and holy nature? None! How much less than this will do for a soul that would be found in Christ? None! and what becomes of the soul not found in Him? "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire :"

Rev. xx, 15.

On one occasion, when about to leave him, he said, with tears, "Oh, do not be unhappy about me." I replied, "My poor friend, I am VERY unhappy about you." I received letters respecting him from different parts of the kingdom, some of which the Chaplain kindly allowed me to read to him. One of these letters was from that excellent man, the author of a precious little book, entitled the "Sinner's Friend." This book, I myself, the day after his condemnation, had enclosed to him, praying that it might be a blessing to his soul, but I know not whether he received it, as the Chaplain did not think it right that he should have too many books, lest they should rather distract than benefit him. After I had read the letter from the author of this book, Rush expressed a wish to have it, and the Chaplain giving permission I left it with him, which letter, perhaps, might cause the rumour, that in the pocket of the criminal was found a letter addressed to me. But my dear people, we have said enough of this wretched man; let us learn from his sad history some lessons for ourselves, for he being dead yet speaketh, and what does he say? he seems to declare four things, which, that you may more easily remember, I will give in four passages of Scripture:

I. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it :" Jer. xvii, 9. All who hear of the Stanfield murderer are horrified at his crimes; the vilest names have been attached to him. My spirit has been often pained by salutations of this kind. Have you seen that foul hypocrite? What do you think of that wretch? Is he not a devil incarnate? Such language does not surprise me for two reasons, men do not consider that all his black deeds were caused by one thing, a bad heart, and that their own natural heart was no better than his. What a thought! Your heart or mine left to itself is ready for any of the crimes laid to this man. Men generally dislike this doctrine; and well they may. He who alone searches the heart, and tries the reins, has written with his own finger, "the heart is desperately wicked;" and this accounts for our Lord's words, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,

murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:" Matt. xv, 19; and it is not said the heart of a Pharaoh, or a Cain, or a Judas, but the heart of man; neither does it mean the heart is wicked in part, or at some times, but every thought of it, yea the imagination of the thought, and every imagination too is evil, and only evil, and that continually: Gen. vi, 5. When, therefore, men come into the world with such a nature, and have a powerful and unwearied enemy going about seeking to excite it to action, the only wonder is that the whole world is not one scene of abomination and horror; and what prevents it from being so but the providence and grace of God. I know there are natural men who talk of their good hearts, but this speech only shews the badness of them, that they are not only desperately wicked, but deceitful; such men's hearts tell them also they have never done any thing very bad. God is too merciful to punish them, they must repent indeed, but that can be done at any time, and thus a sinful heart first deceives and then slays them. If, my dear friends, our nature be such, marvel not at the words, "Ye must be born again." Now can such a nature stand with acceptance before God on earth, or be received by Him into heaven, or how can human resolutions and exertions change such a nature, or even restrain it? No, our acceptance must be in the Beloved; we are only complete in Him: if renewed and sanctified and kept, it is only by the Holy Spirit's grace. O then, watch and pray, remembering that though of ourselves we are not sufficient even to think any thing of ourselves, our sufficiency is of God.

Let us now learn our second lesson.

II. "Be sure your sin will find you out:" Num. xxxii, 23. See how craftily this man managed his matters. He went out frequently at night, under pretence of seeking after poachers; a part of his intended path to the scene of murder was some time before strewed with straw to conceal his footmarks; most of the family and servants were sent away from the house; he goes to bed, rises at his usual hour, choses one of the darkest nights, spreads papers about the house, to deter those who would flee to give alarm, and to throw suspicion on another party; his features were disguised; the destructive weapons carefully concealed; his housekeeper is charged to say to any one inquiring about him, he was not absent more than ten minutes; he retires; and if he should be suspected, he had a tale ready about some men from London,

who had intimated to him their intention to take possession of the Stanfield estate; thus he retires to rest, thinking I may never be suspected, or if suspected, I shall not be convicted, for who shall know it? Rash, deluded man; God's eyes were upon thy ways, and He saw all thy goings. "There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves :" Job xxxiv, 21, 22. And how wonderfully did the Lord reveal his iniquity-the very woman in whom he placed confidence, is at last led to divulge the secret which condemns him, yea in his defence his judgment seems to have been taken away, and he declares his own iniquity. A man's sins do not always find him out in this life, he may live in prosperity, men may speak well of him, he may die in full strength wholly at ease, but no sooner does he enter another world than he finds "God had set his iniquities before him, his secret sins in the light of his countenance :" Psalm xc, 8. He will soon find the judgment set, the books opened, every sin exposed, yea conscience itself shall give evidence, “every one shall give account of himself to God." Are there any among us who say I have done nothing that I am afraid or ashamed of? Ah! my friends, your heart deceives you; it is leading you to look at those grosser crimes, as murder, adultery, &c., whereas, if it could possibly be, that we had never been guilty of a sinful act of omission or commission, never uttered an improper word, we might nevertheless still be lying under the wrath of God. Who will 66 say a vain thought has never lodged within me ?" the law runs thus, "the thought of foolishness is sin," "sin is the transgression of the law." "The wages of sin is death." Must not all lay their hand on their mouth, and the whole world become guilty before God? yes, "there is none righteous, no not one," and our proper cry is, "enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." Let us not then, my dear people, try to deny or lessen our guilt, for it is written, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." But let us cry to God for his Holy Spirit, to convince us of our sins; let us confess to God our guilt and misery, and embrace with gratitude the way of escape provided in the gospel. God hath laid on Jesus the iniquities of us all, and all that believe on Him are justified from all things. "Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more,"

Then

Let us in the next place learn from this history, that III. "Evil communications corrupt good manners:" 1 Cor. xv, 23. It is reported that Rush was a steady respectable character in youth, and well inclined to religion. One thing however is evident, if such were the case, he in after life took the most effectual method to corrupt his good manners. Being passionately fond of music, he joined for the sake of it with riotous companions; the ballroom then was sought to inflame his passions; the theatre and masquerade soon became places of the greatest delight; and here he was taught to work all uncleanness with greediness, and to glory in his shame: in these places was he trained for his satanic intrigues and murders; but now lest conscience should disturb him, the devil places in his hands the works of the infidel Paine; thus was he taken in the snare, from which he was never after delivered, though he seemed to make so many agonizing efforts to be free.—Solomon says, “In vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:" Proverbs i, 17. We here see that sin is a downhill road, "It increases unto more ungodliness;" "And he that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death" 2 Timothy, ii, 16, and Proverbs xi, 19. To walk in the counsel of the ungodly, leads to standing in the way of sinners, and at last sitting in the seat of the scornful. Shall not we then take warning-if sinners entice us shall we consent? Is it not written, "The companions of fools shall be destroyed?" Can a man carry fire in his bosom, and not be burnt? Can we bear the enamouring glance, the lustful look, and the immodest embrace, and our affections not be tainted? Can we gaze on the stage, view its indecencies, its intrigues, or its horrors, and listen to its foolish jests, vain songs, or impious blasphemies, and yet receive no evil influence? or again, who can read the infidel publications, the books of idle tales, or the Sunday newspaper, and his mind not be corrupted? O my dear people, if these sins present themselves, avoid them, pass not by them, turn from them, and pass away. We would not, unless obliged, go even near to a place which might bring disease to our bodies; shall we suffer ourselves, or any under our influence, to come near those things which shall infect our immortal souls? Besides, what dreadful hypocrisy to say daily, lead us not into temptation, whilst we are intending to go into it; and would be grieved if God should hear our prayer and keep us from it. Do you wish to be kept from these snares of the devil?

Cry earnestly to God "Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me." Give me to taste that love of Christ by which the world shall be crucified to me and I unto the world. The love of the world is scorched up by the love of God in Christ. Are you entangled in these snares and longing for deliverance? "Lose no time to deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler." "Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids." Every fresh indulgence is adding a fresh cord to bind you to sin, to harden your heart, sear your conscience, quench the Spirit, and damn your soul. There is great encouragement to such, for they have God on their side. says "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." "If God then be for us, who can be against us?" Yea his dear Son came for the purpose "to deliver us from this present evil world." Let such then with holy purpose of heart, endeavour, and call in against the strong man armed, the stronger than he; and the soul that so lately cried in agony "who shall deliver me," shall sing the Apostle's song of triumph, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

He

IV. There is yet another lesson taught us by the speaking blood of this extraordinary man, it says “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?" 2 Cor. xiii, 5. When we see a man coming to the house of God so many miles, so constantly, joining with us so devoutly, listening so attentively, weeping so bitterly, partaking of the Lord's supper, having family prayer, reading the Bible, and ever ready to talk of its contents, yea, changing his conduct for a time: I say when we see a character of this kind, at last walking in the mire of iniquity, dying and perishing in his guilt, we have need to be jealous of ourselves; some take it for granted all is right with them; others compare themselves with their former selves, or their neighbours, or only partially by the word of God, or by their feelings; but such are not wise, the Apostle here gives us the proper test, "If Christ Jesus be not in you, ye are reprobates;" however far we may go in appearance, if Christ is not in us, we are reprobates, and if God's Spirit should be provoked to take his final departure from