think, to speak, for itself, it tells aloud, there is an endless existence. Yes, my brethren, it is an undoubted truth, we must live for ever. And every argument in favour of this truth conspires to assure us that different from this state of mingled good and ill, in that future life, there will be only unmixed pleasure, or unmitigated wretchedness. Who can tell which of these is to be our state? What means do we possess to make blessed that destiny? Where are we to look? To whom shall we go for that knowledge of our character and of our duty, which we so greatly need? The Scriptures answer our inquiries. They direct us to Jesus Christ. They declare that he only has the words of eternal life. And here the second question presents itself, Is this representation also true?

On this important subject, my brethren, the Scriptures claim nothing from our credulity. They do not leave us any room to doubt. And if you ask for proof that Jesus Christ came forth from God, behold it in that long train of prophecy which announced his coming, and declared his character; behold it in the reiterated voice from heaven, proclaiming him the Son of God; behold it in the miracles which attested his divinity; behold it in the system of truth which he promulgated, pure, beneficent, every way worthy of God, and every way suited to our case; sanctioned by promises which fill up all our largest desires and VOL. II.

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threatenings, which correspond to our most appalling fears; behold it in that death by which he not merely confirmed the truth of all the disclosures that he had made, but by which also he opened for us the gate of immortal life; in that resurrection by which God approved his finished work; in that visible ascension to the heavens, by which the Father glorified his Son, with the glory which he had with him before the world

was.

These are such proofs of his divinity, as may convince us that Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life. Neither is there salvation in any other. And if there be any who reject his testimony, and who yet deem, as all reasonable men must deem, that God would not leave mankind to grope in darkness and in ignorance, let them look through the world, and say where truth is to be found; and whether in the senseless creeds of Pagans and Idolaters, or in the superstitious fables of a refined Heathenism, or in the corruptions of the Mahometan faith, or in the vain conjectures of philosophy falsely so called, there be any thing, on which the mind can reasonably repose. No; Jesus Christ, and he only, has the words of eternal life. Jesus Christ, and he only, is the light of the world. He is that day-star from on high which hath visited us. He alone has the promise of life and of glory, the knowledge of salvation. He is the way, and the truth, and the

life. No man cometh to the Father but by him. If any could have had reason to doubt of his claims, it was his disciples, who beheld him in that period of his humiliation, when he was rejected by those whom he came to save. But even then, though destitute of human attestation, so bright to their view was the splendour of his inherent divinity, so clear the evidence that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God, that when the question was put to them, Will ye also go away? they answered, without hesitation, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Time has served only to confirm the truth of their decision. Eighteen hundred years have passed away, and to this day their declaration remains unfalsified. "There is no "other name under heaven given amongst men, whereby we can be saved, but the name of "Jesus Christ." "Other foundation can no man

lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The mission and authority of Jesus Christ being established, it follows that we are bound, not only to receive all the representations which he has made respecting our state, but also to perform whatever he has commanded us to do, in order to retrieve it.

Under the first head, his word has declared that all mankind are guilty before God, and that the whole world lieth in wickedness; and to this representation, both the history of the world, and

the consciences of men agree. But the Scriptures stop not here. They direct our view for pardon to him who tells us of our danger. They proclaim, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh

away the sins of the world." They assert that he gave himself a ransom for all; that he tasted death for every man; that God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He himself declares to every man who cometh into the world, as he did to the Jews, "I am the living bread which came down "from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he "shall live for ever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life "of the world, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and "drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Who

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so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath "eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last "day." These words are, of course, to be figuratively understood. But they teach us that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is that alone on which we can found our hope of pardon and immortality; and that faith in him is the means by which that sacrifice is applied to our souls. For this is the work of God, that we believe on him whom he hath sent; and this not casually, and insincerely, but so efiectually, that he may become the food of the soul, its sustenance and nourishment; that

on which it lives; in the strength of which it walks, and by virtue of which it proceeds in a life of religious obedience.

My brethren, to receive Christ in any other way than by this practical faith, which alone constitutes the spiritual life, is folly and delusion. If our faith work not by love, if it do not purify our hearts, and manifest itself by good fruits, it is vain, it is dead. If we receive him not thus practically and efficaciously, he avails us nothing. And because there is no other name whereby we can be saved, and because he only has the words. of eternal life, neglecting to receive him thus, we must perish.

As for those who entirely reject him, the Scriptures knows no remedy, no resource, no hope. Their language is, " He that believeth not is con"demned already. He that believeth not the "Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God "abideth on him. This is the condemnation, that "light is come into the world, and men love "darkness rather than light, because their deeds " are evil."

But if we say that we believe in Christ, and receive him, the evidence is to be found in our conduct. By their fruits ye shall know them, is the Scripture criterion. "He that hath my com"mandments and keepeth them, he it is that lov"eth me," is the declaration of our Lord himself. This then constitutes the general evidence of our