there was no need of looking to the serpent at all. It was enough merely to know that such an image existed, and that it was reared for the cure of those who were stung. And another, improving, as he fancied, upon this idea, would allege that such was the nature of the antidote, and such the freeness with which its blessings were dispensed, that there was no necessity for even turning their eyes towards it: that it had already made them all perfectly whole. As it was raised into the air, it had sucked up all the poison of the winged reptiles, and deprived their stings of venom. The only thing necessary to preserve their health, was just to believe that they were perfectly cured. While they persevered in this persuasion, they were safe: but the moment that they began to doubt or to deny their complete restoration to health, they would bring back all the virulence of the fatal bite, and accumulate on themselves the horrors of delirium and death. "Oh how lamentable is it to hear the people still talking of their wounds and pain, of their fears and dangers! Where is their faith in the testimomy of God, that the brazen serpent is an antidote to the fiery flying serpents ? What more can the congregation wish than to know that an antidote has been provided? What prevents them from being all in perfect health and soundness? Have no materials been obtained for the antidote? Has the artificial serpent not been cast? Has the image not been reared on the pole?

Has it not been

endowed with an all-healing virtue from on high? When it was planted there, it carried aloft all your complaints and sufferings: and you may strain your eyes as you please, your utmost efforts can make things neither better nor worse: for you were all cured before you were bitten: and the only thing that can kill you, is to call this in question."

It was to no purpose to reason or remonstrate with the authors of this opinion; and to affirm that, since the Divine instructions spoke of looking, the eyes must be of some service; and that if the wounded refused to use them, they would forego the possibility of a cure.

In their overbearing zeal for the honour of the image, these systematizers might reply, that the brazen figure was all in all. If it never had been formed, nothing could have cured them. If it were annihilated, no antidote could be found for their malady: and, therefore, it was plain that their health depended solely on the brass. No matter whether they used their eyes or not; the brazen figure had already made them perfectly well and nothing could bring back the dangers attendant on the stings of the reptiles, but a doubt or denial of their perfect health and safety.

By our fatal apostacy from God we have forfeited all right to heaven and everlasting bliss ; sunk into depravity and vice; incurred the displeasure of the Most High, and exposed our

selves to all the miseries of never-ending woe. But the God of love in his rich unsearchable mercy, compassion and grace, has made the most ample and astonishing provision in behalf of all who will only apply and use it, for their free and complete deliverance from wretchedness and ruin, and their restoration to his image and favour, and their admission into eternal glory. This is by the mission and mediation of his own Son. "God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. As Moses lifted As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

As many of the Israelites as, disregarding vain janglings and metaphysical disquisitions, when they found themselves wounded by a serpent; in obedience to the Divine command, and in reliance upon the Divine promise, turned their eyes towards the serpent of brass, were instantly cured. No state, no stage of the attack was beyond its reach. "Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole: and it came to pass, that, if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Those, however, who trifled with their danger, or disregarded the Di

vine institution, must have suffered the consequences. They must have languished in misery till death cut them down.

In every age, all those, who, from a discovery' of their guilt and perdition, and a conviction of the power and grace of Christ to save them to the uttermost, that come to God by him; have renounced their own righteousness, trusted simply and entirely to his righteousness for pardon and acceptance, and made him all their salvation and all their desire; all these have been saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: while those, who, either from ignorance of his righteousness, or from hostility to this plan of saving mercy, have gone about to establish a righteousness of their own; have been left to wonder and perish.

The gospel scheme of salvation manifests the most unbounded generosity and love; and seems uncommonly plain and intelligible. It is stripped of all ambiguity; brought down to the level of the lowest; and rendered so distinct and clear, that he who runs may read it. The Bible tells us that Christ is the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world; that he is the way, the truth, and the life; that he is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; that his righteousness is unto all, and upon all them that believe; and that salvation is of faith, that it might be grace.

More perspicuous language could not have been employed. But however plain and obvious,

the ill-directed labours of men have encompassed the path of life with doubts and difficulties; have introduced suspicion and perplexity, where all was previously bright and clear; and spread the gloom of uncertainty and darkness over regions of the purest light, and the most attractive loveliness.

Like the audacious infidels in the camp of Israel, the graceless treat the whole with the most imperturbable indifference and insulting contempt. Though their souls are at stake, and an awful eternity is rapidly rushing on; in spite of all the remonstrances of reason, and the strongest exhortations of Scripture, they care for none of these things, but obstinately slumber on and take their rest, till endless darkness and destruction surround them.

Like the opticians, whose existence we have supposed, the papists prohibit the examination of the Scriptures, and forbid us to look at the Saviour with our own eyes. They require us to take our creed upon trust; and enjoin us to view the great Redeemer only through the dim and distorting medium of their own inventions, and the fancied traditions of the fathers.

Like the benevolent physicians in the congregation, the legalists dare not confide in God's simple, free, and generous plan. They impose on their votaries a long and painful preparatory process. Instead of directing them at once to the Lamb of God, they exact a tedious course of moral reformation and religious exercises: and it