brace each other." The Old Testament indeed declared Jehovah to be "a just God," and yet a "Saviour;" but it was reserved for the New clearly to discover how this could be-how infinite justice should be satisfied, while boundless mercy was exercised—namely, through the sacrifice of the Son of God in our nature for us. God hath set Him forth to be a propitiation-that he might be just, and yet "the justifier of" the sinner" that believeth in Jesus." "He was made sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

How blessed and delightful a view then does the text give us of the designs, and of the effects of the gospel. Through it "the eyes of the spiritually blind are opened; the ears of the spiritually deaf are unstopped, and their feet directed into the way of peace; it strengthens the weak hands, and confirms the feeble knees;" it saith, "to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; " to "the meek" it "increases joy in the Lord;" it teaches "the poor among men to rejoice in the Holy One of Israel;" yes, even in that holiness of the divine character, that abhorrence. of sin, which before was the terror and distress. of the mind.

All these effects it wrought in a glorious measure when it first went forth in the world; turning

men to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, even Jesus, their deliverer from the wrath to come. And these effects it still produces in its measure whenever it is truly received. And oh, how blessed are the effects! To see the mind that was hard, careless, worldly-regardless alike of divine threatenings and promises-that was "deaf" to admonition, and "blind" to its true interests: to see such a mind awakened, softened, humbledlistening to "the words of the Book"-" seeing out of obscurity and out of darkness "-discerning the truths of the Gospel, and embracing them in faith and love-quickened from death in trespasses and sins" alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord"-beginning to walk in

newness of life,”-going on "to rejoice in the Lord, to increase its joy in the Holy One of Israel: " filled with joy and peace in believing, and abounding in all the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God:" and thus giving evidence that its end shall be everlasting life. How blessed a spectacle is this to every one that loves God, and loves his neighbour! May it frequently be presented to our eyes! May every minister of Christ have very many such proofs, that his labour is "not in vain in the Lord!" And may

the gospel indeed go forth" into all the world," and every where bring forth these happy fruitstill the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

But, brethren, let it not content us to hear or read of such effects of the gospel on others: let us never rest without having them produced on ourselves. Are we conscious that hitherto our ears have been deaf to "the joyful sound" of the gospel, on which many around us set such value, and from which they profess to derive so great benefit? Have scriptural truths hitherto appeared to us involved, as it were, in mist, and confusion, and much "obscurity," so that we have regarded them as dark and doubtful, and have seen little or nothing of their glory? Have we never yet known what it was to find "joy in the Lord," and " to rejoice in the Holy One of Israel?" O let us no longer rest in that state! Blessings are close at hand to us, for the want of which we remain strangers to happiness, and without which we must shortly perish. O let us seek them! From this day forward let us resolve, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after." Let us so seek, and we shall assuredly find "the joy of God's salvation." Then we shall no longer rove through a barren world, "seeking rest and

finding none." We shall no longer be urging the endless inquiry, "Who will shew us any good?" we shall have found that which is good: and our only prayer shall still be, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us: " our thankful acknowledgment, "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and wine increased."

SERMON XVIII.

MALACHI 11. 18.

THEN SHALL YE RETURN, AND DISCERN BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED; BETWEEN HIM THAT SERVETH GOD, AND HIM THAT SERVETH HIM NOT.

THIS chapter, which nearly closes the Old Testament, foretels the coming of the Saviour, but intimates that it would be attended with other effects than were expected. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple: behold he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts, but who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth?" This was fulfilled when the Jews rejected their long-expected Messiah, and when, in consequence, "wrath came upon them to the uttermost." spoken of as evil, but a righteous remnant would be found who would associate together, for mutual counsel and edification, and their conduct is marked with the peculiar approbation of heaven. "Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to

The times are