His

more conformed to the mind and will of God. He separates himself from sin; not only from those sins which are external, or which are of bad repute among men; but from those of the heart, and from those which are sanctioned by the opinion and custom of the world. aim is to be "holy, even as God is holy;" and while he daily feels and laments his own imperfections, he daily seeks forgiveness of them, and grace to help him to serve his God with increasing diligence, and with augmented accuracy.

And, here my brethren, let me call upon you seriously to inquire, whether you are thus "walking in newness of life?" You profess to believe that Jesus died for the sins of man, and that all your hope of escaping the just wrath of God, must be traced to his mercy, through the sacrifice offered upon the cross by his incarnate Son. But remember, I pray you, that the scripture teaches, that he died not only to redeem you from the punishment of sin, but also, to redeem you from all iniquity, and to purify you unto himself, that you might be "zealous of good "works." As he died for sin, so you are bound by your christian profession to die to sin-to cease to seek or find pleasure in itto renounce it, and to be daily watching against

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it. You believe that "Christ was raised by "the glory of the Father;" and therefore you are also "to walk in newness of life." Have you experienced this? Have you learned to seek your happiness from God and heavenly things, to desire the favour of the Most High, above every other blessing-are you willing to renounce whatever might interfere with your obtaining it, and to practice all those things, which you know and believe to be pleasing to your God, without turning aside on account of the temptations and trials which may assail you? If this effect be not produced upon you, your professed belief in the death and resurrection of the Redeemer, can never profit you. The work he performed upon earth, has, as yet, been of no advantage to you; you are now living destitute of the favour of your God, and are going down to the grave, without one well-grounded expectation of a glorious immortality.

But let us again remember, that we are taught in scripture to regard the resurrection of Christ, as a pledge and assurance of the certainty of our own resurrection. He was once "crucified in weakness"-but he now "liveth by the power of God"-" all power in “heaven and earth is given to him," and he himself tells us that "the hour is coming, in

"which all that are in the graves shall hear his

voice, and shall come forth; they that have "done good, to the resurrection of life; and "they that have done evil, unto the resurrection "of condemnation."1 If then, my brethren, you now refuse to walk in newness of life if you persevere in forgetfulness of your God, and in transgression against him; how will you appear, when the judge shall come in his glory, and you shall hear his voice summoning you to stand at his bar; when you shall be constrained to give your account before him, and he shall denounce upon you the awful sentence of unavoidable and everlasting condemnation? Consider these things, I pray you; and while yet the exalted Saviour appears upon his mercy-seat, waiting to be gracious, approach him in humble prayer. Beg of him to pardon all your past offences, and to bestow upon you the purifying, enlightening, sanctifying grace of his Holy Spirit, that henceforth you may serve and please him in newness of life.

But, if you have reason to hope, that by the grace of God you have been taught to "walk "in newness of life;" then reflect how much you owe to him, who hath opened the eyes of

' John v, 28, 29.

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your understanding to perceive your own real interest: and let this consideration excite you to thankfulness; and be encouraged to perseverance in the good and the right way, by remembering that the newness of life, in which the christian is here taught to walk, is the preparation for, and the very beginning of that everlasting life of perfect purity, holiness, and blessedness, in which he shall to eternity dwell with his Saviour to feast upon his love to enjoy his unmixed favour-and to contemplate all his infinite goodness. Let the anticipation of that period, lead you to devote yourselves to more entire diligence in preparation for it; and thus be steadfast, unmoveable, always " abounding in the work of the Lord, foras"much as ye know that your labour is not in "vain in the Lord."

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! 1 Cor. XV, 58.

SERMON IX.

THE SIN AND DANGER OF GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

EPHESIANS iv, 30.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.'

THE doctrine of the influence of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of men, is one against which a variety of objections have been raised; but it is so clearly and decidedly set forth in the scriptures, that no one, who, in simplicity and godly sincerity, endeavours to draw his religious opinions from that sacred fountain, can do otherwise than receive it. Indeed, the manner in which the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (which we now commemorate,) was promised by our Lord, in his parting address to his disciples, shews that he considered the doctrine of the divine