of idolatry. Imagine, my friends, a mind continually harassed with the belief, that it was made to be the sport of a thousand wayward and capricious beings, easily offended and hard to be appeased, perpetually manifesting their favor or displeasure in the most trivial events, and constantly demanding the most unmeaning ceremonies, and disgraceful rites, and cruel sacrifices— and what a load must it have felt taken off, what a blessed deliverance, when brought to the assurance that these Gods many, and Lords many, were nothing more than the creatures of fancy! But, oh, what glad tidings to the poor oppressed and bewildered spirit to learn, that instead of the vengeful Deities whom it had so ignorantly worshipped, it was under the care of One Almighty Being, who was ever watching over it for good, and on whom it might rest its affections, and in whom it might trust, and to whom it might pray, as its Father in heaven! Had this been the only truth the gospel had given-had it done nothing more in freeing the captive mind, and delivering them that sat in darkness, well might they have joined with the Apostle, in pouring forth strains of fervent gratitude to God, for his "spiritual blessings in Christ." To them, its light must have been like the ray that broke into the dungeon of Peter; the heavy chains of superstition fell from around them, and they walked forth into the blessed sunshine of heaven.

II. But besides this, the gospel put them in the way, and furnished them with the means, of purifying and exalting their moral nature, to a degree of which before they had scarcely an idea. When they were taken away from the shrines of idolatry, it was not merely that their minds were liberated from a galling yoke

that their souls were set free from the spells of superstition. There was a far higher good than this. They were cut off from all those abominations, those debasing and brutalizing rites, which Heathenism enjoined on her poor deluded votaries. They had not now, as formerly, a plea for passion and encouragement to vice, in the example of their Gods. They were brought into the presence of all-seeing purity, and their only oblations were to be those of holiness and virtue, their only sacrifices those of a meek, resigned, and obedient spirit. They had not now, as formerly, a justification for their errors, in the uncertainty of moral speculation and jarring systems of philosophy falsely so called. The rule of life was plainly and distinctly laid down before them. The path they had to tread could not be mistaken with the gospel for their guide they could not go wrong. In the way which it prescribed they might securely walk, for they were walking in the way prescribed by infinite wisdom and infinite love. Here they must be safe. Here they could have nothing to fear. To all their past offences, penitence was now divinely authorized to set the seal of pardon; and conscience could not but bestow its blessing of peace.

III. They had now also faith in an eternal life, to animate them in the way of well doing, to refresh their wearied spirits and console their wounded hearts. This is to the growth of holiness and virtue as the genial sunshine to the plants and flowers of earth, maintaining their vigor, expanding their loveliness, and bringing them to perfection. Till Jesus came, they had pined and languished through the want of it. Of gifted sages, some there were who saw the index of na

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ture pointing to another life, and thought they could discover characters of immortality written upon the soul. Yet was there room for anxious and distressing doubt even to them; and to men in general, such indications were far too dim and obscure, to produce any thing like clear and satisfactory conviction, full and decided faith. But when they were brought to sit at the feet of Christ, they could no longer doubt. The glorious truth was their own; not as an inference of reason, but the authoritative teaching of Heaven-not as a perchance, but "the promise of God, yea and amen." Now a new aspect was given to every event, a new light shed on every thing around them. Their being was no longer an enigma too dark for them to solve, or only asking them to guess at the end for which it was given. Time they clearly saw was no other than a season of preparation for eternity. It might with truth be said, a new rank was assigned to them in creation-from mortals they were raised to the dignity of immortals. And as such, they learned to look with altogether different eyes on whatever befel them. What concerned their outward and perishable frames became nothing in comparison with that, which had to do with the undying principle within. Earthly goods they had in common; and those temporal afflictions, which they had heretofore regarded only as tokens of wrath from some vindictive Deity, they now received as ministers of mercy, sent by their heavenly Father to purify their affections, to wean them from the world, to perfect their holiness, and thus to add another wreath of glory to their unfading crown. The wild wail and lamentation which once followed their bereavements, were now exchanged for the tran

quil sorrow that sorrows not without hope. Death had indeed changed its very nature. Where before they looked for certain defeat, they now beheld the victory their's-where before they saw little else than dark and dreary night, faith opened to their view a world of light and peace and everlasting joy.

Such, briefly, was the change which the gospel wrought in the minds and hearts of its heathen converts-such the "spiritual blessings with which God blessed them in heavenly places in Christ." The sense which they entertained of their value was shown by the sacrifices they made for their sake. For them they counted all things but loss. For them the nearest connexions were broken, the tenderest sympathies were severed, and rather than part with them they parted with life itself. And so, in every age, there has been a devoted few, who have esteemed them as a priceless treasure, the pearl for which they were ready to give up all besides.

I have said before, that we are often in danger of not prizing the light of the gospel as we ought, from not realizing to ourselves the wretchedness of that gloom, in which, but for its aid, we might have been left. And yet, my friends, without this contrast-even though it had not had to emancipate the soul from such gross darkness-its doctrines are, in their own nature, such as, one would imagine, must necessarily attract the attention, and conciliate the regard, of every thinking mind. I might go through all those, which impress upon us that every thing is under the government of infinite wisdom and benignity, and that however dark and mysterious they may sometimes appear, the dispensations of providence are

all tending to the greatest possible good. But let us take, for instance, its grand leading discovery. I can scarcely figure to myself a reasonable being, who, after passing through the varied scenes of human life, enjoying its pleasures, cultivating its friendships, strengthening its relations, and cherishing its affections, can be content to sink into cold unconsciousness like the unthinking brutes-can see the pall of oblivion stealing over him, heedless whether it is ever to be withdrawn-can watch the lamp of life quivering on the verge of death, without an anxious wish to know, whether it is ever to be rekindled-can see friend and lover dropping into the tomb, without his heart yearning to be satisfied, whether there be not some other world beyond the grave, where their spirits may take up their sweet fellowship again. I know not what must be the feelings of his breast, who would not joy to be assured of such a world, even though he knew that it was to be a chequered scene like the present, pain mingled with pleasure, and smiles followed by tears. But how much more then, if it were to be, as to the righteous we believe it will be, a world where every trace of grief God's hand shall wipe away-where the days of mourning shall be ended-where death shall be swallowed up in victory-and where pure and growing bliss, from a neverfailing fountain, shall fill and refresh the soul forever. Every one, who rightly thinks and feels, must thirst for knowledge here-every one rejoice to silence his doubts, and put his anxieties to rest. And here the gospel comes with the offer of every reasonable satisfaction. It does not profess to answer all the vain inquiries which curiosity may propose, nor to put an end to all the specula