the Proffered Love of CHRIST, and closed their ears against the Gracious Voice of Salvation !- Our Blessed SAVIOUR had Forewarned All to be ready; for (Said He) The SON of Man Cometh (to Judgment) at an hour when ye think not; Adding, Blessed are those Servants, whom The LORD, when He Cometh, shall Find watching-Luke xii. 40, 37. St. Peter also thus added his Apostolic forewarning, saying, The Day of The LORD will Come as a Thief in the night, in the Which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat; the Earth also, and the Works that are therein, shall be burned up; and the Apostle then gives this impressive admonition, which we shall risk our Everlasting Interest, if we do not take to heart, and suffer systematically to influence our conduct and occupy much of our contemplations, Seeing, then, that All These Things shall be dissolved, what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for, and hasting unto the Coming of the Day of GOD; Wherein the Heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat! thus reiterating the awful Visitation; and the Apostle then offers to Believers in The Incarnate SAVIOUR's Gracious Intercession this consolation and encouragement, Nevertheless we, according to His Promise, look for New Heavens and a new Earth, Wherein dwelleth Righteousness: concluding thus, Wherefore, Beloved, seeing that ye look for such Things, be diligent, that ye may be Found of Him in Peace, without spot, and blameless; and seeing ye know These Things before, beware lest ye, being led away with the error of the Wicked, fall from your own steadfastness! But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and SĂVIOUR JESUS CHRIST! To Him be Glory, both now and for Ever!-2 Pet. iii. 10 to 14, 17, 18. See also Rev. xvi. 15.

VERSES 4 to 10.-But ye, Brethren, are not in darkness, that that Day should overtake you as a Thief. Ye are all the Children of Light, and the Children of the Day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness: therefore let us not sleep, as do Others; but let us watch and be sober! For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night: but let us, who are of the Day, be sober; putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of Salvation: for GOD hath not Appointed us to Wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who Died for us; that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

The assurance which the Apostle, with the Spirit of penetration as well as of Inspiration richly Imparted to him, gave, that The Gospel Light had truly Dawned upon his Thessalonian Correspondents, and had Flashed conviction of Its Truth and Power on the hearts of Many, was a testimony to them of the full conviction thereof in his pre-eminently Gifted Soul, and an encouragement to them, as it is Graciously to us, to hold fast by Such Truth, and to cherish and retain a lively faith in The DIVINE Revelation, Which thus Brought Eternal Life and Immortal Glory to light, and Dispelled the chilling and appalling fears of Death and Judgment, which Heathenism, in its varied superstitions, could not escape from. In proportion as the Blessedness of the Invitation from our SAVIOUR-GOD to Eternal Holiness and Happiness is thus Mercifully and Benevolently Extended to us, should we, in adoption of the Apostle's exhortation, be both watchful and sober: yet with the patience that becometh the hope of Salvation, which is held out to all Believers in The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, through His Propitiating Merits and Mediation, and The DIVINE Promise of Pardon and Reconciliation, and an Adoption to an Inheritance with the Saints in Light and Glory Founded Thereon. And let our watchfulness be evidenced by the Preparation of The Gospel of Peace; the breastplate of faith and love being ever upon us, and the helmet of the hope of Salvation being upon our head; so that the Enemy of our immortal Souls may find every vital part within

us fortified against his assailments! And may we evince a disposition to manifest, on every opportunity, the leading and active characteristic of Christian charity, love towards Such, who have been beguiled by the wiles and artifices of Satan, and are in Spiritual darkness, and on the confines of everlasting misery and despair, through ignorance or unbelief, in danger of being eternally separated from the Love of CHRIST, and the Glory of The DIVINE Presence! And well may such patience be unweariedly exercised, and such fortitude perseveringly exemplified, when the fruit thereof will be, to the truly Faithful Champion in The Great REDEEMER's Cause, the unspeakable and inconceivable Privilege of being in Perpetual Communion with the Beatified Glory of The Great CAPTAIN of Salvation, in the Mansions of Everlasting Peace and Blessedness, and amid Scenes of the most exquisite delight and joyfulness; of which St. Paul had but a faint conception, when he acknowledged to have himself seen in the Third Heavens unutterable Things. This Merciful escape from the darkness of the Soul through The DAY-STAR from On High, Which Arose upon us in the Advent of The MESSIAH, the Apostle St. John thus practically dwells upon, A New Commandment I write unto you, which Thing is true in CHRIST JÉSUS and in you; because the Darkness is past, and the True Light now Shineth: he that saith he is in the Light, and hateth his Brother, is in darkness even until now: he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him; but he that hateth his Brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes-1 John ii. 8 to 11. In whatever previous darkness we may have been, as we are now Light in The LORD, let us walk as Children of Light!-Eph. v. 8. Our SAVIOUR's Parable of the wise and unwise Virgins, in reference to His Sudden Appearance to the Church as His Spouse, and the awful Fate, that irreclaimably awaited the unwise Ones, will be obvious to our recollection in Its Application-Matt. xxv. 1 to 13. The Apostle Paul again beautifully but forcibly illustrates the Same Salutary Doctrine, of being prepared to meet our GOD, in the xiii. chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, 11 to 14. St. Peter also again inculcates the same essential principle of wariness, saying, Be sober, be vigilant! because your Adversary the Devil, as a roaring Lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith!-1 Pet. v. 8, 9. The Evangelical Prophet had foreboded the Appendages of Sanctity, that The Incarnate GOD, as MEDIATOR between GOD and Man, would be Clad in-namely, that He would Put on Righteousness as a Breastplate, and an Helmet of Salvation upon His Head; and the Garments of Vengeance for Clothing, and be Clad with Zeal as a Cloak-Isaiah lix. 17. And with such a breastplate, and such a helmet, and such a cloak, it behoves us to seek, through the supplicated Grace of The SPIRIT, as the First- Fruits of CHRIST's Righteousness and Merits Interposed on our behalf, to be fortified against the temptations of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. And we have the Comforting Assurance that GOD, Who hath not Appointed us to Wrath, and Delighteth not in the death of a Sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live, will not Leave us destitute, if we flee unto Him with reverential fear and holy love; but will, with The SON of His Love, Whom He hath in Such Wondrous Mercy Given to us, with Him Freely Give us all Things necessary to Salvation and Sanctification unto Eternal Life and Heavenly Blessedness. In the like confidence and glory of exultation, through a right faith and accordant practice and self-appropriation, may we be Brought to feel and acknowledge, with Christian humility, nevertheless, that whether we live, we live unto The LORD; and whether we die, we die unto The LORD; so that whether we live therefore, or die, we may be The LORD's at His Coming to Judgment!

Rom. xiv. 8, 9. Let us therefore henceforth sedulously study to live, not unto ourselves, but unto Him, Which Died for our Pardon, and Rose again for our Justification2 Cor. v. 15.

VERSES 11 to 13.-Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify One Another, even as also ye do! And we beseech you, Brethren, to know them, which labour among you, and are over you in The LORD, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake! And be at peace among yourselves.

Hence, as the Apostle had himself experienced the Consolation of that Hope, which maketh not ashamed, but imparteth a Peace, that the World can neither give nor take away, and of which the Unspiritualized heart hath no understanding, so doth he encourage and exhort the Professors and Disciples of The Gospel of CHRIST JESUS to cherish uniformly and influentially that Soul-sustaining and animating feeling; and not only does he thus point the true way to the possession of inward peace and onward hope, which are the Soul's richest treasure in its individual experience, but in the exercise of that faith, which worketh by love and universal charity, he admonishes to extend that beneficent influence to Others, and to labour to produce in their minds and to embue their hearts with the Truths, the Promises, and the Hopes of Gospel Revelation; for the true Spirit of Christianity can never wrap itself in selfishness, but is ever making or studying to make efforts towards extending the self-experienced delights and benefits Thereof to be the possession also of Others, and would willingly, at any sacrifice of toil or trouble, seek to bring All, as one Band of Brotherhood, to become Fellow-Heirs of the Glories in CHRIST JESUS. The Apostle then, in the commending character of so beneficent a Supplicant, seeks to excite the feeling of reverential gratitude towards those, who are most prominent in their Christian Calling, and are striving, by the exercise of a faithful ministration, to win Souls to CHRIST, and thus to raise Others from darkness to Light, from death unto Eternal Life, and unto Communion with Holiness, and consequently with Perfect and Exhaustless Happiness; that their counsel may be received gladly, whether it be for reproof or for exhortation, or for consolation and holy joy. Such indeed should be justly esteemed; for what labour can be so praiseworthy and so truly beneficial, as that which perseveres in the Christian Calling and Ministry, in a spirit such as St. Paul manifested from the hour of his conversion to the instant of his death. And as The SON of GOD Descended to the Adoption of our Nature in order to Speak Peace, and to Diffuse its peculiarly social blessings amongst the Human Race, so should it be a prevailing object with all, who profess and call themselves Christians, to preach peace, and be at peace with all; being that disposition which is in close alliance with that of the Spirits in Heaven. Our first object should be, to be at peace with GOD, Who is ever Ready to Speak to our Souls, through The SON of His Love, The Very PRINCE of Peace; and then, experiencing as we shall do the otherwise inconceivable delight of the hope and joy, that emanate therefrom to every true Believer in CHRIST JESUS, we should strive earnestly to bring Others to a participation in such blessed and blissful habits, exhibiting the fruits thereof in ourselves, so as to induce to the continual interchange of peace and holy fellowship.- -In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the same admonition to shew respect and thankfulness to the Office of Gospel Ministration is thus feelingly and impressively enforced, Remember them, which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of GOD; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, JESUS CHRIST, The Same yesterday, and to day and for ever! And again, Obey them, which have the rule over you, and submit yourselves! for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give account, that they may do

it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you-Heb. xiii. 7, 8, 17.- -Our SAVIOUR's Admonition, amongst the many Calls to the Ways of Pleasantness in Righteousness and True Holiness, was, Have peace One with Another !-Mark ix. 50-as indeed was that of His Inspired Prototype, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel, his counsel being to seek peace and pursue it; and in harmony with this Soul-sustaining and rejoicing influence, the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews urges his Readers, to follow peace with all Men, and holiness; without which (he adds) no Man shall see The LORD-Heb. xii. 14.

VERSES 14, 15.-Now we exhort you, Brethren, warn them, that are unruly; comfort the feebleminded; support the weak; be patient toward all Men! See that none render evil for evil unto any Man, but ever follow that, which is good, both among yourselves, and to all Men. And here the Apostle enlarges upon the duties of the Christian Ministry; and as the sense of sin, and its profitable consequence, repentance, should be the first objects of inward self-observance, so should they be the leading doctrines to inculcate and enforce upon Others, on whom we would that the Soul-cheering influence of Pardon and Reconciliation should be Visited-Warn them that are unruly! To be unruly is to be self-willed, presumptuous, impatient of contradiction and of restraint; a disposition, which, in the unsanctified state of Human Nature, too often manifests itself, in a greater or less degree,even in earliest infancy, and unless then checked by the most judicious management, and sought to be regulated by Christian principle and Christian example, grows with the animal life and strengthens with the animal strength, so as in maturer life to become so violent and ungovernable as to spread confusion and dismay around, and to baffle even the most Christian and persevering efforts to curb and subdue it. But still is it incumbent on all, who feel the inestimable value of the peace which penitence invariably brings if founded on a Christian basis, to urge, and in the spirit of unwearied love and kindred charity, to admonish Others, who reject the wholesome discipline of The Gospel, of the awful and inevitable fate that awaits such rejection, and to caution them in every season of favourable opportunity against continuing in sin, lest the Day of Grace and Salvation should close for ever upon them, and the lot of the Unrighteous should be theirs in Eternity. But in proportion as by every means, suited to the character and habits of the openly Rebellious, whether by solicitation, or reproof, or the terrors of DIVINE Justice Impending over them, we should seek their conversion, should we hold out the right-hand of Fellowship, and administer Spiritual comfort to the Meek and Humble-minded, by the Blessed Legacy of Consolation and Peculiar Encouragement Left them by our Blessed SAVIOUR-Come unto Me All ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will Give Rest unto your Souls!-Matt. xi. 28; and, Blessed are the Meek and the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is The Kingdom of Heaven Matt. v. 5, 3. Thus too, in the patience with which we are exhorted to possess our own Souls, amidst the hopes and Consolations of The Gospel Influence and Its Blessed Promises, may we uniformly exhibit it outwardly in our Lives and conversation thus suffering Patience to have its perfect work, after the Example of That Pattern of all Perfection, The Incarnate SON of GOD, Who Endured unto the end. The caution to render not evil for evil is in consonance to our SAVIOUR's Doctrine, to love our Enemies, and to do good to them that despitefully use and persecute us-Matt. v. 44; a principle, how at variance with the ferocity and revengefulness of the natural heart of Man and when yielded to, how manifesting a Heavenward Spirit, in a desire not to withhold mercy and forgiveness; and not only not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.In the figurative language of the Writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we are called upon to lift up the hands that hang down,

and the feeble knees-Heb. xii. 12; as characteristic of weakness in faith, and wavering in practice, of those who, under a sense of their load of sin and past unholiness, all but despair of experiencing the Mercy of GOD, notwithstanding the acknowledged Merits and Intercession of His Incarnate SON. Such are indeed amongst the feeble-minded, unto whom the Omnipotence of Grace, as Purchased for All, who will gratefully accept It, is Insured by the Costly Sacrifice Made in The DIVINE Adoption of our Human Nature, in Atonement for all repented-of and forsaken sin. And,as St. Paul elsewhere admonishes, those that are strong (in the faith) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak-Rom. xv. 1; remembering the admonition of the same Divinely-Gifted Follower of JESUS, To walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith they are Called, with all lowliness and meekness; with long-suffering; forbearing One Another in love; endeavouring to keep the Unity of The SPIRIT in the bond of peace-Eph. iv. 1 to 3. Amongst the wise sayings of the wise Son of David is this caution, in reference to Such as may have done unjustly or oppressively by us, Say not thou, I will recompense evil!-Prov. xx. 22. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the Man according to his work!-Prov. xxiv. 29. St. Peter's faithful exhortation, after the Peace-bearing Doctrine of his Adored MASTER, was, Be ye all of one mind, having compassion One of Another; love as Brethren; be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing! knowing that ye are thereunto Called, that ye should inherit a Blessing: for (adds the Apostle) he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile; let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it! for the Eyes of The LORD are over the Righteous, and His Ears are Open unto their prayers; but the Face of The LORD is against them that do evil-1 Pet. iii. 8 to 12. And as we have opportunity, let us do good unto All-Gal. vi. 10. VERSES 16 to 18.-Rejoice evermore! Pray without ceasing! In every thing give thanks; for This is the Will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you.

And what can exceed, or in any near degree equal the cause for unceasing joyfulness, which the real Christian's hope inspires, pointing, as it ever does, or should do, to an Eternity of Being, and an Eternity of the Purest Blessing in the contemplation and developement and experience of DIVINE Love, and a Communion with The AUTHOR and DISTRIBUTOR of It, The Glorified SAVIOUR of Souls. To Others of his Correspondents the Apostle wrote in the same Soul-enlivening strain, Rejoice in The LORD alway; and again I say, Rejoice!-Phil. iv. 4: in order that it might not be supposed that he had hastily, or only under momentary influences and self-experience called for the entertainment and manifestation of such feeling generally, but that he did so deliberately and advisedly, and under the deepest possible conviction that such heartfelt and enduring delight would assuredly follow in the train, and as an inevitable consequence of the cherishing a right faith in, and a true love for CHRIST.To pray without ceasing implies the possessing and cherishing a prayerful spirit; to have the Soul brought impressively to a consciousness of the Omnipresence of THE DEITY, and a submission of the heart and will to the Appointments and supplicated Guidance of The SPIRIT of Grace: it is not to be loud or long in public exhibition of outward prayer, but for the Soul to be full of calm and hopeful and joyful and faithful aspirations to The MOST HIGH; inwardly asking, in meekness and determined submission to The Revealed Word of GOD, for the Promptings of His HOLY SPIRIT, in effect saying, Grant the Light of Thy Truth; an insight into Thy Grace; and purify the motive, which may lead me to do or not to do that, which presents itself! And in considering