tles? It was not given to the people, for them to be humbled to the apostles; but for the apostles to be humbled, to be led by the spirit. They were to take no thought what they should do, what they should say, but keep themselves empty, and be constantly waiting for the emanation of Deity from their living head, and then to yield to it, and act from it: and this is what every one that shall lead must be brought to, and when brought to that, all discordance in the church will end. This faith will 'make us feed on his precepts. The promise on which we must depend isThe promise of the Holy Ghost, to lead us into a knowledge of all truth. If this was the dependence of all, there would be none of these speculations, of which is the way, or which not; who goes to heaven, and when, and who not. We should take no thought, but empty ourselves, that the spirit might guide without any rival from our own fine studies and great wisdom. Then would the church be well taught; and anti-christian division be no more known.

Here the Son of Man became the Son of God. His right and title to the government of the world were established; but his subjects were rebels and traitors, in league with Satan, and drove him out of it. The servants they had killed before; now, say they, let us kill the Son, then the inheritance will be our own. There were, however, some that maintained their obedience and attachment to their Lord; and he desired them to wait at Jerusalem, till they were endued with power from on high. This was the work of the Holy Ghost, which was given them at Penticost. Here were the glorious fruits of this re-union with God and man. Still the usurper continued to hold his usurpation. The time allotted him was not

expired; nor could expire, till there was a majority of the earth in favour of Christ's reign,-till the Gospel was preached. The charge was, "Go ye into "all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, "he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; "but he that believeth not, shall be damned." Mark, xvi. And that they might not be deceived by false professions, the Lord set before them the evidence of faith. "These signs, saith he, shall follow them that be"lieve, in my name shall they cast out devils. They "shall speak with new tongues,-They shall take up

serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall "not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, " and they shall recover."

This was to be accomplished by the Holy Ghost taking possession of the hearts of believers, and expelling every other dependence. And that the apostles might have a practical acquaintance with it, they were to wait at Jerusalem until they were in full possession of it. This enjoyed, they went forth with the joyful proclamation; and, although Satan raised all the force he could to stop its progress, in defiance of all the persecutions he could raise, it was spread, more or less, within the space of forty years, to all civilized nations. -But the vigilant foe soon stirred up division among them; Judaisan teachers followed them,-and men's wisdom soon got mixed with the spirit's teaching: and that produced anarchy and confusion in the churches. -A Satanic system, by Mahomet, was broached to destroy it, and ultimately Satan appeared to triumph.

Thus have eighteen hundred years rolled away, and what is now the prospect? Is not the ursurper in quiet possession of the government of the world? Do any of the followers of the Lord confederate together for

his expulsion? On the contrary, are they not taught to shun the conflict, like cowards, to slip out of the field of battle? Instead of the fulfilling the covenant and vow, entered in at their baptism, are they not confering with each other, to know how they can avoid coming to action; and feeding their minds with the enjoyment of victory, without striking a single blow? Are not the learning, and talents of men employed diversely, to show which is the most certain and secure way of retiring from the conflict, and leaving the enemy in full possession of his ursurpation? I again ask, if the legitimate sovereign of this nation was driven from his throne, would his loyal subjects content themselves with letting their wishes follow him, and never make an effort for his restoration? Would they, without any endeavour for the removal of the usurper, constantly strive to increase the population of the country he rules over? Pardon me, ye that differ in opinion, I can view missionary pursuits in no other light. -Satan, the usurper, is in full possession of the government of the world.—We are, in plain and unequivocal language, told by Christ himself, he'll come again.Paul, by inspiration, tells us, "he died for the sins of many," "And to them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." Heb. ix. 28. If we were to give a reference to all the passages of scripture that speak of it plainly, metaphorically, parabolically, &c. &c. we should fill many pages of this book. There is, however, one we will not omit. Luke, xix. The Lord was attentive to the remarks of the pretendedly sanctified of that day." He's gone to be a guest with a sinner."-This man was Zaccheus, a man that had accepted from the Roman government the office of tax-gatherer: an office considered disre

putable for a son of Abraham in that day. Yet, if the rebellion of the people at large had subjected them to the yoke of an heathen power, and they were taxed by it, undoubtedly whatever was so imposed on them might be collected, by means less oppressive, from a conscientious man of their own people than by a heathen collector, who was taught to despise them for their religion. Whether is was or was not so, we presume not to say. There are those in all ages, and all climes, that will employ their tongues in railing against tax-gatherers, let there be whatever justification there may for levying them, many of whom might be glad to accept the office, and then, as vociferously defend the propriety of their collection. This, I believe, few will dispute. The Lord, with his accustomed urbanity, mildly replied, "The Son of Man is come "to seek, and save that which was lost."-Think of the unnumbered millions that had lived for the four thousand years then passed, and not one among the sons of men was to be found in whom such a thought ever entered; and the reason must be clear: because, there never had been, from Adam's fall to that time, a son of God that was also the son of man. -There was none that could perform the task. Nebuchadnezzar saw him (Dan. iii. 25) walking about in his furnace, with as much composure as that monster could in his garden of roses,-his fire could not hurt him, nor those that were united by faith to him ;-nor hell-fire either, were it possible for them to enter it!

After this, to them that had heard these puritanical reasoners he addressed himself, "because he wa snigh to Jerusalem❞—that is, because it was nigh the time and place where he was to suffer,-whereas, they expected that that kingdom which he has taught a few

simple creatures now to expect "should then immediately appear."-Therefore, to soften the disappointment they were about to experience, and to reconcile them to the necessity of subjects being first procured for it, he spake a parable.

Before we give the parable, we must make an observation on the Lord's reply. Zaccheus, as a son of Abraham, was lost in his duty to his God, and his country, by accepting the appointment. They were in a state of subjection to a heathen power, for their disobedience and transgression. By reformation and turning to God, they should have endeavoured to shake off the yoke, instead of tamely submitting to it.But he was no farther criminal in collecting than the rest in paying; yet such was their aversion to paying, that, if they had dared, they would have done as the Americans did, tarred and feathered all who collected. That would not have saved themselves; they were all lost; and Christ came to save them that were lost; but it will be only them, that, like Zaccheus, are willing to be found. He instantly offered to give up half his property to the poor for this call; and if any could charge him with wronging them, he would return it four-fold.-But, saith the reasoner, what reward did he reap? He, like the rebellious, was numbered with the dead: very true; but he obtained "a good report." Heb. xi. Believing in Christ, though dead, yet he lived again lived to enjoy some extended usefulness in the cause of his master, and will continue to live, till "he keeps the Lord's sayings, no more to see

death," John, viii. 51. "For as the Father raiseth up "the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son "quickeneth whom he will." John, v. 21. And that will be all that will yield to the quickening power, as