some of you who are come to this house for instruction. But, if so, will you forsake the God of your mercies? Will you turn your back on your Ministers and religious friends? Will a religious profession among your present friends be too low for you? Will you exchange humble piety for the vain pomp of the world? What then? Why, you may be lulled to sleep, and go on in soft indulgence to darkness and despair. But, should the Lord see fit to raise you high in these outward things, be watchful and circumspect, humble and meek, grateful and obedient; and while you grow and flourish, like the tall cedars of Lebanon, may you be kept firm and stable, in scriptural piety, by a deep and widely-spreading root! Remember, "he that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." Prov. xi, 28.

It is a question of some importance, how human life may be prolonged. Many books have been written on this interesting subject. The most curious one that I have seen is the Life of Lewis Cornaro, a nobleman of Venice; but it carries the subject of abstinence to such an extreme, that it never can become a safe guide to any prudent person. In my opinion, the rules which we have laid down, are calculated not only to promote this object, but, at the same time, to secure every desirable good to man. "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Ps. xxxiv, 12-14. A conduct modelled upon this plan, promotes health; keeps a person out of the way of danger; and secures the protection of the Almighty. If this be correct reasoning, the only method of promoting longevity, is, a departure from the ways of sin; the practice of good works; and a peaceable temper. Whether long life be really desirable, is indeed a question; but certainly all men seem to desire it and if it be as useful as it is long, surely it is commendable to use all means in our power to prolong it. This, however, we leave, and only remark, whether our life be long or short, it should be spent to the best of purposes; that, at the final close, it may appear we have not lived in vain.

But, whether we live many years, or die young, the hour of our departure to a world of spirits will soon arrive. Keep this in view, and cleanse your way through the shades of death, by a firm and unshaken reliance on him who is the resurrection and the life; and by an entire resignation to that awful but unavoidable event. The death of a sinner is gloomy and horrible. His reflections on the past are painful and tormenting; and his prospects of the future are alarming and terrifying! But see the departure of one who, from his youth, has cleansed his way according to the Word of God. In the solemn hour, when he quits all things earthly, his temporal affairs are prudently settled: he trusts in the Almighty Saviour; has peace with God and men; and a well-grounded hope of a blessed immortality. Death may be awful even to him; but it has lost its sting. For "the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. xv, 55, 56. Having obtained this victory, the dying saint cries out, "Lord, now lettest thou thy ser

vant depart in peace according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke ii, 29, 30.

Observe these things, my beloved young friends, that you may live and die in the ways of wisdom. Human learning is both useful and ornamental; but the wisdom which is from above is infinitely more valuable. That has its use in the present world; but this is useful both for this world and that which is to come. Its blessed effects will run on when time shall be swallowed up in eternity. But what has folly done for man? It has robbed him of his innocency, laid him in the dust, and covered him with shame; but wisdom smooths the path of life, exalts the human character, and opens the way to immortal honours and glories. "Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." Prov. iv, 7-9.

Solid happiness is secured to him who cleanses his way according to the Word of God. It has been proved by the experience of all ages, that holiness and happiness, sin and misery, are inseparable companions; so that he who chooses the one, must of necessity have the other. Whatever our outward circumstances may be, in this changing world, we cannot but be inwardly happy while we are pure in heart and life. This portion is secured to us in Christ Jesus our Lord, by a covenant which cannot be broken, and is firmly and unalterably fixed in the nature of things; so that the mediatorial plan must cease, the covenant of Jehovah must be broken, and the order of things established by the Deity be overturned, before a holy man can be unhappy.

This plan of holy living will render you useful all the days of your life. There are but two proper ends of living: the one is to receive good, and the other to do good. The sun was created to enlighten and enliven the earth; the glory of the Lord shines upon the church, that she may arise and shine upon the world; and you are blessed that you may be made a blessing. By viewing the plans and purposes of heaven, we learn our duty; let us conscientiously discharge it. While you follow the advice which has been given, this ever will be the case. You will do good to all men, and thereby imitate your heavenly Father, "who is good to all;" and whose "tender mercies are over all his works." Ps. cxlv, 9.

True honours, both from God and men, will flow upon you, while you walk in the paths of purity. You cannot have the honours which arise from bloody conquests, ill-gotten wealth, and lawless power; but you will be honoured with the friendship of God, and the approbation of his people. Even your enemies will secretly honour you in their hearts, and would be glad to stand on the high ground which you occupy. Your real worth will be known, esteemed, and prized; and when you quit the present scene, the Lord will crown you with everlasting honours in that world where "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever " Dan. xii, 3.

Tc conclude: The way which has been recommended to you, is the only royal road to heaven. There, holy persons of every age and nation meet to part no more. We grow old in this world; but there we shall be young again. Those whom we leave behind, when we depart hence, will also grow old in years; but, in eternity, pure spirits are ever young and blooming. When a good man dies, holy angels and glorified human spirits welcome him into the house of God, and the mansions of the blessed. Let us look forward with pleasing hopes to that bright abode. This is a world of fleeting shadows; but that is durable and substantial. I am now about to leave you, and we may meet no more on earth; but may we meet, beyond the bounds of mortality, in the palace of God our great King, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

SERMON LXXVI.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST.

And he said, Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. JOSHUA V, 14.

DIVINE appearances, in various forms, were frequent in the early ages of the world. The first appearance of this kind was made to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden; but they "hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden." Gen. iii, 8. Afterwards God appeared to Cain, and expostulated with him for the cruel and wicked murder of his brother; but "he went out of the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, in the east of Eden." Cn. iv, 16. It is probable that Enoch was favoured with divine appearances; for he "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Ch. v, 24. That the Divine Being appeared to Noah, and revealed to him the approaching deluge, is highly probable; for he said to him, "Behold I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh." Ch. vi, 17. It is certain that "the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect." Ch. xvii, 1. When "Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar, the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt." Ch. xxvi, 2. And when Jacob was about to die, he said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me." Ch. xlviii, 3. He appeared to Moses in the bush, as a flame of fire, and said, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Exod. iii, 6. And Joshua saw him on the plains of Jericho, as a man with a sword drawn in his hand;" and when Joshua asked him, "Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?" he replied, "Nay, but

as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come." In this discourse, we shall consider the circumstances of the children of Israel when Joshua saw the Captain of the host of the Lord; the particular circumstances of that appearance; and the use which should be made of this important subiect.

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, when Joshua SAW THE CAPTAIN of the HOST OF THE LORD.

At that time, they were just come up out of the wilderness, where they had wandered forty years; and where they had seen the signs and wonders of the Lord, with many special manifestations of his peculiar regards for them as his own people.

The river Jordan had been divided by a miraculous interposition; and after all the tribes had passed through its channel on dry ground, they "encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho," on the tenth day of the month. Josh. iv, 19.

The sacred right of circumcision, originally instituted in the days of Abraham, but which had been neglected in the wilderness, "was restored." Ch. v, 7. And thus they renewed their covenant with God before they went to war with the idolaters of Canaan; and we should enter into covenant engagements with him before we undertake any great enterprise.

One of their solemn festivals had just been kept, in commemoration of that awful night when the destroying angel passed over their dwellings in the land of Egypt. They "kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even, in the plains of Jericho." Verse 10. And the observance of that feast brought past favours to their recollection, and inspired them with fresh courage to undertake new difficulties.

They had been fed with manna in the wilderness; but now it ceased; "neither had the children of Israel manna any more, but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. "Verse 12. This was a sure indication of God's intention to bring them into the promised land: "a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oilolive and honey." 2 Kings xviii, 32.

And now they were about to enter upon a great and terrible war with the nations of Canaan, under the command of Joshua, a man of distinguished wisdom, piety, courage, and zeal for the Lord of hosts, and who had received a positive assurance from the Lord of complete success: for it had been said to him, "There shall not be any man able to stand before thee all the days of thy life;" and the people had said, "All that thou commandest us we will do." Josh. i, 5, 16.

Yet, notwithstanding the assurance of success which had been given to Joshua, it might be necessary, both for himself and the people, to know, by some special appearance, that the Lord of hosts was with them, and that the God of Jacob was their refuge; for the nations which they had to drive out were numerous, strong, resolute, and accustomed to war. The instruments of death were prepared; and the dreadful conflict was at hand.

But the children of Israel had entered into the path of duty; they relied on the assistance and support of the Lord; they had entire con

fidence in Joshua as their general; and were quite ready to go up and possess the land. Then the great Captain of their salvation appeared to strengthen and encourage them in the great and arduous undertaking. II. THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT DIVINE APPEARANCE. Joshua went out, as a wise and prudent general, to survey Jericho, the city on which his first attack was to be made; and while he was making his observations on that strong-hold, "he lift up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand." The sight was unexpected and alarming. It would have terrified a faint-hearted man; but Joshua was a man of valour and all those who fill high offices in the camp of God should be stout and valiant; for the people look up to them in the hour of danger, and if they are afraid, fear and terror, like a mighty flood, quickly overwhelm the host.

When Joshua saw the man of war, with his sword drawn in his hand, he went up boldly, and said, "Art thou for us or for our adversaries?" It is necessary to know who are our friends, and who are our foes, that we may know how to deal with them. He who views a friend as a foe, or a foe as a friend, falls into a dangerous snare; and as such mistakes are common in the present state of things, we should be ever on our guard.

The interrogation of Joshua was immediately answered. The man of war, who was a divine person in a human form, said, "Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come." Israel was the host of the Lord; this person was their Captain; he was above Joshua; and was come to support his people, and to fight against their enemies. Blessed are the people who have God for their Lord! He puts on his armour to fight for them, and their enemies fall before him. Thus it has been in the days of old; thus it is now; and thus it will be to the end of time.

Commentators are not

But was this man of war a divine person? agreed in their views of his character. Some of them suppose he was a created angel; but the truth seems to be, that he was the Eternal Word The following arguments, in favour of this opinion, are of considerable weight: First, the language which is used by the Captain of the host of the Lord, is similar to that which was used by the great I AM, when he appeared to Moses in the bush. Exod. iii, 5. Secondly, he allowed Joshua to worship him, which would have been gross idolatry had he been a created angel. Thirdly, the homage which he required of Joshua, by taking off his shoes, or uncovering his feet, is expressive of that solemn and profound worship which is due to God alone. And, fourthly, he is expressly called the LORD in the following chapter, verse 2.

Joshua knew that it was the Lord, and, falling prostrate, worshipped at his feet. Here we see one of the greatest generals of antiquity paying divine homage to that glorious person, who, in the fulness of time, was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John iii, 8.

The Captain of the host commanded Joshua to uncover his feet, because the ground on which he stood was made holy by his special