"This promise is to be realised by trusting in him. There is the grace of faith, and the act of faith. The former is absolutely the gift of God; by it he shields us from all our foes. The latter is exercised by ourselves; and it is to this act our text refers. This is "the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Without such a trust, religion could supply no solid, no abiding peace. The Christian's fortress lies behind the veiled spiritual world; and nothing can behold it but that faith which is "the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." This is the faith which gives a consoling impetus to the promise of Jehovah. "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."

PERORATION.

In conclusion, let me briefly apply what has been said. You have heard of the perfection of God's way. You are convinced of it. Perhaps you have often admired it. But this is not enough. Have you walked in that way? A contemplation of the perfections of Jehovah may elevate your thoughts and spiritualize your affections. But this is vain, unless it influence your daily walk with God. Let God's way be your constant example. "For this is the way, walk ye in it.”

2. You have heard of the trial of God's word. Perhaps you never doubted its authenticity; and the argument advanced this morning may have only established your confidence in its excellence. But let me ask you, has that word been tried in your conversion; and can you this day clasp it to your heart as the "perfect law of liberty?" If not, you have never fully proved it. O, my brethren, doubt not the fulness of grace, held forth in this blessed

Gospel. Others have tried it, and their ransomed spirits sing joyfully to the God of their salvation. You may try it, and try it now, and prove that it is "the power of God unto the salvation of every one that believeth."

3. You have heard that God is a "buckler to all that put their trust in him." If you are of the accepted children, rely upon the strong arm of your deliverer-he is mighty to save. If you are yet in unbelief, oh, bring thy soul to the cleansing laver of the atoning blood. Roll thy burden in humble faith upon the sacrifice of Christ; then shalt thou know the value of this promise; and thy inmost soul will exclaim," Blessed are all those that trust in him." May God impress his truth upon every heart for Christ's sake!

EXORDIUM.

These words, and the chapter in connexion with them, form a sublime doxology of David to God, after a series of gracious deliverances from the hand of his enemies. It would appear that the Psalmist, having now arrived at a late period of life, indulges in a grateful retrospect of the mercies that had crowned his path. He saw in the perils of his complicated history, the treacherous usurpation of his son Absalom frustrated by a dreadful death; and his frequent escapes from the jealousy of the tyrant Saul, whose malice he survived. These, with the conquest of many heathen nations, and the eventual establishment of the throne he now occupied in peace, led him with joy to recount the tender mercies and providential care of God. The words of our text are not a burst of unmeaning enthusiasm: they are the sincere acknowlegments of a calmly contemplative mind. You may observe a beautiful dependence between each of these clauses. The perfection of

God's way recommending his word; and the trial of that word enforcing the promise of protection to his saints. The eulogiums passed upon some conquerors are fulsome and imaginary. Lest this should be suspected of David's doxology, we shall examine its parts carefully, and then submit the whole to your candid judgment.

Yorkville, 20th July, 1850.

SERMON LV.

PRACTICAL HOLINESS ESSENTIAL TO THE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH.

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."-John iii. 17.

"If any man will do his will," or, as the words may be translated, "If any man be willing to do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." The doctrine of our text is—that practical holiness is essential to a perfect knowledge of religious truth. In demonstrating this proposition, we shall 1st consider Christian practice, as strengthening all other arguments in favour of the doctrines of Christianity; and 2ndly, as furnishing a class of evidence peculiar to itself.

I. In the first place we view practical holiness as

strengthening all other arguments in support of Christianity. You are aware that some of the evidences of our holy religion appeal so powerfully to intellectual man, that candid reason cannot resist their force. And yet, even in these evidences, there is a beauty and power indescribable by any but the experimental Christian. Nor does this make Christianity assume a suspicious aspect, to say that none but the subjects of its influence can fully test its

truth and Divine excellence. For if it be objected that they are partial to the doctrines of their profession, we can retort, that unbelievers are partial to the ways of sin. In the study of any science, we must be predisposed for it by a natural taste; and our proficiency in learning will be proportionate to the influence of this peculiar bias. But as man in his natural state has no taste or inclination for the things of God, it follows that the soul, renewed in righteousness, when prepared by spiritual faculties and dispositions, must in its sacred researches far surpass the superficial knowledge of the merely intellectual Christian.

1. The existence, character, and attributes of God are displayed in the works of nature. They are stamped with incontrovertible evidence of his wise and benevolent designs. And were man unbiased by sin, the spontaneous acknowledgment of every rational mind would be, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." The natural world may be studied by man in three different ways. It may be regarded as the only revelation of the Divine will; or it may be regarded as a very imperfect revelation of that will; and yet the evidences which it does contain may not be sufficiently understood; or it may be regarded in its true character, as revealing much of the wisdom and power of Jehovah, and verifying the clear revelations of the inspired volume: and it may be contemplated with grateful admiration, so long as our opinions and feelings are held in