dowments-we have received the precious gift of the gospel, and, I trust, the gift of the Holy Spirit in his renewing and assisting influence we have the gift of the ministerial office, and with it the charge of an important part of Christ's church; and for all the gifts which we have received, we are accountable to him who bestowed them. As we have received the gift, so let us minister the same, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. When we speak, let us speak not according to the inventions of men, but agreeably to the oracles of Godwhen we minister, let us minister not slothfully and deceitfully, but according to the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and do, minion for ever and ever. -Amen.

God's Goodness the Hope of the Penitent; but no Security to the finally Impenitent.

Thou art good, and dost good; teach me thy statutes.

THAT God is good, we justly conclude, because he does good. His works indicate what a being he is. As he is a Spirit, he is invisible to the human eye.. But his works are visible. The Apostle says, "The invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things which are made, even his eternal power and godhead." His goodness in relation to men and to other creatures in this world, we see in the ordinary course of his Providence. But in relation to the future world we learn his goodness from the discoveries only of his word. It is in respect of the life to come that David says, "God is good and does good;" for he hence draws an argument for learning God's statutes.

We will here consider,

I. What evidence we have, that God is good to men in relation to their souls and their future life.

II. How this goodness of God is an argument why we should desire and pray to be taught his stat

utes.

I. We will consider the evidence, which God has given us of his regard to our souls, and care for our future happiness.

From the perfection and goodness of his nature we may conclude, that he will take care of the creatures which he has made. This care we in fact perceive to be exercised toward us, and observe to be extended to others. But that God will prolong our existence, and provide for our happiness beyond this life; and, especially, that he will shew mercy to such as in this life, have offended him, and will, on any terms, admit them to happiness in the next, we learn with assurance only from his revelation. This teaches us, as in general, that he is good; so, in particular, that he is gracious and merciful, ready to forgive penitent offenders, and free to receive them into his everlasting favor. It is the language of scripture, "He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. He would not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

1. This goodness of God is evident from his giv ing men a revelation, which describes the nature, proclaims the promises, and states the terms of eternal happiness.

In all ages of the world mankind have been favor ed, in a greater or less degree, with divine revelation. It began with Adam, was continued to his sons, handed along to his remoter posterity and often renewed, as their occasions required. We find, that God condescended to an immediate intercourse with

Adam, Abel, Cain, Enoch, Lamech and Noah, before the flood; and with Abraham and his family, with Lot, Melchisedec, Abimelec, Job and his friends, and many others, in the ages soon after the flood. The revelations made to particular persons were by them communicated to their contemporaries, and transmitted to their descendants. After the term of human life was so contracted, that revelation could not safely be trusted to a traditionary conveyance, God ordered, that it should be committed to writing. The written revelation, from age to age, received enlargements, until it was completed by the gospel. And it is owing to the incredulity and stupidity of mankind, that revelation has not, in every age, more generally prevailed.

The holy scriptures, which have come to us, are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness; and are able to make us wise to salvation, and to furnish us unto every good work. They contain the substance of all the special and particular revelations, which God has ever made to any of the human race. From them we learn what is most useful and important to us, and what most nearly and immediately concerns us. That which God has been most careful to teach us, we should be most solicitous to understand, and zeal. ous to practice. We do not find, that God has ever given men a revelation to instruct them in husbandry, manufactures, mechanics, navigation, astronomy, and the arts of life. The knowledge of things relating to this world he has left them to acquire by their own sagacity, by repeated experiments and by mutual communication. Hence the progress of arts has been very slow.

Many ages past away before the use of letters was known; and many more before the art of printing was introduced. Even agriculture, which is the

most necessary of all occupations, and one on which human life most immediately depends has advanced by moderate steps, and is still in a state of imperfection.

Things which relate merely to this life, have never been the subjects of divine revelation; but have been left wholly to human invention and experiênce. Revelation embraces greater objects-things which pertain to life and godliness; to glory and virtue; to our preparation for, and enjoyment of a state of eternal happiness in a world at present unseen. Is not this an evidence of God's merciful regard to our highest interest?-He has not left the concerns of the future, as he has those of the present life, to be discovered by our sagacity and industry; but has instructed us in them by a special revelation made solely for that purpose. We see which of these God has judged to be our more weighty concerns. His judgment is according to truth.

It appears, then, that while we attend to the things of this world in preference to those of the future, we oppose the designs of God's goodness, and invert the order which he has settled. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the things of the present life will be added."

2. God's care for our eternal happiness may be concluded from his giving his own Son a sacrifice for us, that we might live through him.

The sufferings of Jesus Christ for our redemption, are often adduced in scripture, as a proof, not only of God's general goodness, but also of his compassionate concern for the salvation of our fallen race. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation