a wakefulness of perseverance, and a patient pressing on against obstacles, and an unceasing struggling against the stream of nature, and a resisting even unto blood, striving against sin.— And who, then, is sufficient for these things? How shall this mighty never-ending work be accomplished? What shall enable us to contemplate it without distraction, to address ourselves to it without paralysing fear, and to labour in it day after day, and hour after hour, without shrinking from our task, or relaxing our endeavour? Can nature nerve us to such a heroism? Can human spirits keep us up to such a work? and human power carry us on against ourselves? No! "Ye THROUGH THE SPIRIT shall mortify the deeds of the body." Ye must be elevated by his ennobling influences; and strengthened by his commanding energy, to hope, to resolve, and to perform. By the GRACE OF GOD" you must be what he would have you, and by that you are to labour more abundantly than all; and in the divine power of the Holy Ghost are you to labour,." striving according to his working, working in you mightily." And thus shall you be more than Conquerors; thus shall you do all things through Christ strengthening you; and being "not under the law but under grace," sin shall not have dominion over you;

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and living in the Spirit, you shall therefore walk in the Spirit; and being Christ's, ye shall crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts; and thus shall your fruit be unto holiness, and the end everlasting life! I hesitate not to call on you to struggle; I shrink not from demanding of you daily self-denial, and unceasing conflict, because I can tell you of a divine Power, and a Mighty Spirit, and can point you to a complete redemption and a heavenly rest! Let us labour, therefore, to enter into this rest, for we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end!

And now, in conclusion, let me say a word on the gaining and maturing of this Spirit of Power. We have seen that its source is in God the Holy Ghost. But its experience in our selves must be sought by diligence in the ordinary means of grace. More especially, if we would have our minds elevated to their proper level of a filial grandeur, we must be frequent in contemplation of the privilege itself which we enjoy. The high-born prince has a loftiness of character and mien which discovers itself unconsciously, because he has an inwrought habit of nobility. The educated and enlarged mind exhibits a similar unaffected majesty, because it

has dwelt in habitual elevation. And the Christian shall be instinct with heavenly greatness just in proportion as his meditations turn upon his proper character and expectations; as his habits of thought are raised to high and heavenly things; and his mounting spirit sits with Christ in heavenly places; and he is occupied in frequent contemplation of the glories which surround his soul, in that exalted sphere:-the light of the divine Countenance shining full upon him,—the music of the heavenly host inspiring him, the long prospect of eternal bliss and glory opening out before him. This it is which prompts the mind to feel "I am not of the world, even as my Lord is not of the world!"

And then, would you turn this meditation to a practical effect? Would you stamp the impressions on your mind, and find them starting out in your life? Add to holy meditation, earnest Prayer. Keep alive the spark which has inflamed you, stir up the grace of God which is within you; and there shall come a power from on high upon your souls, and you shall gain in habit and in practice that noble Self-command which is the first Element of personal holiness!

SERMON XIX.

INVITATION.

REVELATION Xxii. 17.

And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

HOPE is the spring of exertion. In the ancient games, the prize to be contended for was exposed to the view of the combatants; their attention was directed to it by the officiating Herald, and they were thus stimulated to strain every nerve for its attainment. "Now they

But we,

did it to obtain a corruptible crown." Brethren, have set before us one that is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away. As the Herald of the Lord, let me direct to it your stedfast gaze, and thus invite and animate you to pursue it. Regard the Happiness which

Christ has prepared for his people; and listen to the Invitation he vouchsafes.

Consider, First, THE HAPPINESS WHICH CHRIST HAS PREPARED FOR HIS PEOPLE.

It cannot be described, indeed; for Happiness, like all emotions, must be felt, to be understood. That which is yet unknown and far beyond the things of earth, can only be imaged to us by comparison with meaner joys. By reference to that which most refreshes and delights the sense, some faint conception is awakened of a bliss unknown and far above all sense : and such a method is adopted in our text. To speak of "the water of life," was to image to an Oriental mind the sum of all felicity. speak of fresh and living streams amidst the heat and thirst and weariness of eastern climes, was to raise at once the thought of all that is pure, and satisfying, and perpetual,

To

All that is pure. For St. John had said at the beginning of this chapter, " And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Whereby he intimates the holy, unperturbed, unmixed delight of heavenly joys. Here, every thing is tainted by sin; here, even the communications of divine grace are adul