Christ's sake, and thy soul's sake, talk not of moral inability to what is good as an excuse, but use it as an argument for going instantly to Christ for the grace which can enable.

Let this subject speak encouragement to the young and timid Christian. You have already felt weakness and insufficiency; you have tried this duty and that, but have sadly failed; behold now how you may be able to do all things. It is true you will still have to mourn over short-comings and imperfections. The reason is, because faith is often so weak, prayer so cold, and our own corruptions so mix themselves with all we do. Hence, you are to be ever humble, ever depending solely on the merits of Christ, ever desiring more grace. Go, then, young Christians, and try your hand at holy duties. It is quite true that you are very weak; it is equally true that Christ is very strong, and that

is made perfect in weakness.'

read, and is it not a sweet

1 2 Cor. xii. 9.

P

his strength

Have Have ye not and gracious

assurance, "He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”1

Lastly, I shall be truly thankful, should this subject stir up any devoted soul to greater diligence in serving our gracious Lord. There is in such topics, however feebly treated, much to make us hang down our heads with shame and humiliation. So much time lost! such gracious opportunities gone by such privileges so slightly improved! Oh, how little have we done, compared with what we could have done, and ought to have done for Christ! Then, think of your unconverted days, worse than lost! Remember, when the soul was devoted, in a bad sense, wholly given to vanities, follies, vile affections! And yet, for all that sin

1 Isaiah xl. 29-31.

fulness Christ gives you a full pardon :-I speak to true believers:-he answers, he You are "justified

undertakes for you.

freely by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

"1

And now, will ye not speed to serve, praise, and glorify him all you can? And what is there which you cannot do, through him that strengtheneth you? I speak not of things miraculous in nature. I bid you not go and miraculously heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, remove mountains, or walk upon the sea. I do bid you, in Christ's name, to do things as contrary to flesh and blood. Be instruments in his hand to heal those who are sick in heart, leprous with moral pollution, dead in sins. Go and serve Christ in levelling the mountains of difficulty, which oppose the progress of his gospel. Go and walk, his hand sustaining, over the waves of this troublesome world.

Christians, I call you in Christ's name, and I am sure that through his grace you

1 Rom, iii, 24,

will obey the calling, to go and do all holy duties to which he invites. Go and exercise Christian graces amid trials. Go and be humble, pure, gentle, peaceable. Go and labour for Christ, as opportunity is given. Do what you know you can do through Christ that strengtheneth you. Rise at his bidding, superior to sloth, selfishness, and the fear of man. Cheerfully consent to be often wearied in his service, but never wearied of it! Gladly spend and be spent for him who died for you! There is much to be done for Christ in this wretched world :-to whom, but to you, should he look to do it? Oh, do what you can, and do it while you can! Brethren, the time is short.” 1

66

1 1 Cor. vii. 29.

SERMON VI.

THE SOUL DEPARTING.

ACTS VII. 59, 60.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

SUCH was the happy death of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church. It may, at first sight, appear strange, to look, in the narrative of his death, for instruction, how, and in what spirit, a Christian ought to die. His case, it may be thought, was so singular, and the circumstances of his death so extraordinary, that here can be no pattern for ourselves. But, on examina