Oh, think of the sums which we all wantonly spend, which the poorest of us spend, in indulgences which we can, at least for a time, spare; alas, how much that we have wasted in sin and folly! Think how we scorn to appear parsimonious in promoting the interests, or the pleasures of the society in which we live ; how ready we profess ourselves to aid the cause of taste and science, to relieve the distresses of the poor! And whilst we have means for all these inferior objects, and for others less laudable and less needful, let us not dare even to inquire whether we can afford to give largely in such a cause as this!

Cast aside, for once, all thought or care for consequences; and rest assured that you will never feel the poorer for what you give in this great and glorious work; that it has the first and highest claim upon your bounty, and offers the richest and most permanent return!

May the Holy Spirit of God move you

to give plentifully; and may His blessing reward those who "contribute of their abundance;" and those, no less, who "do their diligence gladly to give of their little!" May His grace so "stir up the wills of his faithful people, “that, in bringing forth good works, they may please Him, and obtain His mercy! and may His fearful judgments be averted from this Church and nation through the mediation of His blessed Son! May the pure light of the Gospel, kindled at the flame of our zeal, blaze throughout the world, and prove to the furthest climes, and the most distant generations, that God hath called us to be His peculiar people, not more distinguished for empire and renown, for arts and arms, for all that the world holds in honour, than for our return of grateful attachment to Him who hath so richly crowned us with blessings, for an ardent, persevering resolution to plant the cross of our Redeemer upon the summit of all our

acquisitions, for firm enduring courage, if we should be called to it, to suffer the loss of all, if by such loss, we can make "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ."

SERMON V.

THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE

CHILDREN OF GOD.

ROMANS VIII. 19.

The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

"THE creature" is here represented, in the emphatic language of the Apostle', in the attitude of a person looking out with intense anxiety for the arrival of a messenger on whom his deliverance from captivity depends, whose errand may liberate him from condemnation and death. But though the sense of the passage is so far plain, considerable obscurity

1 Pole. Scott. in loco.

2 Taylor on Rom.

It

exists respecting the extent of signification to be assigned to the term "creature," and the meaning conveyed by the expression, "manifestation of the sons of GOD." would be unsuitable to the present occasion to enter into a statement and refutation of the various disputable conjectures which have been hazarded on the subject. It will be better to select that explanation which appears most consonant with Scripture, and reason, and supported by the soundest authorities.

1

It is not material whether we consider "the creature" to include the whole terrestrial creation, or only the rational and responsible part of it1; since it is evident that the brutes and even the inanimate works of GOD have shared in the consequences of the fall, and as St. Paul expresses it in the next sentence, are "made subject to vanity," that is, to the dominion of the prince of this world: for

1 Macknight, in loco.