angel of darkness, and he influences carnal hearts not only to "love darkness rather than light," but to oppose the light to the utmost of their power, and thus to reject the counsel of God against themselves. Little do carnal men think of this; but while they manifest an indifference to true piety, while they speak against it, while they ridicule and persecute its possessors, they are actually doing the will of Satan. To them it may be said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

There is no doubt that a powerful reason for the opposition of carnal men to religion is to be sought in the spirit and conduct of some of its professors. Worldly persons look at the professors of religion, and they see in the tempers of many of them, something so unsanctified and opposed to the spirit of the gospel; in their manners something so gloomy and repulsive; and in their lives something so careless, if not directly sinful, as to lead them to imagine that there is no such thing as true piety; that it is only pretence; that a profession of it is only a cloak to deceive; and that all who profess it are hypocrites, "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness."

It is a lamentable thing that Jesus should thus

be wounded in the house of his friends; that those who eat of his bread should thus lift up the heel against him; that those who affect to guard the citadel should betray it to the foe; and that those who are professedly the friends of religion should prove its worst enemies, by hardening the hearts and encouraging the opposition of worldly men against it.

Perhaps, however, the grand reason why wordly men are so decidedly hostile to real religion is to be found in the nature of religion itself. True religion is of an aggressive nature. It is the leaven which will work. Like the cake of barley-meal which tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent and smote it, that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay all along; so religion will attack the powers of the world and sin. Those who are truly pious will praywill preach—will reprove-will try to save souls -will make inroads on the empire of darkness. As religion thus opposes the world, so the world will oppose it. Imperial Rome would have tolerated Christianity, if Christianity would have tolerated the established religion of Rome.

But no sooner was it discovered that the genius of Christianity was opposed to the absurdities of Paganism, and that the tendency of Christianity was to destroy Paganism altogether,

then it was viewed as a destructive system, its preachers were styled the haters of mankind, and they, together with all its professors, were subjected to bonds, imprisonment, and death. The Queen of Madagascar would have tolerated our missionaries if they would have engaged not to interfere with her superstitions. As, however, they could not do this, they were forced to quit the island. When the existing authorities there found that the religion of Jesus went to turn the world upside down, they set themselves in opposition to it, and directed all their efforts to its extermination.

Reader, permit me to inquire, What are you ? Perhaps you are an ungodly person. You approve religion in resemblance, but you hate it in reality. You have the form of it, but deny the power. Think, what does this prove? It proves that the God of this world has blinded your mind, and that you are taken captive by him at his will. It proves that you are destitute of that "wisdom which cometh from above, which is first pure and then peaceable," and therefore a stranger to yourself, to God, and to the way of life. Know, that that religion to which you are opposed, is necessary to make you blessed in life, in death, and for ever. "Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again,"

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for "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." While you remain destitute of true piety, you are under the displeasure of God; and if you die in that state, into his presence you cannot come, but must for ever dwell where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth." Hear what the Apostle says, " And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." Let the consideration of this induce you to seek religion, to flee from the wrath to come, and to declare yourself on the Lord's side. Then will it be well with you in time and eternity. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all

they that put their trust in him."

DISCOURSE XV.

DESPONDENCY.

It is unquestionably true that the people of God are at times subject to despondency. This must be evident to all who attentively read the Scriptures and hold converse with good men. Thus it was with the Saints of old, as the language of Jacob, of Job, of David, of Hezekiah, and of Paul, will abundantly testify. Thus it is with the children of God in the present day. They sometimes walk in darkness and have no light. The heavens over their heads are as iron, and the earth beneath their feet is as brass. They have to say with Jacob, "all these things are against me;" with Job, "O that I knew where I might find him!" with David, "Why standest thou afar off, O Lord, why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble;" with Hezekiah, " O Lord, I am oppressed, undertake thou for me;" with Jeremiah,