before thee: I have long opposed and fought against thee: I have resisted the influence of thy grace: I have repelled the exhortations of thy word: I have done despite to the Spirit of grace, but now I yield: I will use these weapons no longer however stout I may have been in resisting thee, I am not strong enough to save myself: I am convinced of the folly of this rebellion, and I cast myself on thy free grace for mercy.

But further, it is by believing in Christ, that this throne of grace becomes really our sanctuary. No man ever finds it a sanctuary, whatever ideas he may have formed of divine grace, till he come by saving faith to Christ-till he finds rest in him and reliance upon him. It is through Christ that grace reigns; and therefore in Christ we submit to its authority. The first step towards heaven is saving faith in Christ. Nothing really good can go before it, and all saving good follows it. Faith unites to Christ, the fountain of good, and from communion with him all our goodness flows.

How thankful ought we to be, that we are permitted to approach a throne of grace; and that, a glorious high throne, the place of our sanctuary. Let us remember this, when we enter the house of God. We lose our errand if we do not find ourselves near a throne of grace, and if that throne is not our sanctuary. How pitiable to be closely occupied in bodily service, externally devout, attentive to the word, and hearing it with delight, and yet not to be conscious of being near

a throne of grace. Why are we allowed to draw near but to receive? Why do we wait upon a throne of grace, but in expectation of gifts and blessings to be dispensed from it. If we have before us the fulness of the riches of divine grace, can we be satisfied to draw upon our own resources, and find rest in ourselves. I say, it is pitiable indeed, to see men assembled before this throne without faith lifted up to it-seeking nothing from it—and when they depart going with a sort of self-satisfaction, that they have done their duty, and that the restraint of the sabbath is past. Oh this is not the spirit of a true worshipper. It bespeaks no real interest in the mercies of God's house. Examine yourselves, I entreat you, on these points.

Is the house of God your sanctuary? When I see around me in the world so many who are the victims, because the captives, of sin and misery and death, who know not any real enjoyment of the sabbath; and who yet feel perhaps the little enjoyment they have in it, a temporary respite from the burdens of life; I long for them to know that there is a sanctuary, where they might flee from all their guilt and misery and fears, and be at peace with God-where one visit, were they led by the Spirit to hear the things that belong to their peace, might produce a change in their lives that would awaken love and gratitude for the remainder of their days. What others forsake do you then make your sanctuary? You know, or ought to know, the wickedness of your own heart

and the weakness of your graces; does the conviction of this make you love the house of God as your sanctuary; where you may find grace to help in time of need.

Are you really sensible of the dangers that surround you, and do you pray sincerely, lead me not into temptation?-this is your sanctuary. Living in the world, and closely occupied, it may be, with some of its pursuits, are you sensible of the influence of a worldly spirit-do you find the struggle hard to divest yourself of it and recall the mind to higher and better hopes? Oh this house ought indeed to be your sanctuary, and you should be faithful to the call and opportunities you have in it, to draw near to God. Are Are you surrounded by the afflictions or the trials of life, oppressed by the sorrows you cannot escape from, or harassed by the ill-will of those who dislike spiritual religion? Are you filled with envy, when you see the ungodly in prosperity? Then the house of God is your sanctuary, the more you frequent it the more you will understand the end of all these things, and that the ways of God are mercy and truth to them that love him.

Let me entreat you to consider why you have been here this day. It is no sanctuary to you, unless you come here for the pardon of your sins, for the fellowship of christian privileges, and for the hope of eternal life. If you are content to go away without these, then you have no other sanctuary— none in life, none in death. The cold grave will

be the sanctuary of your flesh for a short period, and then when time shall be no more, you shall be punished with everlasting destruction from his presence, and from the glory of his power."

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Observe, your eternal doom, if you make not God your hope, will be the loss of that which now you have without knowing it-"the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power." Oh! that it were possible to rouse you to the consideration of this one thought-you are now before God, and in the presence of that throne, on which his glory rests. He waiteth to be gracious to some of you, perhaps, who have not yet tasted that the Lord is. gracious. There is power gone forth to others, which is as freely offered to you, as they freely receive. Why then will you not come that you may have life? How is it that you do not believe. Hear that you may live, and God will give you the sure mercies of David-the God of mercy shall be your God—the throne of grace your refuge—and the presence of God above, your everlasting sanctuary.

SERMON III.

A PECULIAR PEOPLE.

NUMBERS xxiii. 9.

From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

THE situation of the people of God, as described in these chapters of the book of Numbers, is one of the most interesting, connected with the Old Testament church. They had been led by the hands of Moses, and the guidance of the pillar of a cloud by day, and of a pillar of fire by night; the forty years of their wandering were about to expire, and they were drawing near to the promised land. But they had yet to pass through countries, the inhabitants of which were very jealous of them, and rejected all proposals of a pacific nature, and all treaty for permission to pass peaceably through their territories. The Israelites were compelled to force their way, on some occasions, with the sword, and by the utter extirpation of their opponents.

We trace in this account a most merciful and wise arrangement in the dealings of God with this people. He had been chastising them for forty years; he had been purging them of a rebellious