faith in Christ. 66 Now," says St. Paul, "the righteousness of God, without law," independently of any personal obedience by the justified sinner to any law, "is manifested," published by the Gospel, "being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all," as a free grant, " and upon all them that believe," as their robe in which they may appear in the presence of God. He provided it, He authorizes its acceptance,

He wrought it for us, for Jesus is " Jehovah our righteousness," and He will undoubtedly accept it, for He has pledged Himself so to do.

Oh! what a theme is this for our hearts and lips to dwell on? It is the inexhaustible theme of the Gospel-ministry. (See Rom. i. 16, 17; v. 20, 21.) How overwhelming to the awakened mind are the stupendous truths clustered in the few words of St. Paul, 2 Cor. v. 21, "He" (God) "hath made Him," his only-begotten son, "to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." In these few words the Apostle sums up the subject of his embassy to a lost world, of which he had been speaking; and the message is still the same. The sinnership of Christ must be that of imputation; and such also must be the righteousness of the justified sinner.

This, my young friend, must be your theme, your inspiration, and your song;' your theme in

the pulpit, your inspiration in the study and the church, and your song now and for ever. If it be so, you will glorify God your Saviour, and bring sinners to his cross. Let the glory of Christ be ever in the eye of your mind, the uppermost desire of your heart, and the aim of all your ministrations; and then will that blessed almighty Agent, "the Spirit of Truth," whose office it is to glorify Christ, set His seal to the efforts of His servants, by rendering them effectual to the salvation of your hearers.

But there is yet a third effect of the Spirit's teaching, to which our Lord refers. This He calls "judgment "—a sentence of condemnation passed on a criminal; "Because the prince of this world is judged," is condemned to lose his usurped authority over it. This result was intimated in the original sentence passed on the serpent, and its execution is prophetically spoken of, (Rev. xx. 1, 2.) It was the object of our Lord's incarnation, sufferings and death, "to destroy the works of the Devil," (1 John iii, 8); and it is the object of the Gospel ministry "to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power," the dominion, "of Satan unto God." (Acts xxvi. 18.) This judgment began to be executed on the usurper, "the prince of this world," by the miracles of our Lord, and the preaching of His Apostles; it is still in progress by the conversion of individual subjects of his

kingdom, and it will be fulfilled when "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever," over a redeemed and regenerated world.

This third branch of the Spirit's work relates to regeneration, and the progressive process of sanctification, This is so connected with justification, that it cannot be disparted from it. The scion which is vitally united with the tree of life, derives sap from that union, and brings forth fruit-the fruits of the Spirit, whose influence is experienced in every regenerate soul. The subject must be constantly interwoven with your preaching, in order that it may be apostolic and useful. You must show that they "who have believed," will be "zealous to maintain good works,"—that this is the necessary result of that " faith which worketh by love,”an essentially different principle from a mere assent of the understanding to revealed truth. This latter human faith, or belief, stigmatized by St. James, is a lifeless persuasion produced by human causes, and leading to no spiritual effects. This is the corpse in Ezekiel's vision, in the first stage of the change described, when the form of a man had been produced, but there was no breath in it.

You must insist then, my young friend, on the work of the Spirit in all its threefold process, as necessary to make a Christian. "If any man be

in Christ he is a new creature." Give a due proportion of your attention to each part of the work, so will you be "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

U. I know not how, my dear Sir, to offer a sufficient tribute of thanks for the extensive and important information you have given me, which I hope will not prove to have been given in vain.

C. Rest assured that my humble prayers accompany, and will follow it; and that more especially when the time of your solemn dedication to the work of the ministry shall arrive.

THE END.