will sometimes discover their own thoughts expressed in the words of Scripture. The maxims, and precepts, and the descriptions of sin, come so home to their bosoms, that they are constrained to confess the truth of the delineation; that the word of God is quick and powerful, and is a discerner of the thoughts of the heart. Every creature is thus manifest in the sight of God: "all things are naked and open unto the eye of him with whom we. have to do:" and they who study his word shall obtain from their labours that inestimable knowledge, an acquaintance with themselves.

h

But the benefit of continuing to study the law of God rests not here. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth to look, that man is blessed in his deed. The internal influence of religion will shew itself in the uniform tenor of his external conduct. All his duties will spring from a high source: and his behaviour will be consistent throughout. His faith will be displayed in his works: and by works will his faith be made perfect.

Although, therefore, there may be some uncertainty in determining in any specific case, to which class of hearers a man may belong; we are justified in drawing two very important conclusions.

h Heb. iv. 13.

James ii. 22.

The first is, that if any man profess to be not only a hearer of the word but a doer of it, and yet live in the practice of known sin, that man is a deceiver of his own self. True it is that all do sin, and come short of the glory of God—"a just man falleth seven times,'" says Solomon: but then by the grace of God "he riseth up again." He does not allow himself in the practice of sin. He bewails, and repents his wickedness. He strives and struggles against it. And he knows that if he fights manfully the fight of faith, he shall not labour in vain. That with the temptation, however arduous, however grievous, there will always be some way to escape, that he may be able to bear it. But the grace of God will not abound, when men continue in sin. Whatever the sin be, however confirmed by habit, however endeared by circumstances, however facilitated by the readiness with which it besets a man, that sin, if persisted in shews that the sinner is but a forgetful hearer of the word.

Another consequence which flows from the necessary connection between obedience and true faith is this. That the action of faith and practice is reciprocal. As a sincere obedience will display itself in a virtuous life; so such a life has a tendency to confirm and

* Prov. xxiv. 16.

establish a wavering faith. This conclusion is expressly made in Scripture: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God." One main obstacle to a firm belief is found in the deceitfulness of sin. A man entangled in the ways of wickedness soon hopes, and then soon believes, that the punishment of sin may not be so dreadful, or so certain, as the Scriptures declare. It is an easy way to stifle the reproaches of conscience, if a man can persuade himself that the terrors are unfounded. Thus the sin, which arose from unbelief, strengthens the very cause which produced it and will, if unchecked by the grace of God, go on, until it hath brought forth death.

"Be ye" then, "doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Rest not satisfied with a partial glance at the perfect law of liberty. Go not away, and straightway forget what manner of men ye are. Stoop down and stedfastly regard, and continue to study the true portrait of your own minds, which the Scriptures will present. So shall ye, not being forgetful hearers, but doers of the word, be blessed in your deeds.

l John vii. 17.

LECTURE XVIII.

ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

1 Cor. XV. 14.

If Christ he not raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

The attention of the Christian church has lately been directed to the important events, by which our salvation was procured; the death of the eternal Son of God for the sins of man. A pause has been made in the frivolity of pleasure, and in the tumult of worldly business, that we might have leisure to concentrate our thoughts, and fix them upon heavenly things. We have been called, in the daily service of our church, to follow our Saviour from one scene of suffering to another; to witness the insults and mockery, which he endured; the persevering cruelty of his enemies; the timor

a This Lecture was delivered on Easter Day.

ous inconsistency of his judge. We have seen him betrayed by one of his own chosen apostles; denied by another; forsaken by all. We have witnessed the triumph of the powers of darkness: we have seen all nature affected by the sufferings of her God: the vail of the temple rent, the earth shaken, the sun darkened by a preternatural eclipse; until, all having been accomplished which was written concerning Christ, he exclaimed, "It is finished;" and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

It is impossible that these events should have been contemplated, without exciting some feelings of more than usual seriousness. Often as many around me must have reflected upon them, they will have found in such meditations continually some new cause for wonder, some fresh claim for gratitude.

Having dwelt so long upon the humiliation of Christ, the church this day celebrates the first act of his exaltation; his triumphant resurrection from the grave, in which it was not possible he should be retained. However familiar the circumstances attending the resurrection are to our minds, their exceeding importance must ever render the consideration of them an employment of the greatest interest to every Christian for upon the certainty of that event depends the truth of the gospel; all sure