protection refers to every kind of enemies devils as well as men are under the control of Him who hath the keys of hell and of death. The same omnipotent arm that set the door open can keep it open in defiance of all opposition from earth or hell. If we be followers of that which is good, no one shall harm us; and if a man's ways please the Lord, he can make his very enemies to be at peace with him.

1. The enemies of the church have been permitted, in many places, to shut the door for a season. Of this the history of the seven churches in Asia affords a melancholy proof. The beast and the false prophet have united in shutting the door against the gospel of Christ; and scarcely the vestige of genuine religion is to be found in that part of the globe. It has been the design of the enemies of the church, in raising persecution against the truth, to shut doors of usefulness, and prevent the success of the gospel. The history of the church confirms the truth of this statement.

The ejection of upwards of two thousand pious ministers, by the Act of Uniformity, on the 24th of August, 1662, is a stain upon the pages of our ecclesiastical history, and was the cause of great sufferings for conscience sake. The numbers who have suffered persecution and death for the cause of God will not be known, till "the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."

Palmer, in his "Nonconformists' Memorial," informs us of a pious and able nonconformist minister, who died in the prison in which he was confined for the peculiarity of his sentiments, which greatly affected Charles II. A nobleman, having heard of the minister's death, told his majesty, that he, whom he had confined in prison, had got his liberty. Upon which it was asked, with eagerness, "And who gave him that?" The nobleman replied, "A greater than your majesty;-the King of kings.

"And now he is gone before us,

And his saintly soul is flown

Where tears are wiped from every eye,

And sorrow is unknown;

From the burden of the flesh,

And from care and fear releas'd,

Where the wicked cease from troubling,

And the weary are at rest."

These were days of suffering and prayer, and of sowing the seed of the word in tears and in prisons. The steam of the pit was seen and felt ascending through the crevices which the intolerant hand of persecution then opened to swallow up the saints of the Most High, and to cut off their remembrance from the earth.

2. Blessed be God that we live in better times, and enjoy, in our happy land, privileges for which we cannot be sufficiently thankful. The liberty of conscience and the freedom of worship which we now enjoy, I trust we highly value. They cost our forefathers much. It is not too much to assert that the increasing vindications of the right of conscience, and the principles of religious liberty, generally recognised by all parties, are to be, in a great measure, attributed to the tenets of our nonconformity. In proof of this, I need only refer you to the speech of Mr. Brougham,* in the House of Commons, in a debate which took place respecting the late Mr. Smith, missionary in the West Indies. It was then fearlessly asserted by that eloquent statesman, that "the nonconformists, with the zeal of martyrs, the courage of heroes, and the purity of primitive believers, asserted their rights, and gained for this country the free constitution which she now enjoys." Although our principles forbid us to call any man master on earth, yet we are at liberty to imitate departed worth, and to be followers of those who left us noble examples of patience, labour, and success, in times of great difficulty. Let us make a good use of our privileges; that as others have laboured, and we have entered into their labours, in the end the sowers and the reapers may rejoice together. The field for labour is ready to be occupied ;—we may enter upon our work at our pleasure;-the fields are white to harvest; and let our prayer, therefore, be that the Lord would send forth labourers into his harvest. When the Lord blesses us, it is that we may be blessings to others, that we may impart happiness to those around us; and in seeking the good of others, we shall find our own.

3. The only way to keep the door open is by holiness of character and purity of worship. In order that the one may be possessed, and the other maintained, we must keep a conscience void of offence towards God, and follow the example of those churches which the Lord approved, and were burning and shining lights in their day and generation. In doing so we shall have praise of God, and no one will be able to shut the door against us. The Lord who has opened it will keep it open in defiance of human resistance, or spiritual wickednesses in high places. If our strength be small, let that strength be exerted in the best of causes: by continued exercise it will increase, and by "always abounding in the work of the Lord," it will become stronger and stronger. Descent from national establishments in religion is of little importance, unless we keep the ordinances of God pure. If we confound the distinction between the world and the church, piety will decay, discipline will be

* Now Lord Brougham.

dispensed with, and a most melancholy departure from the principles and practices of genuine Christianity will inevitably follow. Congregations are the creatures of circumstances,—churches are the institutions of God, bound by a sacred obligation to be faithful to their Head, and to keep the commandments of God blameless.

Days of Christian purity were distinguished for fervour of zeal, unreserved devotedness to the cause of God, and for assiduous labour in disseminating the truth, and sending it to the regions beyond. And in proportion as we aspire after the truth, and delight in its diffusion over the world, the Spirit of God will delight in us, and make us living temples to his praise. When the divine image is stamped upon our souls, and we are marked with a peculiar distinction, we shall value his gracious communications, and study not to grieve him. When the churches are temples for him to dwell in, and invite his inhabitation by holiness to the Lord, they will receive the divine favour, and will continue to maintain their existence, and emit their splendour, till the whole earth shall become one temple for the Holy One of Israel. But if the doctrines of the gospel be corrupted, or any of them denied, the church of Christ will be defiled; and corruption in sentiment will lead to corruption in practice; its beauty will be marred, and its glory will be departed; the Congregational Union may hold its last anniversary, draw its curtains, and retire to rest.

We cannot close this discourse without making a general application of it to all men present.

1. The door of heaven stands open for the reception of all those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. What the prophet Isaiah said, in reference to the privileges which the church enjoys on earth, may be justly applied to heaven: "Thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut, day nor night: the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light; and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." Heaven is increasing the number of her inhabitants from our world; her capacious bosom is receiving all that is holy and Godlike, and leaving nothing behind but that which is unfit to enter within the gates of the New Jerusalem. Since the last meeting of the Congregational Union, some of its best friends and most liberal supporters have joined a far happier and purer society. They have joined that part of the church now in glory; who have ceased from the days of their pilgrimage, and are happy in beholding the face of their Redeemer in righteousness. The blessed spirits around the throne feel a deep interest in the transactions of this day; and if any souls are brought to a saving acquaintance with the truth, angels will rejoice in the

"presence of God," and saints will hail with delight a fellow-traveller to Zion.

Let us, my fathers and brethren, remember, that the sun of our lives and labours is just inclining to the west; and, in a short time, some of us will neither be a blessing nor a burden to the world. Let us be doing the will of God from the heart, that when we are called to appear before him, we may receive the welcome invitation, "Enter into the joy of thy Lord."

2. The door of hell stands open for the reception of those who die in an unholy state-enemies to Christ and to his gospel. All who have lived after the flesh must die; this is not the destruction of being, but of well-being. "Be not deceived: God is not mocked; for whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Think not that connexion with any church on earth will save you, when you are not united to Christ. You may observe all the ordinances of the gospel, dispensed in a scriptural manner; and yet go to the world of misery with your lips wet with the sacred symbols of the shed blood and broken body of the Son of God. You may pity the heathen, who never heard the gospel, and may be affected when you reflect upon that dark and dreary immortality which we have reason to believe awaits them, if the dayspring from on high visit them not but remember, that at the same moment at which the soul of a heathen may pass through the dense darkness of heathenism, your soul may pass through the visions of gospel light, and come in contact with eternal fire. O how different the reflections of each!-the one will think of the sins committed against the God of nature, and the other will think upon the agonies of the cross, the melting invitations of mercy, and of heaven that was presented to its view in all its glory. But it is now too late to enter therein; the saying of God has been verified: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still." But I cannot conclude with these appalling words.

3. Blessed be God, that the door of mercy stands open, and whosoever will, may enter in. There is nothing to prevent the vilest sinner from coming to Christ, but his unwillingness. On the part of Jehovah, there is the greatest encouragement. "Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his ways, and live." His word and oath, and especially the gospel of his Son, prove this. The love of Christ cannot be questioned, after he has given his life a ransom for many. The love of the Spirit cannot be questioned, after what he has done for others, and still promises to do. His influences are so free, that you need not rise from these seats without

receiving them. I would, with all possible seriousness, request you to seek for an unction from the Holy One; and give in your name to Christ, that it may be written in his book of life. And when his new name, "Immanuel," is written upon you, you are born an heir of glory and all holy beings, in heaven and on earth, rejoice in the union formed by faith in the Son of God. "Enter ye in at the

strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction; and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Enter within the door of mercy now; that hereafter you may enter within the gates of bliss. In so doing you will promote your present and future happiness; you will be safe amidst the vicissitudes of time; and will, finally, be blest with the fruition of eternity. To secure this state of felicity, the promises of the gospel invite you,-the work of Christ invites you, —the church, which he has purchased with his own blood, invites you :-" And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst say, Come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."