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it said, persons of influential rank and station, who profess a religion to which Popery and Dissent are alike abhorrent, contribute such means as they possess, influence and money, and their personal presence, towards the propagation of principles which the apostolic church, and the Word of God, alike pronounce to be detestable and impious!

To each individual, then, among you, I address the words of exhortation which St. Paul addressed to Timothy, and which are contained in our text. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

In conclusion, therefore, and in compliance with this truly divine and apostolic advice, I deem it my duty to caution all against the seductive arts of such evil men as would lead you astray, and endeavour to persuade you to leave the religion of your forefathers, and follow after a doctrine of which, whatever be its precise nature, you know nothing, except that it is based upon the folly and presumption of man. In describing such seducers as evil men, I use but the language of an apostle, and though the expression be an harsh one, yet do I apply it as I have already shewn, as he himself applied it, without, as I humbly trust and conscientiously believe, being influenced by any uncharitable

or unchristian-like feeling. And this, moreover, I do in obedience to those instructions which are equally applicable to every minister of the gospel. Such men as these, however, agreeably to that feeling of charity which hopeth all things, and which all who are more or less sinful in the sight of God should entertain for each other, are, I am willing to believe, deceived as they deceive others. They are, indeed, ignorant of the extent of their sin. I cannot, however, close my eyes to the well known and well attested truth, that "ignorance is the root of all evil;" and if ignorance were to be pleaded at the bar of Divine Justice, the greatest sinner might hope to escape punishment. All, therefore, brethren, that you and I can do, and this indeed ought we to do most perseveringly, is to pray that the eyes of such "evil men and seducers" may be opened lest they "wax worse and worse;" that their darkness may be enlightened; that they may see their error, and that their footsteps may be directed in the ways of righteousness and in the paths of peace.

But while we thus interest ourselves in behalf of our misguided brethren, it is incumbent that we keep a strict watch over ourselves, lest we fall into the "snare" in which they have been entrapped. Let it therefore, brethren, be your earnest prayer that God will vouchsafe to you his Holy Spirit, so that you might resist that evil spirit who, though invisible to mortal eyes, is, nevertheless, at all times wandering to and fro, “like a roaring lion seeking

whom he might devour;" that you might fully appreciate and clearly understand the invaluable blessings which you may enjoy as conscientious members of a church of apostolic institution, of which Christ is the chief corner stone; based upon the word of God—the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And with such inestimable blessings, brethren, be thankful, not with your lips only, but likewise with your lives. By such means will you obtain infinitely more happiness than man can offer: by such means will you set at nought the frowns and miseries of the world: by such means will you experience a foretaste of the joys of Heaven, even before you become surrounded by their full meridian splendour: by such means will life be enjoyed and death disregarded, or at least viewed as a distant barrier, impenetrable indeed to mortal ken, yet as one which opens to an incomprehensible immensity of space, and happiness, and life; to a spiritual and eternal sunshine; to the kingdom of Heaven itself, where Christ is already seated at the right hand of God, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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SERMON XIV.

MELCHISEDEC A TYPE OF CHRIST.

HEBREWS, vii. 1, 2, 3.

"For this Melchisedec, king of -Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of Peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."

THE Epistle to the Hebrews was addressed by the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews or Jews resident in Palestine, who had become converts to the religion of Christ. It was intended to confirm them in the new faith by means of sundry arguments drawn from the Scriptures of the Old Testament, which they received as of divine origin. These arguments are founded on prophecies respecting our Saviour,

which St. Paul maintained to have been fulfilled in the person of Christ, and on the Jewish sacrifices and services, and even the construction of the temple, which, as St. Paul explains, meant nothing in themselves, but were clearly and indisputably typical of Jesus Christ and the religion which originated in Him.

There is, however, an argument of a nature distinct from any of these, which is implied in the words of our text, inasmuch as it refers to an event which indeed is recorded in the Old Testament, but which is neither a direct prophecy concerning Christ, nor has it any connection with the Jewish religion. It is recorded in the fourteenth chapter of the book of Genesis, where, on the return of Abraham from the rescue of Lot his kinsman, Melchisedec is represented to have gone to meet Abraham, and as a priest of the Most High God to have blessed him. Melchisedec is here likewise styled "King of Salem," that is, of Jerusalem, as it was called in after ages, which became the residence of King David, and the capital of his dominions, as soon as he had wrested it from the hands of the Jebusites".

In the 110th Psalm the Royal Psalmist expresses himself thus in respect of a very extraordinary Personage: "The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." The argument, therefore, of St. Paul in the text was precisely according to a proa 2 Samuel, v. 7—9.

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