the cross, and the astonishing Christian scheme, affords scope abundantly for the fullest exercise of all the highest reflecting faculties. What a concatenation of cause and effect does it unfold! what a wondrous fund of comparison, between things natural and things spiritual! what a mine of investigation does it discover! and every discovery of truth here brings with it an accession of love! All the resisting propensities of destructiveness, of combativeness, which formerly grovelled on earth, are now used to destroy that evil self they before defended; and become champions of the truth, instead of the instruments of hatred, error, and