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many must testify, that this character belongs not to them! Of what benefit to them will be the death and sufferings, the resurrection and glory of the Lord Jesus? If they die as they are living, salvation offered, and rejected, will but increase their condemnation! "They will mourn at the last, they will lie down in sorrow." May God in mercy awaken all such persons to a sense of their guilt and danger! May his quickening Spirit touch their hearts, and raise them by his mighty power from death to life-from Satan's bondage to the love and service of their God!

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And what sincere christian among us does not feel self-condemned while studying such a subject as this? How far do we all fall short of the inspiring description of christian devotedness which the apostle here presents to us? Who does not sigh for more entire victory over sin, the world, and Satan? Who does not acknowledge himself an unprofitable servant? Blessed be God, that by the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and glorious ascension of his dear Son, abundant pardon, salvation, and peace have been secured for all who feel their need as ruined sinners. Here and here alone is the hope, the comfort, and abiding resting-place of the penitent believer. His own attainments in grace will never afford him permanent consolation, in Christ the Lord alone has he righteousness and peace. If then our confidence is built on this sure founda

tion, and we enjoy hope towards God through Jesus Christ, let us unceasingly desire complete conformity to the divine image. Lord Jesus, may we be crucified with thee-with thee may we die unto sin-hide us far away from worldliness and folly-may we be buried with thee! and as thou didst rise a mighty conqueror from the grave, so raise us, we pray thee, from all corruption and iniquity, and draw up our hearts and affections to thyself in heaven; be thou our treasure and our all; and keep us until that day when thou shalt come in the clouds of heaven to claim to thyself the kingdom and the power and the majesty ; and "to reign among thine antients gloriously!" Even so―amen-come, Lord Jesus!

SERMON XXV.

THE PRESENT STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE CHURCH.

1 CORINTHIANS xiii. 9--12.

BUT

"FOR WE KNOW IN PART, AND WE PROPHESY IN PART. WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, THEN THAT WHICH IS IN PART SHALL BE DONE AWAY. WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS. FOR NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY; BUT THEN FACE TO FACE: NOW I KNOW IN PART; BUT THEN SHALL I KNOW EVEN AS ALSO I AM KNOWN."

THAT the common bounties of God's providence should, in a sinful world, be either enjoyed with indifference to the giver, or abused to the purposes of sin, is a result at which no one can be surprised who is acquainted with his own heart or with the holy Scripture. But that the spiritual gifts of God's grace, the miraculous powers bestowed upon his church, for the glory of his name, and the establishment of his truth, should in like manner be perverted to sinful purposes by his own people, is

indeed a startling circumstance, illustrating unequivocally the desperate alienation of man's heart from God. This exhibition of human weakness, vanity and pride, took place even in apostolic times, and in a church under the immediate influence of the devoted writer of this epistle. In a lengthened dissertation upon the subject, continued through several chapters, the inspired apostle labours to show the Corinthians that although miraculous powers were desirable and necessary at the opening of the christian dispensation, to prove its divine origin, that the exercise of those powers was immeasurably inferior to the cultivation of the lovely graces of the Holy Spirit; that without faith, hope, and charity, or christian love, the "best gifts" would not profit their possessors.* This led him to contrast the highest attainments of believers, while in this world, even in grace itself, with their condition in the world that is to come. Men may be dazzled with the splendour of miraculous gifts, and may admire the progress of their brethren in the knowledge of God, and in the exhibition of christian virtues, but after all, how imperfect at best is our

* Our Lord illustrates the same truth in the following passage: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. vii. 22, 23.)

present state! "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child : but when I became a man, I put away put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known."

Whence we learn, I. THE PRESENT CONDITION, and, II. THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. Her present state is denoted by IMPERFECTION, CHILDHOOD, and COMPARATIVE DARKNESS while her future prospect is marked by PERFECTION, MANHOOD, and GLORY! May our souls be comforted and animated by the contemplation of this inspiring subject!

I. In considering the present state of the church of God here on earth, we must be careful not to undervalue her existing privileges. Even in the text itself it is implied that "we know," that we have spiritual knowledge, though it is "but in part; we have understanding in divine things, though it be so feeble that it may be compared to that of a little child; "we see," though it be only darkly, as dimly reflected in a glass. God has never left himself without witness upon earth; there have always been some who knew and loved him. In patriarchal times man walked with God; under the Mosaic dispensation man heard the

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