lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

In a few words, my brethren, contemplate the future hopes of him who is a Christian. At the moment of his departure, the disembodied spirit enters into the paradise of the Redeemer, where, being absent from the body, it is present with the Lord, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body. At the appointed coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the shout of the archangel, and the trump of God, his flesh shall answer the summons of the trumpet by rising from the dust, not in corruption, but in incorruption; not in dishonor, but in glory; not in weakness, but in power; not a natural body, but a spiritual body; not bearing the image of the earthly, but bearing the image of the heavenly; shaped into the likeness of his Lord. Standing in his perfected nature, at the right hand of his Judge, the Judge shall render to him his applause in the presence of an assembled universe, and then will ratify his entrance into bliss-that bliss which comprehends whatever the love of God can prompt, whatever the wisdom of God can arrange, whatever the power of God can impartthat bliss which no sin can pollute that bliss which no sorrow can darken that bliss which no time can impair- that bliss which no change can affect-that bliss which no calamity can destroy that bliss which remains like the throne of God, firm, perfect, unchangeable, and for ever.

Here, then, my brethren, is presented to you a brief enumeration of the Christian's privileges—and, my hearers, what think you of them? Deem them not, we entreat you, the inventions of a deceiver. Deem them not, we entreat you, the dreams of an enthusiast. They are the actual, palpable attendants of the course of every pilgrim towards eternity, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, excepting Jesus himself be an impostor, and this, the record of his love, be a lie. No, my hearers! they arise not like the unreal, empty vision that mocks the parched and weary traveller of the oriental desert, setting before him the lovely green sward, and the shadowy grove, and the bright and refreshing stream; and, as he nears it, expecting to receive his repose, it gradually vanishes into air, leaving nothing still before him but the broad level of an interminable sand! No; these are living realities on which the eye of faith, kindled and invigorated by the power of Jehovah himself, fixes an unwavering gaze; and, as we advance, and advance, and still advance, the light that shines upon them becomes stronger and stronger, and brighter and brighter, until, at last, we bask in all the sunshine and enjoy all the pleasure they reveal. A Christian's privileges! what is there in nature to compare with

them? A Christian's privileges! - do you not deem wealth, and honor, and fame, and power, and royalty, to be reputed but as nothing compared with them? A Christian's privileges !-do they not give to him a surpassing grandeur, a halo of inconceivable splendor? A Christian's privileges!-ought they not to bestir a holy startling and kindling in every bosom, exciting a fervent and intense ambition that refuses to be satisfied until we reach the heaven in which they are consummated and crowned?

We have now contemplated the two great divisions which mark the first part of the subject, and now we proceed,

II. TO SEEK TO IMPRESS THE EXHORTATIONS WHICH OUR VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN'S CHARACTER AND THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIVILEGES OUGHT JUSTLY AND PROPERLY TO INSPIRE.

My address is, in the

First place, to those by whom this character is sustained.

My Christian brethren, we exhort you, first, to live diligently and carefully in consistency with the religion you have embraced. I am happy in believing that multitudes who are now in the presence of God sustain the character, and have a title to those privileges we have described; let me, however, stir up your minds by way of remembrance. Christians! the eyes of many are upon you. "You are a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men!" In you the honor of religion is involved! Your inconsistencies would stain it; your consistencies will adorn it! With regard to your belief in the principles of the gospel to which we have referred, we exhort you, that in them you will be firm and unwavering; that you will not be led away by cunningly devised fables, or carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but that you will be established in the faith; that you will hold fast the form of sound words; that you will be " steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." With regard to your conformity to the principles of the gospel, we exhort you, that there you will be vigilant, watchful, and exact. The state of the times in which we live, the many avenues which are constantly opened for conformity between Christians and worldlings, render necessary repeated exhorta tions to those that profess the name of Christ to come out and be separate, to" avoid the very appearance of evil," and by "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, adorn the doctrine of God your Savior in all things." Be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine

as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. Let your light, my brethren, in this manner shine before men, and, while your own character is exalted, and your own enjoyments are multiplied, you will confer honor on the great cause to which you are attached, and become, in some measure, the instruments in the hands of the Almighty in propelling the march of your beloved religion over the heathen and unenlightened countries of the earth, and in constituting the religion of the Bible the religion of the world.

We exhort you, secondly, that you will make a public glory of your connexion with the cause to which you are attached. That you are Christians, ought to be publicly known before the world, and the ungodly, by your courage and fortitude for the truth, should be called to take knowl edge that you are numbered among those who are chosen, and called, and faithful. For what on earth is there to render a Christian ashamed of the religion with which he is connected? There are many, indeed, in modern times, professing to be connected with the name of Christ, who, while they avow themselves to be so, do it with a timid and fearful misgiving, and there are multitudes more who avoid the avowal altogether, as if to say that they were Christians involved before the public an avowed disgrace. As a minister of the living God, knowing not a little of the crimes of the church, knowing not a little of the needs of the church, knowing not a little of the demands of the church, I would earnestly and solemnly beseech you who have felt the stirring of the grace of God in your hearts, to appear before the world without one compromise: and they will perceive what you are in your characters, and in your prospects, and in your hopes. Come out publicly from the world; unite yourselves publicly with the people and with the servants of God. Let the Christian church be your home- let the Christian church be your atmosphere-let the Christian church be your occupation. "Be not thou, therefore, I would speak particularly to the young-be not thou, therefore, ashamed of the testimony of the Lord;" but in every scene of your mortal existence emulate the spirit of the great apostle of the Gentiles, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ my Lord!"

These days of peace, my brethren, are fallen, mean, and degenerate indeed, if the disciples of Christ are to be arrayed beneath the shadow, refusing to make known their light and principles before the world, when, in what may be called the heroic age of the church, martyrs, amid storms and tempests, and when they were brought to the rack, refused to bend, or compromise, or quail. We are told of one and he is but an example-who, when brought before the tribunal of judgment from whence he was to receive the doom of death, and ask

"What is

ed, "What is thy name?" replied, "I am a Christian." thine occupation?" "I am a Christian." "What is thy native country?" "I am a Christian." "Who were thine ancestors?” “I am a Christian." And to every question his reply consisted in the words, "I am a Christian." My brethren, emulate the spirit and imitate the example! Rise superior alike to the world's reproach and scorn! Wear the badge of your religion like a diadem on your brow, openly and unconcealed! In youth, and in age; in publicity, and in retirement; in health, and in sickness; in life, and in death, be this your proclamation, I am a Christian. We observe, in the

Second place, that an address will properly be directed to those who from this character are yet estranged.

There are, perhaps, not a few in this congregation, who, although they have possessed the means of Christian privilege, and have often heard the language of Christian exhortation, are, nevertheless, at this very moment, without God, without Christ, and without hope in the world. Is there not a conscience, testifying that its possessor is without a title to the elements of that character which we have endeavored to describe? You, who have reason to believe you are yet unconverted, allow me to press upon you one great consideration, and that is, the vast importance of a personal interest in that character which we have portrayed. I cannot but believe that the plain and perspicuous statement, as I trust it has been, of what pertains to the Christian's privileges and the Christian's character, is adapted to inspire something like a desire on your part to be mingled with them. Perhaps, you feel as did Balaam, when he ascended the summit of a rock and looked down upon the tribes of Israel abiding in their tents, with the tabernacle in the midst, and the Shechinah and glory of the living God hovering over the encampment; and, after pausing first, perhaps, in observation, then in admiration, exclaimed, "How goodly are thy tents, O • Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Is not the inspiration of the prophet, the inspiration of every reasonable being who has beheld a spiritual survey of the character and privileges of the sons and daughters of God.

To the view of their privileges add another consideration, which must solemnly be pressed upon you, and that is, that without a participation in the character and privileges of the sons and daughters of God, you must be finally and eternally miserable. Yea, my hearers, in life, you will be destitute of the only influence which can console and alleviate in death. You will have no ray of light beaming upon the darkness of

the grave, and no charm to chase away the terrors that gather thick around the entrance to eternity! In judgment you will have no shield to ward off the certainty of justice, and prevent the sentence of condemnation! In eternity, you will suffer the untold agonies of the torments of hell for ever! Do you want my warrant? "He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Do you want another?" He that believeth not shall be damned." Do you want another? "The Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 0,lull not yourselves into a deceitful slumber; cry not "peace, peace," when there is no peace! Your spirits, even now, are standing upon the verge; if you look not to Christ, and believe not upon him, you will sink into the lowest hell!

My brethren, in the name of Christ, I ask those who constitute this congregation, in advancing towards the close of the subject — whether they refuse to be called by the name and to wear the character of Christians? You have heard what a Christian is-will you be a Christian, or will you not? Will you receive the truth as it is in Jesus? Will you rest upon the great Redeemer, who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him? My hearers, will you render and avow your allegiance, that the name of Christ shall be your badge that his example shall be your model-that his commandments shall be your rule - and that his heaven shall be your goal; or will you refuse? My hearers, the moment is now arrived, when immortal spirits are challenged as to their choice with regard to their eternal welfare. You, perhaps, may dream but little of it; but the place where we are gathered is filled with immortal spirits, who are waiting anxiously for your decision. There are angels bending from their seats, and resting on their harps, watching you with intense solicitude, till they hear the command of God, that there may be joy amongst them over sinners who are brought to repentance. There are demons rising from the abyss, fluttering to preserve the captives whom they fear may be disenthralled, maddened if you escape, rejoicing if the archfiend make the triumph, if you become tenfold more the children of hell than before. The two orders of invisible beings are amongst us, and what shall be the result of to-night? Will you give joy to angels or joy to demons? Will you kindle rapture in heaven, or will you kindle rapture in hell? Will you burst the bands that surround you asunder, and rise, and stand emancipated in the liberty wherewith Christ