dure a conflict with ourselves :-but shall we on this account render the commands of God of none effect? Rather let us remember that the reward of victory is immeasurably great, even everlasting life; and that the very difficulties we meet with in our Christian course may be lessened in no small degree by earnestly supplicating the divine aid, which we are assured is never withholden from those who ask it with fervency and faith. Man is by nature a weak and frail creature; his faults and failings are numerous; his very best virtues are imperfect, and fall far short of the glory of God. For this reason are we justly taught to humble ourselves before the Almighty, that He may vouchsafe to accept us, not for our own righteousness, but through the all-sufficient merits of our Saviour. The atonement for our past transgressions no man could make by any even the greatest virtues; and the gift of eternal life could still less have been deserved by them: we owe this gift,—and may it never be absent from our thoughts: -we owe it entirely to the free goodness

of God through Christ. Let that goodness, then, be the constant theme of our praise: let it be ever on our lips and in our hearts. All that man can do to serve and please his heavenly Father, His past blessings bestowed upon us without measure, have deserved at our hands: what we are unable, through the infirmity of human nature, perfectly to perform,—yet if we strive resolutely to perform all we can, He will mercifully accept it through the abundant merits of our Saviour.

But

if any, through pride of heart, slight such mercy and goodness, and will trust to their own righteousness alone for acceptance. with God, though Christ "came to His "own," yet have such men no interest whatever in His sacrifice: they will at the last day be reckoned in the number of those who have rejected the Lord and Sa-~ viour, and be turned into "outer darkness, "where shall be weeping and gnashing of "teeth."

SERMON VI.

ST. LUKE ii. 14.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.

THESE words form the hymn with which a multitude of the heavenly host of Angels celebrated the birth of the Saviour of mankind. Though born of mean parents, and under circumstances of human distress, He was introduced with an uncommon degree of solemnity; the Angels themselves proclaiming His appearance with songs of praise and pious joy and the devotions of Angels cannot but supply us with reflections highly deserving regard, and capable of affording most beneficial instruction.-When the Angel first appeared to the shepherds, he accosted them in this manner: "Behold, I bring

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you good tidings of great joy, which "shall be to all people; for unto you is "born this day in the city of David "a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Then followed a scene yet more astonishing to the beholders; for "suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the

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heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth

peace, good-will towards men." And what was it that raised such joy, and gave cause for such praise? Spirits of the benevolent disposition of Angels towards mankind, could not but rejoice in beholding the beginning of that great work of mercy which God had ordained from the foundation of the world, and upon which man's salvation depended. They could not but feel a singular delight in viewing, though at a distance, an increasing number of fellow-servants of the true God drawn out of the midst of those who had been seduced from His service.-But their own words sufficiently display the sources of their praise. They praised God for peace

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shed abroad on the earth, for mankind reconciled to their God, and for the divine displeasure now removed;-for good-will towards men, for further mercies intended to be bestowed on them, for spiritual assistance in this life, and for happiness and glory in the next.-These wonders of divine love in the redemption of man they celebrated, as they had before celebrated the creation of him, when the Scriptures tell us, "the morning stars sang toge"ther, and all the Sons of God shouted "for joy."

Were it possible for us to have as clear and strong an insight into the importance and extent of the gift of a Saviour, as have the holy Angels, then might our gratitude more nearly approach to theirs. For us certainly, not for them, "the "Child was born;" for us the "Son was

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given;" and the redemption, with all its blessings continuing to the latest generations, was an occasion which might make man rise, as it were, above himself

* Job xxxviii. 7.