may, indeed, appear insignificant; but let us not forget, that whatever may be its relative importance to that aggregate, which we call the world, yet to us to ourselves—it is every thing, bliss or misery, life or death, heaven or hell! Let us, then, take the gcod, munificently spread around us, in such a manner and measure, as are enjoined by the merciful donor. Let us use the world, as not abusing it. If" the earth be," as indeed it is, "full of the goodness of the Lord," let us, by the study of his Word, and the cultivation of those powers of reason and judgment, which, under the direction of that Word, and of his holy Spirit, enable us to refuse the evil and choose the good," take exactly that path in our pilgrimage through life, which presents to us the greatest and most enduring delight.

In the next place, if" the sceptre of our God and Saviour be a right sceptre," we also, in the little sphere of our agency, as originally born in the image of God, should imitate, to the utmost of our power, the same rectitude, tenderness, and mercy. Like those diminutive portions of vast machines, which receive their motion, and take a corresponding movement, from some great revolving body; so should our whole conduct, and every action, bear a reference to the character and dispensations of that Power, in

whom we live, and move, and have our being." There should be in us, for example, a constant regard to the rights, interests, comfort, and general well-being, of all around us. We should "execute judgment and righteousness." We should "not seek our own." We should "not forget to do good, and to communicate; giving unto him that asketh, and not turning away from him that would borrow." "As we

have received the gift, even so should we minister the same, one to another." Nay, to resemble our heavenly Father, who "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust; who "is kind to the unthankful and the evil," we should do more: we should "do good to them that hate us, bless them that curse us, and pray for them, that despitefully use us and persecute us." Thus shall we exemplify towards others, the character of that heavenly government, whose blessings and mercies are so freely extended to ourselves.

Lastly, we should be particularly on our guard, not to forfeit the privileges, which we enjoy as subjects of such a government. Convinced as we are, that the administration and ordering of this world is one great scheme of mercy; sensible, as we are also, that all things,

the prosperous, as well as adverse, events of

this world, its joys and sorrows, gains and losses, health and sickness, -"work together for good to those that love God;" and fully aware, too, as we are, that "cursing, vexation, and rebuke," are the appointed companions of sin, let us "eschew evil and do good:" let us not incur the fate, ascribed to the rebellious subjects of the righteous king in the parable; "Those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay before me:" let us avoid such treason against our own souls, as well as against the God of our salvation; let us beware, that we lay not up for ourselves against the day of wrath, that dreadful consciousness and source of remorse, which, like the worm of perdition, dieth not; namely, that we did not like to retain God in our knowledge;" that we have "done despite unto his grace;" rejected the salvation offered us; and, instead of the inheritance of the saints in light, have deliberately chosen for ourselves the "portion of unbelievers," - tribulation and anguish, "shame and everlasting contempt."

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SERMON VII.

THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD, AN ARGUMENT or COMFORT, AS WELL AS HOLINESS.

PSALM XCIV. 9.

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? — he that made the eye, shall he not see?

or,

WHEN Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal, who called on the name of their god from morning even until noon, and yet there was no voice, nor any that answered, he bade them " cry aloud;" for he must be otherwise employed, to disregard, as he did, for so long a time, the prayers and invocations of his prophets, when

"Cry aloud,"

his own honour, and the credit of his worshippers, were so much at stake. said Elijah; " for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing; or he is in a journey; or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awakened." The prophets accordingly did "cry aloud; and cut themselves after their manner, with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed

out upon them.” By perverted notions respecting the typical shedding of blood in the Jewish sacrifices, they had gone so far, as to think that their gods would be pleased with human blood. But all was in vain: and it came to pass, when mid-day was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Like other idols, the work of men's hands, Baal had eyes, but saw not: ears had he, but heard not. Well may the prophet declare of him, "who hath formed a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing, behold all his fellows," even those who partake in the labour or the worship, "shall be ashamed." And he proceeds to hold up to just contempt the whole work of idol-making. "The smith with the tongs," he says, "both worketh in the coals and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth; he drinketh no water, and is faint." Such is the process, when the god is of metal. When it is of wood, "the carpenter," he observes, "stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes; and he marketh it out with a compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house." The

H