the Truth, and the Life," and who graciously says, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Let us penitently acknowledge our own guilt and ignorance of God. Let us lay hold, by faith, on that covenant of free forgiveness and reconciliation with His Father, which He hath sealed with His own blood. And let us earnestly beseech Him to enlighten our dark understandings, by a saving knowledge of His truth, and to renew our depraved hearts "after His own image, in righteousness and true holiness." Thus we shall become heirs of that precious promise which the Lord Jehovah makes with His believing people in Jeremiah xxxii. 40. where he says respecting them, "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good, and I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me." And thus alone, namely, by the renewing, sanctifying operation of His Holy Spirit upon our minds, through faith in the Gospel of Christ crucified, we shall become possessed of that "Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom, and that knowledge of the Holy One which is understanding."

The other respect in which it may be truly said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, is, on account of the peace and satisfaction of mind which it imparts to those who possess it. For what, let us ask, is the end which men propose

to themselves by the acquirement of knowledge? Without doubt it is their own happiness and satisfaction. They feel an inward craving for something, they know not what; and they seek to add to their knowledge, if peradventure they may thereby satisfy this inward craving which they experience, and so attain to contentment and peace of mind.

But, my Beloved Brethren, this is a vain expectation. There is nothing which can possibly satisfy the desires of our immortal souls, except the pardoning mercy and love of our God; and as long as we remain uninfluenced by that holy fear which we have just been considering, i. e. as long as we continue in our natural state of rebellion and enmity against Him, it is absolutely impossible for us to enjoy His divine favour, and, consequently, so long it is impossible for us to experience true peace or satisfaction of soul. "For the wicked (saith Isaiah) are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt continually; verily there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

Hence it follows, that the only knowledge that can make us truly happy, is that knowledge of God in Christ which influences our hearts so as to make us love and fear Him. This is the be ginning of that wisdom which is from above, which is "first pure, then peaceable," and which alone

can make us "wise unto salvation." By this we are first taught to know our own danger as guilty sinners, and also the inestimable love of God in sending His dear Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to redeem us; and this "beginning of knowledge" on earth, by which we know "in part" a little of our own condition and of the mysteries of redeeming love, will be completed in heaven, where we shall know 66 even as we are known." Of all other knowledge it may be truly said, in the language of the wisest man that ever lived, that, "In much wisdom there is much grief, and whoso encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow." But of that knowledge which leads us heartily to fear the Lord and keep His commandments, the same divinely inspired writer justly declares that its price is inestimable; "She is more precious than rubies, and all things that thou canst desire are not to be compared with her." For with it all the blessings and privileges of God's Holy Word are exclusively and inseparably connected. "It shall be well with them," says Solomon, "that fear God." "He honoureth them that fear the Lord, both small and great." "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will shew them His covenant." "Yea, Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments, his seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generations of the righteous shall call him blessed."

Thus we see, that this fear of the Lord is indeed, as Isaiah says, "a treasure to the man that possesses it." "In this fear of the Lord there is strong confidence." "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Yea, "better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great riches and trouble therewith."

Let us therefore, my Dear Brethren, diligently examine into our hearts and lives, to ascertain whether we possess this fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of knowledge. Let us compare what has been said respecting its nature and effects, with what passess in our own breasts. Let us beware of that hypocritical fear of the Lord, which leaves us still under the power of our sins, and makes us adopt the form of godliness, while we deny the power thereof. And let us never rest satisfied with our own state, until we have attained such a right knowledge of God, in and through His dear Son Jesus Christ, as will influence us habitually to draw nigh unto Him in our hearts, with “reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire!"

Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, &c.

SERMON VII.

ON DEATH.

PSALM XXIII. 4.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

THE life of a Christian has been well compared to a pilgrimage, or wearisome journey, in which he has to pass through a great variety of dangers and tribulations, on his way to the heavenly Jerusalem; where is laid up for him the treasure that his heart aspires after, and to which he looks forward with the cheering expectation of enjoying therein a glorious and eternal rest from all his labours.

But before the Christian pilgrim can enter upon this heavenly Canaan, or promised land of rest and rejoicing, there is a deep and fearful valley to be crossed, which separates this world from the next, and which is called by the Psalmist in our text,