SERMON XXX.

TRINITY SUNDAY.

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

and teach all nations.-Matt. xxviii. 19.

IN these words, a commission is given to the apostles and their successors in the ministry, to diffuse the knowledge of divine truth to the ends of the earth; captivating the proud reason of men in obedience to faith; and inviting them to subject their inordinate appetites to the empire of celestial grace. The faith of a Christian, considered in its origin, is a supernatural gift from the Father of lights: considered as it exists in our souls, is an enlightened and unshaken adhesion of the mind to all the truths, which the Deity hath manifested, and all the promises he hath graciously made to us, by the way of revelation viewed in its motive, it is the infallible authority, of him, who being infinite wisdom and infinite holiness, gives us, by his word alone, an unerring assurance of the veracity of what he

reveals, whether it fall within the limits of our comprehension, or like the mystery of the Trinity, of the Incarnation and others, be extended infinitely beyond them. Such is the explanation given by the great apostle: Faith, says he, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things that are not seen. Heb. xi.

This faith, my beloved friends, is the first of all the divine gifts; the foundation of all our virtues; the principle of our true greatness; the source of all our consolations. How should our hearts exult in its cheering light! How happy should we think ourselves, in being guided by it along the darksome paths of this our earthly pilgrimage! With what affection. should we receive it! With what gratitude should we bless that goodness which bestows it! How painful then, and how afflicting is it to observe, that instead of cherishing their faith, and keeping it alive in their souls, many Christians revolt continually against it: instead of considering it as a signal favour conferred on them, view it rather as an object of terror. Alas! multitudes, in our time, find its light troublesome, and its maxims impracticable. Having received it in their early days, they employ a great part of their subsequent life in struggling against it. They wish to annihilate it, and seem to envy the lot of those nations, that are yet

sitting in the shadow of death. Oh! let us deplore their blindness, weep over their wretchedness, and constantly supplicate the divine clemency, not to suffer us to fall into the like temptations and snares of our infernal enemies.

Let us consider revelation as an auspicious and benignant star, and gladly and gratefully open our eyes to receive its friendly light. The rays, that are darted from it, issue forth from the eternal brightness of the Divinity, and after falling on our souls, are reflected back to eternity again, and enable us to carry our views into the regions of everlasting felicity. Give me your attention therefore, I entreat you, while I endeavour to set before you the excellence of our faith in Christ, and the many and inestimable advantages, of which it gives us the possession.

We may apply to our faith the two qualities, which the prophet attributed to the ancient law. It is the light of our minds, and its riches are preferable to all the treasures of the earth. It is true, the light of faith is mingled with obscurity, and its riches are a great part of them at present invisible. But you shall see that the shades thrown over these precious gifts are suitable to our present condition, and conducive to the beneficent designs of God in our regard.

My brethren: we have not here a permanent

dwelling-place. Strangers and pilgrims in this world, we are in a situation similar to that of the Israelites, when they went out of Egypt. Like them we are journeying to the promised land: like them we are assailed by furious enemies like them we have to pass through a dreary wilderness: like them we need a guide to conduct us in safety. The Lord went before them, to shew the way, by day in a pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire: that he might be the guide of their journey at both times. (Exod. xiii.) Our faith is to us that pillar, both of a cloud and of fire: light and dark, at the same time; obscure, and yet sufficiently lumiOur faith, among many spacious and commodious ways, laid open before us on our éntrance into life, and in which we are invited to walk, ways apparently bordered with delicious fruits, and strewed over with blooming flowers, but which inevitably lead to perdition, -our faith points out to us that narrow path, which leads to life and true felicity: the path of righteousness and holiness-the path of God's commandments, in which we must continually walk. It is a path rough and uncomfortable to nature; as we enter on it our feet are wounded by painful thorns. But, behold! at the head of those commandments is the great precept of divine love. Love softens every harshness,

nous.

actions are pleasing to him, and what provoke his indignation: we see clearly the line of conduct, which we must pursue, in order both to present and to future felicity. Having this knowledge, we need not be solicitous for any more information. This is all the philosophy necessary to a Christian. Content with having made these important discoveries, he may leave to nature all her other secrets; he blesses his Creator, uses the gifts of heaven with temperance and gratitude, is affectionate and kind to his brethren, and, without distraction, pursues his way to eternal bliss.

Oh! that you may learn to prize as you ought the blessings which our faith brings with it, compare our situation under its guidance, with the forlorn condition of men, to whom the truths of religion have not been made manifest. Among all nations of the earth, the contemplation of the wonders exhibited in the creation has given rise to religious worship. The most rude and uncultivated hordes of men, when they viewed the earth and heavens, could not help ascribing their origin to some wise and powerful cause, and feeling a propensity to prostrate themselves and adore it. But the light of reason wavering and intermitting, frequently eclipsed by exhalations from corrupt passions, could shew them nothing on which they could fixedly depend.