have weight, when I entreat them, as they regard the reputation of that Gospel which is all their salvation and all their desire, to covet earnestly, and to pursue constantly, this "more excellent way!" O that I could prevail, when I beseech them aye, beseech them to study the genius of their religion in its facts, doctrines, duties, and examples, to see if it be not love! O that I could succeed in my wishes and my efforts, that they might no longer, by the indulgence of their passions, strengthen the bands of iniquity which bind men to their sins, and raise an enmity against religion which shall aid and accelerate the work of damnation! O that a new era would commence in the history of the church, when finding what a cloud had been brought upon the truth as it is in Jesus, by the bigotry, intolerance, and enormous cruelties of corrupt and persecuting communities; by the spirit of party which has, more or less, infected all sects; by the rancour of controversy; by the passion for war; by the pride of pharisaism; by the schisms of the brethren; by the envy, covetousness, and malice, of professors;— all true Christians would be baptized afresh unto repentance in the pure and peaceful waters of the sanctuary, confessing their sins of uncharitableness and ill will: then might it be expected that, as in the case of the Divine head, so in that of the mystical body, the Holy Ghost, in his dove-like form, would descend, to rest upon it," and, by an earthly glory, prove and display its heavenly origin.

4. By this means, we shall be enabled, in a very eminent degree, to glorify God. For a man to live for himself, as the ultimate end of his existence,

is no less mean, and low, and little, than it is wicked. Selfishness of this kind not only pollutes the soul, but degrades it: it limits its desires within a very narrow compass; imprisons its hopes in a poor contemptible hovel; and drags down its ambition from the glory of the infinite and eternal God, to the paltry and insignificant interests of a finite and unworthy creature. The heart of the real Christian is too large to be compressed within such boundaries; understanding that God is the author of his existence, he makes him the end of it; that as he came from him, he may be continually returning to him. Everything, in point of dignity and elevation, is to be estimated by the end it seeks. Its aims give it whatever value it possesses, and fashion it into their own likeness. Nothing can make that great, which only aims at what is little; while a sublime nature is imparted to that which seeks a sublime end. Now, a higher end, no creature in any world, however exalted, can propose to itself, than the glory of God; and a lower one, the humblest believer in all God's family on earth should never seek. This is, indeed, to ennoble the soul; and enlarges it into a universal and comprehensive capacity of enjoying that one unbounded goodness, which is God himself; it makes it spread out and dilate itself in the infinite sphere of the Divine Being and blessedness, and makes it live in the fulness of him that filleth all in all. "We glorify God, by entertaining the impression of his glory upon us, and not by communicating any kind of glory to him. Then does a good man become the tabernacle of God, wherein the divine

Shechinah does rest, and which the divine sglory fills, when the frame of his mind and life is wholly according to that idea and pattern which he receives from the mount. We best glorify him, when we grow most like him; and we then act must for his glory, when a true spirit of sanctity, justice, and meekness, runs through all our actions; when wę so live as becomes those that converse with the great mind and wisdom of the whole world; with that Almighty Spirit that made, supports, and governs all things; with that Being from whence all good flows, and in which there is no spot, stain, or shadow of evil; and so, being captivated and overcome by the sense of divine loveliness and goodness, endeavour to be like him, and to conform ourselves as much as may be to him. As God's seeking his own glory in respect of us is most properly the flowing forth of his goodness upon us ; so our seeking the glory of God is most properly our endeavouring a participation of his goodness, and an earnest incessant pursuing after the divine perfection. When God becomes so great in our eyes, and all created things so little, that we reckon nothing as worthy of our aims and ambition, but a serious participation of the divine nature, and the exercise of divine virtues-love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, and the like; when the soul, beholding the infinite beauty and loveliness of the Divinity, and then looking down and beholding all created perfection mantled over with darkness, is ravished into love and admiration of that never-setting brightness, and endeavours after the greatest resemblance of God, in justice,

love, and goodness; when conversing with him by a secret feeling of the virtue, sweetness, and power of his goodness, we endeavour to assimilate ourselves to him ;---then we may be said to glorify him indeed."* These fine sentiments should be engraven on our hearts, that they may be constantly reduced by us to practice. O, who that would have his nature exalted to the highest pitch of honour and happiness, ought not to cultivate that disposition which is the brightest representation contained in our world of its Divine Creator. To be the instrument of giving publicity to human excellence, of fixing the attention of others upon those qualities which, although eminently praiseworthy, were but little known, and exciting admiration on their behalf, is no mean or uninteresting employment; but to exhibit a temper, which is

Select Discourses, by John Smith;" a book which, for its combination of learning, genius, and piety, has scarcely its parallel in the English language. When shall we have some friend of the age and of posterity, who will give us a reprint of some of those valuable works, which, not because of their want of worth, but on account of their small bulk, are passing rapidly to oblivion? How much of everything that should be dear to piety and learning might be compressed in about eight volumes of rare and invaluable treatises, which are known only to book-worms, who, like the prototype which gives them their designation, are holding their daily meal in solitude, and, like it, will render the world no richer for their treasure? But, perhaps, such an undertaking would not find encouragement; then alas for the age in which we live! I cannot, however, think so ill of the present race of ministers, as to believe that they would take no interest in the many beautiful though little-known treatises, both of the Puritans and Non-conformists, which are still in existence, but will soon be devoured by worms.

the likeness of God, to manifest a virtue, in reference to which it may be said that it is an image of Deity, what an unspeakable dignity and delight. This is, in the highest sense of the term, to be raised into fellowship with God,-a word that signifies not only an act of intercourse, but a state of communion; a communion of ends and aims, a kind of partnership in purpose and pursuit. God is ever seeking his own glory, as his ultimate aim in all his works: his perfection prevents him from seeking a lower end, and a higher he cannot seek to manifest himself is his supreme purpose; and we can easily imagine that the manifestation of love is the end to which all the other displays of his attributes are made subservient. Have we any hallowed ambition in our nature here is scope for its gratification, here is an object towards which we may let forth all its energies, to hold communion with God in the manifestation of his glory: what can angels do more, except it be to do it more perfectly? Christians; see your high vocation: you are set apart not only by God, but for him; constituted a people, to show forth his praise; appointed, not only to receive his grace, but to reflect his beauty. Your highest glory is to manifest His. His image is the richest ornament of your moral nature; and to show it to the world, your great business upon earth. The meanest Christian shows forth more of God than the heavens which declare his glory, and the firmament which showeth his handy work he is a brighter object in the universe, and teaches more of its infinite Author, than the sun in his mid-day splendour, or the moon in her beauty, attended by her starry