whatever may be their outward situation in this life, in the truest sense they may be said to inherit the earth. But we must not limit the promise to the present state. Besides the earth that now is, they shall also inherit the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Then, indeed, will the meek fully possess the earth which shall be purified from the effects of the fall, and become a fit habitation for the saints. Then shall they delight themselves in the abundance of peace; and shall stand before the Lord, and minister acceptably before him, and shall live and reign with him for ever and

ever.

In conclusion, let me address those, who though we may have reason to hope that they truly bear the name of Christians, yet we fear are often found to fail in that meek and quiet spirit which is so essential to the religion they profess. Those of whom we speak are in general young Christians. They have, perhaps, but

little experience, and have made but little progress in the path towards the heavenly Zion. They are weak in judgment, and transported with an impetuous zeal, and apt to do and say many things which older Christians disapprove, and of which they themselves afterwards find reason to be ashamed. Being persuaded, and perhaps truly, that they have found the right path, and that religion is, indeed, the one thing needful, they labour with more warmth than prudence to bring others to the same conviction. But though their intentions may be good, their attempts are often injudicious and ill-timed, and their arguments so ill suited to the temper and state of those with whom they converse, that they rather injure than promote the sacred cause of truth. The opposition they meet with heats their temper and provokes them to use unguarded expressions. Brethren, if you act thus, you disgrace the master of whose cause you would be cham

pions. Your zeal, though in his cause, is even sinful, if it overcomes your meekness and your charity; and you may be assured that if it proceed in this spirit, your endeavours will not be crowned with success. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. He does not need your anger or violence to accomplish his purposes; neither is it probable that he will vouchsafe to employ such instruments to effect his will or his designs of mercy. What, therefore, we would say to all we would say especially to you. "Put on,

brethren, beloved in the Lord, the meekness and gentleness of Christ." Remember that you are sinners, and at the best unprofitable servants; and you will then have compassion on the ignorant, you will seek in the spirit of meekness to restore those who may have gone astray, and show yourselves kind and gentle towards all men. And thus will you learn to put away wrath and evil tempers, and become conformed to the image of God, so

that you may be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints

in light.

40

SERMON IV.

ISAIAH liii. 7.

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth."

SUCH is the clearness of the prophecy of Isaiah, that he is deservedly called the evangelical prophet; and so minute and circumstantial is its conformity with the accounts contained in the Gospels, that were there not certain evidence of its haying been written more than seven hundred years before the coming of our Lord, we might, like an ancient disputer, suppose that it was a history of past events, instead of a prediction of future ones. The more