to be better employed? O that this were more decidedly the temper and practice of each! By the glorious Gospel, "life and immortality are brought to light;" and when this Gospel is received in love, when it dwells in the heart by faith," life and immortality" are desired with ardour, and meetness for the enjoyment of them is sought with diligence.

Indeed, there is nothing which properly comes under the idea of "light" but which the entrance of Divine Truth diffuses in the heart. Its entrance expels error; it subdues sin, it restores peace and order, it promotes holiness and joy. Its entrance is always accompanied with special grace, and grace produces consolation; it is the earnest of glory, the prelude of heaven in all its splendour and supreme felicity. And if the introduction of this word be attended with such results, what must its residence impart, when it dwells in the soul, in the complete accomplishment of all that it contains? What must heaven

itself be?

"There knowledge grows without decay,

And love shall never die."

"There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever." Believer, in that happy world doubts and fears are not known; mental darkness and discouragement cease. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be ⚫ thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."

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ceeding from "the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning." And what must have been the condition of the world if this heavenly light had not appeared? Darkness would have covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Nature is a very partial instructor; depraved reason is a blind guide; and the devices of men ignorant of the holy Scriptures tend only to bewilder and to destroy. Thank God! we live in a land of Bibles, and in a day when their worth is understood and felt. We live in times when the avowed friends of this sacred volume are multiplied, and when the most laudable efforts are employed to make it known. In these exertions may we all cheerfully concur, and may they be crowned with more abundant success! May the light of revealed Truth illumine the world, that all nations may feel its salutary effects, and rejoice in its inestimable blessings!

But while we thus pray, let us take heed that our own estimation of this blessed book proves that our prayers are sincere. Let a practical regard to its dictates evince its reception in our own hearts. Let a consistency appear between our profession and practice by taking this word for our guide, and deriving from it our comfort and support.-Learn,

2. The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is this which gives "entrance" to the words of God in the heart; and without this the Scriptures are read and heard to little purpose. The fact is too obvious, that many who are in the frequent habit of reading the Bible and of hearing the Gospel, are yet sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death: "By their fruits ye shall know them." The ignorance and carnality of great numbers, their conformity to the world, their selfishness and sordidness of disposition,

notwithstanding an attendance from year to year on religious worship, are sufficient proof that something more is requisite than mere observance of outward means: "Marvel not that I say unto you, Ye must be born again ;" and this change is produced only by the Spirit of the living God.

What then ought to be the practical effect of this sentiment? If the agency of the Divine Spirit is essential to the opening of the heart, and the entrance of the truth, what is your duty under this conviction? Certainly that you implore earnestly the promised gift. Sink in your own esteem, but rise to God, and beseech him to exert in you the energy of his grace. Lament, deeply lament, the evils which have excluded the light of Heaven from the heart; but rejoice that you have been apprised of the fact before it is too late; rejoice that there is a remedy, and that the remedy is at hand. The promise applies particularly to the influence of the Holy Spirit: "Every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."— Hence learn,

3. The way to become wise unto salvation.

It is not by high notions of your own sufficiency, nor by the most diligent application of natural powers; but it is by holy penitence, by earnest prayer, by humble submission to Divine teaching:"The entrance of thy word giveth light!" We call you, therefore, not merely to an attendance on religious privileges, but to regard particularly the state of your hearts and the temper of your minds. We urge you to come with self-abasement to the footstool of the Most High, confessing your sin, and imploring the grace which sanctifies and saves. "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment; and

the meek will he teach his way." And they whom he teaches are wise indeed! Entreat the God of all grace, for the sake of Jesus who died for sinners, that he would grant you his Spirit to work in you all his sovereign and gracious pleasure.

What might not be expected if professors of religion were as diligent in supplication, as many are in hearing the word? If Divine instruction were sought, and its guidance submitted to in our worshipping assemblies, the most happy revival would take place; heavenly light would spread, and Christian love would abound; our families would feel the beneficial effects, and all around us would be edified and improved." Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

SERMON XVI.

SALUTARY DISCOURSE.

PROV. XV. 4.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.

IN some respects, man hath no pre-eminence above a beast;" in others, he far excels. The immortality of the soul, and its capability of happiness, are his chief distinction; and next to these the faculty of speech, the power of expressing thoughts by words. This power is peculiar to man; and that it should ever be abused is an affecting proof of human degeneracy:-"The tongue is a fire; a world of iniquity:"-" the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." But, in opposition to this," a wholesome tongue is a tree of life."

The text is a proverb, a wise saying, which contains much in few words. The first clause may be read"the healing of the tongue," by which is meant, words of healing; or, in language still more divested of Hebrew peculiarity, salutary discourse or conversation. And this is "a tree of life:" the language is metaphorical, but instructive: it is expressive of beneficial effects, and of these effects renewed and permanent. Possibly the allusion may be to the tree