Him face to face, who is the health of our countenance and our God, and thus find all our hopes in him realized by enjoying the happiness which he has prepared for those who love him. To this happy result of things, the whole system. and aspect of Christianity, in perfect unison with all our best and sublimest sentiments, are invariably directed. The more this blessed system is investigated and understood, the more clearly will it appear to be the only foundation of that hope, which is spoken of in the text. Many philosophers, indeed, have recommended a course of virtuous conduct from its intrinsic excellence, its influence on the happiness of society, from the hope of rewards, and the dread of punishments in another world. But all their reasonings are hypothetical-that is to say, they are founded upon a supposition, which reason alone can never substantiate. The arguments which they bring forward to instruct us in the momentous concerns of eternity, are so subtle, so indecisive, so equivocal, and their descriptions of the scenes to which they refer for the consummation of our hopes, or our fears, are so sensual and so low, that they have little or no effect on the lives and hearts of men. It is the prerogative of our divine Saviour alone to bring "life and immortality to light by the Gospel." This glorious and godlike privilege, which dignifies and distinguishes our race, and bids us hope in our Creator as the health of our countenance, is not darkly insinuated, but clearly revealed; not hinted superficially in a few ambiguous phrases; but interwoven with all the doctrines of the Gospel, with all its precepts and all its promises, confirmed by the resurrection of its Divine Teacher from the dead, and exemplified by his accession, as our representative, and "forerunner to the right hand of the majesty on high." Thus is he the salvation of all the ends of the earth, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel. His doctrine is "gold tried in the fire,” which “maketh rich and addeth no sorrow ;" the balm which heals the wounded "in spirit,”

and the anchor of hope to wavering and inconstant mortals. His " grace is sufficient for us, and his strength is made perfect in our weakness," his word is "a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our path; and his name ever was and ever shall be," precious to them that believe." Of such, each one may always say with the Psalmist, O my soul, hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God." And now to God the Father, &c. &c.

SERMON XX.

THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD.*

AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.-Acts ii. 4.

THE astonishing manner in which the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, and the extraordinary gifts which he conferred upon them, appear to be less surprising than the moral effect, the decided change which it produced in their hearts and conduct. He triumphed in them, over the spirit of the world, to which they had hitherto been subjected. As the Holy Spirit of intelligence and wisdom, he dispels the darkness, and corrects the mistakes occasioned by worldly prejudices. As the spirit of council and strength, he reanimates their courage, and banishes that pusillanimity and cowardice, which the world is apt to inspire. As the spirit of devotion, he deadens the ardours of worldly attachments, and kindles the pure and celestial fires of divine love. Is this triumph of God's Spirit realized in our hearts, my brethren? To the conscience of each individual it belongs, to answer candidly this question. But surely it can escape the observation of none of us, that ignorance and error, false shame and timidity, the love of pleasure, and the fascination of trifles, are very frequent and conspicuous among mortals, and that worldly-mindedness sways many a heart, which the Spirit of God is desirous of sanctifying. But, that I may not be accused of un

[* This was the author's last sermon, preached in St. Mary's Church, Burlington, on Whitsunday, May 26, 1833.]

founded and professional declamation, permit me to aim at unfolding the ideas which, perhaps, you already entertain on this subject! The method I would pursue, is plain and obvious, and is simply this :-if your consciences tell you that God's Spirit creates in you a resemblance to the Apostles, then are you influenced by this Holy Spirit. But if you experience within yourselves a conformity with worldly men, destitute of the religious principle, or faintly cherishing it, then are you guided by the spirit of the world. To enable you to decide this important question, my intention is to show, in the first place, how the Spirit of God triumphed, in the Apostles, over the spirit of the world; and in the second place, how the spirit of the world banishes the Holy Ghost from the hearts of men. To the discussion of these two points, I solicit your attention at present, and may God accompany it with the most salutary impressions. And thou, O Holy Spirit, who by a prodigy peculiarly the effect of thy power, didst form in the Apostles new hearts and new desires, deign to descend upon this Christian assembly, and to renew among us this miracle of thy grace. Cause us to perceive distinctly, by what Spirit we are influenced, and if, indeed, the worldly spirit actually reign in our hearts, if thy enemies prevail there, O may this holy festival be the date of thy triumph; and of thy perpetual habitation among us!

I. The holy Scripture exhibits this world to us under the image of an inconstant figure, passing rapidly away. By this single line of the heavenly pencil, is represented to us the hateful group of frivolous desires, of deceitful hopes, of unjust animosities, of vicious attachments, which crowds the picture of human life. Here we see delineated the general principle of human actions; the fatal effects of that selfishness which forms the most prominent feature of a worldly spirit. We need not go far to look for proofs of the almost universal prevalence of this principle. We behold

it influencing the Apostles themselves. Men apparently but little calculated to figure in the world; trained moreover by the maxims of eternal wisdom. Witnesses of Christ's miracles, and taught by his example, still more powerfully than by his lessons, suffer themselves, neverthe. less, to be fascinated by worldly principles. Although they be the followers and the companions of Jesus, we find them subject to many weaknesses of human nature. We find false zeal and bigotry, and a love of pre-eminence still rankling in their hearts. To the Holy Spirit it belongs to purify them. In this, his work is truly conspicuous. This admirable change can proceed only from him. For, who, in fact, are these men, whose conversation and conduct breathe nothing now but moderation and charity? Are they not the very same, who would lately have called down fire from heaven upon an unbelieving people? What is now become of that fiery and sanguinary zeal, which considered every difference in religious opinions as a sufficient ground for enmity and aversion? What are now the sons of Zebedee? how is their ambition converted into disinterested heroism? One of them,* after triumphing over the persecutions of the synagogue, gloriously sheds his blood in testimony of his mission the other† has left it doubtful which we are most to admire, the example of his courage and charity, or the excellency of his writings. Here we behold Thomas proclaiming aloud the wonders which he had refused to believe. There Paul, from a persecutor, becomes a doctor of the Church; the Apostle and martyr of a religion, which he had been zealous to destroy. Emboldened by the Holy Ghost, he defies all the powers of heaven and earth to separate him from the love of his Saviour. What is now become of those men, who had cherished the flattering hopes of a brilliant fortune; who could not dissemble their impatient expectation of an earthly kingdom? See them now