guishes his children, the love of peace is an indispensable feature. With them alone does grace abide; to them, so long as they retain their character, is the perpetuity and sufficiency of it sealed. And let no man estimate lightly this their peculiar. blessing. It is the source of sanctification, of safety, and of joy. To procure the restoration of it to the souls of men, from whom judgment would have taken it away, the Son of God became our mediator, and expiated our sins with his blood. Without it, no pure holiness can be attained, no satisfactory permanent happiness can be found. It is the soul's sunshinethe source of its light, and life, and cheerfulness. Let it be withdrawn, and the spirit will be overclouded, the thoughts confused, conscience bewildered, the pathway of duty obscured and deserted, and the bosom exposed to the incursion and ravages of awful inquietude, vexatious passions, remorseful apprehensions, and powerful temptations. But where it abides, there is knowledge; there is serenity; there is hope and joy; there is progressive holiness; there is peace and sure salvation. Yea, with this grace which is the portion of God's children in this life, is connected every Christian felicity. They unto whom it is given, have the loving favour of the Lord. It is to them a source of attainments and joys, of advantages and hopes, which only such as have received the spirit of adoption can have and appreciate, purifying and sustaining them in their earthly pilgrimage, and "sealing them unto the day of redemption." Sweet in an especial manner, is the complacency which under its sanction and influence is diffused through the bosoms. of the peacemakers. It owns, applauds, matures and crowns their heavenly temper. They have in it "the spirit itself bearing witness" with their own spirits, "that they are the children of God." And hence that conscious satisfaction, that inward appreciation, that peaceful joy which recompense in the Christian bosom, the love and pursuit of peace here, and are a pledge and foretaste of its blessedness hereafter.

For we have further to observe, that not only grace and peace in this life are the portion of those who are children of

God, but also inheritance in his heavenly kingdom. Christ does in this beatitude hold out to the lovers and promoters of peace, a promise of participation in the glories of the better world. And this he does, because since fallen nature is querulous and contentious, the peacemaker has evidence that the spirit of the gospel has purified his heart. This he does, because that grace which is given to those who in this lovely trait resemble the Almighty, may well be expected to perfect them also "in every good word and work." This he does, because the virtue to which the beatitude is annexed, is peculiarly pleasing to the majesty of heaven, and absolutely necessary to qualify our natures both for the occupations and the joys of the celestial courts. In those holy regions, all is unity, benevolence, and love. No jarring passions can there be found, no note of discord is ever heard. If we could imagine for a moment, a contentious spirit to have gained admittance, what could be more uneasy than his situation. The angels would frown upon him; the spirits of the just made perfect would avoid him; the consciousness of his deformity would fill him with confusion. When he heard the voice of the Lord God, which fills all heaven with joy, he would be filled with terror and amazement. Like guilty Adam, amidst the serenity and safety and delights of paradise, he would be seized with trembling, and strive to hide him from his Maker's inspection. But what spirit, or what disposition of any spirit can in heaven be hid? The holy Sovereign of that pure and peaceful realm would command his servants to take the intruder, and cast him into outer darkness, to dwell with spirits congenial with himself. It is on account of the necessity of a forgiving and merciful temper, to obtain us the forgiveness of God, and qualify us for the pleasures of heaven, that so much stress is laid on it in the gospel of the Redeemer. To have any inheritance in the kingdom of glory, men must be made by adoption children of God, and to be his children, such as he will own, embrace, and reward, they must be lovers and promoters of concord and good-will. To those who are such, there is a rich inheritance of happiness

secured. For all their meekness, forbearance, and kindness, which they have exercised amidst the wrongs and crosses of this disordered world, they shall be recompensed a thousand fold in the tranquil and harmonious regions of heavenly bliss. For if they are "children," then are they "heirs heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.”

I have now stated to you who are peacemakers; viz.: those who are peaceable themselves, and those who are restorers and promoters of peace among others. I have also set before you an illustration of their blessedness, viz.: that they are, and shall be owned by him to be the children of God, and shall inherit the peculiar privileges of his children, viz.: grace here, and glory hereafter. I am sensible, my brethren, that it is an arduous duty to which I have called your attention. But it is a duty to which are annexed "exceeding great and precious promises." It is a duty in which Christ is our example as well as instructor. It is a duty, which is a pre-eminent branch of that righteousness whose "fruit is peace," and whose "effect is quietness and assurance forever." Let me then exhort you in all the stations and relations of life in which Providence may have placed you, to be lovers and promoters of peace. Parents, cherish it among your children, by inculcating it, by avoiding partialities, and by exhibiting it to them in your conjugal relations. Brothers and sisters, preserve in your endearing connection this important quality; for if anywhere, certainly under the domestic roof "it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity." Fellow citizens, interested in the prosperity and honour of the same common country, though you may differ in sentiments, be united in affection, and cherish peace among yourselves, not only as the best guardian of your felicities, but as the daughter of heaven, in whom your Creator delighteth. Christians,-disciples of the peaceful Jesus,-called of God in one Mediator, to one blessed hope of everlasting life, be ye in all relations lovers and promoters of peace; and manifest to the world, in the meekness of wisdom, the benign influence of the gospel upon the happiness of society and the temper of the soul,

ceasing from every malevolent passion, and seeking every man concord with his neighbour. Fellow communicants—but what was I going to say? Ought it be supposed that at the altar of God any are ever to be found, who are not lovers and followers of peace? No. The supper of the Lord is the supper of peace. I know not where such motives to forgiveness and love can be found, as that bread and that wine exhibit. I know not where such obligations to unity and good-will can be met, as the feast and fellowship of that table imply. All that are there should assuredly be peacemakers; for all that are there should be children of God. Be ye then, beloved, "followers of God as dear children, and walk in love." "Look ye diligently lest any fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." The religion you profess is a religion of peace. The God whom you worship is the author of peace. The Saviour whom you own is the "Prince of peace." The sweetest felicities of life are the offspring of peace. And "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that make peace. Adorn yourselves, therefore, with this exalted and happy character, that you may have the grace and peaceful consciousness of God's children here; and be known and owned by him as such in that day, when he shall make up his jewels, and gather unto himself those ransomed spirits, who are "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

VOL. II.-30

SERMON LIII.

IMPATIENCE REBUKED.

PSALM, lv. 6.

"O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away, and be at rest.”

IT

T is a prominent fact, in the view of every observer of mankind, that they are generally the sport of their own fancy. This versatile power, undisciplined by reflection, and too restless to receive lessons from experience, subjects them to opinions and follies, sorrows and joys, as numerous, changeable, and inconsistent, as the phantoms of the sleeping hour. Frequently it rouses them to the pursuit of objects, which when attained it contemns as empty and disgustful. Often it renders them dissatisfied with life, of whose shortness, nevertheless, it teaches them to complain.

In the blind wishes, the unjust discontents, the sinful despondencies which cloud the history of the human heart, we have impressive specimens of the servitude of man to the vagaries of his own mind. Is he in the vale of life? His safety from the winds is considered only as a seclusion from the breeze-imagination deepens and extends the shade which religion might convert into a cool retreat; and with health, and hope, and virtue at his call, he is ready, like the wife of the eastern sufferer, to distrust the divine providence-yea, with rash impatience to "curse God and die." Has his lot been cast upon the side of the mountain? There are others above him. The rivulet, which enriches his land and beautifies his situation, disturbs him by its mur