ACTS iv. 24.-They lifted up their voice with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, who has . 305 JER. XXXVI. 23.-And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was EZEK. Xviii. 31, 32.-Why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him 342 SERMON I. CHRIST OUR FRIEND. 2 CORINTHIANS V. 14. The love of Christ constraineth us. THERE can be but little wanting to the happiness of any person who can, with sincerity, say that these words describe the habitual state of his own mind. It is possible that faith, the deepest and liveliest faith in the excellence and worthiness of Christ, may be so mixed with fears for our own unworthiness that we may not taste fully the comfort of Christ's Spirit. But he who is constantly constrained by the love of Christ, who leaves evil things undone, who does good things actively, because his sense of Christ's love is ever present with him, will feel what St. John expresses, no doubt from the experience of his own heart, that "perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment." And with this love so strong in him, there is an end at once |