rejoices; even in this world "light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart." Even in the present life, God repays the love and obedience of His servant; He encircles him with beams of mercy, and with beams of honour. But it is only in the world to come, that the Divine promises are fully realized, that the happiness of the just is complete. When grace is turned into glory, when duty is succeeded by reward, when earth is exchanged for heaven-then shall the believer shine out in his true and native splendour. Then shall the real dignity of his character be displayed. Though in this world he was poor, and afflicted, and lowly, despised by the proud, and forgotten by the rich; yet because he had fled for refuge to the Saviour, and had accepted His salvation; because he was sanctified by the Spirit, and was a faithful servant of his God: his glory shall then shine forth as the light, and

he shall take his seat among saints and angels around the throne of God. While that proud man that despised him, and that rich man that neglected him, shall be thrust down to hell, and to the society of devils.

In conclusion then, brethren, let me beseech you to turn with all speed and diligence to this Divine "Strong Hold," even to Jesus Christ. Your salvation ought to be the principal business of your life, the first and the latest wish of your souls. All the other employments and concerns, to which we attach so much importance, are only gilded trifles in comparison of this. Whether we pass to the grave from a cottage or a thronethrough the high road of wealth and fashion, or the bye-path of want and beggary-it matters not: the distinctions of this life are so vain and fleeting, they are not worth contending for. And yet strange infatuation! these are the

empty bubbles which attract the love and the thoughts of the sons of men; these enjoyments of an hour and honours of a day are the only things desired and sought after;- while the grand concerns of an eternal scene the favour of God and the happiness of heavenare passed over without regard, or dismissed with sovereign contempt.

That a man should so busy himself in things which he may leave in a moment, and never think of things which must endure for ever, is a strange truth; that a man should despise the joys of Paradise, and grovel among earthly delights, is stranger still; but that a man, with the eternal torments of hell before his eyes, should still deliberately sin on, is the strangest of all. And yet this is the case with nearly all the world. From their conduct every reasonable man would conclude, that the Bible is a romance, heaven a dream, and hell a fable.

But, if we really believe that there is another life after this, and that our condition hereafter depends upon our conduct here-let us awake from our dreadful delusion, and be in good earnest about salvation. While we are "prisoners of hope," let us "turn to the Strong Hold" without a moment's delay. In a little time we shall be unable to flee for refuge to the hope set before us. When life expires, hope expires also. O then, my brethren, to day, while it is called to day, let us comply with the gracious invitation of our God. Let us turn with gratitude to the sanctuary which He has provided for sinners; and receive from His hands all the blessings of salvation.

SERMON XV.

GLORYING IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

GALATIANS vi. 14.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the preceding verses St. Paul refers to the Judaizing teachers, who still wished to retain the Mosaic rites and ceremonies. Fearful, lest they should suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ, they studiously endeavoured to enforce on their converts the rite of circumcision, the most decisive mark of a professor of Judaism. Though, under the Roman government, the power and splendour of the Jews had undergone a partial eclipse;