duty, every feeling of a Christian, all is humility. Sin has changed the way to happiness. In the first, God wished to draw men to a knowledge of himself, by the use of their reason, and the consideration of the wisdom of his works. In the second, the Saviour draws men by the folly of the word of the cross, and by the subjection of their reason and will to the doctrine of faith. Religion is the remedy of human pride, as it is not so much a science of the understanding as of the heart.

GLORY OF GOD ILLUSTRATED IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

ONE of the ends which our Lord's death aimed at, was the illustration of God's glory, by demonstrating and displaying therein his most excellent attributes and perfections; so doth St. Paul teach

us:

"Whom God (saith he) hath set forth a propitiation, by faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness." That is, as I take it, of his goodness, his justice, his fidelity, his constancy, of all those commendable perfections, which are expressed in dealing with others; and our Lord, his passion being instantly to follow, made this reflection, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him; and, "I have glorified thee upon earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." God did therein show himself most highly good and gracious, in so providing for the welfare of those who deserved nothing of him-who deserved ill of him, who had offended and injured him very heinously he manifesteth himself most strictly

just, in not suffering iniquity to go unpunished; but rather than so, exposing his own dear son to punishment, and in him choosing himself to suffer; he declared his wisdom in contriving so admirable an expedient, whereby both his goodness might be exercised, and his justice not infringed; he showed his veracity, fidelity, and constancy, in executing, by his providence, what he before had designed and promised, although so grievous and bitter to the Son of his love;-he therein also laid a ground of declaring his almighty power, in raising him from the dead, as likewise of his goodness and justice in exalting him. Thus by our Saviour's death was the divine glory much illustrated, and our good consequently promoted; for that we therein contemplating him so admirable for goodness, so terrible for justice, so venerable for all excellency, may be induced thence to love him, to dread him, to worship and reverence him, as it becometh us, and as it is necessary for us, in order to our happiness.

"MERCY AND TRUTH MET TOGETHER."

By this medium (the death of Christ) all the rights of the divine attributes are preserved in their harmony;-goodness appears inexhaustible, sin formidable, and the divine government venerable; the punishment of the sinner is translated on the substitute, that the merit of the substitute may, according to divine order, be made over to the sinner; and so justice boils against the rebellion, and the bowels of mercy yearn towards the rebel; the designs of mercy are ac

mplished, and the lustre of holiness preserved; the riches of grace displayed, and the sceptre of justice reverenced: the honour of the Lawgiver and the equity of the law asserted; his wrath appeased, and the dreadful sentence suspended; his right of government vindicated, sin disgraced, and pardon dispensed; the law preserved from contempt, and the creature not tempted to rebel.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S TRUE CHARACTER A SOURCE OF JOY.

THE true character of God cannot be properly known, without pleasure of a very refined and exquisite kind. There is "joy and peace in believing." All the religious affections are delightful; and in "keeping God's commandments there is great reward." Wisdom is but another name for religion; "wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Necessarily connected with true religion, is the enjoyment of the divine favour, conformity to the divine image, and intercourse and fellowship with God; and then, beyond death and the grave, for religion is secured a happiness, wide as our wishes, lasting as our souls. Oh! who can tell, who can conceive, what it is "to see God face to face-to be like him"- -to be filled with joy from his countenance-to be with Christ-to behold his glory-to sit on his throne-and to enter into his joy; and, to crown all, to be for ever with the Lord.

THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THE WORKS OF

CREATION AND PROVIDENCE.

As God made man for religion, so the great object he had in view in the other works of his hands, so far as man is concerned, was to furnish him with the means of religion. What is the design of all the wonderful works of God, "in the heaven above, and in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth?" Why are those skies bright with his glory, and those fields vocal with his praise? Why, but to communicate to man religious knowledge, and excite in him religious affection? Why, but to tell him, that God is infinitely great, and wise, and powerful, and good, and to urge him to love, and fear, and trust in Him. What is the design of all God's providential dispensations, both to individuals and nations-both in the physical and moral worlds? Why does he uphold all things by the word of his power? Why does his kingdom rule over all, but that his character may be displayed, and that this display of his character may lead men to think, and feel, and act in reference to him as they ought? But this is by no means the most extraordinary part of the divine dispensations, which have for their object to awaken religion in the mind of man. To gain this end, he has formed and executed a scheme of operations, which is of all his wonderful works the most wonderful. Why did he give man a revelation of his will, confirmed by so many and so astonishing miracles? Why did he inspire the prophets to make known his oracles? Why did he descend in such awful majesty on the summit of Sinai? Why did "God become manifest in

the flesh?" Why did the Only Begotten become "the man Christ Jesus?" Why did he live a life of sorrow, and die a death of shame? What mean the mysteries of Bethlehem, and Gethsemane, and Calvary? What mean the glories of the transfiguration, and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost? Why did he establish, and so wonderfully preserve his church in the world? What was the end of all these astonishing transactions, but the making men religious? Pursue in your own minds the track of thought that has now been opened to you, and you must be overwhelmed with a sense of the prodigious importance of religion. That which has employed so many of the thoughts of Him "who alone hath wisdom," must be inconceivably important. What can place in a clearer point of view at once the value of religion, and the portentous and shocking combination of folly and presumption exhibited in the character and conduct of those who count that unworthy of occupying the chief, or indeed any place in their minds and pursuits, which has been one grand object in the divine counsels and operations from the beginning ages of eternity to the present hour?

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

LET us diligently strive to walk with God; and let our souls be so influenced and trained, that we may both rightly apprehend him, and always acknowledge his presence; not without holy fear and an earnest desire of the divine approbation. Let us appropriate him to ourselves by a lively faith; let us hold converse with him