is not only figurative of the atonement which he made, but also expressive of his holy harmless nature; we scarce know any animal more inoffensive than a lamb; true emblem of the precious Lamb of God.

AND is not that the very appellation: which he gives to all his followers? they are in many places termed sheep, and he is called their shepherd; (a) and in some places they are termed lambs. (b) Now should not these sheep, these lambs express that very nature of which their names should be an emblem? Most certainly they ought; yes, to lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy and envies, and all evil speakings. As new born babes to desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby, seeing they have tasted that the Lord is gracious. They should put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, Above all put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. Thus also should the peace of God rule in their hearts, so that they may be thankful. Such tempers clearly shew to whom we belong, and into what Spirit we are baptized, a clear manifestation whose image and superscription we bear.

(a) Psalm xxiii. 1. - lxxx. 1. (b) Isaiah xl. 10.

Ezek. xxxiv. John x. John xxi. 15.

5. If we are conscious of giving any just occasion of offence, of injuring any one in word or deed, there should be a readiness to acknowledge the offence and also to put it away. While we are receiving the blessed seal of our pardon there must not be a continuing of the offence, well knowing that our blessed Saviour came not to save us in our sins, but to save us from them.

OR if we have received any injury or offence, there should be a readiness to forgive. Bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. Thus may you evidence yourselves to be the children of your Father who is in heaven. Then if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink, so shalt thou heap coals of fire on his head.

6. WE are called to examine what our intentions may be: how we intend to demean ourselves for the future. If we profess to dedicate ourselves to God in that divine ordinance, in what manner do we intend to live? Close examination will discover many things which have been amiss in the time past, and the discovery of those fatal by-paths should be a sufficient inducement to shun them, and this calls for a holy resolution so to do. Thus we find the psalmist resolving to take heed unto his

ways that he might not offend. (a) But, then, remember, there must be a taking hold of divine strength, or our resolutions will be like a thread when it is touched by the fire. Through Christ strengthening me, I can do all things; but, truly, of myself I can do nothing. No; I must be strengthened by his spirit's might in the inner man, so shall I prevail, and be more than conqueror through him who loved me.

WE see in that admirable song of thanksgiving, the eighteenth psalm, all the victories which the psalmist had obtained, the honour is entirely ascribed to the living God. Hence he compounds a bright assemblage of epithets taken from the differ-.. ent weapons of war, and applies them to his Almighty helper. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

THUS will glory be given to whom it is justly due, and that is to Jacob's mighty God. Indeed we are sufficiently apprized of that in the case of Israel of old. For though they had just taken Jericho, and, flushed with victory, marched to Ai, with very great confidence; but sin, prevarication, having crept in among them, Jehovah was displeased, and he drew back his help

(a) Psalm xxxix. 1.

ing hand; and what was the consequence? they were smitten and fled from before the men of Ai: Wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water. (a) The true image of ourselves. And on the other hand, what could withstand them when the Lord was on their side? Nothing. Nations and kingdoms gathering together were nothing, he who sitteth in the heavens laughed them to scorn; the Lord had them in derision. Such a series of conquests I defy any other history for exhibiting as we meet with in the tenth chapter of Joshua: the different kingdoms were taken as soon, almost, as the army could march to them; and the whole mystery is unfolded in the forty-second verse, viz. Because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Thus let Israel's God be my God and through him I shall prevail; yea I shall overcome all by the blood of the Lamb.

FROM hence we see the exceeding great privileges of the gospel dispensation. How cheap, simple and easy are the ordinances? And how well are they calculated to express their great ends and designs? What a yoke of trouble and expence were the rites and ceremonies under the law? A yoke which neither we nor they could bear. (b) But indeed their end is fully accomplished; the great fulfiller of all the

(a) Joshua vii. 5. (b) Acis xv. 10:

types having appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; the glorious Sun of righteousness being risen, all those clouds are for ever dispersed.

WE have great reason to bless God for the reformation, though not so perfect as one could wish; yet many superstitious fopperies are abolished, and among the rest the abominable fiction of transubstantiation, by which the God of heaven was horribly insulted, and the simple people shamefully imposed upon; and for the denying of which idolatry many perished in the flames. But still, like the death of some destructive monster, whose vile carcase leaves an ill savour in the country round; so, though the beast of transubstantiation be slain, yet there is the dead carcase of consubstantiation, the image of the beast, if possible a more unintelligible jargon than the other, left behind. I have sometimes been asked, what is consubstantiation? But I really could never tell.-I can tell what they say it is; but such terms as admit of no rational ideas, it is hard to say what they mean. Nearly related to this is the formality of consecration, and by laying hands on the elements, and muttering a few words over them, we are taught to believe that some degree of holiness is communicated to the bread and wine; yea, though the consecrater is a very unholy man. Surely this is leaving the word of God to follow the