by introducing this light matter. I introduce it, to make way for a more striking illustration.

You are sensible, as politicians-(for all republi cans are politicians,) that you feel a deep interest in, and have a high estimation for, a republican form of government. We look back with enthusiastic emotion, and reflect upon the price it cost us; and we forget not the hardships that our forefathers endured in achieving our liberty. Now, I ask, does this government exist without a judgment seat? I do not particularly refer to the judicial statutes-but to the tone of public feeling and sentiment. Would any public politician dare to speak in favour of a monarchy, or of aristocracy? No; because he is amenable to public sentiment; and he knows that he would be brought before the bar of public opinion, and that, at that judgment seat, he would be condemned.

In the light of the foregoing illustrations, I desire the hearer to understand distinctly, that no one can become acquainted with Christianity, without being amenable to the law of Christ, which is written in the heart; and that the law of Christ constitutes his judgment seat.

The question now arises-What is the law of Christ? In answering this question, we shall find his judgment seat. The law of Christ is, that we shall love our enemies, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. This is the law to which our lawgiver was himself obedient. He gave himself, the just for the unjust, that he might bring them to God. The law of Christ requires every Christian to exert all his powers for the benefit of his fellow men. It teaches him, that he must

not hate, either his neighbour or his enemy; but love them both.-Every precept that Jesus enjoined, was with him a principle of action. Hearken to the benign precept which fell from his lips: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." And there is such a sense of this religious obligation in the minds of all Christians, that they are ashamed, if they are detected in acting contrary to this law.

Paul had passed through the ordeal, represented by the judgment seat. He was brought before the judgment seat of Christ. Behold him on his way to Damascus, with authority to destroy the disciples. of our Lord. He was met by our Saviour. No sheriff was sent to arrest him. The simple question was put, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"-How kindly was this question asked! and yet it brought the persecutor to the judgment seat of Christ! He himself says: "I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." He was apprehended, and tried, and condemned, and slain, by the simple question of the Master! "Why persecutest thou me?" Can a reason be given for this? Yes: he felt the force and power of divine truth that accompanied the question; and he could not resist it. "Who art thou, Lord?" "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." A very mild way of proceeding with a judgment; but it had the desired effect. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And Paul says, in the verse following our text, "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we ARE made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." And it may be pro

per to remark, that the original word here translated manifest, is rendered appear, in the text. And every one, who is brought to the light and knowledge of the gospel, must appear, or be made manifest, at the judgment seat of Christ, in the same way.

I will endeavour more fully to illustrate my meaning, by referring to a few particulars.-Our blessed Saviour declared, that those who loved father or mother, wife or children, houses or lands, more than him, were not worthy of him. Christians are obliged to try themselves by this rule. Do you love any thing more than you love Christ? If you do, you are not worthy of him, and you stand condemned before his judgment seat. To love those around us, is commendable; but nothing should be allowed to alienate our affections from our Redeemer. We are required to become his disciples, to espouse his cause, and to follow him through evil report, and through good-and yet there are thousands who do not obey these requirements, although they acknowledge them to be reasonable and just. The vain excuses of men for neglecting the invitation of the Saviour, are set forth in the parable of the supper. One said, "I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused." A third said, "I have married a wife, and therefore cannot come." He did not even pray to be excused.-Now, whoever has heard the invitations of our Lord, and understands the nature, and acknowledges the justice of his requirements, and yet fails to comply with them, stands condemned

before the judgment seat of Christ. In this manner, and at this judgment seat, the professions of men are tested. They who love any thing more than they love Christ, are not worthy of him.

Again. Our Saviour said, "With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged." When the Jews. brought the woman who had been taken in adultery, and desired to know of Jesus what his judgment concerning her was, our blessed Lord used the following language: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." This was the judgment seat of Christ. And the accusers felt the power and force of our Master's decision. "Being convicted by their own conscience," by their. own sense of the justice of his judgment, "they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last." In this way, and at this bar, the judgment of our Lord is pronounced. He who ventures to bring accusations against his fellow men, must beware lest he fall into condemnation himself. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do even so to them." This is the law of Christand this law constitutes his judgment seat.

Again. Doctrines must be tested by bringing them to the judgment seat of Christ. Our Saviour said, "What man is there of you, whom, if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?" Look at the judgment seat formed by this testimony:-God is much better to mankind than parents are to their children. Can any doctrine be

true that stands opposed to this statement? No. Can any doctrine be true which supposes that God either hates or will ever eternally torment any of his creatures? No. Is there a parent in the wide world, who could be brought to such a state of enmity against his offspring, as to throw them into eternal flames? God forbid! This, then, is the judgment seat before which the doctrines of men must appear. And every doctrine that does not square with the laws and the precepts of Christ, must and will come to nought. And, thanks be to God! the light of the gospel is progressing; and the human intellect is becoming enlightened; and men are becoming more and more philanthropic; and the doctrines which represent God as the enemy of his creatures, are consequently fast sinking into oblivion. They have been tried at the judgment seat of Christ; and they have been condemned.

My hearers, let us submit every thing to the judg ment seat of Jesus. Let us ever stand before his bar. Let our professions, our feelings, our conduct, our doctrines, be tried by his law. Let every one propose the questions to his own heart, Are my feelings and motives consistent with the directions. of the Saviour? Do I love and pray for my enemies? Am I willing to suffer, the just for the unjust?

My hearers, the principles of the Christian religion, properly understood and faithfully practised, are life, and peace, and joy. They afford the purest and most enduring happiness and comfort. But let us remember, that if we would realize those enjoyments, we must carefully hearken to the voice of the wisdom from above. "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."