hour of temptation, or in the moment of remorse for sin, may be more effectual than all the sermons, delivered to a large collection of persons, which want that individual and circumstantial application, and of which each may appropriate to himself as little as he pleases.

To conclude, my brethren, (for although I seem to have said nothing, and to have a thousand thoughts striving for utterance, which I am not able to give them, I must close my address, and suffer you to depart for another week,) it is my earnest desire by all means to save some. "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart." What can I do for you? How can I promote your spiritual improvement?

Oh that I could by any means turn you all from your sins, implant in your hearts Christian principles and affections, and make you devote your whole lives to the glory of God, and the salvation of your souls! But this is beyond the power of man; one "may plant, and another water, but it is God only that giveth the increase. May God incline me ever to look up to him for success in my ministry, and to labour without any presumption, or trust in my own weak exertions, but solely in dependance on his

aid and blessing; and may he hear my prayer on your behalf, that same prayer which St. Paul offered for his flock at Colosse: "that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; " through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SERMON IV.

THE COMFORTS OF RELIGION.

ST. MATTHEW xi. 28.

Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I DOUBT not, my Christian brethren, that the greater part of you who hear me, feel yourselves addressed in the words which have just been read to you; I mean, that almost every one here present, may say within his own heart, "I labour and am heavy laden, and therefore shall be most happy to listen to any one, who can insure me the rest of which I stand so much in need." And I do not say this to you because I think there is any thing peculiar in your condition,-I do not say it, because I suppose that your case is worse than that of the generality of mankind,—I do not say it from having the slightest reason to believe that you are more visited by the afflictions.

and miseries of human life than the rest of your fellow creatures,-but I say it, because I am persuaded that I could say it with equal truth to any congregation that I might happen to address; because I am persuaded that there is scarcely a man who does not at times feel himself to be a poor wretched being, who requires some other consolation, some more solid happiness, than this world is able to supply him with.

Human life is of such a nature, that it does not, cannot, in itself, and from its own resources, give any thing like uninterrupted satisfaction to a single individual that possesses it. Observe, I do not say that no man is or can be contented with his condition; on the contrary, every man ought to be so, and may be So, and every religious man is so; what I assert is, that without the hopes of religion, without the expectation of a more happy state of existence in another world, life would be at times a burthen to every one; that there is not a person, who does not want something better than mere earthly happiness; that there is not a person, who could possibly be satisfied, if his whole existence were limited to the present life.

If you could enquire throughout all the dif ferent ranks, and examine every condition of life, I am sure you would find what I have said to be