are"

faith in the one Sacrifice for sin? And are you now living with the holy circumspection of men who feel they are "not their own," because they bought with a price," and should therefore glorify God with their body and with their spirit, which are his?" Too many among us, I fear, must at once answer, 'No: we have no such feelings, and have undergone no such change!' But why have you not? Is it that Christ has never demanded, or that he does not merit, this at your hand? Or, is the claim acknowledged indeed, but its fulfilment postponed to a more convenient season? What! can you too soon become his property, share his love, and in virtue thereof have all things yours? Oh, shake off this delusion! Trifle no more! No longer "forsake your own mercies!" Come to Christ, as a guilty, but not despairing, sinner. He will 'pour upon you the riches of his grace—he will sanctify and bless you: "yea, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" with him.

2. Some of you—many, I trust-have already drawn nigh to God in Christ, and have "tasted that he is gracious." To them I would say

Are" all things" indeed " yours?" Then what one thing is there, concerning which you have the slightest occasion to be anxious? The case out of which the words of our text grew, was a very strong one: it was no less than this, that some Corinthians derived a benefit, as they sup

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posed, from one faithful preacher, which they did not get from another, though he was equally faithful. Yet a preference, even from motives like this, is here censured as a glorying in men." Now the same fault is committed in every case, wherein we expect, from specific instrumental causes, that which (come whence it may) is only God's gift. Are "all things yours?" Then trouble not yourselves concerning the quarter from which the benefit is to arise. Your estate is

too ample, for you ever to be in want. In every emergency apply to Christ, as the Trustee under whose management it is placed, and you shall be duly supplied. He will indeed take his own time and way for blessing you; but a blessing, most assuredly, every act of his will prove to be. The more you leave your affairs at his disposal, the oftener will you have cause to make David's thankful acknowledgment-" All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."

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SERMON V.

LUKE VIII. 11–15.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way-side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no root; which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

para

THE Sower and his Seed' is one of those 6 bles, of which our Lord, at the request of his disciples, gave his own explanation. We are therefore not left to speculate concerning its design. We have only to bring it home, by faith

ful self-application, to our hearts and consciences; and to pray that its Divine Author would make it profitable to us " for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness."

There is, indeed, within the compass of these few verses, a word in season for us all. The Preacher himself is not excepted. If he would reap, so as to "receive wages, and gather fruit unto life eternal;" if he would "both save himself, and them that hear him;" he is here reminded of the necessity of rightly choosing his seed. It is not the word of Man which he is to publish it is not the authority of his Church which he is to enforce-it is not his own deductions from the reason and fitness of things, which he is to lay before the people committed to his care. He has but one seed to sow -there is but one seed which can prosper; and that seed" is the word of God.”

Remembering, moreover, by whom this declaration was made, the Preacher will not fail to perceive in what sense he intended it to be understood. "The word of God," in the lips of our Saviour Jesus Christ, must mean, "the Gospel of his grace." And this is no limitation, no narrowing of the term. The whole book of God's revelation is "the Gospel." Whether it take the form of commands, threatenings, promises, or narrative, it is all good news to guilty man; who, without such a revelation, would have had no prospect before him but of gloomy and hope

less despair. Nevertheless, there is one point, round which the whole circle of revelation turns as its centre; and the Preacher, wherever his instructions may begin, must constantly be leading his hearers to that one point. "The word which God sent to the children of Israel," was a word "preaching peace by Jesus Christ," and declaring Him to be "Lord of all." And that is "the word of God" which we must sow among you. Pray for us, brethren, that we may never be tempted to make use of any other than this genuine, this incorruptible seed."

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While, however, all are interested in this parable, it is evident that the Hearers of the word of God are the parties for whose instruction it was primarily designed. You observe that it contains four descriptions of such hearers. The counterpart of each description was doubtless found among the multitudes who followed our Lord; nor is it to be questioned, that every congregation of professing Christians is made up of similar characters. My duty will be to place the several points of the description in so clear a light, that each individual among you may, by the blessing of God, know himself.

I. "A Sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, SOME FELL BY THE WAYSIDE; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it."-Now, hear our Lord's