he, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In accordance with this, when the trembling convicted jailor, at Philippi, propounded to Paul and Silas that important inquiry, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?" the prompt reply was, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Yes, faith in Christ is the grand requisite. This is heaven's plan, and let none stumble at its sim, plicity; for every thing that God does, is marked with simplicity. If you and I had the lighting up of the world, what a complicated machinery we would have! How many torches and lamps! and the world would not be well lighted up then. But God proposes to light up the world, and mark! one brilliant sun, like an urn of overflowing light, pours day, beauteous day upon the world. How much better than all our torches and lamps! Even so, all the efforts of all the men in the world cannot save one sinner from the damnation of hell! But, thank God! one loving Jesus, one dear, dying Christ, can save millions! Aye, can save millions crowding upon millions!-Can save, and will save, ALL who will cordially receive him as he is offered in the gospel! And now, if there be a burdened sinner present who desires salvation, let him

remember the words of the blessed Saviour, already recited, "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." This is a beam of light divine. This is the gospel in miniature! And, if the whole Bible were destroyed, and this fragment only left, we would have enough to point out our pathway to heaven. Remember, the language is the language of the Saviour himself, and his illustration is most striking and to the point. The children of Israel were bitten by fiery serpents; the venom was deadly. Moses could not heal them; the elders of Israel could not heal them, nor could they heal themselves. God alone could meet the case. And, accordingly, in the plenitude of his mercy, he directs Moses to prepare a brazen serpent, and lift it upon a pole, and pledged the veracity of a God that whosoever, when bitten, should look, should live. Here is a man bitten! O! send for Moses-send for the elders. They come. What is the matter? A serpent has bitten me, and I am in agony-I am dying! Moses, help me! I can't help you, says Moses. Elders of Israel, help a dying man! can't help you. What is to be done? Must I die? O no, says Moses; yonder is God's remedy; only look, and you shall live. The

We

dying man, as the last resort, turns his dying eyes; they look upon the serpent, and instantly he springs up, and exclaims in the joy of his heart, I am cured! I am a sound man! Well, says Moses, this is just what God has said, Look, and you shall live. Even so, one look of faith at the blessed Redeemer, and the sinner is converted! One look of faith at the great atoning sacrifice, and his sins are all forgiven! Yea, one look of faith at the dear, dying Christ, and the universe is changed in relation to the sinner, and there are shoutings in heaven over him:-"The dead is alive, and the lost is found again." Yes, this is the way of salvation, as it is written, "Look unto ME, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God, and beside me there is none else." And again, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

Travelling as a missionary once, I came to a house of entertainment. Although an utter stranger, I was, when known to be a minister, invited to hold family worship. I read in the third chapter of the Gospel of John, from the fourteenth to the nineteenth verse; and, in commenting upon the portion read, I remarked that the way of salvation was very simple. The case was simply this: The sinner is lost; he can no more save himself than he can roll a mountain, or heave an ocean.

He is not required to save himself. A Saviour, an all-sufficient and most precious Saviour, is provided; and, if the sinner will only cordially accept of him, as he is freely offered in the gospel, he shall be saved. A daughter of the man of the house, had, it seems, been under serious impressions for two long years; but, as yet, had obtained no hope. She listened to my remarks; she drank in every word, and was much wrought upon. During prayer she wept; and as she rose to her feet, at the conclusion of the prayer, she exclaimed, "I have found my Saviour! O my father, my mother," said she, "I have found my blessed Saviour!" blessed Saviour!" "Well," said I, "Is Jesus Christ a precious Saviour?" "O!" replied she, "he is the blessedest Saviour that ever was." "Well, what would you take for your hope?" "I would not take the whole world," said she, "all in silver and gold.' Awakened sinner! stumble not at the simplicity of the way of salvation. Remember, it is written, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This is true-it is divinely true. O! be persuaded to fall in with this plan of salvation." Believe, and take the promised rest; obey, and be for ever blest." PRECIOUS

FAITH!

SERMON II.

THE FULFILMENT OF SCRIPTURE PROPHECY.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.-2 PETER i. 21.

WHEN the apostle Peter wrote this, his second and last epistle, being aware that he must soon go the way of all the earth, he seems to have been particularly desirous that his Christian brethren should distinctly bear in mind one thing that they had "not followed cunningly devised fables;" that the Saviour whom they received was indeed the predicted Messiah, and consequently the religion which he promulged was true-was divinely true. With regard to himself, if there were no other evidence of the fact, the transfiguration scene was of itself sufficiently convincing, for he was an eye-witness of his majesty, when there came such a voice from the excellent glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." "But," continues he, "we have more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well to take heed, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." The main idea here seems to be this: while the miraculous attestation given to the character of Christ on