precious time. Are ye sensible that there is no work nor device in the grave whither ye are hastening? Are you convinced? Do you feel that ye are sinners? Then is it not necessary that ye should seek for a remedy? Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. Beware, lest your conscience gets lulled asleep again, and so you speak peace when there is no peace. It will be exceeding well to keep a sense of your disease till the cure is truly effected; till you feel redemption in the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of Your condition is something your sins. like the man-slayer under the law, who perceives the avenger of blood is at his heels; we may suppose such an one would not loiter on his way: a sense of his danger would add speed to his flight; nor could he think himself secure till he reached his asylum. Now the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. Mark, they run into it. Running implies exertion; so run that ye may obtain.

Awake to righteousness!

lf you have found the pearl of great price, if you have obtained a sense of the divine favour, you will find work enough to keep that which you have. Many, very many, and cruel are your enemies, who are seeking your ruin on every side; therefore watch ye; stand fast in the faith; quit yourselves like men; be strong. But if

you mean to retain what you have, it is highly necessary to encrease; for there is no standing still: if we gather not with our Lord we shall surely scatter abroad. Leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on unto perfection.

8. FINALLY, my brethren, such as have various troubles, crosses and tribulations, either in body or mind; let this comfort you, they will shortly have an end. Lazarus had his sickness, pain, contempt and poverty, for, perhaps, 30 or 40 years; but now he is comforted, has enjoyed that comfort for seventeen or eighteen hundred and shall enjoy it for ever. All his pains and sufferings are over, his tears are for ever wiped away.

years,

COURAGE then, ye suffering saints; your troubles will not be long; you shall drink of the brook by the way, and in the end shall lift up your head above all sorrows and temptations, cares and crosses, ages without end.

To conclude. The time is short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as though they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away.

SERMON V.

ON THE CRUCIFIXION.

Zech. xii. 10.

THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED, AND THEY SHALL MOURN.

SEARCH the Scriptures, said our bles

sed Lord, for they testify of me. (a) And after his resurrection he said to his disciples, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. (b) Many passages in the old testament have a twofold signification, one of which was accomplished prior to our Saviour's coming "into the world, and what we may call, a literal or

(a) John v. 39. (b) Luke xxiv. 44, 45.

F

historical meaning; the other was not fulfilled till the coming of the Messiah, and therefore what we call, an evangelical interpretation: such is the text which I have just read in your hearing, and the passage connected with it. Literally it refers to the captives in Babylon, and their deliverance. Their seventy years being accomplished, God raised them a deliverer in the person of Cyrus; he was to set them free. But previous to this liberation the Lord declares, I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication ; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn. That is, I will soften their stony and obdurate hearts, and they shall consider my mercies and loving kindness towards them, and their own base ingratitude and perfidy against me; and shall relent, and turn unto me whom they have grieved, and as it were pierced by their numerous provocations; and they shall mourn as one that mourneth for his only son; yea, it shall affect whole families and even whole tribes, so that it shall cause bitter wailing, and lamentation thoughout all the land; and then will I turn their captivity as the rivers of the south. This seems to be the primary sense of the words. It is true, they may look forward to a period which is not yet arrived, as I believe they do, when they, the Jews, shall

finally be gathered from all lands, and shall sincerely and with broken hearts return to their neglected and despised Redeemer, and shall see and love him whom they have repeatedly scorned and rejected.

BUT still, there is another meaning, a meaning which perhaps we should never have thought of, had not a new testament expositor been our guide. We are informed, that, when Christ was crucified, two thieves were crucified with him; and, that their bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath, the soldiers were ordered to break their legs that they might be taken away. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and there came out blood and water-For these things were done that the scriptures might be fulfilled, as in the case of the Paschal Lamb, a bone of it shall not be broken. (a) And again; another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (b) This which I have read for the text is the scripture referred to, and to which I shall now call your attention. They shall look on him whom they have pierced! Awful sight! a God incarnate, bleeding for human crimes. Surely it is meet and right that this impor

(a) Exod. xii. 46.

(b) John xix. 31—38,