Paul's imagery is significant, as follows: The figure is borrowed from the early offerings of men, to the LORD; as in the case of Noah, after he came out from the Ark, who, in acknowledgement of, and gratitude for his preservation and those that were with him, offered an offering unto the LORD, "a burnt-offering on the altar; and the LORD smelled a sweet savour.' (Gen. viii. 20, 21.) And this, as a parabola, is figurative of God's acceptance of Noah and those that were with him.

Paul's declaration, therefore, expresses the following:For we are unto God, in our ministry of the Gospel of His Son, a sweet savour; for we are accepted, as an acceptable offering in which the LORD is well pleased; because we are of Christ, God's only begotten Son, in whom he is well pleased; whether our ministry be considered as eventuating in the salvation, or the destruction of those to whom we preach the Gospel of peace; and to them that are saved, we are a savour of life unto life; and to them that perish, we are a savour of death unto death. For our Gospel, as an offering, has life on the one hand, and death on the other; but it offers life, a sweet savour of Christ unto God, through our ministrations, unto all; whether they believe or reject the good news; and whether they receive life and salvation, or die, and perish in their sins. "And who [when the consequences of believing or of rejecting the Gospel are considered,] is sufficient for these things?" And this, Paul's concluding sentence, is rather significantly expressive of his humility; contrasting the importance of the ministry entrusted to him, with his own sense of unworthiness; and measuring the importance of his ministry by the consequences to those who believe, or reject the truths of the Gospel.

But there is this very significant distinction, when Paul's ministry is considered in reference to those that are saved, and to those that perish: That, however Paul, figuratively, characterized his ministry as an offering, offering the glorious truths of Christ's gospel to the acceptance or rejection of the Gentiles, the nations, is a sweet savour unto God, of Christ; and, also, unto the saved, and unto them that perish; he is, emphatically, to the saved, and to them that perish, to the one, a savour of life unto life-and to the other, of death unto death. For his ministration ends in one or the other, viz: in life—or in death.

There is an excellent reason assigned by Paul, in his

Epistle to the Romans, (i. 16, 17,) why he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, viz: "For it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek." It is unto salvation, it does not stop short of this; neither can it; for Paul adds, "For therein [that is, in the Gospel,] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." And this is not all; for Paul adds, "As it is written, The just shall live by faith." And Paul is yet more explicit in his Epistle to the Galatians, affirming, "The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (ii. 20.) And even this, plain as it is, is made still more explicit, by Paul's declaration of God's righteousness, which he affirms is revealed in the Gospel of Christ, from faith to faith; that it is "by faith of Jesus Christ UNTO ALL, and UPON ALL them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ." (Rom. iii. 22-24.) And this redemption, that is in Jesus Christ, is the burden of Paul's ministry-the theme of his rejoicing-the word of truth that he preaches to the Gentiles. And this, Hear it, O ye heavens, and give ear O earth, this redemption is rejected of men!

How, I ask, in the name of Paul, in the name of Hearen, can a man be saved by the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, so long as he rejects Christ, and His redemption, His Gospel, "wherein the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith ;" and seeks for justification, redemption, and salvation, from the gospels of men? from the righteousness of his own corrupt heart, and the delusive cheating of his own vain imagination?>

No wonder that Paul is the savour of death unto death, to them that perish! And with as much propriety now, as when in the temple at Jerusalem, more than 1800 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ declared unto the Jews, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Should the Saviour reiterate the declaration, and affirm to millions in Christendom, how true would be the declaration— Even ye, will not come to me, that ye might have life; but give heed to the gospels of men; and going astray in the greatness of your error, ye shall perish with a lie in your right hand!* ΑΜΕΝ.

*See Isa. xliv, 20. Read, "There is not a lie," etc.

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SERMON XV.

A WORD TO THE YOUNG.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these God shall bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity." ECOLES. xi. 9, 10.

THE world we live in is gloomy enough, from causes beyond man's control; and none but a tyrant-bigot, or a stupid misanthrope, would add another shade to the cloud that darkens the prospects, or increase the gloom that weighs so heavily on the weary spirits of the children of men. A better authority than modern zealots has proclaimed, "A time to weep, and a time to laugha time to mourn, and a time to dance." (Eccles. iii. 4.) It is not, therefore, now, a question, whether man, in his pilgrimage here below, shall ever weep-whether the poor sojourner through this world of tears, shall ever laugh; if, perchance, some bright idea, or pleasant reminiscence shall gladden him on his journey-whether he shall mourn over the shipwreck of his own hopes; or join in sympathy, when calamity, in some one of its thousand shapes, shall fall heavily upon the head, and blast the prospects of his fellow-man-nor whether the traveler shall pause, by the way-side, at the evening tide;—or when the morning's glow shall be fresh in the rose and the lily, and cheered by the smiles of surrounding nature, or warmed into mirth by the purple current that courses its way cheerily through the heart of youth, the recipient of Heaven's bounty shall dance for joy. No!

It would be cruel to drive the traveler back, and when the current, chilled by age, moves sluggishly onward, to force the stream to chafe its banks-to compel the weary pilgrim who is looking about him for a resting-place, where he may escape from the cheatings of the delusive scene-the sojourner, who, almost at his journey's end, is bethinking himself of another and a better world, to

face about, and again encounter the ills and disappointments that flesh is heir to. And equally perverse, but more absurd, to chide the Spring for wearing the blossom of expectation-the rose that has budded, for opening its petals, and exhibiting its gorgeous beauty in this wicked world. And the Summer, too, when the ripe fruits hang in rich clusters, and beauty and luxuriance invite to a full fruition, to meet the gladsome sight with the growl of the cynic; and invoke the frosts and snows of winter to blast the scene.

Read the book of Nature, where Nature's God has written in characters of truth, to man. What corroborating evidence is here, of the sayings of the Wise Man! Here, too, there is a time for every thing. Here is youth, the Spring of life, and vegetation is arrayed in its gayest clothing. Even Solomon, in all his glory, when the robe of Tyrian purple graced his shoulders-when the fine linen, and the gold of Ophir, and the gems of India sparkled on his vestments, could not be compared with the lily, when the Divine Architect tinges its petals with the rich hues of heaven-and Heaven, itself, rejoices-the glorious Sun shines approvingly-when the mild air of even begins to whisper in the zephyr, ten thousand times ten thousand changes mark the scene; while the rainbowcolours dance above, and gild the clouds, and the flowery landscape beneath rejoices, and all the trees of the field clap their hands for joy.

And Summer comes, bearing the impress of the hand Divine. Every shrub is a glad recipient of the bounty from Above. Every cluster, purpled in richness, or bursting in fruition, invites to a rational enjoyment of the blessings of a benign Heaven. Eat and live-let enjoyment and gratitude go hand in hand; and hope, joy, and confidence, complete the sum of good to man.

When Autumn, rich in the mature and lasting fruits, which shall sustain man through the long winter of desolation, appears, we have an emblem of man in the full vigor of life; and maturity of intellect. All is ripe, and the sickle, and the various handicraft of the husbandman, all combine, and fill the garner, that man may rejoice and live.

Then comes the Winter of desolation, and death closes the scene. The feathered chorister no longer warbles in the trees. Not a leaf moves in the zephyr-the gloom of sterility beneath, is frowned upon by the gathering

tempest from above; and the book is sealed; till a new heaven pours its genial beams upon the earth, creating a new life, and a new Spring blossoms and enlivens the

scene.

Surely 'tis meet that the bud shall unfold its beauties, and the gay blossom delight itself in its ephemeral existence, in the light and warmth of heaven. And the rich cluster was made to be eaten; not to be offered a holocaust to the Cynic's Devil. And the fruits of Autumn, the rich harvest, was made for the garner; and all for man, to gladden his heart, and rouse his soul to aspirations of love and gratitude, to the Giver of the gifts divine. And Winter, too, with his white locks, his frame stiffened to rigidity, the streams and currents of his body, frozen and cold; let him come, for Spring shall loosen his fetters, and a new creation destroy the destroyer of

man.

When the father saw the prodigal a great way off, on his return to his father's house that he had forsaken, he ran to meet him: and after he had received him with joy, and, agreeably to his orders, a feast had been prepared, to greet the prodigal on his return, the elder brother of the prodigal, who had been in the field, came home, and reproved his father for making merry on such an occasion: For "there was music and dancing." The father's answer to the bigot's reproof, is admirable-" It was meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." The imagery is of the choosing of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was of opinion, that music and dancing are suitable to express joy, on occasions that are really joyful.

He

But God has set His seal on joy, as the acceptable offering to Him, the Great Giver of all good. Behold His works! He gives the blossom before the fruit. clothes Nature in flowers, and commands all the trees of the wood to rejoice. "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD:"Why all this rejoicing? Surely there must be a cause for it. Certainly, reader, and here it is-"For He cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth." (Psa. xcvi.) Rejoice, because a day of judgment is comVOL. II.-32