power and wisdom, of our Creator. His watchful care also, which supplies our various wants, and preserves us in the midst of danger, and suffers not even a sparrow to fall to the ground without His permission, shows that He, in whom "we live, and move, and have our being," is not far from every one of us. And, further, the inward consciousness of a future trial, which even the most hardened mind at times is forced to feel, is an undeniable proof of the creature's knowledge that his Creator is ever close at hand.

But some may wonder why I strive to prove what all most probably are ready to admit. Are any disposed to ask why I seek to establish what they never dared to deny ; what no member of Christ's Church presumes to doubt ? I know too well the dark deceitfulness of the human heart; and, wishing to guard against its dangers, I have endeavoured to establish, fully and beyond contradiction, the doctrine of the omnipresence of the Deity. We may, indeed, confess with our lips, what Elihu declared to Job, that "God's eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings;" (Job xxxiv. 21;) but mere verbal acknowledgments will not avail. Satan, in his craftiness, can spare this empty tribute of respect to the holy Being whom he opposes, since well he knows that if our respect proceeds no further, and if our minds are not practically convinced, we are still in darkness, and "in the gall of bitterness," and are not "renewed in the spirit," nor converted

to the ways of God. Oh! let it, then, be the burden. of our prayers to Heaven, that we may be enabled not merely to understand, but powerfully, effectually, and continually to feel in our hearts the omnipresence of the Deity. And may the Holy Spirit be with us, whilst I endeavour to point out the importance and beneficial effects of rightly entertaining this awakening truth!

First, with respect to its importance. It was the advice of a celebrated heathen philosopher, named Seneca, that "men ought always to act as if an eminent and virtuous person was looking on, and observing what they did." In his ignorance of the Divine nature, he gave this precept, hoping to encourage his followers in the pursuit of what was honourable, and to deter them from what was mean and wicked. But the advice he gave was founded on an accurate knowledge of human nature; for he knew that the presence of one who is superior in rank, wisdom, or piety, has always a strong influence on our life and manners; that we stand in awe, and are fearful to offend; and that we are careful to observe at least the outward appearance of virtue, and to avoid anything that might render us contemptible or disagreeable. His precept we must admire; but how different are our own circumstances! If the supposed presence of a good man, who himself is necessarily prone to err, could be expected to have influence over human conduct, how much greater must be the influence of the real

presence of a perfect, all-wise God; of that holy Being, who not only views every action in its proper light, but is intimately acquainted with the motives from which they spring!

But there is another and a very useful consideration, which we should ever keep in view-that He who overlooks us, and witnesses all that passes here below, is no idle or unconcerned spectator. If He was, it might be held of little moment whether we believed or disbelieved His continual presence. But from revelation we learn that as our watchful Guardian, who "neither slumbers nor sleeps," is acquainted with every thought, word, and deed of His countless creatures, so He preserves of them all an imperishable record. A fellow-creature may observe our conduct; but he may be too weak either to recompense what he approves, or to punish what he condemns. The case, however, is far different with Almighty God: He observes minutely; He regards deeply; He rewards or punishes abundantly; and He "shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Eccles. xii. 14.)

Con

vinced, then, of this, there is surely no consideration more likely to excite our reverence, or to restrain us from sin. I appeal to you whether one can be charged with taking unnecessary pains if he endeavour again and again to urge upon your consciences what, as each man's experience must show, too easily escapes the recollection. A serious and

realizing belief that the eye of God is ever fixed upon us is indeed most important, not only because an upright witness to our actions, even were he merely a fellow-being, would have considerable effect in restraining our conduct, but because to Him, who never leaves us, even our hearts are open; because He, knowing all our iniquities, can and will reward us as He thinks proper. Oh! how the certainty of this future judgment, when many who enjoyed this world's applause shall stand trembling and condemned before Jehovah's throne, should force us to consider our ways! It appals the mind even to think upon that day; for all past events shall then be present to our Almighty Judge ; present to Him who now is here, either grieving over our impenitence or rejoicing at our faith. Truly it is an awful consideration, cheering to the righteous, but terrifying to the ungodly, that a day must come when there can be no deception, and when He shall judge us who well knows our state. Oh! if you expect to enjoy His protecting favour then, keep in mind that He is now collecting facts which can never be forgotten: keep in mind that not a faithful service is overlooked-that all sins are noted in the book of judgment-and that every omitted duty and all impure desires are likewise most carefully recorded in it.

What, in the second place, are the beneficial effects? First of all (for there are several), it gives great and unspeakable comfort to the believer, who,

through the mercy of God, has delightful evidence that he is a member of Christ Jesus by adoption and grace. The Christian (I mean one who is really a Christian) considers himself poor, ignorant, weak, and insignificant. When he views himself, as it were, in the mirror of truth, and beholds in the pages of the Gospel the image of the holy Being, whom he is required to imitate in purity, he at once exclaims, in the language of the Psalmist,-"I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." (Ps. xxii. 6.) When he reflects upon what perhaps he once considered to be holy services, he pronounces them too worthless to be remembered by God, who "perceives iniquity even in our holy things ;" and when he thinks upon his sins, both of omission and commission, the thought necessarily arises that they are too many and too great to be forgiven. But what consolation does he now derive from the reflection that God is, and always has been, present! It gives comfort to his soul to think that He, who graciously accepted the widow's mite, and was pleased to say that even a cup of cold water given in His name shall have a full reward, knows every prayer that was sincerely offered-remembers every temptation that was faithfully resisted-has marked them with delight—and will openly acknowledge them at the day of judgment. What support does this knowledge impart to the true believer in the season of sorrow, sickness, bereavement, or desertion! When death has