with Manasseh in the way which has been described, then we are told that "Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God." But did he not know this before? He could not be ignorant that Jerusalem had been miraculously delivered from the Assyrians; that the angel of the Lord had, in one night, slain an hundred, fourscore and five thousand men, who came against her; that his father had been supernaturally recovered from affliction, and had had added to his life fifteen years. These things were of recent occurrence, and they were proofs of a Deity, great, glorious, powerful, and everlasting. Besides, he had in very early life been instructed in the knowledge of God by his parents and preceptors: he ought therefore to have known, and must have known," that the Lord he was God." But after all, until grace humbled him and brought him to repentance, he did not know God in a saving manner-as his God. Instructions, means, mercies, and judgments, are vain without the influences of the Divine Spirit. It is when God becomes the teacher, when he enlightens and renews the mind, that we come to know "that the Lord he is God."

We may further see here what encouragement we have against despair. Look at Manasseh ; could there be a more complete monster of

iniquity than he? He worshipped idols, violated the sanctuary, murdered men, and defied God. These things he did against the stream of a religious education, the warnings of the prophets, and the checks of his own heart. Yet he was humbled, changed, and saved. Will any say the way of salvation is closed against them when they see such a sinner in it? Banish thy despair, poor trembling sinner. Cannot the grace which reached him reach thee? Cannot the mercy which pardoned him pardon thee? It is not thy sin which can keep thee out of heaven, as long as thou art sensible of it, and desirous of salvation from it. If any thing keep thee out of heaven, it must be thy unbelieving fear, which keeps thee from embracing the mercy offered in the gospel. The blood that cleansed Manasseh's soul, that washed this devil white, can cleanse thee from all sin.

But we see nothing in the case of Manasseh to encourage presumption. We must not go on in a course of sin, presuming that we can stop when we please, and that when we repent we can obtain mercy. The history of Manasseh plainly shews that he stopped not in his career of sin till God stopped him; and that if God had not arrested his course, he would have gone on to the end of his life. And though God was

pleased to stop him in his career, he has not bound himself to do the same for us. It is true that all who repent as Manasseh did, may find mercy; but it is equally true that all do not repent as he did. He was not the only Jewish king who was abominably wicked; but he was the only abominably wicked Jewish king who greatly humbled himself before the God of his fathers." We read of many who were remarkable for wickedness-Jeroboam, Abijah, Ahab, Joash, and Ahaz; but we read of only one Manasseh who was brought to know that the Lord he was God. "Be not high-minded, but fear."

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Reader, from the history of Manasseh you may learn that there is a very striking difference between a vicious and a religious course of life. While Manasseh lived estranged from God and in the pursuits of sin, he was under the manifest displeasure of God, and "destruction and misery were in his ways." But when he was brought to know that the Lord he was God, and to devote himself to religious pursuits, he became at peace with God, and from that time prosperous and happy. Josephus says, that all the rest of his time he was so changed for the better, that he was looked upon as a very happy man. The way of the wicked shall perish; but "godliness

is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." A course of sin must terminate in ruin; but a course of piety leads to life everlasting. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

DISCOURSE V.

THE LOVE OF GOD TO MAN.

Here is a monarch

LET us suppose a case. whose government is of so mild, just, and merciful a character, as justly to entitle him to the appellation of the father of his people; and as to compel, on the part of his people, the acknowledgment, that "he hath done all things well." But notwithstanding this, his subjects are of so depraved a nature, that they break his laws, insult his honour, and rise in rebellion against him, saying, "Let us break his bands asunder, and cast away his cords from us."

Still, however, the monarch is so merciful, and so full of pity and compassion towards his subjects, rebellious as they are, that, though they richly deserve punishment, and though he has power to inflict it, yet he is inclined to spare. But his insulted majesty and violated law require