the influence of those vile passions which separate from the source of all purity, and from the enjoyment of heaven.

It is not a profession of religion, but the enjoyment of the peace of God, which constitutes christians. This it is that has constituted Christians in all ages of the world, not only before Christ came in the flesh, but through all time; for we have never been under any other dispensation-we were never Jews-we were always Gentiles, and we still remain to be Gentiles, and the law by which we always were, and always must be governed, is the law of God in the heart. And yet many are brought under these particular associations, under the influence of a religion which is part Jewish, part Christian, and part Pagan, a kind of heterogeneous commixture, which never leads any to the knowledge of God; and we shall never come out of these prejudices and opinions till we begin for ourselves; till we begin to be governed by our own experience; till we read for ourselves the work of nature and of nature's God. We remember that the Apostle wept much on a certain occasion, when he saw a book sealed with seven seals. But was it a bible? No, it was the hidden mystery of the kingdom of heaven, hid from the wise and prudent, and revealed unto babes.

And he wept much because no man was found able to open and read the book, neither to look therein. It is a truth that no man can open the book unto his fellow man, "for the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God." The rational man can understand rational things; but it is the influence of the spirit of God, which alone can enable him to discern spiritual truths. "And one of the elders saith unto me, weep not: behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof and I rejoiced much; and the same lion of the tribe of Juda, the same manifestation of the power of God will open the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven in our own souls, thus giving us to distinguish between truth and error. It is the word of a king, and where the word of the king is, there is power to overcome those things standing in opposition to his government.

Now there is one thing that spurious religion has introduced: I mean the observance of the Sabbath. Now what is the Sabbath? Is it to keep one day in seven in idleness? No; for I verily believe, that according to the present institution of the Sabbath, there is on this day more sin committed, than in all the other six, in which we labour for our support. This is obvious: there must therefore, be something else

to constitute the Sabbath besides, spending one day of the week in idleness. It is a state in which we must come to be like that which the Almighty experienced when he had finished the creation and found that all the works were good-He hallowed the seventh day and sanctified it. But there is no command for us to keep the Sabbath; there is no precept in the Scriptures, nor nothing which has been handed down to us that can be called a command, to keep the Sabbath. Neither is there any injunction in the Scriptures to keep the Sabbath. It was typical of that which was to come; but it is not till our works are finished that we are in this situation, regulated by the power of God, that we can keep the Sabbath and sanctify it. "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people-let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet: let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, stand between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not their heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God."

What is a Sabbath? It is a state of rest in our minds; and in order to experience this state of rest, we must give up our own workings and prostrate all our affections-we must wait with

resignation the power and will of the Lord, in whom is the fulness of all wisdom and knowledge. When we come to this state, we shall be prepared for that rest which remains for the people of God. It is not to keep one day in seven; for every day is a sabbath. It will not constitute every day devils and sunday saints, whether we be engaged in our daily avocations, whether we walk by the way, whether we lie down or rise up, there will be a living concern on our minds to fulfill his righteousnesshis righteous law, the law of Christ inwardly revealed; this is the daily and the interminable sabbath which shall never end. And it is unto this state that all are called; and it was unto this state, it was designed that all should come. The election is within ourselves-we may choose or refuse. "Why will ye die, O house of Israel," said the prophet-life and death, good and evil are before you, therefore choose life and live ye.

When our minds are under the influence of this regulating principle, we come to the enjoyment of heaven-we come to experience a fortaste of immortality and eternal life. There is begotten in the soul through the operation of this light, an holy confidence, which all the powers of death, hell, and the grave can never prevail against. There will be no more doubting, fear, anxiety and despair in our souls

Our situation will be similar to that of the Apostle, when he was about to be offered upat the time of his departure, when his time was near at hand, he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto them also, that love the appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." When the mind is brought under this regulating influence, under that powerful baptising influence, which is the spirit of Christ, the power of God unto salvation-they have not only this holy confidence, but their life and conduct are regulated by it Preachers are led by it to be preachers in life and conversation, as well as in word and doctrine-setting a worthy example in all things; not as men making a high profession of religion, and acting inconsistent with their profession; but as faithful disciples labouring by example as well as precept to lead us into universal confidence and bonds of brotherhood -thus all discussions would come to an end, and differences would no more abound among men; but we should all be united in one great family. This brings in a millennial state, which has long been looked for by the Jews, very improperly to be brought about by some great