fully refuses to eat, be indulged in its own way, how soon will hunger humble its spirit. How came the brethren of Joseph all to prostrate themselves -before him? These men who were so determined that the dreams of Joseph should never be fulfilled, who despised the thought of falling on their knees to their brother, were humbled by famine. The stout hearted, haughty prodigal was humbled, brought to himself, and made willing to return to his father's house by the force of hunger. Was there even any uncertainty respecting the reduction of Joseph's brethren to a state of humility? Was there any uncertainty about the final return of the prodigal? No, nor is there any uncertainty that "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord."

That law by which all creatures are governed renders it certain that all people will feed on the best provisions they can procure, especially if it cost them nothing.

If Ephraim of old, fed on wind, and followed after the east wind, it was because he knew of nothing better. And if people now are as much deceived as Ephraim was, they may endeavor to feed on every wind of doctrine that blows from the high places of spiritual wickedness; but it is because they know of nothing better. God says, by the mouth of the Prophet Hosea; "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." This situation of mankind seems to invite us to the consideration of another important subject in our text, expressed in the following words; "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.'

This vail or face of covering which has been spread over all nations is the ignorance and unbelief of which St. Paul speaks in Romans 11th, "For

God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." And the same Apostle has more on the same subject in his 2d Epistle to the Corinthians; "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech; and not as Moses which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in reading the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away."

The gospel dispensation and ministry were designed for the enlightening and instrucing of mankind. Jesus was a teacher sent from God; the Apostles were commanded to teach all nations, and preach the gospel to every creature. In short, the true knowledge of God is the life and salvation which the Saviour brings to the world; it is the feast of fat things which is made in mount Sion for all people. Jesus said in his prayer to the Father: Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Did eve-, ry child of Adam now know God and Jesus Christ they would have eternal life. We are told, that this is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; that is, the knowledge of God is in Christ Jesus. Salvation then consists in knowing God, which makes it evident that the nature of God is salvation. As fast, therefore, as we advance in the knowledge of God we enjoy

the rich provisions which are made for all people. The hearer may now see the nature of the general subject. The love, wisdom, knowledge and goodness of God are free for all people and are calculated to bless, with fulness of joy, every creature. In the divine economy man is constituted capable of advancing in wisdom, knowledge, and love, and therefore seems destined in his nature to the enjoyments under consideration.

When "all shall know the Lord," there will be no need of one's teaching another; the vail then will be gone, there will be no unbelief, and of course no hardness of heart. The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.

Will the advocate for limited salvation, and the endless misery of mankind pretend, that those who are to be forever miserable are to remain ignorant. of the true character of God? Will the time never come when deception will be removed? Have we reason to believe, that error will be secured from divine light so as to remain in the mind forever? Or will the opposer say; No, error will be destroyed, and the deceived will be brought to see and know the truth, but then it will all be too late! The day of his probation will then be ended, and he not saved? This has an awful sound, and such talk has greatly troubled thousands, but enlightened none. Let us ask, how it can be possible that any rational being should know divine truth too late to enjoy it? Is it possible to know God and Jesus Christ and not be filled with divine love? But this subject is erroneously represented, as if we were to receive eternal life as a reward for knowing God in a certain given time, called the time of our probation; after which it would be no advantage to us to know him. This idea does not acknowledge the truth of the words of Jesus;

"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

The hearer is now invited to give a moment's attention to another most weighty subject contained in the passage under consideration, and expressed in the following words; "He will swallow up death in victory.' Death is of two kinds, moral and natural. Moral death is the effect of sin, natural death is the effect of a mortal constitution. In order to swallow up these two kinds of death, sin must be finished, everlasting righteousness take its place, aud mortality must put on immortality. The scriptures are clear on these subjects, and leave no room for doubt. The fore-runner of Jesus said of him; "Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." The beloved disciple said; "And we know that he was manifested to take away our sins." Again; "If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; and he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Again; "For this purpose was the son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." Moral death consists in unreconciliation to God and is swallowed up in victory by the ministration of reconciliation, to wit: "that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." Reconciliation to God is victory over moral death. St. Paul says to the Romans; " Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.-For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from right

eousness.

What fruit had ye then in those things

whereof ye are now ashamed; for the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The 15th chapter of the 1st epistle of the Corinthians is principally devoted to the support of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead on the hypothesis that "as in Adam all die,even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The hearer is earnestly solicited to read this chapter with peculiar attentention, by which he will perceive that the Apostle did not believe in a state of sin and misery after the resurrection, but a glorious state of life and immortality. The consummation of this transeendent event the inspired author imforms us is the fulfilment of our subject. "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory."-Lastly, " And the Lord God shall wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it." Here the prophet presents us with the most moving scene that ever imagination could invent, or language describe. He represents the Father of our spirits as throwing away forever the rod of correction; and approaching his humble, penitent weeping children, and with the pitying hand of parental love wiping away the tears his fatherly severity had caused to flow.

To conclude, our subject and doctrine may be improved in the following manner.

As God is recommended to be impartially good to the whole human family, ordering and directing all things for the advancement of our happiness, he is worthy of our unfeigned love and gratitude; and the due consideration of this weighty truth imposes