temptation from the same arch fiend, and that too, in a wilderness, where there was none to comfort him,-will never suffer his faithful servants to be "tempted beyond what they are able to bear;"-but in each trying conflict, will ever prove their shield and their support, and make his grace victorious in their weakness.

Wherefore, beloved in Christ, having such a Redeemer, "mighty to save," let me, in conclusion, exhort you all to "hold fast your profession without wavering:" yea, to "hold fast that ye have, that no man take away your crown,' even that crown of everlasting glory, which will be the gracious reward of your continued fidelity. Hear our Lord's precious promise to his conquering soldiers. "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." O! then, my dear friends, let us "be faithful unto death,"-assured that Christ will conquer all our spiritual enemies by his invincible Word, and divide us an inheritance in that heavenly kingdom, whither He is gone to prepare a place for us. And, since "man is born to trouble," let us not merely expect and prepare for afflictions, but endeavour patiently to bear the Lord's chastenings; remembering, that "if Christ, though a Son, learned obedience by sufferings," how much more do we require the salutary lessons they teach. Nor let any

sufferings, shake, for an instant, our firm allegiance to Him, who being consecrated by them to his high office, is become "the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him."

Having, like the Apostles, seen our victorious Lord "ascending up on high," and "captivity itself led captive" by the mighty Conqueror,-let us, with them, fall down and worship him: and instead of consuming our precious hours in idle dreams of temporal grandeur, or curious enquiries after those "times and seasons, which the Father hath reserved in his own power," let us vigorously apply ourselves to "run the race that is set before us;" and by a diligent improvement of time and opportunities, prepare for Christ's final appearance, when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven, in the glory of his Father, and his own glory, with a majestic pomp which every eye shall see, and with the sound of a trumpet, which even all the nations of the dead shall hear.

Finally, brethren, when by faith, we behold the High Priest of a "better and more perfect tabernacle,”—that great High Priest who hath wrought our eternal redemption, and entered once for all, into heaven for us,-let his blood which is our redemption, be our confidence. To that blood alone let us look; let the death of Christ be ever thankfully remembered by us, as

the great, the spotless sacrifice, by which we draw nigh to God: and let it be our constant, our importunate request to "the Giver of all grace," that through the operations of His Spirit, (without whose blessed influence, even those "holy scriptures which were written for our learning," would be to us but a sealed book, or a dead letter,) our faith may be daily nourished and confirmed, and our hearts so framed and fashioned after the inspired Word, that, practically believing in Christ, as our Redeemer, and Priest, and King, we may "have life through his name;" and at length receive the end of our faith, in the eternal salvation of our souls, through Him, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be undivided honour, and everlasting praise. Amen.

SERMON XXV.

FOR WHITSUNDAY.

ACTS II. 23." Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

THESE words are a part of St. Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost: that memorable sermon, the blessed efficacy of which, was the same day manifested, by the conversion of three thousand souls.

This portion of Scripture naturally leads us, more particularly on the present occasion, to consider first, who and what is that " Holy Ghost," which was then "shed forth;" secondly, why he is called "the promise;" and thirdly, what were those sensible and miraculous effects or influences, to which the Apostle alludes, in saying, "He hath shed forth this which ye now

see and hear.”

First, "The Holy Ghost," or Holy Spirit, which was then shed forth, is the third Person in the ever blessed Trinity; GOD from all eternity, co-equal, co-existent, with the Father and the Son. The same Spirit, whose divine power was displayed in the creation, giving beauty and perfection to the universe :--for we read in the first chapter of Genesis, that "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters;" and in the book of Job, that " by His Spirit He garnished the heavens." It was this Spirit who spake by the prophets, under the law of Moses;who at our Lord's baptism appeared in the form of a dove, and who manifested himself still more evidently, by those wonderful, those miraculous effects, which (as at this time) he produced, only ten days after Christ's ascension into heaven. The Apostle here calls him "the promise of the Spirit" that is, the promised Spirit.

Now, God, in his boundless mercy, had made two illustrious promises to fallen, perishing, man: —that of his dear Son, and that of his Holy Spirit. The former stands pre-eminent among the predictions of the prophets; the latter, though less frequently, is yet very clearly expressed by those "holy men of God." In Isaiah, we read, "I will pour my blessing upon thy offspring;" and more particularly, in Joel,—“it shall come to pass afterward, (that is, after the coming of the Messiah,) that I will pour out my Spirit

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