would not suffice without the love of God shed abroad in the soul by the power of the Holy Ghost.

In the latter part of

April, 1841, it was evident that he was near the termination of his mortal life. In reference to the state of his mind all was calm. He expressed but one desire, and that was to depart and be with Christ. On visiting him one morning, a little before his death, I found him in much pain, and expressing my sympathy, he took my hand, burst into tears, and exclaimed, "Oh what is this to what my precious Redeemer suffered. Did you never remark the significant circumstances? HE PRAYED, HE ROSE UP AGAIN, HE PRAYED. His prostrate attitude, His sweat of blood? O the suffering!" Here he wept aloud.

The day previous to his death the great enemy made his last assault. On my entering the room he exclaimed, "This is the hour of darkness. I have not given up my confidence, but do not feel all I wish." We united in prayer; the Lord appeared in his behalf, and I left him happy.

On the morning of May-th, he suffered much pain, and earnestly pleaded with the Lord for deliverance; and it is evident that his prayer was answered. As the closing scene drew near, he requested me to unite in prayer. Soon after this he beckoned for me to come near. His voice had become almost inaudible, but he, with a great effort, articulated his Redeemer's declaration, "I will come again and receive you." He then gently reclined his head upon my hand, and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus.

DIVINITY.

SERMON ON JOHN XVII. 17.

'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

It is important steadily to maintain, that every portion of the word of God is equally true. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. They form one beautiful and harmonious whole, having God for their author, salvation for their end, and truth without any mixture of error, for their constant theme. We do not, however, affirm that the design and meaning of every part are equally obvious, nor the clear apprehension

of every truth equally important. There are, says Bishop Hall, shallows which a child may ford, and depths where an elephant must swim. The docrines essential to salvation are written as with a sunbeam, so that a wayfaring man, though a fool, cannot err therein. The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, both in his judgments and his mercies, are vast and unsearchable. Timothy, from his tenderest years, attained a knowledge of their contents, which made him wise unto salvation; and yet Paul, the aged, who had been carried into the third heavens, confessed, at the close of his life, that he knew but in part, and prophesied only in part.

Superficial and careless readers of the Scriptures pass over their sublime truths, and richest promises, with heedless unconcern. The precious ore is lodged beneath the surface, but the man of understanding finds it out; he searches as for hidden treasure, and soon discovers, that the views of heavenly truth, more precious than mines of silver or of gold, lie deep, rich, and plenteous within. Of these inestimable portions of the Divine Word, we may select the chapter before us as an illustrious example. Its value is, indeed, unspeakable; its treasures of wisdom, holiness, and love, altogether inexhaustible. To those amongst you who are truly anxious to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the love of Christ, we strongly urge the study of its invaluable contents. In the judgment of the worldly mind, it will unfold no beauty, that they should desire an intimate acquaintance with its sublime mysteries. To the mind of every diligent and praying Christian, we are persuaded every perusal unfolds new wonders.

We see the Incarnate God, on the eve of finishing the stupendous work of man's redemption. His prophetic office, in the personal instruction of his disciples, is ended. He has finished the work which was given him to do. His labours and sufferings upon earth were henceforth to be followed by the work of intercession in Heaven, till the number of his elect should be accomplished, and his kingdom universally established. Behold him, then, to the last moment, heedless of the impending travail of his soul, and intent on the consolation of his mourning disciples. In this precious act of meditation, he graciously unfolds the nature of his prevailing advocacy before the throne. From these, his words on earth, we learn the substance of his will in heaven, where he ever liveth to make intercession for his people. The topic we select for our present meditation, is prominent in the catalogue of blessings implored by the Saviour for his Church-" Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

We shall first endeavour to explain, that the blessing here prayed for,

sanctification, is the will and design of God in Redemption: and then shew, in a few particulars, that the Holy Scriptures are the means and instrument of producing it.

1. SANCTIFICATION.

The word sanctify has various significations in the Holy Writings. To introduce them, however, when the sense and meaning of a passage are clear and obvious, would conform a sermon to a dictionary of terms and phrases, rather than a medium of moral and religious improvement. Sanctification, in its ordinary gospel sense, implies, "A state of freedom from the dominion of sin, and a consecration of heart and life to the service and love of God." The moral and social duties are necessarily comprehended in a sanctified life; yet in the purest and most enlarged meaning, they convey no adequate idea of Christian holiness. The most punctual outward observance of religious ordinances may exist without one spark of sanctified affection being kindled within. Sanctification is an integral and essential part of our redemption by Christ Jesus. Whom he washes in his blood, he sanctifies by his spirit. Every distinct part of an apostate sinner's recovery to God by grace, has reference to this. The very doctrines which some vainly imagine to be inimical to a holy life, are, in the Word of Truth and Wisdom, inseparably connected with it. St. Paul, for example, writes to the Ephesians (iv. 4.), "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love." The divine change which passes upon the soul in the mighty work of regeneration, is called "a renewing in righteousness and true holiness." To this bear all the prophets witness. "This," says Jeremiah (xxxi. 33.), "shall be the co venant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."Ezekiel (xxxvi. 26.), "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh; and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." The very expressive name assigned to the infant Saviour in the courts of heaven, indicates his design to purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." These passages are quoted, to show you the heavenly birth, the vast

requirements, the universal obligations, the indispensable necessity of Christian holiness, of real sanctification of heart and life. The Christian's obedience is confined to no human system; it cannot bend or accommodate itself to the fluctuating standard of worldly maxims. It begins, where God begins his work of grace, in the secret recesses of the heart. It aims at bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. In its desires, purposes, engagements, it regards God as an all-pervading spirit, and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. The heart is regarded as his lawful throne; and, as Jesus drove the unhallowed mercenaries from his temple, so does the Christian endeavour to purge his conscience from dead works, and to expel every unhallowed principle from his mind: not one faculty is willingly exempted from his holy sway. The entire man, body, soul, and spirit, is the subject of his government: he is regarded as "Lord of all." The body, with all its members, must be crucified; the animal soul, with all its earthly affections and base lusts, must be denied and subjected; the immortal spirit must be freed from those evil dispositions which ally it to the fallen angels; pride, envy, malice, revenge, covetousness, self-will, discontent, unbelief, will become the just objects of abhorrence, as holiness, a sanctified nature, and the life of God, flourish in the soul.

But farther: sanctification is not merely a negative quality, not merely a bridle, to curb unruly appetite, and restrain from sin; it is a vital and energetic principle. The Spirit, which alone effectually teaches and enables fallen man to deny ungodliness, inspires him with new life, new apprehensions, new desires, and new objects, to interest and engage his affections. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." Made a partaker of the divine nature, and adopted as a child of God, he longs for a growing meetness for the inheritance of the saints above. Divested of the works of darkness, he seeks to put on the whole armour of light: his motto, the mark at which he aims, the prize of his high calling, which he supremely values, is "to be holy, as God is holy." The perfection of heaven's blessedness now appears to consist in an entire conformity to his Saviour's image, to obtain the clear vision of his holiness, that he may be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. This hope purifies his soul, and animates him in every act of self-denying obedience. Zeal for the glory of God constrains to the unwearied exercise of benevolence to men. To adorn the doctrine of the gospel, to bring forth fruit meet for repentance, is, in other words, to walk even as Christ walked, to

go about doing good, considering it more blessed. to give than to receive. The love of mercy, delight in active services for God and man, are blessed attendants of a renewed heart.

Universal righteousness, an inviolable regard to truth and equity in all our dealings, will mark the very commencement of sanctification, and attend upon every step of its heavenly progress. Conscience, enlightened, vigilant, and tender, has the quickness of eagle's eyes to detect the approach of evil; and the swiftness of an angel's wing, in the discharging the works of faith and labours of love. In one word, (Gal. v. 22.), “the fruit of the spirit, is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

Sanctification, we have now secn, is the work of God's Holy Spirit ; it is the Christian's aim and rule; the standard of every duty he owes to God, his neighbour, and himself. The view we have taken is, indeed, partial and defective. To delineate Christian holiness, in all its loveliness and glory, we must possess the mind of Christ: we must at least attain that knowledge of the speechless deformity of sin, and that perception of the infinitely pure and lovely perfections of Deity, which are vouchsafed to the saints above. If, then, our knowledge and perceptions are so imperfect, what, alas! are our attainments? Let us each inquire, what is our station; have we yet the course to begin; are we loitering, are we retracing our steps, or are we, with the apostle, diligently pressing forward to the mark, for the prize of our highcalling of God in Christ Jesus? Be assured, that the inquiry is of deep interest and of vital importance to us all. It occupied the Saviour's thoughts when offering his parting supplications on earth. As our High Priest before the throne, he reiterates his intercession that we may be conformed to his own image; "I in them, and thou in me, that they be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast loved me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. " When he finally appears on his throne of glory, to fix the eternal destiny of man, sanctification will be the mark and evidence of his redeemed people. "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

We proceed to show from the expressions of our Lord,

II. THAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE THE MEANS OR INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE OF PRODUCING AND PERFECTING HOLINESS IN HEART AND LIFE.

If sancti

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." fication be referred to its efficient cause, we must ascribe it wholly to