ence to the command of the Gospel, we are to lay hold by faith on the sacrifice of Christ, pleading its all-availing merit, and confidently expecting pardon and salvation for its sake. Let me admonish you, my brethren, that you make as great a mistake as ever men can commit, if you think you have nothing to do in the house of God but to sit and hear,-even though what you hear be ever so scriptural and excellent. You come hither to transact a very serious business :-you come hither to tender your confessions to Almighty God, to offer up your prayers for His mercy, to put Him in mind of His own. covenant, and to claim humbly what only through Christ can become yours, the blessings of that covenant. The feelings which should actuate you in this transaction are beautifully described in the following verses :—

"With solemn faith we offer up,

And spread before Thy glorious eyes,
That only ground of all our hope,

That precious bleeding sacrifice,

Which brings Thy grace on sinners down,
And perfects all our souls in one.

"Father! behold Thy dying Son,

And hear the blood that speaks above:

On us let all Thy grace be shown,—

Peace, righteousness, and joy, and love;

Thy kingdom come to every heart,

And all Thou hast, and all Thou art.” *

This leads me to remark,

(4.) Sincere worshippers are about the Lord, as beggars crowd about a well-known benefactor, to solicit and receive a supply of their wants.-We all want many things beside the pardon of sin and deliverance from wrath; and public supplication, grounded on the sight and sense of these wants, is an essential part of public worship. Of this we have impressive illustration in various passages of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple.t We come hither to

pray for blessings temporal, and especially for blessings spiritual; for the daily renewing of the Holy Ghost; for wisdom and consolation, for power and victory, for grace and glory. We have likewise many family wants, and many social and collective ones: we have wants and solicitudes for our friends, for our country, and for our kind. No man should come to the house of God with all his thoughts centred on himself. We come hither as fellow-creatures; and draw near to our common Creator with intercessions for each other, and for all sorts and conditions of men. And we have no want, for ourselves or others, which He is not both able and willing to supply, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. May we never neglect this branch of our devotional duty! This house is not likely to want a hearing congregation: may it always have a praying congregation!

(5.) Sincere worshippers are about the Lord, as children are wont to be about their father and friend, in the intercourse of domestic society, to express their affection and gratitude, and to hold delightful communion with him.-Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him; and, in His gracious dealings toward them, connects with the majesty of the supreme Potentate all the winning sweetness and all the condescending familiarity of the indulgent Parent. This intimacy of endearing intercourse, this freedom of unfettered access, they peculiarly experience in many of the ordinances of His house. Then, by the Spirit of adoption which dwells in them, they cry, "Abba, Father;" and come even to His seat, and order their cause before Him. Filled with holy admiration and gratitude, they appeal to Himself for the sincerity of their devotion; and exclaim, "Lord! Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I cannot praise Thee as I would, nor serve Thee as I ought or as I desire to do; Thou knowest much that is amiss in me, in these and other respects. But Thou knowest all things; and this, therefore, Thou knowest-Thou knowest that I love Thee!" He accepts with complacency the overflowings of their filial love, and

meets them with renewed expressions of His paternal tenderness and favour. He manifests Himself unto them as He does not unto the world; and truly their fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.-Finally,

(6.) Sincere worshippers are about the Lord, as servants are about their master, or soldiers about their commander, to receive his orders, and to execute his pleasure.-Perhaps there is some allusion in the text to the encampments of the Israelites in the wilderness. The several tribes were stationed in a particular order round about the tabernacle, which was the special residence of Jehovah's glory at that period of the legal dispensation. Now, one great purpose of their being thus about the Lord was, certainly, the prompt and effectual regulation of their marches and their halts. They looked to the tabernacle, and the Cloud which covered it, for direction, and implicitly obeyed the direction thus received. Of this you will find plain proof in the ninth chapter of the Book of Numbers, from the fifteenth verse to the end. Thus, at v. 17, we read: "When the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents." And at v. 23: "At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses." In imitation of the Israelites, we, my brethren, should make a practical use of the tabernacle of our God, and of all the instructions and ordinances with which we are favoured. Our attendance is not to terminate in the acceptance of Divine truth, nor in that mere temporary enjoyment which is the immediate result of devotional feelings. When we have heard, and understood, and approved, and enjoyed, we must then prepare ourselves to obey. Thus our profiting will appear unto all men; and by the increased purity of our tempers and conduct, and by our visible improvement. in all holy living, our families and neighbours will take

SERMONS.

SERMON I.

GOD IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS.

PREACHED AT THE OPENING OF ST. PHILIP'S CHapel,
BRISTOL; AND ON SEVERAL SIMILAR OCCASIONS.

PSALM lxxxix. 7.

GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS, AND TO BE HAD IN REVERENCE OF ALL THEM THAT ARE ABOUT HIM.

AMONG the innumerable misconceptions which prevail in every age on the subject of religion, there is not one more completely without foundation in fact than that which leads men to consider it as inconsistent with cheerfulness, and as only productive of melancholy and gloom. Such views of the character and ways of God are in direct opposition to truth. For the kingdom of God is not only righteousness and peace, but joy in the Holy Ghost. Holy joy is a constituent part of genuine piety; a neverfailing fruit of that Spirit of faith and adoption which dwells in the hearts of saints; a passion of our sanctified nature, which it is our duty, not to repress, but to cherish and indulge.

This joy, with which it is the privilege of such as walk with God to rejoice evermore, is, however, excited and