in dreams and in wickedness; let us, therefore, never suffer ourselves to look upon them with contempt; let us view their present dispersion throughout all countries, as a special mark set upon them by Omnipotence, and let us consider them as reserved for brighter times, and a more glorious reward! May our prayers ever be offered to the throne of grace on their behalf! Never let our petitions be wholly confined to ourselves. If ever the lamp of devotion brightens, may it burn the brightest in intercession!

May we often anticipate the happy time when prophecy "the kingdom of the Lord and

assures us,

of his Christ" shall be established through the earth! In the midst of desolation and war, I rejoice that I can go to my Bible, and, through the medium of prophecy, look forward to the period of universal peace. Then, in the literal sense, "the lion shall lie down with the lamb, the child shall play upon the hole of the asp, and put his finger into the cockatrice's den." "There shall be nothing to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain of God." Then shall peace in the fullest sense smile upon the world, and upon the church; all civil and religious dissensions shall for ever cease. Ephraim shall no

more envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim." Infidelity will cease; there will not be found

a single being, who will dip his pen into the gall of unbelief. Freedom will be universally proclaimed; the dreadful traffic in human blood shall never again rear its head,-these are delightful anticipations, and to these may our attention frequently be directed; and especially, let it be our earnest care to prepare our own hearts for such a blessed change! Though, in all probability, we shall have slept for ages in our graves, ere these glorious predictions will be accomplished, yet even now we may, each of us, contribute towards it in some small degree, by the due regulation of our own lives.

Let us carefully attend to our conduct, that it may exhibit the truth and excellence of the religion of Christ by its effect upon our own lives and conversation. Thus shall we best promote the cause of the Redeemer; thus shall we prove the interest we possess in it to be sincere. Thus shall we best anticipate the period, when every Jewish heart shall be softened, and every Jewish teacher shall become a Christian Minister! Amen.

SERMON IX.

ON A FUTURE STATE.

For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. JOHN v. 28, 29.

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Ir a man die," saith Job, "shall he live again?" What question is there of more importance? Not even the being of a God. The redemption of Christ, though of infinite moment, derives all its importance and all its interest from that future world. We are entering on the second of a train of dis

It is a matter of regret that the first is necessarily omitted.

courses, intended to illustrate and confirm the argument for a future state, derived from the Bible. I use the word in its most extensive signification. Some may confine its meaning to the Old Testament;-my Bible comprises both the Old Testament and the New; and I never wish to be in possession of any other. I rested my argument, the last Sabbath, solely on what may be drawn from the Old Testament history, in support of this grand and interesting truth. You will recollect I made four preliminary observations.

I. I first adduced our incapacity fully to judge of the divine counsels.

II. The expressions, a future state, the resurrection of the body, and a day of judgment, are often confounded, though they all admit of a distinct and separate meaning.

III. That the language of Scripture, being in some respects obscure, we could not always obtain such clear and plain illustrations as we might desire.

IV. That the discussion favours more of nicety than necessity. I then drew four arguments to prove that such a state was believed by the ancient Heathens, and by those who lived both before and under the Mosaic covenant.

1 They might believe in a future state, without making any express declaration of such a belief.

2. Ancient writers testify that such a belief actually existed.

3. Many texts which are brought forward as arguments against their belief in a future state, may be proved to convey a contrary meaning.

4. Some passages in the Old Testament afford direct proofs of such a belief.

In the present discourse, I shall draw my arguments entirely from the New Testament. Here, I am sensible, that I shall have fewer difficulties to meet, fewer objections to answer, fewer perplexities to unravel; but I feel a disadvantage of another kind, the consciousness that novelty is excluded.

When we meet to consider any particular passages of the Old Testament, it may be presumed, that an audience is not so well acquainted with that portion of the scriptures, as their minister; but I do you the honour to suppose, that the generality of those I address, are as well acquainted with the New Testament as myself. On this account I have a claim upon your candour.

In discoursing upon this interesting subject, I shall lay before you five propositions, each