others, as ye would that they should do unto you.' How deficient arc many in that faith, which is of the operation of God, which works by love, purifies the heart and overcomes the world; that faith, which is the subsistence of things hoped for, and the demonstration of things not seen. How deficient are many in that hope, which maketh not ashamed, which is sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail.

How few possess in an eminent degree that charity or love, without which the most splendid talents and gifts are as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, and the most costly offerings are as nothing. How few possess that charity, which suffereth long and is kind, that envieth not, that vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up, that doth not behave itself unseemly, that seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; that rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth that beareth all things, believeth all things, and that never faileth. That charity, which is the bond of perfectness. How few exhibit in full the influence of that wisdom, which cometh from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. How few are fully clothed with humility-give all diligence to make their calling and election sure-to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit; perfecting holiness in the fear of God. How few pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks. How few walk in the light as God is in the light, being cleansed from all sin by the blood of Christ. Alas! were God to write out in words of flame, upon the walls of his sanctuaries, the true estimate of the moral worth of all within the pale of the visible church: wanting, wanting, would be written against multitudes. And doubtless many would turn pale at a full disclosure of their real characters.

Are not many Christian parents, guardians, and masters, deficient in the fulfilment of their obligations to the children entrusted to their · care? Do all who are entrusted with the guardianship of children feel a deep solicitude for their spiritual welfare ? Do they train them up for God and heaven? Do they bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Do they teach them all the words, or the principles of the divine constitution to which they are amenable for their thoughts, words, and actions? Do they talk of these principles when they sit in their houses, and when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up, and bind them for a sign upon their hands, and have them as frontlets between their eyes, and write them upon the posts of their houses, and upon their gates?

Are not many ministers, the angels of the church, deficient in discharging the high functions of their awfully responsible office? They may not be wanting in well turned periods, or in metaphysical

subtleties, or in human eloquence; but are not many wanting in the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind? Are they not wanting in love for the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and in zeal for its universal diffusion? Do their hearts burn for the salvation of souls ? Do they know nothing among the people, but Christ aud him crucified? Do they glory in nothing, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do they continually weep between the porch and the altar, saying, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach? Are there not many in the visible church, both in the ministry and membership, who are as graves which appear not? who are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness? Even so, do not they also, outwardly, appear righteous unto men, but within they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity?

Is not the church fearfully wanting in missionary enterprise? It was announced as the purpose of God, nearly eighteen hundred years ago, To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which, from the beginning of the world, hath been hid in God; to the intent, that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God.' In perfect harmony with this purpose, was the mandate of Christ to his church. Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Had the church during the

whole period of her history, strictly adhered to the spirit of this solemn mandate, the whole world ere this, would have been converted to Christianity-the moral gloom which now envelopes so large a portion of it, and the darkness, the gross darkness, which now covers many nations, would long since have fled before the glorious and powerful beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The heathen would have been given to Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.' The saints of the Most High would have taken the kingdom to possess it forever and ever.' And the visible church would now have looked gloriously from Zion's hill.

'Clothed with the sun, and in her train the moon,

And on her head a coronet of stars,

And girdling round her waist, with heavenly grace,
The bow of mercy bright; and in her hand

Immanuel's cross, her sceptre, and her hope.'

But is there not a most striking contrast between this description of what the state of the church, and of the world might now have been, and what they really are? Is not the church fearfully wanting when weighed in the balances, in its collective character? Do we not see 'wanting,' emblazoned on her very banners ? There are many, however, within the pale of the visible church, who have not

defiled their garments, and who shall walk with Christ in white, because they are worthy-whose rejoicing is the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, they have their conversation in the world. These are true lights, which twinkle amid the gloom of a benighted world; but how few are they, in comparison with those both within and without the church, who are found wanting. For many, alas! very many of the subjects of God's moral empire, are found wanting; God hath concluded, or shut up, a large portion of the world under sin; he hath concluded them in unbelief; keeps them under the law, shut up; that is, they are under the arrest of justice as transgressors of both the Law and the Gospel, until they shall believe to the saving of their souls, or the time shall come for the execution of the penal sanctions of the divine constitution upon them. Surely every man walketh in a vain show. Verily, every man at his best estate, is altogether vanity.'

We learn from this subject,

1st, That the ruin and misery of man are self-procured. He was made in a high state of moral perfection, and placed under a constitution perfect, and the best adapted to secure his highest happiness. He received from God, all that he could receive, consistent with his agency; was created holy, without any bias to evil, capable of standing, though free to fall. But he abused his agency,

'He ate the interdicted fruit, and fell,
And in his fall, his universal race,
For they in him by delegation were,
In him to stand or fall, to live or die.'

Through the disobedience of one, many were made sinners.' But God did not abandon man to the fell consequences of the first offence, his grace abounded towards man. He hath set a glorious hope before the world to which all may fly for refuge, and by which they may draw nigh unto God. This hope is the atonement made by Immanuel for the whole world. For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.' On the ground of the atonement, the execution of the sentence against moral delinquency is suspended, long-suffering is exercised, and a day of gracious visitation is secured, during which all may obtain pardon or acquittal from the sentence of condemnation, and a meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light, God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and makes the most alluring propositions to all. To every individual, therefore, on whom his frown rests, and the tremendous curse of the law flashes its eternal terrors, God can justly say, as he did to ancient Israel, Thou hast de stroyed thyself.'

2. We conclude that the dispensations of God towards our world, are justly marked with a punitive character. Sin has tarnished the glory of this lower world, and blighted the prospects of man. The history of man is dark and deeply shaded with gloom. The essential rectitude of God, and the interests of his moral kingdom, require an expression of divine displeasure against sin. And in various ages of the world, in his penal and judicial visitations on sinful individuals, and nations, who have filled up the measure of their iniquity, Jehovah has come forth arrayed in awful emblems of tremendous wrath. He has appeared in thunder, in lightning, and in storm. He has made the consuming fire an emblem of his presence. He thunders in the heavens, and gives out his voice. He sends out his arrows against his enemies and scatters them. He shoots out lightnings and discomfits them. Before him goes the pestilence; burning coals go forth at his feet; the nations are driven asunder; the everlasting mountains are scattered; the perpetual hills bow. Wherefore were the great and powerful cities and empires of antiquity overthrown? They were weighed and found wanting. Wherefore were God's ancient and covenant people rejected, cast off, and blotted from the map of the world? They were weighed in the balances and found wanting. Wherefore have many modern nations been visited with exterminating judgments? Wherefore are the judgments of God now abroad in the earth? Wherefore is the pestilence suffered to walk in darkness, and destruction to rage at noon-day? Wherefore has the Asiatic Cholera been commissioned as an angel of death to slay fifty millions of the human family, and to spread terror and alarm through all the nations of the earth? Wherefore are there signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming in the earth? The answer to all these solemnly interesting questions is, the nations have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; and God is speaking unto them in his wrath, and vexing them in his sore displeasure, visiting them for their iniquities.'

3. We infer that the course of moral delinquents is imminently perilous. The divine constitution secures eternal blessedness to the obedient, to those who obey both its parts; but dooms the transgressors of either the law, or the gospel, to the severest inflictions of divine wrath. And the execution of the penalty of the law, is equally certain with the bestowment of the reward of obedience. The appointment of the sanctions of the divine constitution, and their execution, perfectly harmonise with the moral perfection of God. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways; yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.' It fol

lows, therefore, that the ultimate execution of the penal sanctions of the divine constitution upon all moral delinquents, who are such when their term of trial terminates, is certain. None who are then found wanting in moral worth, can possibly escape. But are there not many in this assembly, who have now been weighed and found wanting? Are there not many here in the morning of life, who ascend in the scale, and concerning each of whom, it may be said, 'one thing thou lackest O remember, all ye, who are found wanting, that life, and death, are set before you, and that on the choice you make your all depends. Will you longer kick against the goads of conscience? Will you rush upon the bossy shield of the Omnipotent, and brave the thunders of eternal wrath? Who among you can dwell with devcuring fire? Who among you can endure everlasting burnings?

In view of your imminent peril, I beseech you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God-escape for your lives; look not behind you, neither stay ye in all the plain; escape to the mountain,—to Calvary, to the Cross, lest ye be consumed; lest the astounding echo of wanting!-wanting, in tones of thunder, through the deep caverns of perdition, shall eternally fall on your ears ;-lest ye sink in the blackness of darkness forever, where their worm dieth not, and the fire shall never be quenched. He that is wise, is wise for himself; but he that scorneth, he alone must bear it.