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in judgment, to search there, whether we are living, and acting, and believing, and hoping, and purposing as a separate people; whether we have about us the characters of that people, who have come out from the world, to be separate, to be the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty-whether we be indeed "yielding ourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead"-whether, as risen with Christ, we are seeking those things above, where Christ sitteth; and whether our conversation be so much in that heaven, that we may from them reasonably look for a Saviour, to change the body of our humiliation into the reflex image of the body of his glory.

But these views are cheering too as well as instructive. In representing us as a people chosen from the kindreds of the earth, and separated to God, they represent us as a people under the covenant of reconciliation: and, then, how sweetly encouraging is that precious conclusion of the apostle, "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." In representing us as the called of God, these views represent us as the people of promise; "for the promise is to you and to your chil

dren, and to as many as the Lord our God shall call." In representing us as the people of God, they cheer us with the favour and purpose which God has toward his chosen ; for God hath not appointed his people unto wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." These are our encouragements; and I am bold to say, that there is no doctrinal system, nor any views of "the counsels of God, secret to us," which ought to prevent any one, who is of the separate people, of the Church of God, from taking these encouragements to himself; from believing that God has a favour to him; from looking on him as his reconciled Father; from going "boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need;" and from being persuaded, that he has been made one of God's peculiar people for this very purpose, "that he may show forth the praises of Him who hath called him out of darkness into his marvellous light." Therefore is this Gospel of salvation to the Church of God, and to every one of us in particular, a Gospel of promise and of encouragement. Wherefore, beloved, cheered by these blessed hopes and encouragements, with which our church privileges surround us ;

let us "give all diligence to make our calling and election sure;" let us be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch, as we know that our labour will not be in vain in the Lord," Amen.

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SERMON X.

James ii. 24.

"YOU SEE THEN, HOW THAT BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY.

On a recent occasion, my brethren, I brought before your consideration that all-important passage of God's holy word, "That a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law;" (Rom. iii. 28) when we endeavoured to prove from Scripture, that "We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of one Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, by faith"-and by faith only; and not in any respect for, or on account of our works, duties, or affections towards God. To-day, we are led to examine a passage of Scripture, which, I doubt not, many here have frequently heard quoted as inconsistent with this declaration; nay, it is possible, that some now before me may themselves have adduced it in opposition to what they may have conceived too unqualified a statement. Thus the language of our

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