sacrifice unto God of a sweet smelling savour ; though for the matter of them, they are actions utterly incapable of imitation: yet, even these high acts, in the true spirit of them, the christian will endeavour to transcribe, by a humble and condescending behavior, and by walking in love, as Christ also loved him.-As John the baptist did go before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elias; though there was a great difference betwixt the individual actions of these two great men : so he goes in the power and spirit of Christ, notwithstanding the huge distance that must always be between the saviour and the saint.

He may, as his Lord and master, be exposed to calumnies of every kind: but at last his righteousness is brought forth as the light; and even when he gains not the applause of the tongue, he wins the approbation of the heart. If any human thing could reclaim an ungodly sinner, it would be the conversation of him who imitates the life of Christ. Here even the earnal man beholds the reality of religion brought home to his very senses, and the power of his lusts is assaulted with holy violence. As Christ is the visible image of the invisible God; so is this man the visible image of Christ, whom the world seeth no more, because "the heavens must contain him until the time of the restitution of all things."

On Faith.

HAPPY the man who lives in mortal flesh a life of faith upon the son of God; though he dwells not in the gilded palace, he has the most high for his habitation. Though his food be homely, he fares deliciously every day upon the hidden manna. For, O that noble gift of God! he in whose heart she dwells, is at once possessed of riches, and honours, and pleasures. Let others curiously dispute where she resides, ' in what faculty, in the understanding or the will; be it my exalted privilege to have her formed in my soul. The mountains may depart; the hills may be removed; the solid earth, with the surrounding heavens, may pass away but her foundations are everlasting. Sooner shall chaos come again, and God deny himself; sooner shall the natural and the moral world be tossed into confusion, than that should fail by which she is supported. Great is that revenue of glory she brings unto our God, whether she trembles at the threatening, or relies upon the promise, which he hath spoken in his holiness; but most of all when her main object Christ is before ber eyes, as the saviour from sin and wrath. When angels circle the throne of God with heavenly anthems, and yield the most unspotted obedience to the divine law, they glorify their maker.

But when by her the guilty self-condemned wretch, devolves upon the Lord the burden of innumerable sins, and trusts for pardon of them all, this is glory to God in the highest. Though each obediential act is for the praise of God, and glorifies some one perfection of his nature, it is hers to render bim the glory of them all.

As reason is superior to sense, so faith has the pre-eminence over reason. Be reason reverenced in matters that fall within her sphere ; but when she ventures into deeps of God, the seas where faith has all the sovereignty, when acting like herself, she lowers her sails.

As

sense would seem to tell us many things which reason contradicts, so faith will rectify the fond mistakes of reason: nor ought she to be dissatisfied. Faith only shuts the eye of reason, not picks it out. Nor these alone submit themselves before this noble grace; even others her fellow virtues do obeisance. Though, as a gracious quality, she stands upon a level yet, as an instrument, she far She cannot boast indeed of her but of the post of honour which ven's appointment. She only is the general receiver of all the blessings of the gospel. By her we call heaven's rich unfathomable mines our own. Because she humbleth herself, therefore hath God highly exalted her, and given her a

with the rest; excels in glory. intrinsic worth, she fills by hea

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name above every grace. Even charity herself is only greater in duration: for, she abideth. when faith shall fail, as to its actings; and die. like Moses, in the mount. Such is her bumble nature, that even the jealous God, who will not give his glory to another, even he is found to give his glory unto her. We are saved by faith ; we are justified by faith. She faithfully returns the glory to her object. He has regarded the

low estate of his handmaid, because himself has said, them that honour me, I will honour.

Though weak in herself. she is strong in the Lord; her very weakness is her strength. She overcomes the devil, and the world, and the flesh. She binds up the arm of vengeance, and wields the arm of omnipotence. The creature is not able to resist her; and the creator will not. She says unto this mountain of difficulty, "be thou removed, and cast into the sea.' She subdues kingdoms of lusts: quenches the violence of the fire of wrath; stops the mouth of the infernal lion; and escapes the edge of the sword of angry justice. When other graces quit the field, her own arm brings salvation. What shall I say more? If thou canst believe, all things are pos

sible.

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Such is her strength, no wonder she is as bold as a lion; though timorous and distrustful of the creature. Confiding in the Lord, she is not

afraid to venture into the holiest of all. She plays upon the hole of the asp, and thrusts her hand into the cocatrice's den. O death, where is thy sting? she says with bold defiance. When

presumptuous believers are buried in the mighty waters, like the Egyptian host, she passes through the foming waves triumphant. There is none like her in all the earth; who is made without fear?

Though poor in herself, she makes many rich with the treasures of eternity. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in the scarlet robes of everlasting righteousness.-Justly she is denominated precious faith, when she interests us in precious promises, and applies unto the conscience precious blood.

There are indeed who think her blind and headlong; yet is she a sharp sighted grace. She comprehends the love of Christ that passeth knowledge, doctrines which to the natural man are foolishness, and events that have no present existence, are realized by her. "She is the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for," though ever so remote in time or place. She is a kind of second sight, not merely to behold spectacles of horror, ghosts and apparitions; but the king in his beauty, the