plary-to avoid

every appearance of evil and, if possible, to give no handle to censure or suspicion.

Then, the spotless purity of Christ's life comes to our remembrance, and the imitation of it, for us to put in practice: and if we act according to such impressions, rely upon it that we shall have abundant fruit in those things, of which, upon reflection, we can never be ashamed. Be assured it is among the greatest blessings which God Almighty permits his creatures to enjoy, to think upon their past lives with complacency and satisfaction.

Hasten, therefore, if you have hitherto felt sorrow or shame in such a retrospective view, hasten to feel tranquillity and comfort-by leading a life conformably to the precepts of the Gospel, and the doctrines of the Apostle. Let adversity be ever so keen, if your misfortunes have not arisen from your crimes, you will feel a solace upon reflection, which it is not in the power of mere prosperity to bestow.

Bidding adieu to the follies of the past, spring forward toyour future good. Looking with pity and contempt on the baubles and shadows which used once to occupy your fancy, and employ your time, resolutely strive

to run the good Christian race which is set before you-and with a reliance on the merits of Christ Jesus, you shall, in the end, instead of shame and death, rise to bliss and life immortal!

SERMON XXI.

1 JOHN iv. 7.

Beloved, let us love one another. If there be one distinguishing characteristic more than another, whereby the excellency of Evangelical precepts is recognised as differing from those of Pagan doctrine, it consists in the recommendation and enforcing of that precept, or virtue, which is enjoined in the words of my text. Jesus Christ came down from heaven to take upon him our likeness, fashion, and infirmities, in order, amongst other great objects of his ministry, to inculcate peace and good will towards men. These were the words chaunted by the attendant spirits who ushered the intelligence of his birth to an astonished world; and this was the precept which he strove unceasingly to enforce during his abode with us: telling us to "LOVE ONE ANOTHER:" to forgive each

other: and to be merciful and kind, according to our means and opportunities.

The Disciple and Apostle, from whose Epistle the text is taken, was, of all those occupied in the service of their gracious Master, the most distinguished for his engaging simplicity and amiableness of character. St. John was in particular selected by our Saviour as the partner of his most intimate sorrows and joys. He received him into his bosom. His whole soul, if one may indulge in expressions adapted to finite beings, should seem to have been laid open to his favourite and affectionate disciple. Accordingly, the Gospel of St. John is pre-eminently marked for all those tender and interesting touches of familiar dialogue, and benevolent sentiment, which are not to be found, in an equal degree, in the Gospels of his fellow disciples and Evangelists. If we wish to meditate upon the delightful maxims of christianity, clothed in language the most perspicuous, and directed to objects the most salutary, we must read the Gospel according to St. John -for in this composition, every thing appears

to have been uttered in the most frank and undisguised manner, during the private and uninterrupted meetings of our Saviour and

play-to avoid every appearance of evil and, if possible, to give no handle to censure or suspicion.

Then, the spotless purity of Christ's life comes to our remembrance, and the imitation of it, for us to put in practice: and if we act according to such impressions, rely upon it that we shall have abundant fruit in those things, of which, upon reflection, we can never be ashamed. Be assured it is among the greatest blessings which God Almighty permits his creatures to enjoy, to think upon their past lives with complacency and satisfaction.

Hasten, therefore, if you have hitherto felt sorrow or shame in such a retrospective view, hasten to feel tranquillity and comfort-by leading a life conformably to the precepts of the Gospel, and the doctrines of the Apostle. Let adversity be ever so keen, if your misfortunes have not arisen from your crimes, you will feel a solace upon reflection, which it is not in the power of mere prosperity to bestow.

Bidding adieu to the follies of the past, spring forward toyour future good. Looking with pity and contempt on the baubles and shadows which used once to occupy your fancy, and employ your time, resolutely strive