precepts and thy testimonies, says David, for all my ways are before thee.

Finally. Useful as a reason for simplicity and godly sincerity. O let it banish all dissimulation from our religious exercises; and whether we read or hear or pray or surround the table of the Lord, let us remember that God weigheth the spirits. If we had to do with men only, a fair appearance might be sufficient, but the Lord looketh to the heart. And can we play the hypocrite under those eyes which are as a flame of fire? What will a name to live, a form of godliness avail us with him who is a spirit and seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth?

Let us then no longer suffer ourselves to be led by sense, but let us live and walk by faith Let this important truth sink down into our hearts-that the eye of God is always upon us. The truth indeed remains the same whether we regard it or not-but if we lay hold of it by faith and keep it present in our thoughts by meditation, it will be found the noblest of all principles; it will preserve us from sin; it will excite us to duty; it will make us sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

DISCOURSE V.

THE DEATH OF JESUS.

(GOOD FRIDAY)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.-John xii. 24.

DEATH-death the most dreadful of all events has often been rendered a blessing.

The death of a believer has been useful. It has encouraged and established those who were walking in the way to Zion with many a trembling step and many a shivering fear how it would go with them at last. When they have viewed a dying christian, and have seen the grace of God they have been glad: their courage has been revived, and they have rejoiced in hope. Why may it not be so with me? The

Lord is my helper I will not fear. His looks, his words, his experience have also made an impression on the minds of the careless which has never been erased. After turning their backs on a sermon they have been convinced by a dying bed. There the evidence was too plain to be denied, too solemn to be ridiculed. They have admired and resolved to follow a master who is so good to his servants and who does not forsake them when their strength faileth but is the strength of their heart and their portion for ever. -And the death of the saint has proved the tife of the sinner.

The death of a parent has been useful, His expiring charge has never been forgotton. The thought of separation for ever from one so loved and valued has awakened in the son a salutary fear. Returning from a father's grave lie has met with God saying wilt thou not from this time cry unto me; my father! thou art the guide of my youth? and turning into his closet he has kneeled and said O thou in whom the fatherless findeth mercy, I am thine save me. And the death of the parent has proved the life of the child.

The death of a minister has been useful. Some of the servants of God have laboured faithfully without seeing the fruit of their labours. One

has sown and another has reaped. But the removal of our mercies by shewing us their valué leads us to prize them. It has been so with many a conscientious preacher: he has been little regarded while living, but when dead his word has come with power to the conscience; his addresses, prayers and tears have been remembered by his people; and the expectation of meeting him at the last day has forced them to exclaim how shall we escape?-And the death of the minister has proved the life of the hearer.

The death of a martyr has been useful. His patience and fortitude; his joy and triumph; his forgiveness of injuries and his prayers for his persecutors have struck beholders, rendered a religion honorable that could produce such marvellous effects, led to an examination of its evidences; and faith and zeal have been the result of inquiry. The wrath of man has praised God," and the blood of the martyrs "has been the seed of the church"

-

But where are we now? We have an example to produce infinitely greater than all these. Let us leave the disciples, and behold their Lord; The members of the houshold of faith and survey the author and finisher of faith. Jesus dies, and his death is the life of the world.