of God within you is, to such men as the Pharisees, without observation.

IV. There is a fourth respect in which the kingdom of God is without observation. As the graces abovementioned are secret and spiritual, so that blessed spirit which produces them is unobserved in its operation. The scriptures abundantly assure us of the necessity of its energy in the production of the moral graces, flowing from its influence; but at the same time they speak of it as discoverable by its effects alone. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth; so is every one who is born of the spirit." The subject of its influence is unable accurately to discriminate between the operation of his own faculties aud the aid he receives. He may often be surprized to perceive a greater clearness of views, and a stronger impulse to duty, and a more powerful restraint from evil, than he is wont to feel; yet still it is only in the result that he perceives the value of that influence. Often the passions may be awakened in a very unusual degree, and their direction and aspect have regard to religious things, and yet all the excitement arise from inferior causes, and subside with them. The terrors of an earthquake, the novel scenes and sympathies of a camp meeting, or the passionate address of the humblest individual, without sense or reason, are often suffi, cient to put the soul in violent agitation; and this is often considered the work of the spirit, and perhaps rejoiced in as conversion. But the work of the spirit is,

at least most usually, of a milder character and less ostentatious appearance; beginning in awakenings of conscience, in a greater illumination of the understanding, in imparting strength to principles in the heart, and warmth and a true direction to its affections, and in gentle excitation of the passions. These thoughts seem confirmed by that emblematical appearance of the Lord to Elijah on mount Horeb. As he stood upon the mount before the Lord, behold, he "passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle; he believed God to be in the still small voice. The effects of the spirit's operation are of a gentle nature

"The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace; and the wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits. I remark once more

V. The blessings and comforts of the kingdom of God are, in a great measure, without observation.

This certainly is true in the highest respect in which we can speak of them, because its chief and everlasting blessings are to be seen and enjoyed in the world to Of those blessings the subjects of this kingdom have a high degree of enjoyment in this life, in the steady faith with which they regard them, and the earnest hope with which they apprehend them. It was

come.

this view of faith and assurance of hope, which inspired the apostles with consolation and joy in the midst of losses and sufferings as great and trying as human malice could invent. In the midst of them they could say, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”—They acknowledged that if it were not for their hope, they should be the most miserable of men. But they counted that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed. Now this rich festival, this holy banquet, at which the christian partakes daily through his lively hope, is all withdrawn from the observation of such as the Pharisees were, from the proud, the sensual, the worldly, the covetous. But, like their Lord, " they have meat to eat which the world knows not off." Around their camp the manna falls, and "they live on angel's food." But it is time to improve the subject.

However thoughtless thousands are about it, we perceive that the kingdom of God is come, that it is near us, and among us, and let me say,—

1. First of all, that we are under infinite obligations to enter into it, and to become its willing and obedient subjects.

It is not left to our option whether we will submit to the human government under which we were born; we must "submit for wrath, if we do not for conscience sake." Yet human government partakes of imperfection, and in many of its forms and under many of its administrations imposes unjust burthens and inflicts unmerited evils. This is not the case with the spiritual

kingdom, of which we are speaking. The highest good of the subject is consulted in every measure. The laws are all just and equal, and directly tend to secure peace, comfort, and joy to the obedient. The laws of this kingdom are, in fact, so many wise counsels and parental directions in obtaining the highest perfection and felicity of our nature. The laws of this kingdom point out the only remedy for sin, and its present and future evils. By a sincere repentance, a hearty return to obedience, and a faith which works by love, we are assured there may be deliverance from guilt, and wo, and danger. This kingdom is in fact, every way perfect. The blessed and Almighty Ruler is not only righteous, but merciful, not only rewards the faithful, but forgives and blesses the penitent. Do we then refuse to be subjects of this kingdom, and say, "We will not have this man to rule over us?" If so, what must be our condition, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe."

2. As it is thus dangerous to neglect our duty in this high respect, we are deeply concerned to enter into this kingdom without delay. It is always nigh unto us; its laws are known and familiar; and the blessed Spirit, which is freely given to them that ask, is ready to help our infirmities. But delay is big with danger. The difficulty of subjection will be enhanced by habits of sin, and the hope of divine influence will grow fainter and fainter, if we continue resisting or grieving the

spirit. O let it of a truth be said of us that "the kingdom of God is within us:" that "every thought of our heart is subjected to the law of Christ." When this shall be the case, heaven will be let down into our souls; and a measure of its peace and joy will be imparted to us; enough at least to be a most precious foretaste of "joy which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart on earth fully conceived."

3. From our subject, we learn that true religion is, in its nature, still and unostentatious.

It is not anxious to draw upon it the eyes of the world—is not apt to say with Jehu, "Come, see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts." It delights in retirement, in the private duties of religion, in secret communion with God, in unseen struggles with remaining corruptions of the heart, in unobserved labours, and, by men, unheard prayers for divine help to "add to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity." It pants with longing solicitude for those humble graces, which the world overlooks or despises, but which it knows are in the sight of God of great price. There is a holy delicacy, a lovely modesty in true religion, which constitutes its highest charm.-Yet let me not be misapprehended as intimating, that it shrinks from observation as unwilling to be seen on proper occasions, or unwilling to be scrutinized to the uttermost and brought to the most fiery trial. Many of the duties of religion are public in their very nature; they are social, and must be performed in company; such are the