The morality which is not conformable to this standard is unsound and false. No matter if it be agreeable to some theoretical rule of abstract right, or some high-toned principle of honor, or some proud and unswerving law which we have laid down to ourselves. No matter if it conform to some strong feeling within, which claims to be the voice of God, or to some urgent circumstances of expediency, which, we persuade ourselves, are the monitions of his providence. Still, if it contradict the pure and holy rule of Christ, if it be inconsistent with the benevolent and devout spirit of his gospel, it is fundamentally and utterly to be condemned; it is immoral and bad. For true morality stands only in the instructions of him who is the way, the truth, and the life; and no other foundation can man lay. 6. We may say once more, Christ is the only foundation of the believer's hope. It is from him and his gospel that we learn those truths concerning the mercy and placability of God, which give hope of pardon on repentance, and of acceptance in our imperfect attempts to please him; from him alone, also, that we derive sufficient assurance of a future life, and an existence of eternal purity and peace. Upon these points the understanding might speculate, and sometimes plausibly conjecture; but what could it ever know? What did it ever KNOW in the uninstructed lands of heathenism? The whole history of the world teaches us, that on these points, so interesting to man's heart, so essential to man's happiness, there has been nothing but supersti-· tion and dim conjecture, except where the gospel has been revealed. It is the message of Jesus Christ, which has taught the grace of Almighty God; which has proclaimed his long-suffering and compassion; which has encouraged sinners to repent and return by invitations of forgiving love; which has declared the kind allowance of our Father for unavoidable imperfection, and thus given courage to human weakness. It is this only which proclaims to a world lying in wickedness, that "God hath not appointed it to wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ," and "hath sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." Man doubting, frail, tempted, fearful- hears the voice of love, and looks up in the humble assurance of faith. No longer an alien, but a son, he seizes the out-stretched hand of his blessed Lord, and goes on his way rejoicing. There is another hope which he founds on the same rock -the hope of a coming immortality. Once he was in bondage through the fear of death. But now his Savior hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light. The bitterness of death is passed. There is light within the tomb. There is a visible region of glory beyond it. And the child of earth, who once shuddered and was wretched in the dread of everlasting extinction, is now able to smile upon the dreary pathway to the grave, and triumph over the terrors of corruption. What an inestimable privilege is this! With his open Bible before him, and the image of his gracious Savior in his mind, how does the conscience-stricken penitent rejoice amid his tears, in the hope of offered pardon! How does the humble and self-distrusting believer, who stands trembling and abashed in the presence of infinite purity, find comfort in the encouraging accents of Christ's soothing voice, and the hope of acceptance at the throne of grace! How does the reasoning and dying offspring of the dust— to whom existence, and friendship, and virtue are dear rejoice with holy gratitude in the hope that his existence shall be renewed, and his desires satisfied. in heaven! -- Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift—this glorious hope, which in every season of trial, and every stormy strait of sorrow and fear, is "an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast." It is not necessary to go farther than this. We perceive that the foundation of the Christian church, and of all true religion in the world, and of individual faith, knowledge, virtue, and hope, is laid in Jesus Christ. All our religious light, security, and peace rest upon this rock. Other we have none, and can have none. Let us leave this, and where shall we go? Who will teach us the words of eternal life? who instruct us in the things which pertain to our everlasting peace? who guide us to the Father of love, and open to us the gate of heaven? Every other guide is uncertain, every other path is dark. Men have followed them, and gone astray; have walked in them, and stumbled; have sought rest in them, and found none. There is none other commissioned from heaven, but the Son of the virgin. "There is no name given among men, whereby we can be saved, but that of Jesus Christ." SERMON II. JESUS THE MESSIAH. MATTHEW XVI. 15, 16. HE SAITH UNTO THEM, BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM? AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. The passion for specula THE question which our Lord here proposes to his disciples, which agitated with intense interest the whole Jewish nation during his ministry, has lost none of its interest or importance in the lapse of ages. It was, and is, the question upon which rests the decision of his claims to the obedience and gratitude of mankind. It is a question, too, which has received different answers, even from his own disciples in his own church, as it did from his countrymen while he lived. tion, and the fondness for opinion, have found exercise even on this subject, and have thrown perplexity and debate on what is in itself plain and simple, and has been most clearly decided, in the only important particular, by the express authority of Scripture. To the Scriptures, then, we have recourse; and it is truly matter of gratitude, tha* a distinct reply to the inquiry is there recorded, which satisfied our Lord, and which consequently ought to satisfy us. If it was sufficient for Peter to know and acknowledge him as THE MESSIAH,, it must also be sufficient for us. No man may demand or desire a more full and satisfactory reply, than that which drew upon the apostle the memorable blessing. No man may doubt that a similar blessing awaits all, who shall make the same profession with equal earnestness, faith, and devotion, and carry it out to the same practical consequences. In order to this, we must understand what such a profession implies; what is intended by his being "the Christ, the Son of God," and what is the value of faith in him as such. To illustrate these objects is the purpose of the present discourse. It is to be remarked, first of all, that the titles given to our Lord in the text are unquestionably synonymous, and are used to indicate the same office. The ancient Jews familiarly employed the phrase Son of God as one of the names of the Christ, or Messiah. They used them both promiscuously, to denote that great Prince and Deliverer, whom they also styled King of Israel and Son of David, and whom they were expecting to fulfil the prophecies. That the titles are thus equivalent to each other is rendered evident by many passages in the New Testament. Thus, in the beginning of our Lord's ministry, Andrew came and told Peter, "We have found the Messiah." Philip said to Nathanael, "We have found him of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets, did write." And Nathanael cried out to Jesus, "Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel." It is obvious that each of them, using different language, intended to express the same thing that this was the expected Messiah. Again, when the elders and scribes demanded of Jesus if he were the Christ, he replied indirectly, "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God." They immediately exclaimed, “ Art thou |