of it. The very thoughts of eternal hell will make a man's hair stand! I entreat you then, to pray like the poor blind man, 'Son of David have mercy on me!'

Bartimeus threw off his outer garment that he might run more easily among the multitude. This represents self righteousness and all merit for the works of the sinner which must be cast off. There is no merit in a long conviction. God never required any such thing. If a boy hated his father do you think he would get any praise for delaying to do his duty and becoming a dutiful son? No! every day he continued in rebellion would enhance his guilt. There is an error which prevails very extensively in regard to this subject A man is seeking for salvation he has been four weeks under conviction. The minister tells him to go home and read his Bible and pray, and if he continues in the same state of mind, he may con. clude that he has got the effectual calling,' and if not, that it's only the common calling.' Well, if the man concludes that he has got the effectual calling, at the end of some weeks he is taken into the Church. There,' says the deacon,' mark my words, there's a man that'll wear. friends, this is wrong-wholly wrong.

Now my

The reason why so few errorists are converted is that they do not feel their blindness-they don't feel as if they stood in need of a Saviour. Mister

1..

you may contradict this, if you please but you'll

find it true. Mark me, I say, you'll find it true, Well, when a man asks like the poor jailer' what shall I do to be saved?' shall I tell him to believe and give up his heart to Christ? Stop, says one, you ought to be six weeks about that! You ought to be in anguish of soul a long time,-and then, perhaps, God will have mercy upon you, when he sees how you are struggling. Nonsense! The fact is, this is a contrivance of the devil, making men put confidence in a long tedious conviction, and then making them claim salvation in consideration of what they have suffered. It is all self righteousness, which must be cast off as the blind man's garment was, or you can never have your eyes open to a sense of your situation. Self righteousness clings to man as tight as his very skin. The sinner cannot submit to say 'I am a poor, blind, miserable wretch exposed to God's vengeance.' He still flatters himself that he has some merit-some redeeming traits in his character. I have read of an Athenian soldier, what we now a days call a grenadier. A vessel

one of the enemy's vessels was pushing off.The army was coming up and he ran out of the ranks down to the beach and caught hold of the prow with his right hand. They cut that off.Then with his left. They cut that off. He next seized the prow with his teeth-off went his head. With just such desperation the sinner clings to bis self righteousness! I heard of a gentleman

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in Virginia, a pious man. He asked one of his negroes one day, who had experienced religion, how long he was under conviction. Two days, master.' Two days! said the gentleman, I was two months under conviction. Well, master, said the negro,it always take you rieh men a great while to go to Jesus, you got so many clothes-but when poor black man feels he need Savior,-he got no property-no clothes to trouble him-he runs right to Jesus! It is a fact that salvation flows to honest, unsophisticated country people, with far more ease they know salvation must come through the channel of ordinances, and they come into the kingdom with far less trouble. But to return. When the poor blind beggar had his eye opened, he leaped for joy-he gazed around him, be saw the multitude-every thing looked beautifully. He looked at the cerulean arch over his head with admiration-he gazed on the face of the handsomest man that ever lived-the Son of David, who had just opened his eye! What a moment of delight was that! Thus feels the soul loosed from sin by the Holy Spirit. Thus the young convert feels, as it is well expressed, 'full of joy unspeakable and full of glory!'

How did poor Bartimeus go to Christ? He could not walk alone, being blind. Well, why didn't he despair? O, because he knew that some of those who were not blind would help him. They took him by the arm and pressed through

the crowd-they cry 'give way!-give way!' and the surrounding multitude stood back. They led him right up to Christ :-"There, Messiah, we've brought you a poor blind man, who wants his eyes opened we cant do it.' 'I know it,' says he, you have done your duty, the rest remains for me.' They had brought the man where he would feel the mercy of the Saviour. They had brought him directly before his notice.

Well, when I ask

Why take the front

Why would you on the south side

you by and by to come forward, you will ask 'why take the front seats? seats? What good will it do? place a man who had the ague of the house? Why, to warm him I suppose. What makes the boy take a convex glass and let the rays of the sun fall upon it? This might seem a little curious at first, but pretty soon you see the powder flash, and then you see he has been bringing the rays to a focus. Now, just so by these anxious seats, we purpose to bring truth to bear on your consciences.

SERMON III.

MATT. XIV. 22, 31.

AND straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit ; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Pe ter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, (that is blowing violently, and the waves rolling) he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?

A few remarks by way of inference. Firstly, While Peter could walk he was not afraid, but when the wind became boisterous, he became intimidated by the circumstances around him, They were such as would frighten any man.-As he looked at them, and the apparition before him, his very heart sank within him. His feet began to sink the moment his faith failed him. gave rise to the cry 'Lord,-save me!'

This

I will