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alone the model for unqualified imitation, and not any of his nearest, dearest followers here;-a soul so taught sees stay after stay "on the arm of flesh" blown to the winds by the unalterable decree of God;—a soul so taught discovers that till he reach the glorified state, there exists not a man, though washed in the blood of Jesus, who is or can be its proper hold or refuge;—a soul so taught has a spiritual vision imparted to it, too keen to overlook the fact, that often what is great in the eye of man is vile in the sight of God, and that the end of the most splendid power, dignity and worth in man, is " dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." To these chastising truths every heaven-taught soul bows in silent, unreserved submission.

If this state of soul be ours, to God be all the glory; if this is the wisdom by which we are carried onward to our rest, to God be all the gratitude; "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto us;" then are we indeed making the Lord our trust, then is the Lord indeed our hope. But let us be sure this is the case, let us search within and inquire strictly where, during the last week, month, or year, we have looked with most confidence. Can any one of us that has no blessed experience of the love of God in Christ, in pardoning, healing and accepting our souls, pretend to be really acquainted with the hope in him which is so precious to all his faithful people? Can any one of

us that sees not our whole sufficiency to be in him, and that in all our own faculties we are through the fall halt and lame and blind and miserable; can any one of us that looks not beyond this vain scene, that has an eye, and ear, and heart open for nothing but what contributes to our fancied good here, forgetful that all of the mere joys, gratifications and distinctions of this earth depend on the corrupt will of our fellow sinners; can any such one of us have other than that trust in man which God has so directly cursed, who has no sense or aim of happiness beyond the grave and above the creatures, who seeks and finds his whole delight " in the world, and the things of the world,"--and who moulds his judgment, forms his taste, shapes his pursuit, and places his reliance and desire on the things which are highly esteemed among men opposed in heart and life to the gospel? Only by some such plain and simple self-scrutiny can we ascertain whether we are at this moment under the withering power of God's curse, or the cheering smile of his blessing? Do we feel reluctant to commence the inquiry, or fear that in its progress we shall stand self-condemned? Let us learn from this, that our wisdom and happiness from henceforth will be, to converse more than we have yet done with God and our own hearts. In this very place may be some who have not considered how near they are in their daily life to the precincts of the malediction, and

who are therefore rather the negligent than wilful violators of the precept against trusting in the arm of flesh." There may be some here, who, in the ardour of friendship or in the outpourings of domestic affection, or in the admiration of what, though imperfect, is yet doubtless praiseworthy, have so trusted in man, as to be sinners against their own souls. Now though the blessed God is no hard task-master to you, he yet calls on you at once to "consider your ways;" though not extreme to mark what is done amiss in any such as indeed cleave to him with purpose of heart, he will by no means give his honour to another. Whatever our idols are, he has declared himself to be a jealous God, and one who must be "loved with all the heart and soul and mind and strength," and therefore to those who have not hitherto loved him beyond all things, a voice of merciful warning speaks in the words of the text.

But beware, my beloved friends, of any idea that in your own strength you will, or can in time to come, offer him a more perfect or acceptable service than you have yet done; you must go to the cross as helpless, wandering, and guilty sinners, and ask for grace continually to fill your souls with a sense of what he who hung upon it has done for your peace and ransom, and what he is now ready to do in heaven for your growth in all divine affections; you must ask in fervent persevering prayer, that he may become above all

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things the author of righteousness in you and to you. That no creature can be the author of it to you, is proved by his very title of " Jehovah our Righteousness." From him is all our righteousness and by him it subsists, and we are made the righteousnees of God in him. His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness; and their sanctification, that source of all their personal obedience, is the effect of their union with him and of the supply of his Spirit. By this name every true believer shall call upon him, that is, our Righteousness through which we are justified before God, acquitted from guilt, and accepted. Nothing have you nor I nor any sinner to plead but this; Christ has died, yea, rather has risen again, and we have taken him for our Lord. If this be our happy case, we shall need no argument to convince us of the truth: daily shall we derive supplies of light and love and strength in prayer, both to avoid the sin of making " flesh our arm," and to choose the Lord God for our portion in time and in eternity. No lower views of Christ or the Gospel will be sufficient. To have evil for ever and effectually removed, we must be frequent and fervent in supplication that the Lord Jesus may come among us and dwell in us, and be our only guide, and stay, and friend, our sweetest counseller, comforter, and shepherd unto death!

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SERMON III.

ST. PAUL IN PROSPECT OF DEATH.

2 TIM. iv. 6-8.

I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It was during his last imprisonment at Rome in the prospect of approaching death, that this blessed saint penned these memorable words. From the moment of his arrival there, he had, with his wonted zeal for the souls of men, in the first place made an ardent effort for the salvation of his own countrymen, and then had turned

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