commands of his God, who strives not to acquire a relish for these pleasures; more especially, too, when the pursuit of his own heart's desires secures no prospective enjoyment, but shall finally bring upon him "gall and bitterness of soul"? Let us not then trust to this world for that happiness which belongs to another! Let us "search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens. We have transgressed and rebelled:" "but to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him." Let us seek his forgiveness in penitence and prayer, and strive to retain it by " walking in those laws which he has set before us."

We shall do well to consider, that it is not to our condition here that the fruits of godliness are confined; they will eventually ripen into a consummate state of felicity hereafter. Godliness not only abridges the cares of this life, but secures to us the felicities of the next, where "God is so near, and the song is so glorious." This is the mighty inducement for us to seek after righteousness; and gracious God, is it possible that it should ever fail to be a sufficient inducement! Eternity is the reward held before our view. We are directed "so to run, that we may obtain ;" and everlasting glory is the stupendous prize. Let us not only look at the difficulties of the race, but at the glorious reward which awaits us when we

reach the goal. Though we are to strive for the reward, we should, nevertheless, bear in mind how well it is worth striving for. Our victory in the Christian warfare shall be distinguished by no fading garland-but from that thorny diadem, which lacerated the temples of a crucified Saviour, will be wreathed that "crown of glory" which shall encircle the brows of the children of the resurrection in his everlasting kingdom. It is not the beatitude of a season which shall be there enjoyed, but that of endless duration in eternity; and this, not in communion with imperfect, fallible men, but with "saints made perfect," with "angels and archangels," with "principalities and powers," with "Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant," and with "God, the Judge of all."

We know not, indeed, in what shall consist the bliss of the life future; still, to know only that there will be the absence of all suffering of whatever kind, is enough to give room for the conception of unbounded happiness. What a far greater latitude, however, is afforded to our conceptions of this state, when we are assured that this absence of suffering will be supplied by the presence of consummate and endless enjoyment! But if they shall be blessed, above the most exalted apprehensions of our confined faculties, who are finally called into this state of endless glory, let it also be recollected, that they who are excluded from it will be proportionably accursed. Let us remem

ber, that if Heaven be not the reward of our godliness, Hell must be the punishment of our guilt. The alternative is before us, and whilst we bear in mind this awful truth, we shall ever feel satisfied that we cannot be without sufficient motives to be "followers of that which is good."

Σ

SERMON XI.

ON THE FEAR OF GOD.

PROVERBS, 1. 7.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

"the

FROM these words, we may assume, that the wise author of the Proverbs looked upon Fear of the Lord" as the foundation of all wisdom; and justly so, because it leads to the grand end of all human endeavours, namely, the ultimate happiness of man. It disposes us to take a just view of our own fallen and utterly dependent state; it leads us to contemplate the Deity in all his stupendous attributes; to love his mercy, to adore his goodness, and to fear his power. We find in Scripture that we are frequently commanded to fear the Lord, and that the blessings of his Providence are promised to them that obey this injunction. We are also commanded to love Him, and the same blessings are promised to them that