but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven"-" God is not mocked, he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting."

3. I would address those who have given themselves to the Lord, but are not in fellowship with any church.

It is not, perhaps, too much to presume that there may be some such present. If there be, your conduct, my dear friends, proves either of two things-a deficiency of light, or a deficiency of love. A deficiency of light, in as much as you neglect the express commandments which Christ gave to his chosen followers -blind to the great spiritual advantages which flow from union with God's people, blind to the importance of separating, in form as well as in heart, from the world, and showing forth the Lord's death. A deficiency of love, if regard to reputation, or interest, or fear, or any selfish motive restrains you from testifying that you are not ashamed of Christ—“He that keepeth my commandments, he it is that loveth me"-" If any man love father or mother more than me he is not worthy of me; yea, if any man love his own life more than me he is not worthy of me"-" Whosoever confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father who is in heaven"- "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If you would not then be suspected of a deficiency of knowledge of

Christ's will, or of love to him who first loved you, and gave himself for you, come forth from the world, and cordially give the weight of your testimony to the cause of your divine master. Let not your good be evil spoken of, and show that you are not ashamed of Christ, that he may not be ashamed of you in the day in which he makes up his jewels. In choosing what body of professing Christians you shall be united with, let the character of the churches which were in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, be your standard. Reflect upon that character. Examine the constitution and laws by which these churches were distinguished, and when you find the nearest approach to them, should it only be among two or three, there cast in your lot, and testify to the world that you are not your own but bought with a price, and therefore bound to glorify God in your bodies and spirits which are his.

Lastly. I would address those who have not given themselves to the Lord, and are not in fellowship with any church.

The subject which we have been considering can possess but little interest to you—yet you are deeply concerned in it. The design of christian union is not more the benefit of those united than of those who are without, and are led captive by the Devil at his will. In the church is exhibited God's kindness and mercy to the rebellious: "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come." You, my friends, avoid the charge of hypocrisy, and may perhaps pride yourselves on your consistency, while you fancy yourselves superior to many

who in words profess Christ, but in works deny him. You are consistent, but it is the consistency of open rebellion instead of secret enmity. You take the high road to ruin instead of hasting by secret paths. Shall your courage avail in the day in which the Lord shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance upon all who know him not, and obey not the gospel of Christ? It shall not. Shall your superiority to hypocrites in that day avert the doom which in equity you deserve? It shall not. Remember each shall answer for himself, and bear his own burden. Christ is by his death and by the order of his house testifying his unspeakable love to you. Oh, despise not that love! "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, but he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

DISCOURSE III.

ON THE LAW OF MARRIAGE AMONG CHRISTIANS.

1 COR. vii. 39.-" At liberty to be married-only in the Lord."

To those who have never felt the power of the gospel in their hearts, or who, having felt it, have never had their attention properly directed to the nature and design of christian fellowship, the introduction into the pulpit of the subject of marriage may appear extraordinary, if not altogether improper: and to some who are both living under the influence of the gospel, and have enlightened views of christian communion, it may appear at least indelicate. I have full sympathy with all the feelings which would dictate silence upon such a subject; and nothing but an imperative sense of duty, arising from the view I take of the importance of the subject, and of the obligations under which I lie as bound to declare the whole counsel of God, could move me to introduce it thus publicly. In discussing it, it will be my aim to avoid every thing that might be offensive to good taste, without concealing or modifying

any of the principles which it is my duty to inculcate. The attention of the young, of both sexes, I most earnestly solicit, for it is to them I chiefly address myself; and may He, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, grant that it may not be in vain!

Like

Marriage, according to divine declaration, "is honourable in all," without distinction of rank or character. It was instituted on the introduction of the first pair to each other amid the beauties of Eden, and was designed for the preservation and happiness of our race. It is not properly of the nature of a religious ordinance, but is a civil compact instituted by God, having its foundation in our common nature, and essential to the common good. every other institution, whether civil or sacred, appointed or approved by God, it was designed to influence our moral condition, and consequently our eternal destinies. In proportion to its importance as bearing upon the development of character, must be the amount of that influence. What should have been its influence had man not fallen from his allegiance, we cannot fully estimate; but this we know, that all the noblest and least alloyed pleasures of which unregenerate men can boast, either directly or indirectly, flow from it. It is the basis of the family institution, around which are clustered the remembrances of life's most gladsome moments, and from which radiate, even to life's grey evening, many beams of joy alleviating fallen man's toils and sorrows -the family institution—the fountain of earth's sympathies and affections-the only spot where there are