name, in its influence upon ourselves; how gladly we honour it, and how willingly we do anything we can for its sake, from our estimation of its value, and in praise of its endearments! If then, in compassion to our ignorance in spiritual things, God has been pleased to speak to our conceptions, through figures taken from our well-known sensations, we may be sure that the truth which He intends thus to teach us, must be, like Himself, infinitely sacred in its securities, infinitely tender in its power, infinitely pure in its control, infinitely firm under every trust reposed in its claims. Can we attempt to fathom the depths of the Father's love, when Jesus Christ said, "Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world?" Then, how can we doubt that willingness of love to receive us in all our spiritual poverty, or its readiness to forgive our sins, when we plead nothing but that name, so eternally loved, and so infinitely lovely still!

THAT NAME, then, must ever retain its excellence, is now giving its incense to the prayers of all who sincerely plead it, and

must now make us, in all our unworthiness, fully acceptable through its own loveliness with the Father! O! what an incitement to prayer! What an encouragement to expectation! And there is this one consideration, which should enliven expectation in our regular service, that, almost without an exception, our prayers are concluded in language which leads us to expect that God will" fulfil our desires and petitions," only "through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I would hope that actual pardon is as clearly seen to be a present privilege, as it evidently is the only safe foundation for peace of mind; while it must open those streams of comfort and happiness, and awaken all those energies and willing services which show that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." And seeing that it is the first point in our Christian course, which we must endeavour to gain, and that we need not wait till we can bring something in the shape of a purchase of our own-it being already amply purchased by our advocate, and in His actual possession, as one of the "gifts which

He hath received for men; yea, for the rebellious also"-"let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace," with that boldness which His name only can inspire, "that we may obtain mercy"-that mercy which dispenses "perfect remission and forgiveness""and find grace to help in time of need”. that help which can fully enable us to "keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

SERMON VIII.

PSALM CXIX. 58.

"I INTREATED THY FAVOUR WITH MY WHOLE HEART: BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD."

It is remarkable that ardour of pursuit is fully justified and admired in everything but religion. In worldly enterprise we commonly see all that ardency which induces a man to throw the full fervour of his soul into his favourite object, to feed his hopes with all the eagerness of desire, and to make any sacrifice which the success of his efforts seems to require. And this is thought to be altogether commendable; and appears to throw the halo of merit round every pursuit. Ac

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