the river that gladdens Sion. To the ocean of divine love, the living fountain of water, the well of life.

III. How?

Not by cunningly-devised fables, not by flattery, but by the truth of the law to frighten, of the gospel to allure. Satan catches by lies. His bait is pleasure, profit, honour; not Jesus's love. He is in the night, we in the

day.

APPLICATION.-Compared to fishes.-They devour each

other. Care not for heaven.

Sinners. Let me catch you, by conscience. God will catch you at last out of every pool.

Mourners.-Come to Jesus.

Backsliders.-Escape his net.-No more be taken.
Saints. Catch others.

OUTLINE XII.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.-Zechariah iv. 6, 7.

I. TEMPLE.

Difficulties in the way of erection, as a great mountain blocking up the way.

Alps, Hannibal.

II. Direction given.

1. Negatively.

"Not by might" of man's body, soul, parts, wealth. "Nor by power" of temporal and ecclesiastical rulers.

2. Positively.

"But by my Spirit." He turns the hearts of

men, and

works effectually when man gives all up. hosts."-Superior might says so.

"The Lord of

The power of the Spirit in Elijah, Christ, and his apostles. Man is weakened before God works. Jacob's thigh.

III. Gracious promise of God.

1. Authority and power of God.

"Who art thou," Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Sanballat, satan ?

2. "Great mountain."

Corruptions, prejudice, outward powers, sins.

3. "Before Zerubbabel."

Christ, the builder of the world and repairer of the breach, raising the temple of his body in three days. 4. "Thou shalt become a plain."

A valley filled.

5. "The head-stone, and foundation-stone with shoutings."-Of all good men, and angels, through joy ;—of bad men, through fear.

6. "Grace, grace unto it!"

Grace in God, towards man immense.
APPLICATION.-Apply this,

1. To the difficulties of the undertaking.
2. To the difficulties of our salvation.

Grace is to begin and conclude. Every stone brought is put in with the heavenly shout.

Have you no power? "Not by your power:" Zerubbabel hath power.

Have you no might? Christ hath the Spirit: "By my Spirit." By the power of the spirit of prayer, spirit of faith, love, patience.

Look at the sin of the world, a great mountain; before Jesus it was a plain.

Look at the state of Christianity. Twelve poor fishermen. It was a plain, instead of a mountain, when Zerubbabel took the matter in hand.

Look at the reformation.

Look at the late revival.

Adam lost, Christ regains and gives, paradise. As a proof, the thief, his greatest miracle. Breaking of the

rocks, graves, the earthquake, rending of the veil of the temple, are less glorious.

Trophy! The shame of the company of the two thieves redounded to his greater glory.

OUTLINE XIII.

And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.-Luke xxiii. 42, 43.

I. POWER of the cross of Christ, and manner of conversion.

1. All men are robbers, murderers, despisers of Christ. 2. The greatest blessings or plagues humble them not. 3. The prayer of Christ, and grace in answer to it, do humble them.

4. Works are not the cause of pardon.

5. The meritorious cause is Christ. He is God.-The Lord gives paradise.

6. Instrumental cause, faith and prayer.

me."

II. The heart of Christ is towards sinners.

"Remember

1. In these dreadful circumstances, Christ takes notice

of an ejaculation.

2. "Verily," truth of the promise.

3. "Thou," base, guilty as thou art.

4. "With me," what company!

5. "Paradise," abode of the blessed.

6. "To-day," no delay, now is the accepted time.

III. The marks and effects of true faith.

1. It judges not by appearances. Christ was crucified, yet he was Lord and King.

2. It sees Christ glorious, though before it valued him

not.

3. It prays, "Remember me," humbly.-Not, "Let me sit down with thee on thy throne."

4. It takes Christ's part, and sees his righteousness : "He hath done nothing amiss."

"Dost

5. Hatred of sin.-Fear of God. Reproof: thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ?"

6. A vindication of justice: "We indeed justly."

7. An open confession : "We receive the due reward of our deeds."

8. He had but a heart and a tongue at liberty; both are used.

APPLICATION.-Sinners. He is exalted still to give repentance and pardon. Abuse not God's goodness that leads you to it. You cannot outwit God-Thou foolWicked servant. (Matt. xxiv. 48.)-God will harden you as the other thief.-Apoplexy, fever in the brain.— As a thief he comes.-How will you escape hell and damnation? O be concerned, rise against sin, go as far as the thief.

Mourners.-Ask, seek, knock.-See Christ's readiness to receive sinner, to grant petitions, and to exceed them. He upbraids not.

OBJECTION. Peter had.

"The thief had never heard Christ before."

Self-righteous. Be not angry at this prodigal entering into paradise at the same door.-One way and door.

Believers.-See your privilege. Assurance. Answer to prayer. Knowledge of pardon, and certainty of paradise. Make the best of a short life. Speak for Christ on a death-bed. Esteem him the more, for the revilings of sinners. Make a stand against sin. Be patient on the cross. Be humble.

OUTLINE XIV.

Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.— Matthew xiv. 30.

INTRODUCTION.-Woman drowned.*

I. Power of faith.

It walks.

1. Upon a sea of iniquity. 2. A sea of temptations.

3. A sea of tribulation and danger. 4. It crosses the Jordan of death.

5. It stands the storms and billows of judgment. II. The behaviour, in danger, of one who hath little faith. "O thou of little faith."

1. He walks on no more; but begins to sink.

2. He cries out to Jesus, "Lord, save me!"

3. He is happily saved: "Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him."

III. The misery of unbelievers, those that sink and cry

1. The floods go over their head.

2. They are in the most deplorable condition.

3. They sink as easy as the corpse of the drowned. 4. O that you might lift up your head above the floods of worldliness and ignorance. See

your danger, and cry out. IV. The misery of applying to any but Christ.

1. No help in the rotten boat of the flesh.

2. No help in many worldly goods, or works, or self.

3. No help in our fellow-sinners.

4. No catching at man without disappointment.

5. No crying to man with success.

V. How happy the case of those who fly to Christ!
1. He hath come out of sin, flesh, world, grave.
2. Christ is every where, all love and power.

3. If we lay hold of him, he will not be angry :-Con

• This sermon appears to have been delivered soon after the interment of a woman who was drowned by crossing the Severn in a boat.