claration of Christ? "The kingdom of heaven is within you." And it is there, we are to look for its operations; there we are to experience its power: it is there we are to be governed by its laws. "The axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Here a blow is struck at every evil disposition; for it is not merely outward acts of wickedness of which this divine law takes cognizance. As said Jesus, it was written of old time, "thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Here, perhaps, is one of the most difficult and important commands to fulfil. And wherefore? Because we do not attend unto the principle of love, which casts out hatred; and while our minds are under the influence of that feeling, we can only love our friends, and hate our enemies; and we are no better than the Pharisees. But, "Love your enemies." And is this impossible? No, verily. It is a high attainment; but, if we come under the influence of that spirit of love, which casts out the devil of hatred, there can be no enmity, nor malevolence in our

minds. And thus we shall be able to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us, and persecute us."

But, now my friends, let us consider. It is not merely believing in these precepts, as they are recorded; but, it is coming under the influence of that divine law, that new covenant written upon the tablets of the heart, yea of every heart; and it ought to be engraven upon the horns of every altar. "I will put my law in their inward parts; and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Now when we come under the influence of this love, we cannot hate, for hatred and love are enemies; but we can pray for them. that hate us, and despitefully use us, and persecute us. It was also said, "Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal; and whosoever doeth these things, shall die the death." But, here the axe is laid to the root of the tree-here the judgments of God are placed against all unrighteousness and disobedience to his divine law. And if we neglect this inward and spiritual law, it will bring us back again into those things which are external in their nature, and prevent us from becoming sanctified, cleansed, and purified by that baptism which operates as fire.

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It was also written, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." But Christ said, that "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Do not these testimonies place the subject on the affections, passions, and dispositions, whence evil actions proceed? And if these are rooted out, their effects must wither, the leaves must fade, the branches must decay: thus the glory of the Lord will cover the earth, as the water covers the sea. But, my friends, these are only the effects; let us now come to the causes. They are known unto us, but they are small. Wherefore? Because we have neglected their operation; therefore, we experience not their power. There is something in man, which reproves for evil. "There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty, giveth them understanding." And by the aid of this spirit, they come to know him that is true, and to dwell in him that is true. "And we know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols." We. must begin with attending to the voice of him. that crieth in the wilderness, "prepare ye the

way of the Lord, make straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." This has an evident allusion to the coming of Christ, and to that which was declared, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but there standeth one among you, whom you know not; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

The baptism here testified of, and which is of an inward and spiritual nature, is that feeling which brings sorrow, trouble, confusion, horror, dread, and despair over our minds: and which at times, causes those who are in comparative innocency, to cry out under a feeling of their poor and weak state, a saviour, or I die; a redeemer, or I perish forever. Are there not many of us, who have experienced this language in the secret of our souls, when our heads have been laid on our pillows, and when we have been ruminating on things relating to time and eternity-when we have sat in our houses, when we

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have walked by the way, when we have lain down, or when we have risen up?

And now, what is it that produces these feelings in the mind? What is it that brings sorrow, trouble, fear, dread, and despair over our minds? It is the judgment of the Lord for our sin and disobedience. And we need not look at a great distance and beyond the grave for judgment. We need not look for a local God seated on his throne, and keeping an account against us for every good or evil action; but even at the present day, the judgment is set, and the books are opened. And if we continue to do evil, these must be the effects,-sorrow, trouble, dread and despair: they will assuredly curse us, and lead us into confusion and distress, in every act of our lives. But if, on the contrary, when we feel trouble for any action, we leave that action and turn away from it, not rowing against wind and tide, and contending with tumultuous billows amid the storm of conflicting elements-if, when we feel sorrow and trouble for an evil action, we avoid that action, and endeavour to be still; and in that calm approach the land, we shall find a place of stability, where we can sing praises to God upon the banks of deliverance.

Here are plain and practical truths. And as certainly as the indulgence of pride, fulness of