from neglecting to appreciate the mighty favour conferred on them by Christ, in deigning to permit them to plead His righteousness instead of their own, with his offended Father, that the notion of Christian practice among the bulk of nominal Christians, is so generally servile, base, and mercenary. They give no more than they dare not withhold; they abstain from nothing but what they must not practice. In short, they know Christianity only as a system of restraints. She becomes despoiled of every liberal and generous principle. She is rendered almost unfit for the social intercourses of life, and is only suited to the gloomy walls of that cloister, in which they would confine her. But true Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude. Theirs is accordingly not the stinted return of a constrained obedience, but the large and liberal measure of a voluntary service. The doctrine, therefore, of the text, that the "Lord is our righteousness," instead of inspiring its advocates with presumption or apathy, effectually guards them against both; the deepest humility must surely spring from the consideration, that such is the guilt and depravity of man, that nothing but the righteousness of a divine person, can atone for it; and under this persuasion, what can so effectually stimulate his exertions to the attainments of a virtuous and religious life, as a zeal for His service and glory who has done and suffered so much to give these ex: ertions efficacy and value. This principle, therefore, it is, which animates the true Christian in all the practical duties of life. With respect to himself, it renders him cautious, circumspect, and diffident. With respect to others, benevolent and useful. He who deigns to be his righteousness, becomes the pattern of his outward conduct, and in his retired and happier hours, this principle it is that inspirits his devotion, and causes him to delight in the wor ship of God, that fills him with consolation, and peace, and

gladness, and sometimes even enables him "to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

For, (to speak in the nervous, though somewhat antiquated language of the judicious Hooker,) it must indeed prove a subject of ineffable consolation to every person conscious of imperfection and guilt, that "the righteousness, wherein we must be found, if we will be justified, is not our own, therefore we cannot be justified by any inherent quality. Christ has merited righteousness for as many as are found in him. In him God findeth us, if we be faithful; for by faith we are incorporated into Christ. Then," (continues he)" although in ourselves we be altogether sinful and unrighteous; yet even the man who is impious in himself, full of iniquity, full of sin; him being found in Christ through faith, and having his sin remitted through repentance; him God upholdeth with a gracious eye; putteth away his sin by not imputing it; taketh quite away the punishment due thereunto by pardoning it; and accepteth him in Christ Jesus as perfectly righteous, as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law. Shall I say more perfectly righteous, than if himself had fulfilled the whole law? I must take heed what I say; but the Apostle saith, God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Let it "be counted folly, or frenzy, or fury, whatsoever. It is our comfort and our wisdom: we care for no knowledge in the world but this, that man hath sinned, and God hath suffered; that God hath made himself the Son of man, and that men are made the righteousness of God." To this commentary upon the text, pronounced by one of the greatest lights of our Church, I shall not presume to add a single observation.

Wherefore, to conclude, let them who with penitent hearts have humbled themselves before the cross of Christ, and who plead his righteousness and death as their only ground of pardon and acceptance with God, resolve hence

forth, through the help of his Spirit, to bring forth the fruits of this righteousness. Let them, who would indeed be Christians, watch over their ways and over their hearts with unceasing circumspection, and above all things, maintain that sobriety of spirit and tenderness of conscience, which are eminently characteristic of the true Christian. It is by this unceasing diligence, as the Apostle declares, that the servants of Christ must make their calling sure. Their labour will not be thrown away; for an "inheritance shall," at length, "be ministered unto them abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." To whom, with the Father, and Holy Ghost, &c. &c. &c.

9*

SERMON VIII.

CHRISTIANITY THE WISDOM OF GOD.

"WE SPEAK WISDOM TO THOSE WHICH ARE PERFECT."-1 Cor. ii. 6.

Ir appears from a view of the context, and the general drift of the Apostle's discourse in this place, that his meaning is, that however the more simple and obvious doctrines of Christianity, expounded in the plain and easy manner which he had adopted, might appear to ignorant and carnal men as foolish and unreasonable; yet the whole doctrine fully disclosed unto perfect men, that is, to men of sound understandings and upright hearts, would appear in the light of exalted wisdom, calculated to effect the most glorious and important purposes, the honouring of God, and the salvation of man. Such, I conceive, to be the meaning of the Apostle in this place, which, by God's assistance, I shall endeavour to enforce in the following discourse.-For this purpose, I shall briefly lay before you some peculiar excellencies and perfections of our holy religion, which may serve to evince its wisdom and its truth, to establish its claim to an heavenly origin, and to show that it really is what St. Paul calls it, the wisdom of God, proceeding entirely from the God of truth and wisdom. The subject, indeed, is common; but the best subjects should always be so, and none, surely, can be better accommodated to the times in which we live, when infidelity, with giant steps, is progressing so rapidly over the civilized world. I beg