our bodies washed with pure water." As we are outwardly cleansed by the water, so are we inwardly purified by the Spirit of Christ. Hereby preachers are encouraged, for while we cannot purify either you or ourselves, we can teach you of Him who can, and direct you to call upon him that it may be done.

St. Paul beautifully speaks of a conscience "bearing witness with the Holy Ghost." What a holy God by his regenerating Spirit speaks to the mind, my mind echoes in return. What he says to me, approving conscience at once admits. How great an honour is here! I have a principle within me that can commune even with God himself, while the Spirit's work is making me a holy temple to his praise.

It is awful to remember how wonderfully hardened some persons are, and how completely they are given over to every thing that is vile. Such the apostle describes as "having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" that is, made callous, and unfeeling. This, alas, is the case of thousands; they will bear the sharpest reproofs, but the heart is insensible to them. I grieve over the thought that many may now go home to their shame, and though I have aimed to make 3 Heb. x, 22. 5 1 Tim. iv, 2.

+ Rom. ix, 1.

them feel, they will not feel. What an admirable passage is that in the church service, "from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word and commandments, good Lord, deliver us."

One great office of the gospel is to " "purge the conscience;" it is sent on purpose to "purge our conscience from dead works." Here I feel my prayers arise to that dear Lord who has given me a conscience; and if it is impure and unpurged, I desire to give it up into the hand of the divine Spirit of my God that he may make it pure. How many things should we abstain from, if we were but amongst the number of those blessed ones called "the pure in heart." And indeed, my dear hearers, you will never be well regulated as to the peace of your own minds, but as your consciences are under the power of grace. It it our duty conscientiously to husband all our talents, of wealth, of intellect, of time. O, my friends, go no where, where your consciences are likely to be defiled. Bring then under the influence of the fear of God, and pray that the Holy Ghost may make them wise and good. May what has been spo ken be recorded upon all your consciences, and God shall have all the glory. Amen.

FRAGMENT II.

THE LOVELINESS OF TRUE PIETY.

"WHATSOEVER things are lovely." There is a beauty in righteousness throughout. Christian people are lovely characters, and if we are lovely ourselves, we cannot know them without loving them, May we all be adorned with the graces of the Spirit of God, that we may be like magnets attracting each other. Put up the words whatsoever things are lovely in your houses, to remind you of the ornamental beauties of religion, and bring them forth in every situation and every department of your conduct. Why do I love my God? I hope it is because of the essential holiness and loveliness of his divine existence. How could I become acquainted with all this loveliness in him? I trust by his having imprinted on my heart his own lovely image. The regenerate child of God says, "I know what holiness is by having ob

1 Phil. iv, 8.

tained it; it is the gift of God; I have felt its excellence, and refer it to its source." As the rays of light return to the glorious orb from which they flow, so the various beams of love that descend on believers, are reflected back to God the centre and origin of them all. Hence none can be lovely who are not holy, for all that is good comes from holiness imparted to the soul. If that dwell there, all will be well. Saints should shine majestically over all the works of darkness to the praise of God, according to the command," arise, and shine, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." Happy are they who thus shine to His glory and honour, who hath "called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." I desire to live to his praise by whose restraining grace I am upheld, agreeably to those fine words of prophecy, "this people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." We are witnesses for God, when we "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Brethren, I desire to see you zealous and devoted. I want to hear your private conduct praised by those who know you well, and who can testify that your demeanour is consistent

2 Isa. xliii, 21.

"2

with your high calling. Wherever you may be, wear always as servants of the Most High, the beauteous livery of holiness. You will do more good by living the gospel than I can by preaching it. But I do not tell you to be holy, by any of those powers which the human mind naturally possesses. No, no, I preach gospel holiness, which is manifested to the heart by faith, and conveys ability into your minds to exhibit the grace of Christ, in every department of your lovely conduct. The contrary to this, acts incalculably to the prejudice of religion. The world is too glad to hold you up to the dishonour of your profession, when they see you living like themselves. May you then, by your lovely conversation and exemplary deeds, be enabled to "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."