self not only to be destitute of the principles of a Christian, but the honour of a man: and for want of common honesty, he ought to be shunned by all reputable society. Herod, though he was grieved at his promise, yet would not refuse to ratify it, for his oath's sake. Jephthah, though he had to sacrifice his own daughter, yet, said he, 'I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.' 'A good man sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.' And we know who has said, 'When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?' Therefore let us consider

III. THE CONDEMNATION OF THE TRANSHere we have both the sentence and the evidence upon which it is adjudged.

GRESSOR.

The first is thus expressed: 'Insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with with good-will at your hand.' And is this a light thing? God is the supreme good. In His favour is life. It is the most delightful consciousness in the world to know that we are accepted of him; and to have the testimony that we please God. But all here is aversion, rejection, contempt. I will have no communion with you. I hate not only your sins, but your services.'

It would seem surprising, indeed, that those who live in disobedience to his commands, should yet be found attending the worship of God at all for there is much in the Dutch proverb, Praying will make a man leave off sinning, or sinning will make a man leave off praying.' But the heart is deceitful above all things, as well as desperately wicked: and the inconsistencies it is continually putting forth, are as wonderful as in things in the course of nature or order of providence. There are those who will observe the form of godliness, and deny the power of it. There are those who will support the cause of Christ and

defraud their tradesmen who will regard the positive ordinances of religion; and neglect its moral requisitions: who will value the ritual part of devotion, and violate the practical. How many are godly on the Sabbath, and worldly all the week! Who appear saints in the house of God, and are demons in their own! Are there not some who even maintain morning and evening service in their families, and yet cover the altar of the Lord with tears, and with weeping, and crying out?

...

But let such know that omission is preferable to perversion. And let them go and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice.' "God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.' 'He that stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself; and shall not be heard." Hence the God of Israel saith, 'He that killeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.' Wherefore? Were not

these observances of His own appointment? They were. But He loathed them when they became substitutes for moral principle, or connected with practices which he had condemned. Therefore, says he, 'Wash ye, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes. Seek justice; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; plead for the widow. Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.'

Is this a light thing? More is implied than is expressed. There is no medium between non-acceptance with God, and condemnation. If we are not in his favour, we are under his wrath. And who can stand before Him when once He is angry? The grand question is, In what relation are we found to Him? Is He our friend or our foe? If our foe, he can arm all creatures against us: he can operate immediately upon our mind: he can pursue us beyond the grave, which screens us from all other enemies; and, after he hath killed, I can cast into hell. He that judgeth us is

the Lord.

And if He be for us, who can be

against us? He can make all things work together for our good. They whom he blesses are blessed and they whom he curses are cursed and none can reverse it.

And is this a light thing? Wisdom cries, Hide not thy face from me: put not thy servant away in anger. There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me. And, to heal this broken heart; to soothe every sorrow; to sweeten every comfort; to raise me above the fear of every evil; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

But, secondly, who are these? In order to punish legally, there must be not only guilt, but conviction; and there is no conviction without evidence, without witness. Who is the witness here? God himself. The Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion and the wife of thy covenant.' This indeed is a case in which human witness is not, and cannot be always attainable. A few transgres