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Ti.,-. «M,. tvM .r,. s.MM.. I.,... .2., .Ml.. .),. Iu...lin;e„ii(. .of s^-rvMji ;, yuiiihliil |,iP„(i, ilien puiMiiiii; liiMi..-o|...;i.al sliiaies; h.it without tiiPsi.-'l.test 1(1.-^ thdt thev vvoul.l ev.^r .....M .h« „„i.|„: eye. ( liic.imsf.iirps, l.owpvnr, wl.ici, h^vHorcinr^dMun-ih;.! ije.Kul. in.liictd il... j/ri.tle.iimi (..r w|,„m (ht^v were composet} to r unesi ti.e mil.or's pe.•ml^s|.,n to piinlisl. ihem lor his own benefit, whiiii was coi'li'iliy aiHnn'ii 1.. li.e...' [).M-oms.s, ,hp.ra()Prwillf,,d some ol ih« most mompoto,is qoesiions which c.nn eK.'.MsuMiH ho.nHi. „no<), lis, „^,-,| >viiii sr,e,,i flo.MPo.-^ loU-nintv an-l .o.cp of i,u„nieiii. V.t i. xvhs not wjti.oot a sf. nj, leplio^ of dilTj lenrc, thf.t the *rier coospoie-l to l.y h-'lore ilie (.oi.!.-: this o-mv ;,,.,! sl.ik.o^ p. o.f of the strpogrhnml veisaiility of liis fiemns, d>, will appear from the folio^vjmr Kxiractofa L.e Iff. '• rhe Rphgions Oisno.ir,es which von t-ill to mv mind, were written emiipjv for yonr nsp, hi..I tp ihe.elo.c yonr prop^.ty. Thev were never iiiien.led for p..l,ii,.a. tio ., as noh.MJv koosvs hnue- in .n y(.iirself; nor ,)o I willinnlv ';onsoni tlM' thev slio.ild be noweiven to the press, ;)s n may he inonjot in i> I .i .ve internie.Kiied with ,n .feis tor ul.ich I nave no commission. [ hive also to ^d I, th,it thev cootain no novHJtyof opinion, an I no atten.pi at hnllia .cy of romp .sHioo. The\ were meani, I iiiAy ren.iad yon, to show ih^i a raiioiiil and prar ichI discouise npon a p^rtionUr text was a task moree.sily pt-.fo ned than vog. in von. lum-al anxiety seemed at the time di posed to l.el.eve. I a.n afraid that fh )sh wiio opH.i ihis pamphlet with expectations ol a lusher kind, wiil b- mnc'l. dis ipuoimed. ,\s, Hovever, yon seem to be of opioio i that -he pnblicatmn mi-hi be atie.i led .vjih m i>:,i n^neai to vo.|, I niike nooHJH^t- lon to It, and will be jjlad lo hear ilut ii snits vour n irpose. Tnis L'Mter will soffi- cienily indicate my consent to any geniie.niaof ilie irdde witn waom you may treat. I ani yours, very sincerely, «W. S." Abbot-sford, January 2, 1028. s DISCOURSE I. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE JEWISH DISPENSATIONS COMPARED.. Matthew v, xvii. " Think not that I am come to destroy the Imo or the Prophets ; lam not com t, destroy but tofiujil." r"«eof|,.8 I.eav.n V ^ :, 'T, n V'laH "Y'^ cons.derablu bngth, the pur- text before u' rwelHs »L i^,!^^ / r ^ ,^'1? ""'• ""'^ ^"' ^" '"^"^ centunes. The t.- <he Divine speHkerl.M IT ""V^"''J««t, «tartl,„? perhaps to thoso who listened d.avoured ' o .^u,^^^ '*^"' "" ^'^'«'' '"fi'^«'« *» sahseq„cnt times have en. c.s, „..s, as he oc "asion eau-- "'"""'.?'"=^: ^^'« *^*" P'«^»-'ne- >v,th such con- i'concer,.s-.Firs iMose trrir'?"'""''^':*''? '"««» ""P^rta.it declaration as S'oo„dlv,,h,M.r tn.irerrtoo I. rr '^""""^ addressed ; a,.d, advauiaffe of comrr.nrM? ** ''^'''' •"' "''^='' "^''^ then spoken with .he sued. ^ "^^•^'"P'"-'"? the d.v.ue prophecy ^Uh the events which have since en- ci...sen people (o"v o m o'd h nt n .' '"'f""^^'^ treasures of the Gospel to that their, own imaainarvTed. ""^*"^,"^'^/«"'>escended to be legislator ; and vain of CO., at least; ,u cWmra ol I In "«="-e''t»'ey approached in external observan- gr..,terthan iVloses fl.s mil, L ' *^T. ^ Him that w,3 Hie Judaical ins" ', iion ^STl ' Tr'"'^-^ '^'^ Sadducees. the freethinker, of sceptic.l and selfiln ^p^nb '„ 'j Thfm'de^f ^1^" "^^"^-'-'^ ^P-^' ^"'i -^'"«e wh<. believed in no state of fu trP 1^ T f ^ prociH.na.ion of salvation. They diesof men went r.vnio thelrTv' ' '^"'.""'^ conceived that the sonls and bo- portance. were naturally av.rseTo ^hl^i I 'P*^^"'^"^^ ''"'^"•'"^^ «^ «'f 'nfling im- .•en.nr.at.on of -.|| i.mp^,ral hem fits 1 I ^, " V^T''' ""'*^'' "'^''^MeC a general Ib.ir DivineTenrher t ne ifru \ '^'"''"^''''"'^''"'P''"^"''^^'^'-^ ^e" " HnthPM.t.sit.eseFn, ,1. " ^7''^'°"' capt.v.ty, and death. p-id.. m ,he ::::;,^:c b ;;::^Sh; ';: /:; ;r''^' ^'^S' ^ r^ '^'^ p'--' •»>- o( « Slate of f,„,uP rewards ,n.ln?,n;h '>[ M'»v^» ; who admitted the exiiteoce s..nl, a„„ ,.er. svsrPnwTn; , 1^1 f '''•' ' "'''" ''"''^"^ '" "'"^ immortality of the even more uunucart, thJr I 'V.'" ' 'l'''".^ religion, ordinances, were unucal to the Gospel than the SaUducees themselves. What a anled ihfJIth'Ul nn>i(nii'« carnal Pi'j'ninpiits, no less disrurbPil \he hjipocrilf ; «|in, in the ijleiimiil.; .»( s|)|iiiii,il |)iiite. itiiiiik»-tl (J id that li« n ul mti ui.i'lf m n .is »i it-r men, .»r even as the tiiiiiihlf |)iil)lirH;i, whd, willi ti cDiiliite and hiukeii heuri, was Inyiiij; 4 ConlPinioii ol Ills sins iielure an nOVndpd Deity. Tho ciuixp or ilif l*iiaris»'t's' tiiibelu*r, and ilu'ir Mrenunns (jppusinon lo rhp G ispel to- Mft«. Iiad runi nndniihUMllv in onr bIcssHd Savinur's dpteciinn oC ihrir h\ pncnsy, iind Ins |)nbli(ly exposing ilie (mil principles and prarticos which ihey covered with rhe most lurniil aireciaiion of siricl holmes*. Tliev eonld not hear the lii^lil, which, nut content with playiiiii nil (he oiiiside o( ilieii whited se|)iilel)res, peneiiaced into iheir frinl charnels. and shoivfd .o tlie public uaze the dusi «nd toiteiiPss wliicti their ihowy exterior ccniceaied. Tiey conld iiotendiiii thn fii«^ndlv zual of the Divnia IMiysieian, »vlien he rent Imni iliPir wounds the haNuns with wluc.li ihev soothed, and the rich lissiiet under whicli ihey cooce.iled Iheni, and oxhilnle I (esiering ninJ filthy cancers which could he cured only by ih« probe, tlie knife, and thp cauiery. Hence they wer«. fi«in the hefiionin^i of our W.iyioui's uiinisiry until its dreadfnl ooiisuniniaiino, (in wlncli ihev had a paiiicniHi share,) the con^iani enuMiie<i of the doctnne and of the person of I h*' blessedjesiis. Under nis keen and searrliioii eye, the pietensioiis which they had so lonu made in order to he esieenied of men, »vere. e\p.)sed wiihont discfnise ; Iheir enlaiged tiirmenl* and extended phylacteries, llieir lengthened pravers, their foimal ceremonial, and tithes of mint anil ani-e, were denomiced as of no .>v.iil wnhont the wemntier inaitero of the law— josiiie, niercv, and .'.iiili. Feelmtj thug Iheir own sanciinionioiis pioh-sbions held op to coii;eini)t. and their preieiKsiotn to public veneration it once exposed and fjesiroved. ilie Pliarisees becanie the active and violent O|)posers of llio.se doctrines to which 'he Saddncees, wuhsnilen apathy, seenifd to have refused a hearmsj. It was the Pharisees who inaliniied the life of oir bless (1 Lord; who essayed to perplex the wisdom of Ommporence by vain and CH()tioiis iii- ti nog itories ; and wlm, unable to (/f?iJ/ those miracles bv whicii the mission of (Jhiist was authenticated and proved, blaspheiiioiisly unpiited then> to the atceocy of (lfB;ji'>ns. But, ill particular, tlieir oijjeciions were toinided upon argomeiits tlie most powerlnlof <uiy with the pride and national piejinliees of the Jews, when they objected that Jesus of N zneth had it in contemplation to innovate upon and destroy the Levitical L..w. that aneient and solemn system of iiis'itntions com- liii"ed to the children of Israel by Omnipotent wisdow ; tlie demolition of which must havfi had the natural conseqiience of bleiidiii!^ tojjjcther Jews and G-nliles, a. id stripping the foroiftr of all those distiimnished privdeilij;es which were asii-roed to them as the children of the promise. Such argmupms, we iniy easily conceive, were moie likelv than any other to ol)strnci the progress of the Chrisiiaii reliijion. " Wilt) IS this," the scoffers niiiiht have said, " who is wiser than .Moses, and more holy ihaii Aaron ? W»oisthis, who presu nes to lo'vei and defa.-e the jiloiy of the sanctuary, and to annul Uiose insiiiuti ins, to ilic observauce of winch such splendid ptomises, to the neo-lect of whicli such direiul nuiiisbmenis are annexed in tlie Mosaic statutes?" Cursed be he that coiifirmeth not all the words of this law to do ihmt,: such aie the recorded words of the Almiiihiv— " Ani who is he," uiav these blinded Israelites have deni mded, " who orrtends 'o relax or iiinovaie upon a»^ystein so fearfully sanctioned ?" The text which we have before us must be considered as the answer of Jesus to these .nisrepre.sentatious — Think not tkd I im cometo destroij the law and the prophets ; I am not come to df-strtij, but tofalJiL Ai d this declara- tion will be found equally tiiie, whether we examine it with reference to the doctrines preached ard enforced by our Saviour, or to that fulfilment of the liw and th© pro|ihets which arose froiu'his life, his snffc. jugs, and his d^ath for our redi^mplion. Consideri'ifi; the text in the,^r.s< poioi oi vie*, the principil topics iiiiisted upon in the Sermon on the Mount, show that Jesus, the divine commentator npori a divine work, preached to his disciples, and to the J. hs in Reneral, the fulfilment of the Law, V .showing ihein in what the spirit and efficacy of the Mosaic institutions actually consisted. Although there be no question that tho Almiabty, through all ages, had bcp.n pleased to enliabu n the evis ofrnmy individuals aoiong his chosen people, to see and know the seotet iiuruoses of his dtspensuiion, yei ii is ccruiu that iha great ma- t I 1 ; who, in the » Iff iiten, tir llip G ispel to- v pocriHV, iiiid red with iha (, whicti, not ited into their ti their ihiiwy iiH Physirian, and the rich filihy ciiiicurs Hence ttiey iiisnniinciiinri, ine and of 'iie elisions which loiit dis(Tiii>.e ; pr.ivers, their > of no avrtil Feehiitj tlnu pretensions to the artive and jarhy, seemed of on bless d d CH()tioos in- iion of (/Moist •V of ilfB;ii'>iis. lis llie most , whon they ite upon and intions com- ion of whii-h j-nliles, a. id re assifTned to ilv conceive, ian relinion. ^s, and iii'ire j/lory of (lift socli splendid iiexeil in tlie this law to do »," niav these i|)oii a •system considered as mieio destroij this declara- I the doctrines |i\v and til© redi^niplion. iniisted upon ipon u divine lit of the Law, lions actually Ifs. had beftn jeople, to >ec ihtj great ma- t i 1 ,nr,fy of the Je«Mh nation liatl, for nowt ii,„r prior to the ndvent of our Saviour ;.lhninun..nyero^s»ndcar errm. both reM.ertii,« ,he L.,« „„| .he ['ZZj In leRard tothe orinrr they, and parliciilarlv t»,e sen o. the Phaiise.s. ,eei . ,0 ' V lo. nil ,ensfi ol ihe end and pnrpo.e of the type, am, ceremonies .i,join;d Iv Shl',^ a.Kl to h ve Mih.iitiiedihe ni.m.te discharue of his ..ii.al as Mm.eihino excellen -T.^ imritorions .n itselt, capable of beinu .ec.e.ved as an .tonrmeni .' 'he , 1 1, n^ those ue.ieralpnmis of virtue and inoraliiy n,.on whi.h that d,spensH„nn aswe 1.5 all .h.t emanates from the Divine Au.lioi, .us ori^in.llv (o led and w h Vh h it oneht or ever toliave been animated. Hot when the observance of the „ ,mne cer«. in ,mal was snbstimted msiead of love to God and dniv .0 onr neighhonrs t e ^ stem resembled son.e ancient tree, unich contimies to show Rtvvn luZ^nn^ n ,Z^ form ,.. those who reuard it onlv on the oiits.de, bnt when rare ilv e«»minpH ^ rotten and ,als« a. bean, and valueless except.nu a. a mattcrTif ;liM;:rd "l ;''"''"' " All green and wildly fresh without, but worn and eray v*ithin." In pointinp out to his hearers, therefore, the true rnlfi.ment of the law, our Messed IJedeemer showed that ,1 cons.sied not in a strict and li.e.al inferp.e.ati n f ,he^ x cZZT" '.''^•"" '''^'. '"" *" "- "''"P'i"" -r- -pie and liberal it^rpr:, on he t H f, '"'" " '"? f^'''"''.' '"" "" ""•-'>^^-'*l"">'l."« relations <,f l^f T C ...en f , ! 'I'l" "r '^ "'"'"' ''^'"^''""^ ''"- ""^ perpetrator in danger ,f ^^^ nenr, h,„,h„ «|| caoseiess enini.y, all injn.imis lanf;n,i«e. the somee and nrovoca L d djeds of violence, was f.,rbidden. N... only, ad.led the san.e pure , Te vj "^ ead.r,,s,|,e(un act.dadnhoiy prohibned m the U-v, b„. nil nncl^a thZZ uhich lead ,„ such a crin-e, are fnbid.len by the same precept. Tlii 'me wf ' »..es the divme inte.p.e.er, which p.oh.bits a breach of oa-b. orbids/by i es e k;' rl idle and unnecessary app.aN to that v.leiunitv ; and ihe same pre,:;p,\ hK:^ ' rW L nil',- '" '• " '^^■'"""""»'"'">" '*» »>-".l..y, to pa'ien. e under ami f, le! n-s,o injuries, 10 universal benevolence, to theretnm of i„od for evil d .., eS c ice of every virtue, not in the resi.icted an.l limited sense i.f . on.plianre w, I | ' it? e.^of. he Law, bntwith an ex.ended ami comprehensive latitude, Lonn.r,^^^^^^^^^^^ e i Vnd'lhe r"'- r'''^' """". '""*^*^'"'' '-"'•^"'""oe causes ins sun o dsi 01 I e e il and the goo I, nd his rain to descend on the just and the ui.nist. In this sense, tlierelore as a commentator on .lie law, and .ddressine himself to thosa no'tr mL "' """' "^^'-i'^"^^"""^^- di'« J-- come not .0 destroy' b 1 to , H i • not to ake away the posiuve prohibition of i-ross evil, hot to expend .ha. pro li'i » against the enleriamment of anyry and evil thonjjhts, which are the oa ents . .J ac.ions;-no. to diminish the inte.dic.ion a.ains^ vi^len.e an ma e' ol^ e ,, ' J «if^^.lp%n r ^^"'«'"V^'<^"^«"vi"...r tanght the inferio, value if that comp lln^S jet tion iviih he pn,ctK-e «( the virtues enjoined bv the law ;-Rnd that reconeil.-.ti. n Mb an ofte Kied brother, w .s a dmy preferable even to the^tfer ,. r a Tf aN^^^^^^ the devon, .e.emonial was .Ireadv commenced bv iis being laid . ;m u'e^ 1 ' f a and eftect lar exceed ihedry, formal, l.-eral compliances of which bvpocr^s s"u wed themselves capable, for the carnal porpo.e of raising themselves ii^he o,,mi n nf o.hers; and he sealed his in.erp.etation with the auh.l deno ,,.1^1^ F^H 1?5 T,frhteou.n,s. shall ex, nd the n^hteousness of the Scribes 'SpMels ultaT^ no <ase enter the kingdom 0: heaven. nansees, ye shall m Thus far, therefore, have we proceeded upon the first head of our discm.rse bei-,/r an at.empt to show how f,r the doctrines of t:hris., as preached beforrh disrbdes^ .vere consonant (o and a fiilfilmen, of the law of .M-.ses ; and it wonid he no difficn r' task .0 prove, from a comi.arison of texts, that .he ger, s of he ('hrisiLn H 7 so beau.ifn.lv and broadly developed nnd d.spb.ve:. m ^^^ (1 1.. ^t return the ancient dispensation, althonc,h they h;. ■ been uoh.,.,-! |u«, si.h, of b JJ p.eiettders lo sanctity, am.Uij the J«w., a. louud the o»»et vauce of the lil-lic cere N5 •nnma) morP m^v than cnmpVianrf with «he h..i,Pvo»Pnt pr^n.^ »nforrr<! •« wHI u< n .1 such an i.iviHi.^aii.m w...il.l lei.l un too hr (rnr. ...ir ,.r«»eMi p.irpui... V^conJ/u Tht- L iw vva< ""t »»"'v flxpo'ind.vl bv Ji-mm in teferoiire lo lis hcini' fnl- f,||H,l ..> Hpin. a..d in trmli hv I..Mlisci,.les. Tl.iHe,posi.i..n itideed was all thji could b"(i,Mi.ictlym..lcn.o.Hn..vih.«..rs which his ,„..m..l....e .lisrotirnf ma.Jo ble-se. ; l...ith.'re wa^ar.irlUeramJ n.uir .mnie.io.muHaniMS, ii.>t la he .uulprstood i.l t .« .,, incnt h* those to whom tlie text w,.8 ad.lr^se.l. b.M ..poo whi.h l..l.iro evpols, lh« !l.thandrrsuirerti..oof our birsse.f Savio.tr. «i.d he «:n..-r,.l inr.caso .»f Chris. ?..ni?y ha'U,.«o awful aod .o.,.or ,1.^0,. The L.w ...d 'he Prophet, wer. not to he d.stroy^.l, hot to he f..lfill...t, ..ot ..olv hv .he .lor.rmes wh.rh 1 hr..t ,ur,.rhed exphoatory of tluir in-r lu.pnrt. hot by toe rvont, »( his hfe aod bv .he Irhenie of redemplioo which he pmuu.l^i.ltMl. A-.d .1 i^ here that ii.fideU. availiog themselves a^.is>».>l of ill. ...sol .ted. ex,, and s.,hjer.,n.u it to their uw„ exchis.v.. ..,- terure.alioo, have asked the Chiikiiios iri..M.i.h .otiy, lo what n.«oiieilhe words n| iheFo.MKler of oor ,eli -ino have bee., ve.ifi. d. " f 'ome no. Ap. s,.y s.nd. ca». lers, •' to destroy the Luw a.id the Prophets, b.i.llv ..flci vU....se ,,dve..t J.-rusalc.n and her temideweredo'trcHed, her sa... m... v d. (iled and vi(da.rd, and the obseivances ..f the \l..sair Lhw r- ..dered in n.anv ii.s.a..res ....possible, .veil to ihr sc.ittered .»!nnr..nt whovet nrofess..'.e,l.fncnlolhen.:' Are not these," snrh perso.is ...Ke, ' ihe d..ect co..seqoences„l the Christ.ao .el.i;.o.. ?--is .i..t il.e d.-suociio.i of the law nf Moses inclii.led in me d-Lnl woi.h «veh.ve s-iven,^ and «•... .. iheo he >a.dthat .he Fm..der of the rival di»;.e.snioo.:a.»'Mipo.ied.th .tot to .les.roy the old Law, hot Uy Jujd it ?" Snob a.o the objectioos to which it is onr diifv to be prepared wi.h hii ; n-wer, I. sh„*vi„tt a reason for theCaith that i< i'. ns" W- sl.,.l! h.r tl... po.p..s.- view -he text Imih III the ncaative and positive bra... h. and c...i avoii. to p .)ve. M. . h .. (dir.st ca.ne not t » desUov the L.w. "idiv. That hy his r-mioii ti.e Law wa^ foKi.led ; ,„d I, snrh a.toxten.. ti.at as never a rirhe. p o iiiaiion wis m.de to oflended p.-ticp, never were ii ''.appv orioii .als, if enabled nv (-..iih t>. dis.-.ver .he >r..H w ,v to safety m>,wf..llv e,.tib-»l t> sueou' Iheir p.J.d..i. oo.'er a l..«, WMifh. h .we»er rigid, had been, by ihosiitroriotis and death of our blebsed Redc-niui, c..n.p,etely sal sued and %rat Our blessed Saviour came not to destroy the Law of M(>se« ; and ihnt the tvui.'.lcerenio.tial, the ..ano.ial and pec.liar e..acin.eots of the Jevvish leg.slator sbo'.ld be ab.oii.ited, was no condiiioo ot the (lospel offered o iheni. b.it a conse- mof.ire of their own r.je.iioo of the t, r ns of p'offe.eO salva>i':n. God was not fc.reeif.il of the pr..n.i^e he h id .i.a le tn his servant Ahrahan-.* and .he destr.iction of Jftrnsaleni and its Ten.j.le are to be rharjred, ..ot ..pon the divine Legi-I tor, I nt ..pon the infatnated presn.nplion of the Jewish tearhers ai.d the jiKhnal madness o» the nennle in eeneral. The gate of salva.ion w;.s opened for the Jews, long before the G^r tiles were railed n()on to enter in, nor was it noiil ihe wi.ked lalmn.ershad slain and'easj forth his onK Son, that the L<n<l of the vi.ievard was mov.<) i,, ,!esi.oy th.-se vvjcked labourers, and let his vineya.d toother labourers, who should lender to bun the fruits in thei. seasons. • , u . u i.. The truth of what is above stated is evident, when «e consider that our holy Saviour was born a Jew, and from his birth lo 'lis death was siii<;kly subject to the Disoensatio.i of Moses, complying in bis own person with all its rer'-monials, and ypcomme.idina similar rompli nee to all his disnples and follo«e.s. in o.der (hat by no neglect of the tvpic.l or ceremonial part of .he.r relision. the Pharisees migbi he iustified in the calumnies which acrnse.l him of an aitempt lo desjroy the law of Moses !n the very lesson which inculcatts ihe superiorilv of the duties of benevo- lence tothe pavment o titles and other inarteis of obsetvance, both are mentioned as existing duties, though precedence in weight and importance is given tothe I i f i- * John viii. 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day ; and ha saw it, antJ was glad. r^A an wHI in Lfv. xix. 18. i iis hcini' fill- ull th.1t could iiaiJo blenxpjJ ; r<tton(i »t tliQ irc pvpnl*, llt« !H»e of Chris- Fropheis wert which I'hnst U', and liv ihe fuieln, iiVHiliiig pxclii"*ivt' io- llie wcirils nf siuh citilkr"!, isiitcin iind hor ol)SPivuncfs of itert'cJ i>!n(iv.int [v, ' ihp diifct ! law (if Mo*es It Mu" F'iiHi<lt*r ', h»H to Jujil iih Ml ; n»wpr, If vie»v i|ip t»<\t >\. '!h II Christ « flllCplfil ; ;«illl iVeiidpd jii'ticp, ■ w iv to srifety, e»er naid, liiid \y Silt siied and t ; and thnt the pvvish legislHior II. but 11 conse- God was not IP destipclion of • I tor, I III upon iDHiliiPS* of ilie lung beforp the loniprs l)«d slain lo desiroy these (< render to him that our holy Iv subject to the Hr<-iiH>niHls, and in oidpr (hat by arispps mighi he liroy tlip bw of iitiftsof bpoevo- ) are mentioned h given to the I i f i- !.)im«r."-TA^« thin/ft oufhl y lo have done, wy«oiirLord, and not t<i Ifmftht otfier iindoiif An-ini, whf.i m* "Iivi.ip ^lo.^ef Im.I r«i I u.- m k i i i. ,.im uit^jr wpre commanded bv him lo rt- p.ur m Hia Kmipl- and jiii.ily ihiM.i.el»e» accurdi.iki \o ibM Law, O I ..II occiM I'lK. uiir divinp M«iIm:. r iho^e.l Ihi- m iM auJiiouH wi»h lu briiiK within the p.il« of his »ilv,.iion. the mirieut neopl.' di-innuiMifd as ibe l,iv>,.ir- iies of ihp Dpiiv ; and it ««, (or ihem that h» pouipd fortli h • paihpiic la ii« itmi-m, when he b.'bp|d their .)b(lui..cv rejpmmj the menu of nalvaM.m wh:i-h ue had ron- dPM'eii.l-d .vpo U) entreat ih.imo iccpivp rnnii lii^ bandt -O Jcruva/f»n, Jeruaoltm, which killtal 'he vroph Is, nml utomut 'hem that 'ire sentlo the h -w ofUn lo >uld Ih we galheridi>u children toLrelhr, as a hen dolh gather hr hrood under her mnf(.i. mrd ye w>uld not! LuUp Mii.3l. Thp abrogation .1 I.ip Jewisi L . w wa^ n»t iUpii tae objpit of Chii»l'N ini»5ion. it her.amcmilv ihe pnn."qupnre o) Meir own wickpd . nd obfliiraiebhii(lup'*H, in rpj-c ms; «i li » om 'h- -.if, rs oJ nUation which were hehl font, to them, as the elder born, erp ih»* Gennles. I'ke vounger childien, wtre invited to accept of tlie heriiancp which the others h.ul rppndiited. It would bn a vain xiid idb' iiujuirv to ask, in what .xipnl, or to what purpose the Mosaic litii.il misbi h've suli^ls'ed, had tie Jews as a d > io<i acrepiedof the tieasmc held lorlh to ihcni. But it is evidpiit. from mauv pass ,m'» in Scnpiiirp, and 10 pur- liciil .r, from (he wiiiinns of the Apostip of ihp QeniilcH, that not oolv w.s the Law of Moses nslppiiipd co-iPut iipim snrh a* hud been bred up in it. but inanv of the eai lier Christian ic.ich.'rs enoiieouslv conrpivod that its obligations extended to con- verts made from the heailien woihl at larn''- And alih.iuuh S-. Paul comhaled thu ritto , as opposite to Iho |)liin and scope of Hie Gospel, which ulfered salvation to Gentile as well as to Jew, and mainlamed ihe circumcision of tlie new Law was that of the heart and not of the letter; vet, m confendim: for the freedom of the Gentiles, and iherebv iucalculablv eubngineihe pale of salvation, the Apostle condemns not the observances of the Jewish prose.l>iPS, bit allows that onto! circumcision arisen much profit every way Undestroved. therefore, and uncondeimied by ihe now ddclrnip, the Mosaic insiiiniions continued to linge', as things permitted to the Jew*, but not enioined to mher Christians, until that jiart <4 the ("hnrch which consisted of Clirislian"jew«or JudaiziiigChiislians. gradually diminishing, merRt'd at leoglh in the j^reat mass of CInistiai.itv, and availed ihemselvps of the gpiural liberty. We will suppose that our scei tic still prospcntes his objections, and urges further, that al(hou"h the Law of Moses was not expressly abrogated bv the Christian iJis- pensaiion, still it was superseded, and its desiriiciion followed as a matter of comse; andiheiwfore, that if C;hrist came not on purpose to destroy the Law and the Pro- phets, still by and th.oui>li his mission, it was ac'nallv destroyed. To this we have alre.idy returned one answer. It was not the offer of the Gospel to the Jews, but their ignorant and prejudiced rejection of that inestimable a;iff, which iccasioned the destruction of Jeins.ilem, ancJ tne dc«nlatioo of Judah; even as the storm mid overthrow of a beiie^red citv is not prodnred by a message, offering the inhabitants easy terms of safe submission, but bv their own obstinacy in refusing fo accept what was mercifully tendered. But another answer remains, comprehending within brief comiiass the great and awful mvsterv of Christianity. Christ did net come, as we have already seen, to destroy the law ; but, second'y^ he came to fn'fil it. That which is fulfilled can in to sense be said to be destroyed, even thmigli by means of its being fulfilled it should cease to exist. Thus, the crop of the husbandman is destroyed, if it perish through tempest in the field; but if it is caihered into the garner, and put to (be proper uses of man, it is not in anv sense destroyed. thou"b cousunie ' ; but, on the contrary, 'he purposes of its hems; reared ate legitimatelv'fulfilled. And in this sense the law of Moses being fulfilled in Christ Jpsus. remains no longer binding on his faithful fidiowers. Fie hath gathered in the harvest, and invites them for his sake and his name to nanakeof the bread of li(e. which by their own exertions they could never have obtaitie,d. )d he saw it, an^ ♦ Mathew .x.^iii. 23; and Luke xi. 42. s 1« Our tini* W too UmttPfl «o enlnrse upon a doctrine in whicli it contained »hf ver e!»>eii(f (»l Diir lutly if li^itm, and whirh ir. ii!» biradih and pinltiniliiy is Jfsefviii ol morp voliim*-.* than we c«n at pr«*<(ent bestow words. Still, hii uutlnie, h()w«ver biirf and iinperleci, nuiM he offtred of the ?reat and wonderlnl niyst«ry of our sal* ▼aiinn in i.hfe fiiifilinpni ot the l<«w of Moses b> our hleised Redeemer. The books rn which IhB Jewish religion was founded, wer« of two classes— the Litw, and ihe Piouhets. The one annoiinr.es ivpically, and the other prophetit^ally, thai the system of Moseg WHS hot for a seasini, Hiid thai it was to be in diif time superseded by a b.ifthtei and more pffiiarions displuv of the diviie power, and the arrival upon earth of a greater than Moses. The law of \loses was in itself a perfect law, but it enjoined perlect compliance with tiiai law on the i)art of beiiias whose nature was imperfect. The blood of rams and of goats ofTored in the ftnple was but the type of that inestimable sacrifice which was to atone for oiir imperfect obedience, and be ottered up for oar iniquities. Under the Mosaic dispensation, therefore, ihe law was incomplete with respect to tho.e to whom it was &iven, for it could not be obeyed, or, in the words of our text, fulfilled. The lawofMospswas in institmion of types and ceremonies, of minute observances and abounding with positive injunctions and piohihiiioiis, which, viewed separately, and Willi no regard to the system of which they made a part, <»r of thetr own latent anil hidden meaning, might seem to a hasty observer arbiirary and trivial. Nay, as we hive already seen, the wisest amori'Mhe Jews themselves, and they who af- fected most sancity, were so lar misled as lo admire and practise this ritual for its own sake, and to the neglect both of the moral injunctions of the law, and of the hidden iHPaning of those very ceremonies intended to keep their minds awake, and open their eves to conviction, when they should see. in the person of the Messiah, the types of their law paralleled and explained in those realities which they had dimly and vaguely jndicaieil and shadowc.l forth. Such was the correspondence between the worship and sacrifii.es in the Temple, and thi!t one great sacrifice by which all was fnlfilkd or accomplished;— such was the Scape-goat sent into the wilderness laden with the sins of the people, in presage of Hioi who alone could h ive hor;'e the burden of human iniquity ;— such was the veil of the sanctii ry which was rent asun- der at the consnmmaiicm of the gre »i Atonement, to intiirale that the division between Jew and Gentile was no more; — such were ma ly, verv many othei typical parts of the Jewish law, the meaning of which has been sxpnnnded by the Advent of Christ ; and such an analogy doubtless prevades the witole system, even where mtr ev(>s may be too weak, our jrirtomeots too obiiisp to trai-e it. Tlie law of Moses» therefore, so far as it was formal or ritual, was fulfilled and rot destroyed— the type became iinnecesHary when the event tvpified had taken place: and if the observance of the Hebrew ri'e-i w-js, as we have seen, indulged lo those who had been educated tander the law, it was without anv f^Uigation upon those who had been horn free. The second class of sacred l^ocks under the Jewish Dispeiisitloii were those of the Prophets; nnd to these every rhis'ian, capalile of giviia; a reason fir the hope which i« ill him, points with exultation, and appeals to their contents as the most undisputed piuofofhis sacred religion.* Throughout all thebo>k'. of these holv men, who, writing under the immediate influence of ihe Spirit of God, foretold the secret pur- poses of Heaven 'o those among wjiom tliev lived, repeated reference is made to the great chaoiie which was Jo take place in the destinit^s of the world by the Advent of that Mesiiiah whom the Jews continue vainly taexpett. Alas! the gathering of the na- * Christ himself, St. I.uke informs ns [xxiv. 27 ] when he appeared to the two tlisciples at Ernmaus, after his restinoction, *' beginning at Moses and all the nro- p'lets, expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the thinirs concerning himself."' And upon that occ.sion reproved bis disciples for the backwardness of their belief in doubting that the prophe<ies would hejully accomplished bv his resurrection. He ulsosaidto the tnelve, piev ous tothe awful consummation nfbisdeatii, [Luke xviii. 91.] '-Beholri wp o;o opt lenisalc n, and all tl ;,iu5 that are wiitlcaby tbs prwpbets* cwucerniug (he {:un rfAJanRliHll be accomplished," — Ehitoh. 4- i t n med the ver 15 Jrsfiviii me, h()w«ver y of our »al- cliiMRt — the letn of iVloseg bii^htri and 1 of H greater )iiied perfect erfect. Tlie t inestimable ed up for our )mpleie wifh I the words of p observances ?d separately, r own Inieiit rivial. Nat, they who af- nl for its own f (he hidden e, and open iiah,the types \{\ dimly and ! between the by which all he wilderness I ive l)or:'e tlie WHS rent .ison- ixjoo between typical parts e Advent of en where mtr iw of Mosesj ^ed— the type ie observance »een educated sn horn free, e those of the e hope which )sf imdispnied )lv men, who, 16 secret pnr- IS tnadp to the the Advent of mg of the na- ed to the two id all the nro- dmself."' And heir belief in rrectiiin. He , LTjiike xviii. i the prwpbetS' tions lias already taken place, and those who were fiiit have beeonie last, yet we hop* will not ultimately remain last in the road of salvation. An infatuated and fatal blindness occupied their eyex and undersiaoding and prevented ihem frum observing how, in the most minute points, the prophecies of their sages were fulfilled in the person and history of Christ— how the various predictioiiH and the events in which thay were realized, inr.ted in the closest correspondHnce to each other — like the p*rt» of snine curiou* machine, wnmght separately bv the art of the mechanic, but with such accurate adjnstme nt, that no sooner are they put together, than out of detadiei*, portions and limbs, thsre is composed, merely by their union, a whole, working with the most delicate accuracy the purpose for which it was invented. Such is the nature of thM fulfilment of the law bv Chris Jestis. He recalled mat part of its institntiont which concerned general virtue and duty, and which has been distinguished from the ceremouia! part bv tne title of the Moral Law, fr.ni the narrow and res rioted sens* to which the Jewish Rabbis had contracted it, bv a close and verbal interpretation of its precepts. He exdained its types, and fulfilled iis prophecies, bv his life, suf- ferings and death. He did more, much more than all this. He paid in his own inestimable person thai debt which fallen man owed to Almighty justice, and which, •i^'tkrnpiby la'U'e, it was impossiblefor hiiu i( discharge. He took tipon himself thit cu\.e of t e law which mere hum<niiy coil I n it endure, an I bv his perfect o*>- edience and bitter sufffringrs, he made that aloi einent which his heavenly Father had aright tii exact, but which even the desiruction of the world could not have nude; and gave us a right, trusting in his merits, to plead anexemp'^in from the strict and severe denunuiatinns of ihe law under which we could not survive. In no sense, therefore, was the ancient M isaic L«w destroyed. W may be compa.ed to the moon, which is not forced from her sphere, or cast headlong from the Heavens, but which, having fulfilled her course of brightness, fades awav gradually before the more brilliant and perfect light of day. Mav G >d in his mercy make us nil partaken of (he blessi.igs ourch <sed and pruuiissd by uis blessed Sun, by whom ttte law vyas not dostroyed, but fulfilled ! DISCOURSE II. THE DLESSEDNEDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS. PSALM I. 1 -B^c.std is the mnn that rvalketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth i^'trE&l;r tl;:t:V'^rl:S'::^Xla^^ ^otn he .edUate day { //S^«TS a m>« «o: butarelike the chaffwhich the wind dnveth away, t- r!!!^r'fhf"th?angod^ sh^ll not stand in the judgment, nor sinners m the congrt- f::^7:ft Sril-iL^et/^ the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall A , nrpl.ulf. to !h« various Ies8.in8 of holiness, which his lyrical compositions ^tl^th P.1.^^ '1.6 very first vrse of these divine hy.n..s, has treated, m '° IrJ ' of tlfecSio o he righteous and the^Ticked, the blessing* .>h,ch Prov.- f ^ri'^f desi n d i^r l"e fo^^^ the misery and wretchedness to which he tlr are ce" in W ond .r,t«d, by ihe indulgence of their evU propensities; or. as the « ri/k.x. re se^u-^he happing of the godlv, the unhapp.ness ofthe ungodly, ^tfefi fa d second verL' is describedlhat line of -nl-^^,:^-5S"e'rf?c't Droacii,% Is nearly to the full dischargeofhisdnt.es, as h.s «"'«•, ^J^^/XS ^.'^eV'Tpa^d n ^e pTe^nt orca.ion, the fa.r of G >d being ih, root and source ont ofwEoarlovd to our neighbour ni«st spring, and on which .1 "'%.*'« « 2^^' htll...f Jill like wildins fruit, bear neither substance nor tlavour. The quahiiea ^l^tireToI hil' who lould Obtain the blessing promised in the text, are of two kinds, ""^C mtr Sed,- saith our text," that walke.h not in the coun.el of the un- hTv nor stamleih in the way of sinners, nor si.teth in the seat of the icornlul. In ^^ '^li Those th ee exp^^^^ may be ^onsid.red as relating to the same genera «n an hosonr w ,hou! t^^^^ strenithened and enforced by the cont.g.oMS i e^: e f ..rrare in the daily practice "indulging their p.«i«nv Bo . .nli„«<l " saith the Anoatle ; " e»il communication corrupts good manners. ""Vlrsures;bondV.o^^ in the right path, is t. abstain from the counsel which eauseti to err. . ,„vg ^^ad, branches ?"n-o z: :lc^rwri:;Me; t '.^r :!:^^:::z::^ o\ ..^ communication *''l;»re eschewed and av3^ by hi... whom the Psalmist pronoa.ic.. blessed. ''^^'i:AZt^^^^^^^ of,henu,odly;.hatis, »>« r^\ri ^''^H iaS „or Tom. mlh iLm in their ...ode. of rc^aoniuu. adopt, net the selfish and norlUly r .i.'**.^jt? nor standeth editate day h forth his hall prosper. i away- I the congre- no-odhj shall :oinposition& IS treated, in which Provi- to which the es; or, as the e ungodly, lich man, ap- and imperfect and spiritual observed, that rCreato';an(l lal obligation, nd source out jt be grafted. The qiialiiiea B of two kinds, ifl of the un- icornful." In same general )us to frequent interdict is too by example to ril piopensities the contagious passisnt. Bo 1 manners." tain from the read, brnnches communication :8i bieised. it their society, h and norUly* T IS w-.*« argnmfnts by which they impracli perhaps thf truth and iinciity of the wnr4 of ilod, or enervate the energy of Lis precepts, oi g^loss over and apologize tor thm o.vn nWlect of relijiious duties. The divine may De doubtless called upon by his office, and other men, by circumstances annexed to iheir situation in society, to tiear such reasoning in th. mouths of sceptic, and voluptuaries; and it ts in such cases h. duty, not of the clergyman alone, but of all who are competent to the t..sk, to reh.ie and repel the sophistries of the profiiue and ungodly. Tins, however, is not a walking by their codsel, but a marchin? in opposition tothein-it «» » R""»g «»f"' bi^ixumI them in the name of the Lord God of Israel whom they have defied, and »t "» time is the character oftherinhieousm-in more veoernble, thnn when, with he calmnesi which the subject requires, and the ffeotle less which compassion for a blinded sinner oueht to inspire, Snt withomashadowoffe.tr or of doubt he stands forth, like Llihu, Ihi champion of the good cause; nor can he further depart from his chiyacter (pas- sivelu at leas.) .ban when, a mean and timid listener to doctrines, which if they shnke not his own faith, may corrupt that of others, he is a patient audif.r of the counsel of * %Tcmdlu. The man is blessed who standeth not in the leay of sinners. In the former clause of the verse wo are prohibited to listen to the theory ol sin; in this we are forbidden to afford countenance by presence and acqniesence to the pracjce. \>e are not to lay the flattering unction to our souls— I have been with drunkards, but I was not drunken— I have been with men of violence, but I partook not in heir acressions-I w« in the company of in evil troop, bui I committed not evil along wiUi them. Is it then no evil to defile the hands thai should be pure, and the eye that should be single! Lei us not permit the sight of guilt to familiarize our hearts to the practice of it ; for even if we could be confident in our own godliness, (as bod knows such confidence is in itself a sinful rashness,; how many may be misled by the apparent countenance which our presence has atforded! How manv, even of the uoffodlv themselves, may have been strengthened in error, by supposing Ihegmlt oftheiractionscouldnotbeso great, since a professor of ri^hleousness continued the voluntary witness of what they did ! Wherefore let us beware that we counte- nance not sin bv standing in the path of sinners. „.„.„/•„/ Thirdlu. ^or sittethhe, whom the psaltnisl describes, in the seat oj the scornjul. There is a grave and delusive reasoning which causelii to err-there is an example of sin which is more seductive than sophistry— but there is a third, and to many (lis- positions a vet more formidable mode of seduction, arising Irom evil cornmunica- tion. It is the fear of ridicule, a fear so much engraved on our nature, that many shrink with apprehension from the laugh of scorners, who could refute their argu- ments, resist their example, and defy their violence. There has never been an hour or an age, in which tiiis formidable weapon has been more actively employed against the Christians faith than our own day. Wit and ridicule have formed the poignant sauce with which infidels have seasoned their abstract reasonings and voluptuaries the swinish messes of pollution which they have spread unblushingly-^ betore the public. It is a weapon suited to the character of the Apostate Spirit himse f, such as we conceive him to be-loving nothing, honouring nothing, leeling neither the enthusiasm of religion nor of praise, but striving to debase all that is excellent, and degrade all that is noble and praiseworthy, by cold irony and contemptuous ^"we"a^re far from terming a harmless gratification of a gay and lively spirit sinful or even useless. It has been said, and perhaps with truth, that there are tempers Which may be won to religion.by indulging them in tt.eir natural bent towards gay ety. But supposing it true that a jest may sometimes hit him who flies a sermon, too surely there area hundred cases for one where the sermon cannot remedy the evil which a iest has produced. According toour strangely varied faculties, our sense of ridicule, although silent, remains in ambush and upon the watch during offices of the deepest solemnity, and actions of the highest sublimity; if aught happens to call into action, the sense of the ludicrous becomes more resistless from the previous contrast, and the considerations of decorum, which ought to restrain our mirth, prove lifeeoiUeethed upouihe flame. There is alw au unhppy desire m our corrupt ,,..** .^jt? 14 aature. to approve of aurlacity even in wickedaess, aa men chieflj applaud tl»o»e r«i«(« of-ffility whicli are pt-i formed at ii» risk of the artist's life. And suoli i^ the sir. nfttli aatJ 'requeucy of this unliallowtd lemptatiou, that tbere are perhaps but few, wljo have not at one time or other fallen into the snare, and laughed at that at which they ought to have trembled. But, O my soul, come not thou into their secret, nor yield thy part of the promised blessing, for the poor grntification of sitting lu the seat of ihescorner, and sharing in the uaprofitaUle mirth of fools, winon is like the crack- ling of thorns under the poi ! , . L u- The second verse cootiiins the positive employment of the righteous man. His delisht it in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditaU day and night. The object of ihe righteous is to fulfil what the patriarchs of our church have well termed " the chief end of man— to gUrify God," nan.ely, '• aid to enjoy bi.'i for ever;" anl liiat tie may qualify himself for this, his study is in the Holy ocnp- tu ft. He is satisfied witii 410 ceremonious repetiiion of the Sacred Book by roie, but that he may come to a true knowledge of the things belonginfj to his sal- vation, he meditates upon ihern,byday audniijnl, searching out the hidden meaning and genuine spirit of those texts which others pass over as hard to bo understood. We know the attention bestowed by men of learning upon hunaii laws, and how long a portion of their time must be devoted to study ere they can term thernst-'lves acquainted witltth municipal laws of anv civilized realm; and is it then to be imagined that the laws of the Supreme are to he understood at a slighter expense of leisure than those of earlhlv legislatois? Be assured, that when we have meditated upon them, as in the text, by day and -iigtit, our .ime will even then have been lost, unless faith liath been our con nentator and interpreter. The third verse describes, by a beautiful eaMern simile, the advantages with which the forbearance from evil counsel, from the company of sinners, and from the mirth of scoflfers aud blasphemers, must needs be attended. Md he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring>^th forth his fruit in hts season,- his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he dodh shall prosper. In one point of view this striki.ig p>^oinise may be supposed to refer to temporal blessings, which, under the theocracy of the Jews, were more directly and more frequently held li^tb as the reward of the righteous, tlmn under the dispensations of the Gospel. V\e must own, also, that even in our own times, religion is some i nes the means of rrocuring temporal piospentv to its votaries. The more a man meditates upon God's la*v, the more he feels it his duty to render his life useful to his fellow-creatures. And tried honesl>, .p,>roved fidelity, devoted courage, publicspirit, the estimation created by a blamek !>s conduct, and the general respect which even the prolane bear to a man of couscien- e and honesty, often elevate to eminence; and hapij is it for the land when such are its princes and ivernors, or are possessors and dislribuiors of its wealth and fulness. But though this be true, we shall err grossly if wt »on- ceive temsoral felicity is here alluded to as being either the appropriate or the un- varied reward of right ousness. Were this the case, an earthly, inadequate, and merely transient reward, would be unworthy o spiritual merit; aud vrere ii to be th« certain and unvaried consequence of a due discharge of relioious dunes. I fear that thouirh the b^nks of our Jordan ini^ht be more thickly studded than at present with tr es fair and flourishing 10 outward appearance, the core of many would be tainted with rottenness; or, without a metaphor, men who were not openly profane, weul* drivea trade with their religion, under the mask of hypocrisy. It is safer therefore to view the blessed slate of the righteous, as consisting m that calm of the mind, which no one can e-joy without the applause of his ow« conscience, and the humble confidence in which, with mingled faith and hope, the eood man throws himself on the protection of Providence. His leaves which wither not but clothe him as well in the winter of adve.sity, as in the spring and summer nfDro«perity,are goodly and comforting reflections, that in whatever state h. s calCTo? le . discharging the pa.t des m-d for him by an affect. -.ate and om- nipotent Fa-herj-and h.s incorruptible f,ui.s rendered in thfir season are gooi Ji. pious thoughts towards God, kind aud feneroas aclioiis towar*! hi« Mltn- tii I tUo»e r««(« Bu<jli i^ ilie apt but few, lat at which uecret, nor ' lu the seat i the crack- man. His id night. ih have well ijo) bi>'i for Holy Scrip- ed Book by i, to his sal- en meaDuij; uoderstoud. rs, and hovr themst-'tves be imagined seof leisure litated upon I lost, unless niages with s, and from I he shall be n htB season^ In one point liu^s, which, ly held luilh rospel. We tie means of 3ditatesupoa w-creatures. le estimation profane hear jpiiy is it for I dislribuKirs if Wt »0Q- e or the uo- dcquate, and e ii to be th« I fear that present with Id be tainted ufane, wauidl ronststing in ! of his owa ind hope, the ivhich wither and summer T state hf s late and um- ]ii, are good • ki% ftU«vr- Oreatures, saortifled, because rendered io tlie Bpirit and with lli« humble f^ith of B Christian. The un^uc//^ are noi( <o, saitb the next verse: but art like tae enqff^ which the wind driveth away. If the righteousness of the just is sometimes followed by temporal prosperity, the wickedoess of the profane is yet more f equently atteiide'l by temporal punishment. The cause of this is obvious: he tliat does not fear Ood, will not regard man. He that has disbelieved or detied the divine coiiimaDdmeiit, has only the fear of temporal punishment lett to prevent him from invading (he laws of society; and th« effect of this last harrier must be strong or weak, in proportion to ILe s'renglh of passion and the greatness of teiiipiaiion. And hence that frequent introduclioa to the history of great crimes, that the perpetrators began tueir couise by iiisuse of public worship, hreakiiig the Lord's day, and neglect of private Oivution, and thud opened the way for theinselvei* to intainy and to execution. How many in a f higher class in society, languisri under diseases^ which are the cousequeucKS of their ' own excesses, or suffer indigence and contempt, through their own folly and extravagance! But. as prosperity in this life is neither the genuine nor the cer ain reward of ' the lighteous, so neither is temporal adversity the constunt rtifuital of the ungodly. On the contrary, we have seeu the wiukcd great in power, and flourishing like a green bay-tree; yet could we have looked into his husom at that moment of pros- perity, how true *ve should have found the words of the Psahiiist! The sophistry whicii he borrowed from the cuunseU of the ungodly, gives no assurance of hap- piness, and leads him to no solid or stable cooclusiun; the wit with which the suorner > t taught him to gloss over his infidel opinions, has lost its brilliancy — behind him ' there is remorse; before him there is duiibt. While the godly is fast moored oa — the Rock of Ages, he is in a stoimy sea, without a chart, without a compass, V without a pilot. The perturbed reasoning, the secret fears of such a one, make liis thoughts indeed like tliechalf which the winds drive to and fro, being as worth- less and profitless as they aie cliaiigeable and uncertain. A person, distinguished ' li as much for his excesses at one period of his life, as he was afterwards for his repentance, mentioned after his happy change, that one day, when he was in th* full career of wit and gayety, admired by the society of which i e appeared the life, while all v;pplauded and most envied him, '' he could not forbear groaning inwardly^ and baying to himself, •O that I were that dog!"* looking on one which chanced to be in the apartment.* Such were the secret thought* of one who ha(\ followed the countelofthe ungodly, walked in the way of iinner»,tind sate in the seat of the scornful. Regretting tht p^sf, sick of the present, fearing 1 lie ■^ ^ future; having little hope beyond a gloomy wish for annihilation, he was to exchange all the privileges and enjoyments of wit, understanding, and intellectual superiority, for the mean faculties, and irresponsible existence of a beast that perishes. He muat have been indeed like chaff tormented by the wind, ere he could have formed a wish at once so dreadful and so degrading ! The fifth verso fidlowirig out of the theme which the Psalmist proposed, informs ns, \hat the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregatimi of the righteous. After death cometh the judgment. How strict, how terrible that *- judgment shall be. we may learn from the hiessed \, nstle in the second epistle to the Thessalonians.f Then shall that wicked be revealta, nhom the Lord shall conaumB with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Will it then be received as an apology, that the sophistries by wliick the Q0godlj>- were * See Doddridge's Life* of Col. Gardiner, f.« Thass. ii, 8. 16 that which ihev should cho7w and the hrvin^^r"*";'" "^'«";'» 'nem,and embracinjr of the so,pel for the vain sonh;strfo of Jr^i^'hf;" ^""'^- ^"' «^''' «"d the truth Ao«/,V A./,V.. « /;.: i? .'',:.': ^',""l'^-! .^"c/*A-,// ae»rfMem strong delusion Jess levities bera.m* 1.1 . ^i " ""^ ungodly; a se UM.ocent,nirth,heeauseresH,eri tinsel"?'..'" "" ^^^ "^ ^-"-s; a foe (o come holdl V, before the he ve Wy J^'T H . ' "'"''r.'"- ^"' ''"^ "^ver.heless hand knevv not the ffood deeds .vhrl.!! "'^ 'V'""'"'^' '"' '"^.^^- ^^hen his left them. His eye wn/«pon 1,^ i oS\ TT^'" ^>' "*« ••'«''^ «''- ^-rd beheld during his daily and ni.^Hlv mcdi.a. ,s oo In'r^''' 'T' "t ^^''•" ^"'^^^^ '^™ been abi; lodeceiveren naHe f's , V'*^^?'*' ''^^"''''y ****'' ^''''^h he may have -ent, and -ntimcnts i?,"' eSv^^^^^^^^ biendin, actions of a,- arent winch the Ps.itn.sthns denounm/ ,C kI " ^'"' ^ »^'^."'-«« "f 'i^^' ^uch as that ■^cotrer at hiscom.nandments.whal y ll ill .^t ■ """"f '''"'"«•• «' Cfofl'« lau-. and a 'niM.ted to his poorer brethre he fooV ,[ .7 "V^'' ''l'.^'' ^'^^" "''"«' •''"J <'i^- 'beir lips, and trampling, in te presence .nn"''H"'V "^^ *"^ "^'^^ '^^^'''"^ <•"'"' ;ierds,wheli,erdon;tobe«eer! fmerorC^ " ^'T''^ "^ eternal life? Good fiuman heart, to rrlieye i^elf frnm^h' ^ '^'■°'" "'^ "«<ural disposition of the .pplanded hy' those wLJ- nes Tthnn ^i'll f f"^'^"- -ff'" "^ ^istVess, however! :n the eyes of .he Divin.tv, which ^1?;^'; if '" """■ P'"'^'^ '^^«' ^"^ "ti^ation in the habitual breacf. oH is La 7. . ? ^"i ''^ '*" atonement for a lite sp.>ut of the nn^odh, shall peri^, '*'' ""^ ^'''''^'"f'' "^ ''^^ Comn.andments. ryieLj; .nd^::;;tTti;:r^tim:,ii;r:r^:;n;:^^;hr ^^^ '-'' -^^'^^'^^ •^--- ^^ '«^-^ »he hea.tand trieth the reins ^ '^ "' ^"' P"^'^^'»^« «f ""» ^ho searchetb ^'^Thessji. n 13. Fix>JJS. !t_a. J^ ;fe,>j_* •*t*^-l. -a. f