of our heavenly Father's will, the reverse will be the consequence, and we may become to every good thought, word, and work, reprobates.

"If any man love me let him keep my commandments." Now these commandments are not statutory, but they are prescriptive. They are not given to this, that, or any other community, but they are engraven on the soul of every individual by the finger of God, and thus they are applied to every individual. And thus does the Almighty, who governs the universe, who fills all place and all space, daily manifest himself to each individual as if he were occupied with one sole object. But is it not derogatory to man, and to the honour of his Creator, to believe that the noblest of God's creation should be left to a dependence on external circumstances, and to work out their salvation by such means? I have no such belief at all. My faith is not founded upon such grounds as these. I never received any religion from my ancestors. I was not a prophet, neither a prophet's son; neither was I trained up in the schools of literature, to make merchandise, more effectually, of the souls of the people. I was trained up to labour, and in the school of deep affliction I learned where peace was to be found. And I am willing to tell my fel

low members where it can be found. It is not to be found in systems,-it is not to be found in opinions, or principles, or sentiments, but in the operation of the spirit of God, producing principles which lead to a practical belief.

For instance, can any man become honest, except by a principle of honesty within him? Can he become merciful, except he be under the direction of the principle of mercy in himself? Can he love God the Father, and his neighbour as himself, except he be under the government of a principle of love?

And as these fruits grow, religion becomes an individual work, and is the immediate operation of the spirit of Christ upon our spirits, performing those miracles, giving those precepts, and preaching the gospel unto those who are poor in spirit. Thus we become members of that living body of which Christ is the head, and we know him to be all and in all.

And the manifestation of Christ was not limited merely to that outward body amongst the Jews. This power operated long before that season, for it is recorded of Israel, that "they did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and

that rock was Christ."

And let us remember that Jesus is a saviour, and that Immanuel is God with us: and we need not look for this divine power at a great distance, and beyond the grave; for "the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart; that is the word of faith which we preach unto you." It is in us a teacher; it is known unto all. We must, therefore, come to the conclusion, when we follow the example of Christ by a daily and hourly obedience to the operation of the spirit, that God is not found merely at a great distance and beyond the grave, for he is manifest in our flesh.

What is God? It is that divine power which first created and which yet sustains the universe. It is this divine principle which

"Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze,
Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees;
Lives through all life, extends through all extent,
Spreads undivided, operates unspent;

Breathes in our soul, informs our mortal part,

As full, as perfect, in a hair as heart;

As full, as perfect, in vile man that mourns,
As the rapt seraph that adores and burns."

It is here that we must become acquainted with that principle, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. We must know him from 'the

operation of his power in our own minds. We must know him to open our blind eyes, to unstop our deaf ears, and heal the maladies of the soul, raise the dead, and cast out devils. And we shall then also be enabled to see him throughout all his works. But I do not, and I cannot, lead you to any external object, my friends, as a primary medium of instruction. But if our minds are under the divine influence, we are prepared to receive lessons of instruction from the workmanship of his hands; for there is not a blade of grass that grows, not a leaf that flutters in the wind, nor the meanest insect that we tread upon, but declares the workmanship of a God. Here are lessons of instruction deeply and indelibly engraven upon our minds, as nothing short of infinite wisdom could have formed them, nor can now sustain them for a moment. And his care extends to all, however minute, and let their number be what it may; for he fills all space. There are none too high to be controled by him, nor too low to feel his supporting power. of the divine penmen must have been aware of this, when he says," Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I fly from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven thou art there; if I make my bed in hell behold thou art there.

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If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." And now coming to be baptized into Christ's death, we shall experience a victory over all those principles which disobedience has brought over our minds, and which have produced death. And having received the election, even the adoption of sons, and having become partakers of the divine harmony, and experienced the knowledge of God, we shall not go back to the weak and beggarly elements which produce no peace, but which will lead into bondage. But I hope better things for you, and things that accompany salvation. And when this is produced in our minds, we shall experience an holy sabbath or state of rest-a holy day. It is then, and not till then, that we can sanctify a fast. That we can "blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children. Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests and the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the heathen

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