SERMON II.

DELIVERED BY ELIAS HICKS IN FRIEND'S MEETING HOUSE, HESTER-STREET, NEW-YORK; FIRST DAY AFTERNOON, THE 8TH OF FIFTH MONTH, 1825.

WHILST sitting in this meeting, the tenden

cy of the declaration of Jesus to his followers has been strongly brought to my mind, wherein he certified to them that without him they could do nothing. It brought to my rembrance likewise, what he said concerning the Comforter, whom he declared his Father would send, and who should abide with them for ever. He had said to them a great many things which they had not realized, and which consequently had been of no use to them. Nor could they be useful unto them, until brought to their recollec tion by his spiritual operation; for which whilst with them, outwardly they could look no higher. To believe in him in his outward manifestation, was the highest ascent of their minds. Hence, there were many things which they could not comprehend until the veil of his body was re

moved. They could not understand the gospel until that event took place; for they were under the law and limited to that manifestation. But many things were important for them to understand, when the period of his sojourning on earth was accomplished.

I need not rehearse what this assembly has undoubtedly read and understood-that it was necessary that he should go away, in order to remove the veil, and to enable the people to behold the light of the Son of God, the Comforter. But who was this Comforter, my friends? It was not an outward and external one, but an inward and spiritual revelation to the soul. Under the old dispensation the Lord visited his people, saved them from sickness, and enabled them to see and enjoy the promised land. This was outward, and typical of what was to come. But under the gospel dispensation it all relates to the soul, and there is no matter about it. The Comforter is altogether spiritual, and it was promised that when he came he should open and reveal to them those things which had not been made manifest. A mystery is like a nonentity until it is revealed, and therefore a revelation was necessary. Secret things belong unto God, but the things that are revealed belong unto us and our children forever; and this brought to

my mind what Jesus said on this subject; as laying the foundation of the little which I would say to this large assembly, and as showing the object and reward of what I wished to recommend to them, which is a life of righteousness.

Righteousness is necessary to religion, for religion without righteousness is nothing, and worse than nothing. Religion and righteousness are really the same thing, and how beautifully is this shown to us, in Christ's sermon on the mount! It makes the way easy and plain, and none, unless wilfully, not even the way-faring man, though a fool, can err therein. The real doctrines of the gospel are very unpleasant to the children of men, whilst in their natural state. They can perceive no beauty nor comeliness in them; but the soul that really delights in God, is also delighted with his gospel. He is ready to give up his own will to the will of God, and rejoices in a life of righteousness. It is such, and such only, as these, whom he chooses to anoint with the oil of gladness above their fellows. What was the answer when the question was put concerning the first and great commandment? It was to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The Almighty was to have no competitor in the heart; but

this exclusive love to God is never known to a selfish mind.

The next commandment is to love our neighbour as ourselves. How plain and clear is this! -and who can but love it, that delights in righteousness! It is a hard saying to those that disbelieve. But self must be crucified and slain. All which becomes an idol is to be given up to the moles and the bats; and all who prefer themselves to others, must subject their wills to the will of the Lord. But look over the professing Christian world. Where is the possessor of righteousnes? And how prevailing is selfishness! Under the influence of selfishness we cannot comply with the commands of God. By rejecting it we are brought into a condition not to prefer ourselves; and this is the true charity that the apostle speaks of. The charity of the gospel teaches us not to build up ourselves on the ruins of others, or to prefer our own good to theirs. This is the peculiar property of that charity which "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"-of that charity which never faileth, and which brings the soul into communion with God Almighty. It introduces it into the band of pure love, from which nothing can separate it, "neither life, nor death, nor angels,

nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature." Neither shall we be separated from Christ if we comply with his commands. His will was in conformity with the will of his Heavenly Father, and bound up in the same bundle of life and light. He was made Son of Man that he might be made Son of God. The children of men wanted a perfect example. They were brought into discouragement, and he came forth and showed them that they might attain this life by living according to the manifestation of God's will, subjecting themselves to his commands, depending upon his power, and in this way living a life of righteousness. It is by his blessed example that we must be judged, for he showed us the way of righteousness by his doctrine and testimony, and sealed it with his blood. Unless we follow this example, our case may be fatal. How many Babel-builders are there now in Christendom, erecting towers, the tops of which they intend shall reach to Heaven! But those who build by the letter are dead, for the letter always killeth, to the true life and righteousness of the gospel. In this tower they collect the best materials of earthly wisdom, like the sons of Noah who had brick for stone and slime