SERMON XXVI.

FOR TRINITY SUNDAY.

2 CORINTHIANS, IV. 3.-" If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost."

ST. PAUL, in the opening of this epistle, after a general salutation to the Corinthian converts, expresses his grateful sense of God's mercy, in preserving him from the dangers he had encountered in Asia; and, professing his unshaken confidence in the continued guardianship of his Heavenly Father, as well as his affectionate and anxious solicitude for those, of whose conversion he had been made the happy instrument, he pours forth his thanksgivings to God, for having entrusted him with the ministry of the Gospel, and for the success which had already crowned his labours; of which he says, the disciples of Corinth were "his credentials," a living epistle, written by the finger of God.

Still farther to confirm them in the faith, as well as to illustrate the dignity of the ministerial office, he sets before their newly enlightened minds, the superior glory and permanence of the Gospel Dispensation, as contrasted with the temporary duration, and comparative obscurity of the Mosaic ritual: reminding them, that while Moses, in declaring the law to the children of Israel, "put a veil on his face, that they could not steadfastly look to the end of that which was to be abolished,"-(which "veil was still upon their hearts,) it was the blessed privilege of those to whom Christ was revealed,Christ, the substance of the Old Testament shadows, the great end of its most important prophecies,―to have "the veil entirely taken away." Yea, that all, in whom "the Spirit of the Lord” dwelt, freed from the law's oppressive bondage, might with unveiled face, "behold as in a glass, the glory of the Lord;"-that they should, even upon earth, be transformed into something like the resplendent image of their Redeemer; and, advancing from glory to glory, under the guidance of that divine Spirit, which first "shined into their hearts," should reflect the rays of their Saviour's countenance, and shine henceforth, as lights in the world.

Having thus displayed the distinguished glories of the Gospel, and its blessed effects on the minds of all true believers, the Apostle, (dis

claiming all sinister views, and still triumphing in Christ, amid all the dangers and difficulties of his heaven-appointed task,) declares his courage in pursuing the work of the ministry with which he had been entrusted; avowing his determination to manifest the whole genuine and undistinguished truth, and thus to "commend himself to every man's conscience, in the sight of God." For, well may he say, "if," after all this openness and candour, the "Gospel be hid," (or, as it might here be more properly rendered) be still under a veil, it is veiled to those that are perishing.

Yes, sad and lamentable is the state of those, whose unbelieving minds are so blinded by the dazzling allurements and vanities of this world, as to shut out the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God: utterly hopeless, indeed would be such a state, were it not for the views which the Gospel reveals, of that God, who can yet say, "let there be light,” and there shall be light, in the most benighted soul. O! let this divine interposition be earnestly implored, for all the blinded captives of Satan: and would that it may be imparted, ere they be consigned to eternal ruin-to "blackness and darkness for ever!"

In the fervent hope, however, of guarding you, my christian hearers, from this wilful, this fatal blindness, it is my intention, in the following discourse, to examine carefully how far

the glory of God, and the good of mankind, are really concerned, in those holy mysteries, revealed to us in the Gospel. And may the Holy Spirit engrave on all our hearts, a lively and assured belief of these great and important truths: may He unfold to us, who are appointed to minister to you, as Christ's ambassadors, the full sense and meaning of Scripture ;-and enable us, in all sincerity, to declare "the whole counsel of God," as in the sight and presence of our Heavenly Master; and as those, who feel it to be their duty and highest privilege, faithfully to deliver the message they have "received of the Lord." And O! may we all, daily set before our eyes, our risen and triumphant Redeemer;-looking forward, "in full assurance of faith," to his glorious appearance, when he shall come, to be "admired in his saints," and to be farther extolled and glorified, "in all them that believe."

The great mysteries of the christian religion, may be classed under two general divisions: those which belong directly to the nature of God, and those which relate more especially, to man, with reference both to his present, and future state.

Of the former class, are, the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity; the immaculate conception, and incarnation of Jesus; the co-existence of the divine, and human nature, in his person; and the wonderful communion of the Holy Spirit, in the dispensation of miracles and prophecies.

Of the latter, are, the saving efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, the ordinary operations of His Spirit on the hearts of believers; the general resurrection; the transformation of the natural body, into a glorious and spiritual one; and the blessed communion in heaven, of all the righteous in Christ Jesus.

First, then, it assuredly tends much to the honour of God, and the good of mankind, that we believe rightly, those mysteries revealed in Scripture, which immediately relate to the divine nature. That they are so revealed, the very nature of my subject pre-supposes: and the learned and pious fathers of our church, have, with great labour and skill, defended these several articles of our creed, against the sophistries and attacks, of heretics and infidels.

To enter on even a brief discussion of all these important articles, would however, far exceed the limits of a single discourse. On the present occasion, therefore, I shall chiefly confine myself to the consideration of the great, the incomprehensible doctrine of the Trinity.

What, though the oft disputed passage in St. John's first epistle (c. 5. v. 7.) be not in some of the ancient copies of the New Testament;-happily, brethren, the doctrine of the Trinity is not built on a single text, nor does it require the passage in question for its establish

ment.