their comfortable hopes, enjoys not their heavenly prospects, is a stranger to the best feelings, and the purest joys which the heart of man can know, and at last, his death-bed is without peace and comfort.

My brethren, shall not the thoughts of these things be sufficient to "incline our hearts to keep this law?" to call back to his duty every sinner that has lived neglecting it, and make us all look upon the sabbath as the day of our delight and joy?

If the faithful performance of its sacred duties will serve, with God's blessing, more than any thing else, to keep our minds in peace, to make our lives holy, and our deaths happy, what more can it be necessary for the ministers of the gospel to say? If men will not be persuaded by these things, nothing will ever move them, they must live, and they must die in their disobedience.

But earnestly I hope, that it never shall be so with you; that if you wish, as you surely must, to live in charity with man, and to depart in peace with God, you will never neglect an opportunity of coming to

hear that gospel, which alone can teach you how that if you wish, as you surely must, to see your children growing up a comfort and a credit to you, you will teach them early, both by your words, and your example, to worship Him who gave the gracious command, to suffer the little children to come unto Him. It is not possible to conceive a sight more pleasing to our Father which is in heaven, than that of His sinful creatures, of all ages and conditions, humbling themselves before Him on His sabbaths in His church, confessing their own unworthiness, offering their praises for His mercies, their prayers for His pardon, whilst their faith and hope are strengthened as they listen to His promises. Neither is it possible for one man to tell another, each man must feel it for himself if he would know it, how great is the comfort, when, after a day thus spent, we lie down to take our sleep, from which we know not that we ever shall awake, of being able to say, "Thank God, I have this day done my duty."

Crowd then, my Christian brethren, to

the worship of your God. Come, not grudgingly nor unwillingly, as the manner of some is, but let your hearts be in it. Come, not as if you were the servants of a hard master, who has laid upon you unnecessary burdens and unprofitable duties, but as the children of a loving Father, who requires nothing from you but what is for your own good. Come, not in body only, but in spirit, for God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth, not thinking it enough to say the prayers with their lips only, but to join in them from within, and to take the word of God to their hearts, as well as receiving it with their ears. I do not hesitate to assure you, that your service will be accepted; the Almighty will be pleased when He sees the attempt to please Him made.

Do not suffer yourselves to make vain excuses for keeping away; but if you be prevented by sickness, or the infirmities of age, or any other good reason, (your conscience will tell you whether it be good or not), neglect not to employ the time in prayer and reading of the scriptures.

And may the Almighty send down His blessing upon us, and upon all other Christian congregations. May He give to His ministers, and to His people, grace to serve Him properly, that our prayers and praises may rise up to heaven, mingled with the song of those blessed spirits that stand round about His throne, and praise His name for ever and ever, till we ourselves, through Christ our Saviour, shall join their happy company in everlasting blessedness. Amen!

SERMON IV.

MATTHEW ix. 2.

Son, be of good cheer-thy sins be forgiven thee.

THANKFUL as every living soul has reason. to be to God Almighty, for the numberless blessings which He bestows upon us in this world; grateful as every heart may well feel to Him, who gives us our lives, and every thing that can make those lives enjoyable; yet have we ten thousand times greater reason to praise Him, and to bless Him, to glorify Him, and to love Him, for the hope which is given us in the gospel, that the sins of men shall be forgiven, through Christ Jesus our Saviour.

We may well, indeed, when we think only of this life, cry out with the holy psalmist, Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou

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