minds and conduct of his creatures may fluctuate, he "is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." He it is that has created us, and still preserves us. By Him we have been redeemed from the slavery of sin, and from the bonds of death. He has adopted us, as the children of his grace and heirs of his glory. He has vouchsafed to become "our Father;" and, with paternal compassion, regards our weakness, ignorance, and corruption. He now enlightens, comforts, and assists us by his Holy Spirit; and will hereafter, if we persevere unto the end, receive us to himself in the realms of everlasting bliss. These are the blessed truths of Christianity: these, the "exceeding great and precious promises," the " hope of our calling," the "earnest of our inheritance."-" All things," therefore, we may exclaim with the Apostle, are ours whether the world, or life or death, or things present, or things to come; all are ours, and we are Christ's, and Christ is God's." If, then, with such blessings in possession and reversion, men do not rejoice, are not even influenced by grateful exultation and delight; it can be only because they are labouring under error, or are not Christians, but despise their birthright, and neglect so great salvation. Their grovelling hearts are set on other treasures, and they have deservedly incurred the

consequences of their own perverseness. But such wilful blindness cannot always last. "Folly,” says the wise man, "is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom." But the delusion ends at length in feelings the most remote from joy, in shame and confusion, "wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Thus, then, we have seen the exhilarating tendency and power of our religion, and the utter absurdity of imputing to it a spirit of sadness and melancholy. With such motives to joy and cheerfulness, it must be impossible for: the real Christian to be melancholy. His religion leaves not a single opening for despondence, but sin; and by sincere repentance that avenue may be closed. If, then, he is gloomy, it must be from one of these causes: either his views of religion are erroneous; or his spirits are depressed by the disorders of an unhealthy body; or he secretly distrusts the efficacy of the great sacrifice for sin once offered, as applied to his peculiar case. But let not this "This is a faith

unworthy doubt distress him.

ful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;" " and that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached, in his name, through all nations." Upon you, my brethren, "the Sun of righteousness has arisen with healing on

his wings." For you a "plenteous redemption" has been provided; and your sins, "though red as scarlet, shall be white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." To obtain to yourselves this blessing, all that is required of you is that " godly sorrow which worketh repentance:" contrition, and an appeal for mercy in the name and merits of Him, who is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, is all that your offended Maker demands of you. With a soul so deeply penetrated with the guilt and ingratitude of your offence, as utterly to renounce and abhor it, you have but, in the lowly spirit of true repentance, to " arise and go to your Father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

"Let the righteous," then, as David so forcibly recommends, "Let the righteous be glad, and rejoice before God; let them also be merry and joyful." Away, therefore, with all ideas of melancholy, all needless terrors, and suspicion of the mercies of your God! God! Take to yourselves freely the abundant pardon freely offered you, and rejoice in it. No further pain, or penance, or mortification, is required at your hands, than the immediate forsaking of your sins. 66 To-day, while it is called to-day," do

this. Do this, and accept the forgiveness held out to you: let not your joy be overcast with any disheartening scruples, but " rejoice heartily in the strength of your salvation." Only let your lives, and hopes, and views be worthy of your high vocation, enlightened and regulated by the pure precepts of your faith, and the "God of hope shall fill you with all joy and peace in believing."

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

THERE can be no doubt but that religion, or the system of ethics contained in the revealed will of God, is applicable to every action of man as a moral agent. Amongst others, it is intended to regulate our conversation, our verbal intercourse with each other. And, when we consider how large and material a portion of our lives and conduct this one head comprehends: when we reflect, that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" that "the good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bring