since, having been known to be under the same circumstances. Still most christians will, more or less, remember incidents which attended their spiritual birth, which, on the review, will enliven their gratitude and joy in the Saviour. Instead, therefore, of my adverting to any of these, or even asking you as individuals to what religious denomination you may belong, I will ask this more important question-HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN? Though you may not know the time, or place, you will certainly be convinced, if the Lord has called you by his grace, that once you were dead in sin; that your redemption was effected by the death of Christ; and, that the Spirit of God alone could have raised you to newness of life, by which you are now as a new creature, breathing a sacred air, in a new and spiritual world. Be assured that no external profession of religion, however correct in itself, will, with certainty, demonstrate your state as a child of God, any more than the collection of bones covered with flesh, furnished with sinews, and covered with beautiful skin, could convince the prophet Ezekiel that they formed a real army, when, as yet, there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37.) I therefore appeal to the inward state and feelings of your mind and heart, ardently wishing, that the Spirit itself may bear witness with your spirits that you are the children of God. Knowing the importance of correctly entering upon a profession of religion, I have been the more particular in this part of the subject. If you have experienced the changing power of divine grace, then the cross of your Saviour, with its attendant virtues, has been, if I may so say, the starting post from whence you commenced your christian course in the sight of your God. And, also, that your devotedness to Christ in baptism is your public entrance on your course in the sight of men. Life is a natural journey through time to eternity. But now, many of you who have been born again, see before you a new course, in which you are to evince the christian character, honour your God, and contribute to the benefit of the church, and of mankind, I therefore proceed to explain to you-

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II. THE PROGRESS OF THE CHRISTIAN COURSE. let us advert to St. Paul's description of it in the connexion of the text. It is a good fight-a course-a keeping of the

faith. The christian course is a warfare; Paul had fought a good fight. It is a military term, and necessarily imports the hostility of enemies. These are either internal, or external; and not, unfrequently they are combined in the conflict. They are called the world, the flesh, and the devil; but, the most subtile and powerful foes are those of a christian's own heart, and which compelled Paul to exclaim, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death? Notwithstanding the severity of the conflict, it is a good fight, under the banner of a good Captain, Jesus, the Lord of Hosts. The enemies themselves are against God, evidently so in all his works and ways. The weapons of the christian soldier are good, not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivily every thought to the obedience of Christ. It is equally a good fight, as every victory obtained creates the most sublime gratification to the heart, and sets a good example for the animation of the whole army of grace. It is a course. I presume Paul alludes to the Grecian Games, particularly that of running a race, from one designated point to another, in order to gain the promised prize. Know ye not, said he, that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. They did it to obtain a corruptible, but we an incorruptible crown. Paul had entered his course, and therefore exhorted others to lay aside every weight, and the sin which most easily beset them, and run with patience the race which was set before them, looking unto Jesus. He forgot the things which were behind, reaching forth unto those which are before, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.—He had kept the faith. This is to be understood, not so much of the grace of faith: for, he himself, as others, was kept through faith by the power of God unto salvation, but the word, the doctrine, and the profession of faith. These he held fast, and defended as the truth as it

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is in Christ Jesus, in all situations, and amidst the most virulent oppositions to the last period of his race.

From this short explanation of Paul's testimony concerning himself, I am disposed, by the aid of other scriptures, to offer you a more comprehensive view of the christian in pursuing his course. In this I cannot venture to select any one person in particular, because the christian's course admits of great variety, according to the measure of grace, the talents possessed, and the station filled in society. Our sketch will, therefore, be on the general character and experience of the christian who walks with God, in the course of life, until it terminates in everlasting bliss.

We behold the christian in his course, by faith and prayer maintaining a life of communion with God as his everlasting Father. This he deems his highest privilege on earth. This replenishes and sanctifies all the rest, proving, as he advances, the truth of David's assertion, It is good for me to draw near to God. -As he received the Lord Jesus, so he walks in him; drawing from his fulness, grace, strength, comfort, and animation, to pursue his arduous course. Whether in duty or in suffering, the christian progressively learns the important and sacred art of employing and relying on Christ in his various personal and relative characters and offices, which he bears for the continued benefit of his people. Thus, he runs with patience the race that is set before him: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.The christian's journey is like that of the Israelites to Canaan, through a waste howling wilderness, where there are many windings and extreme dangers; these render both a guide and a comforter indispensably necessary. Such is the Holy Spirit. He guides into all truth; and is expressly called the comforter. The Saviour admirably describes his nature and his operations as a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. Hear the christian on his journey, and he will cheerfully confess, that every sublime act of devotion, the growth of his faith, the warmth of his affections to his God, and the vivacity of his hope, with every other bless

ing from Christ, are derived from the influence of this blessed Spirit. The christian receives the revealed Word of God as the map for his journey, nor will he venture to add a line or a letter for his own accommodation. Its history, doctrine, warning, promise, precept, and whatever other truth it contains, he employs as a light unto his feet, and a lamp unto his path.-Though travelling through the wilderness of this world, the christian is neither solitary nor altogether unknown. Agreeably to the injunction of his Saviour, he confesses him before men: the house of God, the church of Christ, is his residence, where he performs his solemn devotions. The Sabbath he calls a day of delight, a sacred meal-time, in a banquetting house, where his Saviour not only spreads over him the banner of his love, but instructs, establishes, and refreshes his heart by the word and institutions of grace, so that he goes on from strength to strength, until he shall appear in Zion above, before the immediate presence of his God. How good, therefore, is it, to take another Sabbath-day's journey towards our heavenly home!-In proportion to the length of a journey and the nature of the road, will be the variety of incidents which occur. As Moses recorded the steps of the Israelites, so the christian will observe the ways in which he is led by the providence of his God; each of which is admirably calculated to work for his good. Days of prosperity and adversity, of sickness and health, deliverances from danger, interpositions of mercy, cordials of love, and many other things, claim the attention of a christian, and which he, more or less, treasures up in his mind and in his heart.-View the christian in his public intercourse with society. Religion does not consist in an exclusion from this world: though the christian is not of this world, yet his road lies through it, and gives him an opportunity to evince the brilliance of his character, as the star is best seen in the shades of night. Truth, integrity, sobriety, forbearance, and benevolence, will be manifested in his temper and actions, according to his station. or sphere of action. Such a man was Paul. While he exercised himself to keep his conscience void of offence towards God and men, he copied after the example of his Lord, whose feet went about doing good to the bodies and to the

souls of men, whether they were friends or enemies.--The christian's heart, though best known to God, is not altogether unknown to himself. This he finds the more immediate seat of conflict; and the further he advances in his course, the more deeply he is acquainted with the deceit, corruption and vileness of sin. This clothes him with humility, and fills him with self abasement. This also he feels to be his inward, painful cross, which nothing short of the grace of God can enable him to bear. Oh! the tears, the cries, the groans, which this vile corrupted nature produces! Still, from the divine nature, by which regeneration is produced, the new man of the heart increases in wisdom, holiness and vigour, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, who gradually conforms the soul to the image of the Son of God. Notwithstanding all this conflict, we have to confess, that there is more solid felicity and joy accompanying the christian in his course than in the possession of the wealth of nations! While the joy of the carnal world ends in sorrow, the most extreme sufferings of the christian eventually produce a harvest of delight. Paul was therefore exceedingly joyful in all his tribulations, and he counted not his life dear unto himself, so that he might finish his course with joy.

From this short sketch of the progress of the christian course, we may naturally be induced to inquire how it is possible, amidst such various scenes of temptation, infirmities, sins and sorrows, and especially for any great length of time, that a christian can hold on his way with correctness and honour, and thus to finish his course with pleasure? To this, for the christian's comfort and animation, I shall briefly reply, that he is enabled thus to persevere in his arduous jour

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From his relation to God, who, by the covenant of his everlasting love, hath adopted him in Christ by his grace, according to the good pleasure of his will. By his union with Christ, and interest in his complete redemption, who hath said, Because I live, ye shall live also. The possession

and testimony of the Holy Spirit, who is given that he might abide with his people for ever. The nature of that grace which God gives, and which is inseparably connected