his prophets, but, in the sacred accounts of his actual dealings with his people. Read his holiness and fearful justice in the swift destruction of Gomorrah, Babylon, and Jerusalem. Behold the infinite power which clave asunder the waves of the Red sea, and stopped "the sun upon Gibeon and the moon in the valley of Ajalon." Mark how immediately his wisdom penetrated the ungodly purpose of the men of Babel; how easily it frustrated their designs. But, above all, dwell upon that most wonderful amongst a hundred examples of God's goodness-the Redemption of a sinful world by the blood of his Son Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, the observations which this discourse has offered, may serve, under divine grace, as a guide for your conduct, and a spur to your religious feelings. You must either wilfully turn from, and shut your eyes against, the knowledge of the Lord, and so be cast into hell with "the wicked and all who forget God;" or, for your very comforts' sake in this life, “you must seek him while he may be found."

Is the Lord your God thus powerful, thus all-searching, thus holy and just? Do you believe him such? As such, do you reflect upon and worship him? How then, unless you are more senseless than idiots, whom children mock and men pity, can you willingly continue to sin? how can you deliberately offend him? To provoke Jehovah by iniquity while you keep him before your eyes as the holy, the all-mighty, the avenger, is madness-misery! To forget and cast him from your thoughts, is stupidity; and both, perdition! Trust not in his goodness; though it be without end or measure, that goodness can be shown only to those "who are in Christ Jesus :" who have become "a peculiar people zealous of good works:" who receive, in a word, the mercy of God as he offers it, and no otherwise.

Seek,

One escape there is, and one only, from wretchedness or deadly ignorance in this life, and woe eternal in the next. implore that you may be purified from dead works" by the Holy Spirit, and “receive the adoption of sons.' "Believe in

the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." While carnal and impenitent men are feeling the justice and indignation of their offended God, you shall experience only his goodness, wisdom, and lovingkindness.

SERMON HI.

THE SINFULNESS OF HUMAN NATURE.

ROMANS, V. 21.

Sin hath reigned unto death.

HIS progress in the gospel of Christ is not small, who knows what sin truly is, and that he is truly a sinner. Almost all in conversation will allow the truth of the confession made by them publicly at church, that they are miserable offenders; but not so many are aware of the character which they really give themselves: their lips speak not from the fulness of the heart. That the gospel of Christ and the lives of its professors for the most part agree so ill, is from no want of virtue in the medicine, but because, not well understanding what cure is to be made, men apply it improperly it must be taken inwardly to the

renewing of the heart, but they are usually content with such outward application as attendance upon certain religious forms, and the performance of stated duties. Persons whose religion lies thus upon the surface, who seldom feel deeply nor think seriously about it, appear to look upon sin as simply an act or a habit of disobedience to some divine commandment; and if not actually engaged in such forbidden practices, they are not easily persuaded that "sin reigns in them unto death :" yet may they be as truly in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity when soundly sleeping, or honestly working, as when they contrive or execute a crime. That this is true you will be fully satisfied when you are informed of the real history, nature, and effects of sin.

It was not originally born with man: when the earth bloomed in the freshness of its youth, the living soul was by its Creator pronounced "good;" a mark of approbation which, if a spot of sin had stained it, that holy Being could not have bestowed. At that time, joy and innocence walked