the moral world appears to our limited view as one entire system of contingency, and "time and chance happeneth to all;" yet the particular providence of God, whose controlling power extends through the universe, and who is every where present to observe the condition and the wants of his creatures, "maketh all things work together for good to them that love Him."

If we also reflect on the natural dependence of causes and effects, we shall discover, that, even in this point of view, and abstractedly from the consideration of God's promise, the sincere Christian has good reason to expect his share of earthly happiness. For as there is no recommendation more prepossessing than an obliging behaviour, so there is no one who so constantly manifests it, as the man whose governing principle is religious charity,—a principle, the operation of which will attract kindnesses in proportion to its sincerity, and which, when accompanied with a reliance on God's goodness, will be a firm support to the individual, through every adverse event. His calm and heedful spirit will also ensure to him every advantage that can arise from discretion;-his fidelity, his honest and willing industry, his contented, peaceful, and forgiving disposition, will receive their appropriate blessings: and when sickness, misfortunes, or death assail him, his pre-eminence over the mere worldly man will most strikingly appear ;-for. as these outward afflictions press upon him, his soul will be enabled to exercise those powers within him

that are more holy and precious. Faith, and devotion, and pious meditations on the rewards that God hath prepared for them that love Him, will so invigorate and fortify his mind, that in all these trials he will be more than conqueror, through Christ that strengtheneth him; and as the joys of the present life lessen and fade before him, his hopes will be more intensely fixed on those which shall ensue.

Need we employ many words further, to prove that "godliness hath the promise of the life which is to come?" The promise of life eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ, is the strong influential motive that excites us to the performance of our duties. To this, the other encouragements of the Gospel are but subsidiary. The pardon of our sins upon repentance,

-the aids of the Holy Spirit,-the comfortable doctrine of Christ's mediation and of the privileges which he has obtained for us,-would avail us but little, if "in this life only we had hope." But the Divine Goodness has provided us a reward that unspeakably surpasses all that we can hope or think,-the reward of everlasting happiness; and to prepare us for this highest of all enjoyments is the one great purpose of Revelation itself. If we are "faithful unto death," our heavenly Benefactor "will give us a crown of life." If we follow after godliness, and purify ourselves even as Christ is pure, we shall attain "the end of our hope, even the salvation of our souls." But without these qualifications, we cannot inherit the promise of life;-for into God's eternal presence

shall no unholy thing enter.

Unless we walk by

faith which worketh by love ;-unless we are clothed with humility, disciplined in God's fear, and purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, we cannot see Him as He is: nor when Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, can we also appear with Him in glory.

SERMON XXVIII.

ON REPENTANCE.

PSALM XXXviii. 18.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

THE book of Psalms is valuable beyond all other writings, for its helps to devotion. It appears to have been dictated by the Divine Spirit, for the very purpose of regulating the affections of the heart, and of making religion and reformation go together. The influence of love, and joy, and gratitude,-of hope, and grief, and fear,-on the soul that pours forth its praises or its prayers to God, is set forth in such variety as to suit the condition of every person who is religiously disposed. But of these sacred hymns, none are more calculated to fix our attention, and to produce amendment of life, than those which remind us of our frailty and unworthiness, and shew us the usefulness of self-examination. If we have yielded to temptation, and are sunk in trespasses and

sins, they are " profitable for reproof and for correction;" if our faithfulness and obedience to God remain stedfast, they admonish us, both by exhortation and example, to "take heed lest we fall;”—in the hour of security, they teach us to be watchful ; in the moment of transgression, they recal us to our duty and thus they serve as checks to our pride, and as safeguards of our peace.

Of this kind is the declaration in the text,—a declaration made by the Royal Psalmist in the afflictive state of guilt, and exhibiting those genuine marks of penitence, which we should, at all times and in all circumstances, bear in mind.

In the most blameless parts of our Christian course, when active obedience shews the sincerity and liveliness of our faith; when divine grace, co-operating with our humble but earnest endeavours, exhilarates and strengthens our piety; when "the love of God shed abroad in our hearts" has made our duties pleasant to us; when the habitual consciousness of his omnipresence and power have their full influence on our minds;-even then, "there are many things in which we all offend ;" "for there is no man that liveth, and sinneth not." In the sight of that Being who is Essential Purity, the actions, the thoughts, and the imaginations of man, have much that will be faulty. Some instances of neglect or omission, some yieldings to the casual allurements of sin, some disregarded habit of error, some secret frailty, will disturb the quiet of the best of men, and induce them to