by a Redeemer was the chief desire of his soul. For every sin committed by the people, from the highest to the lowest, whether prince or slave, clergy or laity, an adequate sacrifice was appointed; and whenever the rite was performed according to due order, then it was declared that the atonement was made, and that the offender was forgiven. But, though the people did thus, according to divine appointment, seek the remission of their sins, yet did they, through the great wickedness of their hearts, turn the grace of God into licentiousness, and abusing his loving kindness, exceedingly multiply transgressions. They seemed to argue after this manner; "Seeing God doth pardon the sins which we commit day by day, why should we lay ourselves under a continual restraint? Why may we not give way to indulgence? Surely it will be enough to bring our victims to the altar and pour out their blood, agreeably to the order which has been given for that purpose? Thus shall we avow in the face of the world that we own the Lord to be our God." But such an hypocrital service was so far from being acceptable, that nothing could be more insulting to the Divine Majesty; yet, amazing mercy! they were still spared, that they might repent and live. The Lord was pleased to send righteous men and pro

phets among them, to plead with them, and to beseech them to turn unto the Lord with all their hearts. Hear how, among others, the prophet Isaiah addresses them, " To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me, saith the Lord, I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations, incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies I cannot away with. It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons, and your appointed feasts my soul hateth. They are a trouble to me; I am weary to bear them; and when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of blood."* But mark what follows: "Wash you, make you clean; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

* Isaiah i. 11-15..

If

ye

be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”* Can there possibly be a stronger display of the divine compassion than that which is exhibited in the words which I have just cited? How gracious are they! how condescending! how replete with loving kindness and tender mercy! But after all that can be said or thought of these expressions, and others of a similar kind, we have still to contemplate an instance of the love of God which surpasses every thing that has been mentioned. I will set it before you in the words of Saint John: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." So gave he him. How? Really in a manner, that were it not revealed from Heaven, would exceed all credibility. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is this only begotten Son, left the glory which he had with his Father, before all worlds, and taking upon him our nature from the womb of the Virgin Mary, became man for us men, and for our salvation. For as he suffered, bled, and died, for us also he rose again, and having conquered death and him that had the power thereof, he has given us an assurance that justice is satisfied, and we may safely trust him, while we plead his merits and

rely upon his strength, to conduct us through all our tribulations, to the mansions of eternal glory. "O death!" may we now say, "where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."* Do you ask " ask "Is there yet any farther proof of the Lord's gracious disposition towards mankind?" Yes, there is. He not only appointed his Son to be the Saviour of the world, but also appointed holy men, and endowed them with special gifts and talents, for the purpose of declaring that salvation to the ends of the earth; and by signs, and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, has he given the most convincing proofs of the power and godhead of the Lord Jesus Christ." Go," said Jesus to his disciples, when he spoke to them after his resurrection," and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo! I am with you always to the end of the world."t Agreeably to this order, the disciples did go forth preaching every where, and after them were raised up other gifted men, who proclaimed the

* Matt. xxviii. 19,20.

+1 Cor. xv. 55-57.

glorious gospel far and wide, and who have left upon record such directions, admonitions, and exhortations, that no one, who is desirous of becoming wise unto salvation, can fail of obtaining the knowledge he aspires to. The Bible, that rich treasury of sacred instruction, is in many hands; and, blessed be God, such pains have lately been taken to circulate that precious book among the Heathen, that it is to be hoped we shall ere long see the fulfilment of that glorious prophecy, "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

But, again, we have something further yet to declare concerning the compassion of our God. We have not only the words of those men, who were inspired to direct us in the way in which we should go, but we have the same Spirit by which the inspiration was given, the same Teacher that taught them, and we have only to pray that God would be pleased to grant us that same spirit, and we shall find him to be our enlightener, our guide, and our comforter through every step of our pilgrimage here below. He will take of the things of Christ and, shew them to us, and, by his witness within us, we shall know to whom we belong,

*Isaiah XI. 9.

3 D