niences of a humble lot in life will not make him dissatisfied or sad. If cross or distressing circumstances arise, he goes to his best and only friend in trouble; lifts up his heart to Him in prayer; and has comfort sent to him from the mercy-seat of GOD; and when "the end of all things" is actually come upon him, he lays his head upon his dying pillow in peace; and, like Saint Stephen, gently" falls asleep," knowing, that through the merits of his Redeemer, and the mercy of his GOD, he shall awaken in the kingdom of heaven.

SERMON XXX.

[For Whit-Sunday.]

JOHN xiv. 27.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give

T

unto you.

HERE is not a more solemn, or affecting part of the New Testament, than the discourse of JESUS to his disciples, at his last supper, and the prayer with which he finished it; as recorded in the thirteenth, and four following chapters of the gospel of St. John. They may be considered, indeed, as containing a short view of the whole of the religion which we profess; all its great doctrines, and important commandments; and what is still more delightful, perhaps, to those "whose consciences by sin are

"accused," the most comfortable views of the mercy of GOD, in CHRIST JESUS Our LORD; and the most cheering promises of grace and assistance from our blessed Redeemer, to strengthen us frail and unsteady creatures in the performance of our christian duty, and under the innumerable trials and temptations which are continually assaulting us from the world, the flesh, and the devil. The text contains a blessed promise of this kind from JESUS CHRIST himself; in which he declares to every one who has a firm faith in him, and is willing to become his disciple in deed and earnest, by keeping his commandments, that he will give to him his peace; or in other words, impart that comfort of soul, which the holy gospel, and that alone, is able to bestow.

You are sensible, my friends, that we, as well as all mankind, are anxiously desirous of happiness; and that we try to obtain it by a thousand different ways. You are also aware, that, for the most part, we are disappointed in our search after it, and, after all our labour, are obliged to confess, that our endeavours have ended in vanity and vexation of spirit. Now, the reason of our being thus baffled in our pursuit after peace of mind, is sufficiently clear, to a person of any thought or reflection; it is this because

we seek it, where it is because we go to the

not to be found; world, instead of

JESUS CHRIST, for it; because we listen to our corrupt passions, and perverse inclinations, and follow their directions, rather than the means pointed out in the everlasting gospel to obtain it. This is the cause,

why such multitudes of human beings are crying out, with dissatisfied and unhappy hearts, "who will thew us any good?" and, having tried all the plans of happiness, which the world can afford them, are constantly looking round upon these unsatisfactory means, and saying, "miserable comfort"ers are ye all." The text, however, points. out a different road to comfort. It offers to us something real, substantial, and everlasting; something that will satisfy all our desires; and abide with us both in time, and through eternity: "peace I leave with ແ you, my peace I give unto you."

In discoursing on these words; I shall, first, more particularly explain to you the nature of that peace, which our blessed Saviour thus promises to the righteous and faithful followers of his gospel; and, secondly, point out to you in what manner it is to be obtained.

In the first place, then, the peace promised by our Saviour, and which is, actually,