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rently presume to offer up one prayer for your fellow-servant of our God.

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require; even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his Temple."

SERMON X.

FAITH BY THE WORD OF GOD.

ROMANS X. 17.

SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

THUS truly does the Apostle state the nature of faith, or in other words, of belief in the truth of any circumstance whatever. Be it related in the records of History, or verbally communicated for our information, "faith cometh by hearing."

And more peculiarly so cometh religious faith, or belief; of which St. Paul here writes to the Roman converts to Christianity.Which is defined by our Apostle in the eleventh Chapter of his Epistle to the Hebrews thus.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report."

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that things which are seen, were not made of things which do appear."

The most ancient History in the whole World is beyond all doubt that contained in the Old Testament; called by way of emphasis, the Bible, or the Book. For its authenticity has been for so many Ages firmly established; and its prophecies even now are hourly fulfilling: that such a title most justly belongs to the Book containing the inspired words of God.

In its very first pages we find the covenant between God, and man. That One Almighty Lord of all Worlds, visible and invisible; created this beauteous World, and all that it contains.

He then made man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into him a living soul; giving him dominion over all other animals. To be a help meet for him, God then made woman; and, blessing their union, instituted the sacred rite of marriage. That bond of

peace and happiness, wherever its blessed ties are kept united by virtue, truth, and love: which never fail to insure happiness in this life; peace, and immortal joys, in that which

is to come.

From Adam and Eve descended all mankind. They were honoured by the personal presence, and conversation of their great Creator; until by sin they lost that glorious privilege.

For "God is a Spirit, and they who worship Him must worship Him in spirit, and in truth." And His eyes are too pure to behold impurity.

Mercy being one of the great attributes or perfections of that All-wise, and Almighty, Creator of the Universe; He, even in awarding a just punishment upon their ungrateful disobedience, gave to His erring creatures future hopes of restoration to His favour.

Hopes which are bequeathed to all men living, as being all the descendants of the first man, and woman; with whom the Lord their God made an everlasting Covenant.

Such is the ground-work of our Christian Faith; for "faith cometh by hearing :" our Fathers have transmitted to us what they

heard; and we ought, as carefully, and conscientiously, to hand down to our children this "hearing by the word of God."

Now the great beauty of the Christian Religion is the majestic simplicity of its Truth. And our. Divine Master, himself, commands us to "search the Scriptures, for in them are contained all things necessary for Salvation."

The Son of God well knew, that whosoever does search the Scriptures, with a fair, and candid enquiry, cannot fail to perceive their Truth. And Truth, once discovered, is mighty, and will prevail.

When once a good man is convinced, in his own mind, that his present happiness, and future welfare, entirely depend upon a strict obedience to God's will, and commandments he will endeavour to frame his life accordingly.

Persevering in integrity, he soon feels the balms of true Religion; and rising superior to mere worldly interests, without neglecting any social duty; his soul holds mental converse with his God.

Scripture teaches him that God is about his paths, and about his bed, and spieth out

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