that they, too, like him, would be found faithful unto death. If so, let the words recorded by Christ, convince them of their folly, and correct them in their error. When the rich man who was in hell lifted up his eyes being in torment, to beseech Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house, to convert his brethren, lest they also should come into that place of torment; he was told that they were already in possession of the Scriptures of truth, and that if they heard not Moses and the Prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Let the example of Pharaoh again prove, that if their hearts are set in them to do evil, the supernatural terrors of the Lord will not persuade men, when the first paroxysm of fear is past. The history of the chosen people adds another link to the chain of evidence, that the impression of miracles is as transient as themselves. When they murmured for want of food, and the Almighty showed His unceasing and protecting grace, in that "He brought forth quails, and satisfied them with bread from heaven,"

they soon forgot the hand that gave, and the power that supplied them, and broke forth again into impious complaints.

And when these examples have had their weight, let us remember the stupendous scene that was enacted, when the Saviour endured temptation, and overcame the fiery darts of the wicked. No supernatural energy was then exerted, no miracles were then displayed, to convince the tempter and defeat his power; but at every fresh assault, he was assailed and vanquished by a quotation that followed the words "It is written." The Scriptures of truth, which were a guide and lantern even to the Saviour's feet, and sufficient to subdue the fiend, who as a ramping and a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour, were those Scriptures, merely, which are contained in the Old Testament. What then shall be said of those, who possessed of that additional flood of knowledge contained in the Gospel, yet want further revelations to lead them to repentance?

May God of his infinite mercy grant

that we may so profit by the truths He has revealed, that without seeking to be wise beyond that which is written, we may hereafter be united with Abraham in those realms, where "The wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.”

SERMON XIII.

ON CHRISTIAN LOVE AND CHARITY.

JOHN xiii. 34.

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

It is not the least among the mercies of the Almighty, that when our Saviour emptied Himself of the glory which He had with the Father before the world began, to become our Priest, and put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; He not only unfolded to us a rule of faith, but was minded also to become our guide in the paths of righteousness. He not only instructed us in the gracious scheme that was matured in the councils of divine love

for the restoration of the ruined creature to the favour of his offended Creator; but, in opening to our view the realms of life, He concealed not the way that leads to them. Had He simply commanded us to repent, without revealing wherein repentance consisted, we might have wandered through our pilgrimage on earth, careless, indeed, but without comfort, ignorant of our own duties and the Almighty's will, and silently have arrived on the confines of eternity, uncheered by the blissful hope, that while our faith had been pure, our lives had been so spent in labouring to fulfil the divine requirements, as to render the blood of the atonement available to our salvation. The revelation which the Almighty has vouchsafed us, is not a revelation in part only, but of an entire and perfect whole; profitable, indeed, for doctrine, but not omitting reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works, endeavouring to approach the likeness of his Father which is in heaven.