On the character of Abraham, as displayed in his readiness to obey the Divine command by the sacrifice And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid On the right notion of a particular Providence; espe- And his disciples asked him, saying; 'Master! who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered; 'Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: On the trials and rewards of Christian Fortitude. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me. In every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanks- giving, let your requests be made known unto God. Religious Caution shewn to consist in a union of Sober- On the folly and danger of Procrastination. SERMON XVIII. On the dignity, advantage, and blessing, annexed to Matthew V. 8. SERMON XIX. On the value and use of the" Bible; with directions for the profitable reading of the holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy Hi. 15. From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. SERMON XX. SERMONS SERMON I. INEFFICACY OF NOMINAL RELIGION. Jeremiah Vhi. 22. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why, then, is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? This is the pathetic remonstrance of an offended but gracious God with his chosen people, upon their grievous alienation from all moral principle. The language, employed by the prophet on this occasion, is indeed highly figurative or allegorical: but the purport of it, to any one, who has read the preceding passages, is not less clear, than the terms are impressive. Under the familiar type of a beloved child, languishing under bodily disease, he paints and laments the sickness of their souls. The balm of Gilead, which, literally, was a resinous gum, in great request for its healing qua A lities, is an appropriate emblem of salutary counsel; and the physician aptly represents the spiritual guide, the preacher, or prophet, whose office it was to pour the balm of wholesome advice, whether in the form of timely warning, or of fearless reproof, into the hearts of this corrupted and rebellious race. In the succeeding chapter we find an enumeration of the reigning vices and crimes, which were the most malignant symptoms of the disease of Israel. The state of society amongst them appears to have been every way depraved; even as Isaiah, by a like figure, has also represented it. "The whole head," says he, "is sick, and the whole heart faint: from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores."" The application of these expressions is easily gathered from Isaiah himself: "Ah! sinful nation: a people laden with iniquity; a seed of evildoers: children that are corrupters!" * Precisely parallel is the description Which our prophet Jeremiah gives of the Israelites in his time: "They |