ally be his misfortune, and he himself will become a source of unhappiness to his people. But where the language of grace precedes human acquirements, it always makes them shine the brighter, renders the possessor more humble and useful, and is employed to the honour of the Saviour.

Having named two purposes for which a person may be taught a language in application to the language of grace, it is highly necessary I should direct your attention to those important designs which God hath promised in the text. They are two. That they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve the Lord with one consent. I think this may include what we call personal and social religion. To call upon the name of the Lord, is a privilege and a blessing which comprehend the substance of our spiritual enjoyments; and never fail, more or less, to be experienced by all to whom the Lord teaches the language of the Gospel. To serve the Lord with one consent necessarily implies a social compact, or a unity of faith, love and practice. Thus we are informed in the history of the primitive Church, that the multitude that believed were of one heart and of one soul; that they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Indeed, this union is indispensably necessary to communion. Where there is no unity in faith and love, social pleasure and harmony cannot be enjoyed. But when, as Paul says, all speak the same thing; that is, converse in the language of the Gospel, the pleasures of Christian fellowship can only be exceeded by a union with the Church triumphant in glory!-Permit me also to add, next to the pleasures of Christian communion in the Church, may be named the felicity of a family.

For the individuals of an household to learn from Jesus the language of grace, how charmingly must it softer their passions, and direct them in their various departments! Give me leave, therefore, to wish that every member of this family, and particularly the younger part of it, may be taught the pure language of the Gospel ; that they may morning and evening call upon the name of the Lord; and, in their various relations and duties, serve the Lord with one consent.

A few observations on the purity of this language shall close our discourse. It may, in the text, be called pure, in opposition to the depravity of that which may justly be called the corrupt language of fallen sinners. It is certainly pure, as it is inspired by the Holy Spirit; as it leads to God, and forms the heart for the practice of virtue. Upon these accounts David said, Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. But I will add, this language is certainly pure, for it never deceived any who were taught it. And it is worthy to be remarked, that when by age and infirmity a man may forget his early acquisitions of academic learning, and many occurrences of his past life, the language of grace can be preserved fresh upon his mind, and employ his lips in his latest hours. This was verified in David; and; should we be preserved to good old age, may we have the felicity with him, to say,-O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not: until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is

to come.

A MEMORIAL OF THE DIVINE BENEFICENCE.

PSALM ciii. 2.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

GRATITUDE is one of the sweetest emotions of the human soul. But when we have a due sensibility of the unmerited beneficence of God, through Jesus Christ, it is impossible we should refrain from those expressions of gratitude and adoration which engage the powers of the soul in sweetest harmony. Unthankful, unholy, is a scripture characteristic of the unregenerate state of man. Where ingratitude prevails, the heart is contaminated with vice, and estranged from God. Those whom God renews in the spirit of their minds, have a perception of the Divine beneficence, and an heart replete with the holy seed of gratitude and praise. David, by the grateful sentiments contained in this excellent: Psalm, sufficiently evinces the bounty of God towards him, and that he was one of those happy people whom the Lord hath formed for himself, to show forth his praise. This glow of gratitude certainly may be cherished by our re citing to each other the many valuable instances of God's mercy and goodness to us, notwithstanding our just desert of his anger. There are also times and seasons which have

an agreeable tendency to stimulate our breasts to this delightful work of praise, and to adore the Author of all we enjoy, both in providence and in grace. As we have been so highly favoured as to arrive at our concluding Lecture, I can adopt no subject so appropriate as a review of the Divine beneficence; and to show you the influence which it should produce upon our hearts and lives.

1. In raising our memorial of the Divine beneficence, I am obliged to acknowledge my incompetency to the work. Its blessings are more rich in their nature, more infinite in number, than the rays of the sun in its meridian brightness; we are indeed lost in their splendor! However, let us at least attempt to recollect benefits already conferred ;-acknowledge favours still continued;—and anticipate blessings held for us in reserve.-Amidst the profusion of benefits already conferred, we must first name the inestimable gift of God's beloved Son Jesus Christ. He assumed our place beneath the violated law, to obey its precepts and to satisfy its penalties, that we might escape the vengeance we deserved. In this adored Saviour is complete redemption; a fulness of grace; and a portion of felicity to be enjoyed coeval with eternity. O how richly hath God thus commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! And those who have felt the virtues of such a Saviour will assuredly exclaim, BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT THIS INESTIMABLE BE. NEFIT! The care of a special providence is the next favour to be named. This guarded you in your infancy, shielded you from dangers to which you were exposed in youth, and prevented you from going down in your sins to the pit of destruction. Ah! little then, when in ignorance and rebellion, did we perceive or estimate such

a diversified train of blessings as have followed our early life. Here it is highly proper that you should review your past lives, your dangers, sicknesses and transgressions; and likewise the forbearance and the deliverances of your God. All these cannot but enliven your gratitude to God, whose providence has been as a pavilion to preserve you thus far, I hope, for the best purposes. Therefore, the next blessing which I trust the Lord, in rich grace, has bestowed upon some of us, is a NEW HEART. This certainly includes all that is intended by regeneration and conversion, without which no man can enter into the kingdom of God. This new heart is ever accompanied with new views of God, Christ, sin, grace, time, eternity; and is always productive of newness of life in obedience to God, and good-will to man. It brings its own evidence that you are a child of God; that your state is changed; and that eventually you shall be transmitted to the realms of bliss. Great as is the gift of a new heart, some of us can produce a long list of benefits which have followed us in quick succession for many years. Blessings of the upper, and of the nether springs have been copiously opened to us. In darkness, the Lord was our light; when we strayed from his arms, he restored our souls; immersed in sorrow, and surrounded with foes, the Lord was to us a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. O the numberless instances of the preserving, the delivering, and supporting goodness of our God! Could we feel proportionate to these favours, for ourselves and our family connections, how low should we lay in humiliation before the Lord; and how lively and animated would be the expressions of our gratitude for all his benefits con ferred!