to God through Christ, escaping the terrors of the law by the converting influences of the Gospel. Head knowledge, however desirable it may be, will not save, without heart experience of the changing, moving, reviving power of Divine grace, drawing the soul out of the chaos of sinful darkness, into the glorious light of a holy life. Such a change is a turning from darkness to light; so great is it, that it was worthy of being called by the One who understood it best "a new birth." It is compared to a heart of stone being turned into a heart of flesh; old things having passed away, and all things being made new. The man is a "new creature" in Christ.

3. There is also a deliverance from slavery "and from the power of Satan unto God."

In the time of Christ and His apostles evil spirits took bodily possession of many. In every age the devil, as a "strong man armed," keeps his palace in the hearts of the ungodly, and works "in the children of disobedience," agitating their corruptions, and blinding their minds. He "leads them captive at his will," "going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Christ, through the Gospel, breaks the devil's yoke. He strikes off his chains from the limbs of his captives. Having "overcome him, he taketh from him his armour in which he trusted, and divideth his spoils." The snare is broken and the captive is free. Souls are thus turned from Satan to God. They are brought to God to seek His favour, to obtain His peace through the Saviour, to delight in Him as the greatest good, to submit to His rules, and to enjoy that liberty wherewith He makes him free.

Let us observe

II. The happy results of the mission when faithfully discharged. When this change has been effected the subjects "receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified." What worldly wealth can purchase, what human heart can conceive, what angelic mind can com

prehend the worth of these results? They comprehend all that an intelligent creature can need or desire-all that a Divine Being can please to bestow.

1. There is "forgiveness of sins," which means that God passes by the sinner without striking him. He has deserved the stroke of His offended justice, he has deserved the infliction of irremediable destitution and woe: but instead of giving him his deserts, God graciously removes the curse from him, He scatters away the frowning cloud that was suspended over his head, and smiles upon him from His throne of glory as if he had ever been decked with innocence without a stain. Oh! brethren, who can tell the blessedness of forgiveness? It is the bearing away of the millstone of sin that was hung around the neck of the sinner; it is the removing of the load of guilt that was crushing down the mind: it is the washing off of the stains of corruption that was blackening the soul with the darkest hues it is the Father running to meet the prodigal son, falling upon his neck, kissing him, taking him home to His house and to His bosom, reinstating him in his original state of relationship, and making every provision for his comfort, his happiness, and his exaltation. Forgiveness leads the van of the cavalcade which bears all the rich treasures that God has prepared for them that love Him. Happy the soul that has been forgiven! he can afford to smile at the storms of life, to "rejoice in tribulation," and to echo the sentiments of Habakkuk, "Although the figtree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stall: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

2. There is also an inheritance to be given to the subjects of this change. An inheritance whose earnest is given in this world, and its full possession bestowed in the world to come. Christ has promised that "the meek shall inherit the earth." Perhaps not many of them may have personal possession of

its broad acres, its rich mines, or its envied stores: but they shall have so much of it as will do them good, and they may enjoy more of its real happiness than those who boast themselves to be the owners of its wealthy treasures. Their inheritance here consists in peace of mind, in tranquillity of soul, in joy of heart, in the full satisfaction of God being their Father and Friend, in the full and certain hope of immortal bliss. What inheritance can be compared with this? The millionaire may roll along in his carriage, live in his gorgeous mansion, and be decked with jewels and pearls, but he is a miserable man in the midst of all his luxuries, if a stranger to the inward change; the pious pauper or beggar is a happier man than he. He is a richer man, for his mind is kept in perfect peace, being stayed upon God.

Beyond the confines of time, God's people look forward to "an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away." It is when they depart from earth they become of age, and are put in full possession as heirs to a throne, to a crown of glory, to an everlasting priesthood, being made "kings and priests unto God and His Father."

Then there is a blessed company with whom they are to enjoy the inheritance, "an inheritance among them which are sanctified." The enjoyment of property depends in a great measure upon those with whom you associate. How many a rich man's happiness has been destroyed for life by those with whom he is connected! In himself he might have been perfectly happy, so far as worldly happiness goes: but his family, his friends, his relations, his neighbours, are constant thorns in his side; he has no rest by day nor by night. Those who are sanctified are a happy family. They have been separated from the vile world, they have been separated from the practice of wickedness, and have been purified from the corruption of sin. In addition to Christ Himself and His holy angels, they consist of "the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs," together with all that

believe in Christ, from Abel, the first martyr, to the last saint that "shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trump."

III. We have to notice briefly the instrument by which this glorious result is to be obtained: "By faith that is in me." It is Christ that speaks. Faith in Christ is the only condition on our part by which we are made partakers of the blessings of the Gospel.

The soul is saved by a three-knotted cord: the love of God, the atonement of Christ, and the faith of the Christian. God has loved from eternity, Christ has made a full atonement for sin; the only incomplete portion, therefore, of salvation is the exercise of implicit faith in the love of God, through the atonement of Christ. Faith, then, is to be regarded as the sole instrument necessary to secure our salvation. It is not now within our province to enter into the nature and operations of faith. It is an absolute grace, without which "it is impossible to please God." Unassisted faith indeed will not avail, for unless it be exercised in dependence upon God's Spirit, it will be too weak, not being of the right sort. Unproductive faith will not do, for "faith without works is dead." There must, therefore, be a lively faith, implanted and fostered by the Holy Ghost; there must be an active faith, "working out our own salvation with fear and trembling;" there must be a self-denying faith, moved by no selfish motive, but having in view the glory of God and the welfare of man. Such a faith will win God's favour, such a faith will unite us to Christ, such a faith will commend us to angels and men, such a faith will procure for us an inheritance among them that are sanctified.

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The Fourth Sunday after Easter.

EVENING SERVICE.-First Lesson: Deut. vii.

Verse 22.-" And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little thou mayest not consume them at once."

EXTRAORDINARY positions involve extraordinary duties. The more prominent the position the harder will be the duties, and the greater will be the responsibilities connected therewith. When we are inclined to envy those who are in higher stations than ourselves, thinking that their dignity and grandeur contain all that heart can wish: we must remember that their duties are much more onerous than ours, and that they will have much more to answer for in the end. Many of those duties are unpleasant in their nature, and difficult of execution; because there must be a sacrifice of feeling as well as an exertion of resolution and energy to perform them.

The people of Israel, as being represented in this chapter, were prospectively placed in a most responsible, as well as honourable situation, being about to be led into the land of Canaan, where God intended to own them as His peculiar people, and to strike their terror into the hearts of the inhabitants of the land. When they entered there, however, He imposed upon them duties proportionate to their position. They were to avoid every connexion with the people: they were to destroy their idols, break down their altars, cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. More than this: they were to consume the people themselves. There was no pity to be felt, no mercy to be shown, no quarter to be given. To spare from any motive whatever would draw upon themselves the just retribution which their