Remember, therefore, it is not enough that these things are given, and are given freely.-We know them not to the saving benefit of the soul, till we learn them by the teaching of "the Spirit which is of God." Let this important truth affect your hearts. Whatever external advantages you may have; whatever thirst for knowledge you may feel, whatever opportunities of satisfying this desire you may enjoy, you become wise unto salvation only by the teaching of" the Spirit which is of God." The holy Scriptures were given by him, and he enlightens the mind to understand them; he opens the heart to receive them; he subdues its prejudice and its pride, so that the most self-abasing truths are cordially embraced. And this I pray, in the language of an inspired Apostle, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints; and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power."

In the IMPROVEMENT of the subject we inquire, 1. What is the knowledge which you are seeking? Is it, or is it not, the knowledge of" the things which are freely given to us of God?" Acquaintance with other things is lawful and proper. We allow the utility of most branches of science; but, while these are pursued, how culpable is the neglect of the highest and noblest realities! What can compensate for ignorance of the things which belong to our peace?

The season of youth is the most favourable for acquiring knowledge; and this applies to the knowledge of the Gospel; but how rarely are young persons in earnest in this concern! Thank God, there

are happy exceptions to this too-general neglect, and we invite our young friends to "go forward." Be not disheartened at the difficulties of the way, or at the slowness of your progress; you have committed yourselves to an able Guide, to a good Teacher. Sit at his feet, and hear his words: listen to the "still small voice" of his Spirit. How kind his promise! "I am the Lord thy God, who teacheth thee to profit." How rich your encouragement!" Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.".

2. What is the proficiency which you are making? This question particularly concerns aged professors of religion; and some of you may be of this descrip tion: you have long been planted in the house of the Lord; but what is your growth? Do you flou rish, are you fruitful in the courts of our God? Does your progress keep pace with your years? Does it bear any proportion to your religious advantages? The charge of the Apostle applies to many among us: "For the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become," through sloth and sinful indifference, "such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." It is commonly the case,* that they who are most deficient in spiritual attainments, are most satisfied with themselves, and negligent of the means adapted to their best improvement. Is it so with you? Urge the inquiry with diligence; and, feeling your deficiency, lament it; resolve against it; and be determined, by the grace of God, to rise in holy activity. Do not embitter your last days with negligence and folly, with ignorance and sloth, but pursue, with increasing ardour, the knowledge of the things which are freely given to you of God.

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3. What is the spirit which you have, and under which you live? Is it "the spirit of the world," or "the Spirit which is of God?" If the former,

your profession of religion is delusion, and your proficiency must needs be small: indeed, it is not proficiency, except in error and sin: it is progress only in" the broad way that leadeth to destruction." Be admonished to guard against the spirit of the world, as you would against the most dangerous disease: its influence is most baneful, its result is ruin :-" to be carnally minded is death,"

A professor of religion is characterized by nothing so clearly as by the spirit which he possesses; the inward ruling principle of his thoughts, his words, and actions. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." He may imagine the contrary; he may suppose himself a disciple of Christ, a child of God, an heir of glory; but the Saviour disowns him he is none of his; and ere long he will de-. nounce against all such, "I never knew you; depart from me!"

Let this, therefore, be an immediate and serious. inquiry: have you received, and do you cherish, "the Spirit which is of God?" It is known by its fruit and effects: "they that are after, the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Have you scrip tural evidence that the Holy Spirit is with you, and dwelleth in you? Prize his fellowship; obey hist dictates; grieve him not. Take constant heed that you cast no damp on his sacred influence by sloth and sin. Live watchful, and pray without ceasing. In all your attendance on the ordinances of religion, still aim at growth in the things of the Gospel. Grow in grace; and above all, in the knowledge of of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "If you live. after the flesh, you shall die; but if you, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God* ".

* Rom. viii, 5. 13, 14.

I am a stranger in the earth; hide not thy command-" ments from me.

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THE people of God are "a peculiar people."'s In the views they entertain, the spirit they imbibe, the principles from which they act, and the behaviour!! which they exhibit, they are distinct from others! í They are not of the world; Jesus hath chosen them i out of it: they are not conformned to the world, ›buti: transformed by the renewing of the mind: they are i "strangers in the earth."

It is well to be reininded of the most plain and achi knowledged truths; for our benefit does not so much depend on the acquisition of what is new, as on the application and improvement of what is already known. There are certain views of ourselves, and ofour condition here, which we ought never to forget; and there are sentiments of the word of God which cannot be too familiar to the mind, or too deeply im; pressed on the heart:

In the text we have,

ke

. 1. A remarkable CONFESSION: "I am a stranger, in the earth."!!

راده

Who made this confession? Not a recluse, not one who had withdrawn from the world, offended at its manners, and resolved to spend the rest of his days in solitude. The king of Israel was a social character: he loved society, and had necessarily much to do in the management of public affairs, yet he professes himself" a stranger in the earth."

And when was this confession made? Under what circumstances was it expressed? We have no evidence that it refers to a season of deep adversity. David filled an elevated station: God had built him a house, established his throne, and prospered his reign his outward situation was affluent; he was beloved by his friends, and revered by all about him; yet this is what he says of himself-"I am a stranger in the earth."

1. A stranger is absent from home. He may have a home, but it is distant: he is separated from it.

Thus the Christian has a home, and this home is heaven; but he has not yet reached the happy place. He belongs to another country, is born from above, is "begotten again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away;" but this inheritance he has not received: he is looking, and hoping, and waiting for it.

Let us seriously ask ourselves, where is our home? Is it below, or above? Is it on earth, or in heaven? We may judge of the fact by such inquiries as these

Where is our heart? for where a man's treasure is, there will his heart be also. Where are our affections? What do we chiefly love, and in what do we take principal delight? We have all to lament an earthly mind, a soul that frequently cleaves to the dust; but are we indeed lamenting it? Is the ground of our complaint attended with real and unfeigned regret? Are we never so happy, never so much in our element, as when most spiritual, most dead to

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