opportunity of doing good, as members one of another; increasing in the desired qualifications for life eternal; and "working out our salvation with fear and trembling 1?"

Finally, let me ask (and O! that our hearts may be able to respond to the welcome sound) is the Gospel in our eyes, "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God?" "Is Jesus Christ our hope? If He be not, on what is your hope fixed? On what in heaven? On what in earth? On what under the earth? Know ye not, that "there is none other name, given under Heaven, whereby we can be saved? Do you fix your hopes on having done no harm? The book of life, that awful record, if opened before our eyes, would show the contrary, on every day of our lives. Is it on our past goodness, or present virtues? No work is good, in God's sight, unless it be cleansed by Christ's blood. A firm trust in his cross for acceptance, is the only in

1 Phil. ii. 12.

2 Acts iv. 12.

strument, whereby, that cleansing can be applied for the benefit of the soul. Is it that we have done our best? False plea! We have not, in any one case, done our best. We could do each action better, if fresh trial of the same duty were granted, as we have grown in grace. Is it on God's mercy, without including faith in the merits of Christ? If God required that sacrifice before that (according to the harmonious attributes of his Divine nature) we could hear of mercy, how shall that man expect compassion, who sets aside the necessary Atonement? who thinks it not essential; and "treads under foot the Son of God, and counts the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing."

“To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not the heart." Receive, if they be not yet admitted, the awakening impressions of that Spirit, who is waiting to be gracious,

and to "restore them that are penitent." Find out your faults, both the past defilement, and the besetting sin of the present time. Go meekly, with the burden, unto Jesus, the Saviour of contrite souls. Establish from this day, by his gracious help, a hope that shall not fail, a hope in his precious merits; a lively yet lowly hope, that shall cheer thy way on earth, and lighten thy path, "through the valley of the shadow of death'." Yea, brethren, let us be able to say with the Apostle, "The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope."

1 Ps. xxiii. 4.

LECTURE V.

1 TIM. i. 12-18.

66 AND I THANK JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WHO HATH ENABLED ME, FOR THAT HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY; WHO WAS BEFORE A BLASPHEMER, AND A PERSECUTOR, AND INJURIOUS: BUT I OBTAINED MERCY, BECAUSE I DID IT IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF. AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT WITH FAITH AND LOVE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS. THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF. HOWBEIT, FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST, JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHEW FORTH ALL LONG SUFFERING, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING. NOW UNTO THE KING ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY WISE GOD, BE HONOUR AND GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER! AMEN.

IT has been remarked of St. Paul, as a writer, by Paley, that he is very much

inclined "to go off at a word." Lively and ardent, he is arrested by some particular view of the object, in the course of his argument; and indifferent to the irregularity of digression, he immediately follows the natural call of his mind, and obeys it instinctively.

1

Thus, in the present chapter, he had referred to the fact, of the Gospel being entrusted to him, as an Apostle, on his conversion. And he recurs instantly to the humiliating circumstances, under which he had become an Apostle. We cannot fail to observe, that the disposition of St. Paul was singularly affectionate. And raised towards heaven, his soul expands in thankfulness for that free and sovereign exercise of grace, by which he had been so signally distinguished. He praises the glorious Redeemer, who had "put him into the Ministry," "enabling him," and making him equal to the high employment; and trusting him, as "faithful," in that sacred duty. His conversion, indeed, stands on