mality of their services, the grudging reluctance of what they would call their benevolence, be not an evidence that they have had little experience, either of its pardoning virtue or of its quickening power? "To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." If our Lord be supposed to admit, in the way of gratuitous concession, that Simon's sins had been forgiven, He unquestionably reproves his most inadequate apprehension of the measure of mercy his case required. But does He not rather intimate that He was altogether destitute of the blessing; that, in the language of another similar expression, he was "the least in the kingdom of heaven," having indeed no part in it? For where the debt is great, a little forgiveness will not meet the necessity of the case. Unhappy those who, in pride and self-confidence, conclude that they have little to be forgiven! Woe to the man who imagines that the "innumerable evils" that have compassed him about can be removed by a few pardons, his much guilt by a little forgiveness!

My brethren, it is the glory of the grace of the gospel, that it enfolds the chief of sinners; and blessed are those who are enabled, as chief of sinners, to embrace this gospel grace. "This," said the apostle of the Gentiles, "is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom," he added, "I am chief." Why is it so hard to come to Christ in this character? Are we more righteous than St Paul? Do we scorn to receive mercy on the same terms with him? It may be that, in the view of Him whose eye penetrates every bosom, whose Spirit searches and tries every impulse of the soul, some one sinner may stand pre-eminent above every other;

some one wretch, concentrating in himself all vices that can meet together, to pollute the life and deprave the heart of man, may stand distinguished above other sinners-the very chief. We do not suppose that that individual is here. But why is it that each of us does not appropriate the character to himself? Ah, could we search within, throughout those chambers of imagery that nurse in obscurity so many hidden abominations; could we discern with a conscience enlightened, and acute, and penetrating, as the Spirit of the Lord, the alienation of heart, the mental rebellion, the base ingratitude, the contempt and abuse of most condescending mercy, that have marked our behaviour to God; could we detect the deceitful principles, the pride, the selfishness, the envy, the cruelty, that have shared in our conduct toward our fellowcreatures we should find little to congratulate ourselves upon in a comparison with even "the chief of sinners: nay, rather, taking into the estimate all that we can know of the other, be he who he may, our hearts would press on us the conviction, "I am the chief." Seek to know yourselves in that character, that you may explore the depths of mercy, and be beautified with the grace of the salvation of God. Seek to attain eminence in love. "He that hath much forgiven, the same loveth much." Let me not be thought to bring an indiscriminate accusation. There are many here, I doubt not, who have within them the testimony of a good conscience, and who bear, without, the evidence of their Christian character in a humble, consistent, holy walk. Yet let my words be for warning and for confirmation. Let me charge you, from the least to the greatest, singly as in the sight of God, "prove your ownselves." Let no one take his

Christianity upon trust; "know your ownselves, whether Christ be formed in you." It is a safe thing, it can do you no harm at least, to know your state. To those who are unconscious of the evil and guilt of sin-who have never felt their danger, or asked the way of life-the reiterated assurances of the Saviour's love will be monotonous and uninteresting; but you who have known anything of the necessity and value of salvation, will not fail to derive encouragement from the example here set before you of His condescension and grace. Do not then distrust His love, or hesitate to give Him full possession of your souls. Let a crucified Saviour be the object of your confidence; and to you individually, I repeat, He will say, "Thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace.'

V.

THE REPROACH OF CHRIST.

"Let us go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”— HEBREWS xiii. 13.

THE government of opinion is more extensive and more absolute than the government of force. Force, violently employed, awakens resistance and provokes opposition; but opinion, widely prevailing, silently insinuates itself into the mind, and, before we are aware, gives a bias both to our judgment and to our affections. The blow aimed by the arm of force we easily discover and endeavour to parry or retort; but the influence of pervading opinion steals imperceptibly upon us, like that of an infected atmosphere which we cannot breathe without inhaling contagion. Force, when most successful, can only impose an external restraint; it may immure the person, may chain up the limbs, may silence the tongue, but the mind remains free, and, for the most part, is even confirmed in its principles by the violence employed to subdue it. Mind only can act upon mind; but when the minds of men are united in one way of thinking and of feeling, they carry the power of a mighty overwhelming torrent, on which we are borne along, like a straw on the surface of the waters, as without means of resistance or escape.

Who can forbear admiring what all men admire?

Who can preserve a feeling of veneration for that which all men unite in despising?

Now, unquestionably, the influence thus exerted on the mind of an individual by the united minds of his fellowcreatures, or of the great majority of those with whom he is surrounded, is often productive of good. A respect for prevailing opinion is one chief means of deterring men from those sins and crimes which are of ill repute among mankind, and of exciting them to the practice of the virtues which are held in general estimation. This principle deters them from absurdity and caprice, from the expression and display of arrogance, of selfishness, of gross impurity; it excites to diligence, honesty, and truth. But, notwithstanding this admission, we still maintain that the influence of prevailing opinion is often highly pernicious. Men are erring creatures; the majority are not unfrequently wrong; the wise, the great, and even those who pique themselves on their morality and piety, and are the guides of others, are often in error. And error especially prevails on the subject of religion: on this subject the mind of fallen man is, to a great extent, buried in ignorance and perverted by prejudice and pride. To take prevailing opinion for our guide here, would be as absurd as to ask of a company of rebels the character of the sovereign against whom they have risen in arms; as foolish as to commit ourselves to the guidance of a blind man in a road leading along dangerous precipices, or in a voyage amid threatening rocks.

In addressing a Christian audience, I need not go far in quest of proofs or illustrations of these observations. Look at Him who was "fairer than the sons of men;" who was