hath brought upon the world, and is about to bring upon himself, unless prevented by a timely repentance. Memorable are the words of a great statesman of our own, when, because he seemed pensive and thoughtful towards the close of his days, some court buffoons were sent to divert him: "While we "laugh, all things are serious about us.

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God is se

"rious, when he preserveth us, and hath patience to"wards us. Christ was serious, when he died for us. "The Holy Spirit is serious, when he striveth with "us. The Scripture is serious, when it is read before "us. Sacraments are serious, when they are ad"ministered to us. The whole creation is serious, "in serving God and us. Angels are serious above, "while they wait for our conversion. Evil spirits "are serious below, in endeavouring to effect our "destruction-And shall man not be serious, who " of all other creatures hath most reason to be so?"

3. Be frequent in confession. The church enters upon her service with it in public, and every one should do the saine in private. If you feel not that warmth of devotion you could wish to feel when you begin, you may experience it before you end your confession. The very repetition of proper sentiments in proper language, will produce the affections which they are intended to express. Begin, as an act of obedience to him who has assured us, that, "if we "confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us "our sins." Such an act of obedience may be rewarded with every thing else that is necessary"This I had, because I kept thy commandments."

4. Resolve speedily. Fruitless is sorrow for having

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done amiss, if it issue not in a resolution to do so no And in forming this resolution, no time is to be lost. He who doth not resolve to-day, will be much less disposed to resolve to-morrow. Procrastination in many cases is dangerous: in this it is often fatal.

5. Renew your resolutions daily. Else will they be soon forgotten, and consequently never carried into execution. It is the interest of the passions that they should be forgotten. Cares and pleasures will be apt to efface them; temptations will return and prevail; a relapse will be the consequence; and all the work must be entered upon anew, with difficulties increased, strength diminished, and courage appalled. To prevent this from happening, no better method can be devised, than every day to renew the impressions once produced. During so short an interval, the enemy can make no very considerable breach in the works-none but what may be easily repaired, and put again into a state of defence.

But after all—“Except the Lord keep the city, "the watchman waketh but in vain." It is he who granteth repentance unto life; and it is he alone who can perfect the good work, when it is begun in us. To him, therefore, let prayer be made, without ceasing, at morning, and at evening, and at noon day, and that instantly. And when can we, with more propriety or more effect, prefer our petitions, than, at this time, that He would be pleased to prosper the word that hath been spoken to the purpose for which it hath been spoken; that they who have not yet begun their repentance may forthwith begin it; and

that they who have begun it may be enabled happily to complete it; that all may make a due use of the present holy season, which to many may perhaps return no more; and no single person leave this place liable to the reproach of God by his prophet, that, when the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed time, and the turtle, the crane, and the "swallow, know the time of their coming"-he should "not know the judgement of the Lord."

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DISCOURSE XVII.

THE DEVOUT SOLDIER,

ACTS, x. 31.

Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

In the histories of this world we read of conquests gained by the sword and spear; we view the celebrated heroes of ancient and modern times marking out their progress through kingdoms and empires with havock and desolation, while "every battle" of those warriors "is with confused noise, and garments rolled "in blood." How different the scenes presented to us in that portion of sacred story, styled "The Acts "of the Apostles," or the exploits of those who were sent forth to subdue the world to the obedience of Christ! Here too we read of conquests; but they were gained by faith and patience, by prayers and sermons, by meekness and long-suffering. Here we behold a mighty prince making his progress upon the earth; but that prince is the "Prince of Peace," and his progress is the progress of salvation: he makes war against the unruly passions and affections of sinful men, and all his desire is, to command a willing people in the day of his power.

Hitherto the apostles, in compliance with their orders, had confined themselves to the Jews, as the Gospel must be first preached to that once highly favoured people. But now the hour was come, when the great mystery of divine mercy, the call of the nations, should begin to be unfolded, and God would show some specimen of the riches of his grace reserved in store for the Heathen world. St. Peter was, therefore, sent with the glad tidings of a Saviour to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, on the circumstances of whose call and conversion, as they are very particularly related in the chapter from whence the text is taken, I shall proceed to offer some considerations, which, it is hoped, may be of use to us all.

"There was a certain man in Cæsarea called "Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the "Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared "God with all his house, which gave much alms to "the people, and prayed to God alway."

From the name and profession of Cornelius, it appears that he was a Roman, and, consequently, a Heathen. But the character here given of him makes it evident that he must have been in some sort a convert to Judaism, and instructed out of the law; otherwise the Holy Ghost would not have called him a derout man; he could not be said to have feared God, that is, the true God, whom, as a Heathen, he could not know, much less worship and serve by prayer and alms-deeds. He was therefore one of those who were styled Proselytes of the gate, not circumcised and made complete Jews, but taught the general principles of true religion, the knowledge of God