was this, which brought down Job, after all his efforts to assert and vindicate his own righteousness-which brought him down upon his knees, in penitence and deep contrition; "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Thus it often is, that the man who, in the eyes of his fellow-mortals and of himself, is upright, and free from any positive sin; when God causes his holiness to pass before him, sees at once, that all his boasted righteousness was false and hollow; that his goodness was but as the morning cloud, a thin covering over selfishness, uncleanness, worldly-mindedness, and pride. Compared with the spotless sanctity of God's nature, and God's law, the exceeding sinfulness of all our secret sins, appears. Conscious that we lie open to those eyes, which are too pure to behold iniquity; our guilt, with all the horrors of retribution, stands revealed before us. Then, and not till then, we are prepared to embrace the Gospel. We then feel that we are sinners, and that sinners need a Saviour.

Thus does the same light, which manifests the holiness of God, lead us to that blood, which can expiate our guilt, and cleanse the soul from sin. But more than this :-on the principle laid down

already, that we shall always resemble the God we really worship, those alone will be holy in their lives and hearts, who contemplate God as a holy God.

Christians are too often satisfied, to look no higher than to mere heathen virtues. If they are honest and benevolent, and if, on a principle of self-respect, they scorn to defile themselves with base pollutions, all, they think, is well. But, in such a course of life, what do Christians more than others? What, in all this, do they evince of their peculiar character? What is there, in all this, of the Scripture marks of discipleship-of coming out from the world, and being separate— of dying to the world—of being crucified to the world—of being conformed to the death of the Lord Jesus Christ—of living, by faith, on a crucified and invisible Saviour? What cross do we take up for Christ? To keep down the violence of our passions, is not to take up the cross; for heathens could do this. To bear our afflictions patiently, is not to take up the cross; for our afflictions we cannot help. No: to take up our cross, must imply something that we suffer for Christ's sake. And this every one will do, in some shape or other, who, in heart and mind, is separate from the world.

It is not, by any means, that the Christian's

duty is to relinquish his providential station in society. Far from it. The hardest cross, often, is to remain faithful to God, amidst the trials and difficulties of the post which he assigns us. When the cross is really taken up, and when the enmity to sin, which this implies, is brought, practically, to bear upon the details of life; new fields of trial are opened to the faithful Christian. The man whose religion can, in some measure, square with the tastes and feelings of the world, can live at ease amidst the pursuits and conversation of its children. He is admired by them for his compliance and good-nature; and for so benevolently indulging in others, what, perhaps, from strictness, he may think it right to deny himself. Not so with the man who lives in the view of a holy God. His warfare is against all sin: and often, in this sacred cause, will it be his lot to encounter unpopularity in its most trying form; to be thought unkind and severe by those whom he would fain make happy; to appear wanting in affection to those whose souls are dear to him as the apple of his eye, and for whom his prayers are daily ascending to the throne of grace.

But the Christian's part is that of patient perseverance, in the midst of present discouragements and trials. And often has that perseverance, even in this life, been signally rewarded. Often have

showers of blessings, though for a time withheld, descended upon a whole circle of friends and relations, in answer to the prayers of one lover of immortal souls. At all events, however he may be judged by, or succeed with, others; the man who knows and loves a holy God, has an evidence within him, brighter than the day, that he is renewed in the spirit of his mind; and that what is holy here, will be happy hereafter. This temper of the soul will outlive the ruins of time. It will flourish beyond the grave; for "holiness becometh God's house for ever."

Such, my brethren, is the frame of soul which leads to, because it prepares for, heaven. Such is our high privilege. For the call is to every one who professes his belief in the living and true God: "Ye shall be holy: for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” You are invited to become partakers of the divine nature; to feed on food congenial to the soul; to drink of the fountain of spiritual life of pure and substantial happiness. And all this is offered to you freely, without money and without price.

For other riches, men often pass their days in toil, and their nights in restless, sleepless care ; and reap no fruit, but disappointment. Yes; all earthly happiness will deceive you in the possession, or make to itself wings, and flee away. But

the treasures of eternity endure for ever: and, behold, that bright inheritance is yours. The land of Canaan lies before you, in goodly prospect; and each of you is invited, after a few more years of trouble are over, to go forth amidst its pleasant pastures, to repose beside its still waters, and to taste of its immortal fruits.

My brethren, the freeness of this salvation, cannot be too much impressed upon you. For, let your past lives have been what they may; however long and inveterate your habits of sin; however you may have offended against the advice of others, and the light of your own conscience; however alienated you may have been, in heart, and mind, and nature-in the whole bent and current of all the most intimate affections of your soul-from God; however you may have hated his purity, and turned your feet from his most blessed paths;yet, if I address any such here, you, I say, you are not yet excluded. You have had a long-suffering God to deal with. You have a Saviour, who still liveth, to make intercession for you. Repent; and all your iniquities are atoned for: and that God, whose mercies are past finding out, will cleanse all the sins whereby you have provoked him to anger, in the blood of his own Son. Behold, then, the everlasting gates lift up their heads: behold, the kingdom of heaven is opened to all