meaning, neither was it so used in Scripture nor in our text. It must be admitted indeed that the things that are sacred should be things that are serious; they are not to be trifled with. Religious concerns are important and solemn; they regard God, the soul, and eternity; and require a serious frame of mind when we are engaged in them, as nothing is more likely to conduce to our improvement by them than this state of mind. Therefore says David, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence of all them that are about Him." Therefore Paul requires us to "have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." "How dreadful is this place!

This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" Yea, and the gate of hell too; when there is one that goes to heaven from the House of God, how many are there who go from thence to hell! And the Gospel itself is to them "the savour of death unto death."

II. Having noticed the object of contemplation, let us consider THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE OBJECT. "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities."

To whom is this addressed? Does the prophet address the worldlings? or awaken penitents or believers? or God Himself? We may take them all in here.

First, we consider him as addressing the worldling. To them He speaks, and says, "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities." This should be a look of conviction. "See," you should say to them, "how far superior are our enjoyments to things of time and sense. Is there anything like satisfaction in any of your pursuits and successes? Are you not while "observing lying vanities, forsaking your own mercies"? And have you not found, as Job says, that "in the midst of your sufficiency you are in straits"? Have you not found, in the midst of your enjoyment, a cold and aching void which leads. you still to ask, "Who will show us any good?"

There are persons, and you know many of them, who have been delivered from their evil passions and affections; and, possessing a confidence in God, they enjoy a peace with God 'passing all understanding." They can "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Are not these persons worthy of your belief? Why do you think they are not? Why do you think hey endeavour to impose upon you? They tell you they never knew anything of real liberty till Christ had made them

free; they were strangers to real pleasure as long as they were strangers to Him. O turn, therefore, from a world that is full of vanity; forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way everlasting." Drop the sons of vanity, and run and "take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew," saying, “We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you." Moses did so, and "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." David did so. He came down from his throne, and praying by the humblest subject of divine grace, he said, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation; that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance."

He addressed this to the awakened penitents. To them He said, "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities:" and this should be a look of encouragement. Zion has long fixed my gaze, long have I admired her, and desired her condition. "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel ! Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Do you say, “O that I were a companion of all them that fear Thee !" and "no longer a stranger and foreigner"? Well, look here, see not only their privileges, but remember how they obtained them. "They were once children of wrath, even as others;" and destitute of all spiritual blessings: but now hear them saying, "We, who were sometime far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ;' By the grace of God we are what we are." The door by which they entered is open still; and the inmates, so far from wishing to engross the blessings to themselves are saying, "Come in thou blessed of the Lord, why standest thou without?" They are saying, "Come with us, and we will do thee good for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel." Yes, they will rejoice when they see you, because you have hoped in the truth. This is their aim, and what they make known. "That which we have heard and seen," say they, "declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

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Thirdly, He addresses this to believers themselves, and says,

"Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities," and say with David, They are the excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight." Look with a look of gratitude, and "learn in whatsoever state you are therewith to be content." Why should you envy the rank of others? You have a much more noble descent, you have much greater treasures, even "unsearchable riches;" you have much better enjoyments, and can say

"The hill of Zion yields

A thousand sacred sweets,

Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets."

Why should you murmur and complain because some things are withholden from you? Many things are given to you which are withholden from them, and infinitely superior too. What is their portion compared with yours? or their rock, compared to your Rock, even if you are under the rebukes of Providence, though these may produce an unfavourable conclusion in your minds, for "Zion said, My God hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Look with a look of glory, and say with Isaiah, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation." Look with a look of zeal. Remember the language of David, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee." See what is to be done with regard to this church of the living God, and what you can do in the condition and sphere in which you are placed, and then comply with the admonition of the psalmist, and exclaim, "Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad because of Thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." And, oh, if you are struck now, when you look upon Zion in its present excellencies and attainments, what will it be when you view it in its final and finished state; when what is here spoken of shall be accomplished: "Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended"? when what John says shall be fulfilled: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jeru

salem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away "?

Lastly, he says to God Himself, "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities." This is similar to what we find in one of the psalms: "Lord, look down from heaven; behold and visit the vine." The same thing under another image is here enjoined by the prophet: "Give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth." David says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;" praying that God would look upon Zion, that He would heal its breaches and divisions, that He would enlarge its borders, that He would lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes, that she may break forth, on the right hand and on the left; then shall the church go forth, "clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners."

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XXV.

THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL.

(Delivered on Thursday Evening, July 9th, 1846.)

"But Israel shall be saved in the Lord."-ISAIAH xlv. 17.

OUR divines of former years, "of whom the world was not worthy," were, among other things, noted for drawing distinctive. characters in their sermons, and addressing them separately, always having, as they said, a word for saints and sinners. Let this be called formal if you will; it has the sanction of God's authority, who says to His ministers, "Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat of the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his deeds shall be given him." And it can plead also inspired example. Says Paul, "He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Says Solomon, "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath hope in his death." And so in the words which I have now read: "They," says Isaiah, “shall be ashamed; and also confounded; they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the Lord."

I wished to have noticed the whole of this combined passage, but I perceive it will lead us to trespass too long on the time allotted for this service, and therefore I confine your attention exclusively to the latter part; calling upon you to observe the heirs of promise, the blessing announced, the manner in which it is to be realised, and the assurance of the possession.

Let us consider THE HEIRS OF PROMISE. "Israel." The word Israel may be noticed three ways. First, personally. The name belonged originally to Jacob. You are informed