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tended throughout eternity to his chosen ones. My flesh also shall rest in hope, says the Psalmist. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. for me, says David, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. And again, God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave. With this triumphant hope, the pious soul can exclaim, O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?

9. In the promulgation of the Christian Religion. Herein is the goodness of God most manifestly displayed; especially to us, who have the knowledge of a Saviour, whereby the hope of pardon is confirmed to believers. When by some mysterious, and melancholy fatuity, man had fallen from his high estate, and lost his hope of happiness; when there was no eye to pity, and no created arm to save; then did thine eye pity, and thine arın wrought salvation, O thou lover of the souls of men! And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. The direction is always, Knock, and it shall be opened. The invitation is always, Come unto me, and ye shall in no wise be cast out. This is not said to the old or the young, the rich or the poor, the learned or the ignorant, in particular; but to all -to all, who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and obey his gospel. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Whose heart will not burn within him, at such love as this? Whose lips will not be eager to respond to the text: Thou, Lord, art good.

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REFLECTIONS.

If then the Goodness of God is thus manifested to Mankind in general; if this goodness is impartial, and unchangeable: And if the goodness of God is likewise manifested to mankind in particular instances; in forming them for happiness, in their preservation, in providing for their support and comfort, in giving them the pleasures of domestic life, in delivering them out of affliction or sup

porting them under it, in pardoning their sins, in giving them instruction and assistance, in granting them the hope of immortality, and in the promulgation of the christian religion; if the Lord is so good to us, what return shall we render unto him, for all his loving kindness? How shall we show our gratitude? And how give evidence of the sincerity of it? An answer to this may be comprised under three heads: Loving God; leading virtuous lives; and loving the brotherhood.

1. We must love God. God is love. We should love him, because he first loved us. We should love God, because it is the first command in the Decalogue. In return for all his goodness, what doth God ask? Sim

ply this. He says, My son, give me thine heart. And

in view of the many instances of the goodness of God to mankind, especially in that of sending a Saviour to redeem a captive world; what heart but will exclaim in glowing rapture, with the Psalmist, Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. Let us never be reproached by others, or reproach ourselves, with ingratitude to God. Let it never be asked of us, Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Let it never be said, They sang his praise, they soon forgat his works. Let it never be imputed unto us, When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.

2. We must lead virtuous lives. To be like God, who is continually doing good, we also must strive to do good. To be virtuous is to resemble the Deity. Obedience is the best expression of gratitude to the Supreme Being.__Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch thee. To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation. They that sin are enemies to their own life. A little with righteousness, is better than much with unrighteousness. True dealing shall endure forever. Righteousness is im

mortal. Ever remember that, Great is the Truth. She doeth the things that are just. Above all things, truth beareth away the victory. Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss. Let not your strength be the law of justice. Recollect that it is the fruit, that declareth if the tree have been dressed. Especially, let us all remember, in view of the goodness of God, that our goodness must be active. That prayers, without endeavours, are said to be like Rachel, in her solitary years, beautiful but barren. Then let us improve upon the proverb, so that our prayers may be like Rachel, in her happier years, not only beautiful but bearing.

3. We must love the brotherhood. In imitation of God, we should love all mankind; for he hath made the small and the great, and in things temporal, careth for all alike. But in imitation of him also, in things spiritual, we should especially love those, whom we believe to be of the household of faith. Hereby shall ye know if ye love me, if ye love one another. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? he showeth no mercy to a man, which is like himself; and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? If you conceive aught against another, be not hasty in your judgment. Admonish a friend; it may be he hath not done it, and if he have done it, that he do it no more. Admonish thy friend; it may be he hath not said it, or if he have, that he speak it not again. Admonish a friend; for many times it is a slander; and believe not every tale. There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he, that hath not offended with his tongue? In all things, judge of thy neighbour by thyself. In daily intercourse, remember that sweet language will multiply friends, and a fair speaking tongue will increase kind greetings. This, O Christian, is the command which we have heard from the beginning, and it will ever continue in unimpaired force, that he who loveth God, should love his brother also; and should express that love, not in word and profession alone, but in deed and in truth. You are to love your neigh

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bour as yourself; to love the whole creation of God ; so far as your influence can extend, must endeavour to make it happy.' Brethren, When we see all above and below, and all around us, proclaiming with eloquent tongues, Thou, Lord, art good! And, more especially, when we feel a spirit within us crying, Thou, Lord, art good! we should lay aside, not only all private jealousies, but all sectional differences, and sectarian prejudices; and ever seek to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Christians, says Bishop Taylor, should not be like the thorn and bramble, endeavouring which shall tear and wound each other the most; but like the vine and olive, striving which shall bear the most and the best fruit.

Finally. If we thus love God, and lead virtuous lives, and love the brotherhood, in this short and passing world; we shall be enabled, through divine mercy, and divine aid, when we are called to leave the scenes of time, to cry in holy rapture of soul, throughout ages after ages, even forever and forevermore, in the world of glory, Thou, Lord, art good! Thou, Lord, art good!

RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.

SERMON L.

1 Cor. xv, 35. - HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP? AND WITH WHAT BODY DO THEY COME?

THIS IS a very natural, as well as very solemn question, which arises in the mind of every reflecting person. When we look abroad, we behold a vast world of men, women, and children; of various nations, climates, and languages; of different ages, constitutions, and characters; all now busily employed in their peculiar vocations; the most of them full of life, and gladness, and hope: and the heart is pained, that, in a few years, all these people will cease from their activity and enterprises; their enjoyments and anticipations; and be returned to their original earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. This truth also comes nearer home. When we look around in our own towns, among our own relations and acquaintances, we find, here and there, one and another, gone from the family circle, and the meeting of friends; some bosom companion, or some kind neighbour, whom we used to visit; gone from our reach, carried away, and laid where they are no more seen. From these affecting truths, does not the mind often turn to the promised resurrection of the body, when the bereaved heart hopes again to meet its departed friends? But here the mind is sometimes saddened by its own inquiry, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? As if it asks, Can this body, which is all decayed into dust, and perhaps disappeared into nothing, be again raised into life? And will the future body

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