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gestion is to be made, that RESIGNATION TO GOD'S HOLY WILL Must be added to the humble use of all the means of grace. For, wherefore should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? God's ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts. To reach heaven at last, though under whatever dejection, is infinitely better than a soothing and easy path to hell. Salvation is a blessing inestimably precious. The sorrows of the way to glory, if you be duly exercised by them, and patience has in you its perfect work, will heighten the joy of that ineffable happiness. You are thus preparing for the inheritance of the saints in light. God, by his inflictions, may perhaps be humbling you and fitting you for more important services on earth. Only raise your heart to God, and fix your love and humble trust on your Saviour. All things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. It was the lot even of the Apostles of our Lord, through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore hold up the hands that hang down and confirm the feeble knees. For what saith Jehovah to his people? Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

In conclusion, allow me to observe to IRRELIGIOUS PERSONS,

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That, though they may amuse themselves and others with the dejection which sincere Christians may endure, yet they have little reason to boast. They are free from religious fears, because they are without religion. The fears of a pious man are frequently ungrounded; but those of an ungodly one, though now they may be repressed, will overtake him at the last with tenfold force. A careless life must lead to a wretched death. To be without the occasional depression to which the true Christian is often liable, might be well. But to be without his repentance, his faith, his love, his hope of heaven, his union with God, indicates a state of extreme and urgent peril. If there is a reasonable fear in the world, the unconverted man has cause to indulge it. His day of punishment is fast approaching; his impenitence and unbelief must be infinitely more displeasing to God than the infirmities and excessive apprehensions of his true servants. Let then the thoughtless person be awakened from his stupidity and seek after God. Let him fly for mercy to a Saviour. Then, and then only, will he be able to judge aright of the religious dejection of those, whom he now perhaps despises and contemns,

SERMON XVI.

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

PHILIPPIANS, II. 2.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

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MAN is better taught by example than by pre cept. He learns more by seeing another act, than by being told how to act himself. Hence the sincere servants of God are deeply grateful for the perfect model supplied to them by the holy life of their Lord and Saviour. They endeavour to walk, as he also walked. on the Lord Jesus Christ, in opposition to the making provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. They learn of Him, who left them an example that they should follow his steps. They aim, as the text expresses it, to have the same mind in them, which was also in Christ Jesus. We can scarcely, then, propose a more important subject for our consideration, than the excellencies of our Saviour's personal character. The theme, however, is so copious, that the difficulty lies in the selection of topics. Still

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we must consider it in its detail, if we would derive any real benefit for our own conduct. As the ray of light must be divided by means of the prism, before the various colours which are mingled in it to form the perfect white, can be duly observed; so we must examine the separate virtues of our blessed Master, in order to gain a complete conception of the different graces which are united in the perfect whole, I propose then to notice,

I. Some of the distinct qualities of our Lord's character.

II. The combination and harmonious conjunction of these qualities.

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III. The loveliness of the whole, and its suitableness to us as an example..

Let us consider,

I. SOME OF THE DISTINCT QUALITIES OF OUR LORD'S CHARACTER.

We may begin by noticing the extraordinary SPIRIT OF DEVOTION which adorned our blessed Saviour. When twelve years of age, he was engaged in the Temple with the doctors, in his Father's business. When he entered on his public ministry, he committed himself in solemn prayer to God. Before he chose his twelve Apostles, as well as at his Transfiguration, he spent a considerable time in devotion. During his ministry he resorted to the synagogue on

the Sabbath. He devoutly referred every act of his life and ministry-his mission, his doctrine, his miracles, his sufferings, his resurrection, to the will and appointment of his Father. He honoured the word of God by reasoning from it, appealing to it, and exhorting his followers and others to search into and obey it. He encouraged a spirit of prayer in his disciples by commanding them to pray, and by supplying them with a model of prayer. He sanctioned these encouragements to prayer by his own example; by going out into a desert place to pray, by rising up early, and by continuing all night in prayer to God; by pouring out earnest and frequent addresses to his heavenly Father as new exigencies arose; by his solemn intercessory supplication previous to his last sufferings; by his strong crying and tears during his agony; and by commending his soul to his Father as he expired on the cross.

His ZEAL, DILIGENCE, AND FORTITUDE, were equally remarkable. He was always in action, always in character, always a teacher, always waiting for opportunities of imparting instruction. He was the same person at the table of Matthew or the Pharisee, as in the synagogue or the temple. The zeal of God's house eat him up; and twice did he purge it from the profane uses by which the Jews had defiled it. Such was his ardour of mind, his earnestness,

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