the wrath and curse of God; to bring it into a state of peace and favour with Him; and to confer on it a title to everlasting life and glory. All these things are included under the notion of bringing the soul into a state of salvation. And is Christ able to do all these things?" I am persuaded," (says the Apostle) "that He is able." He felt assured, that there was no part of this work, great and difficult as it might seem to be, which Christ was not able to accomplish. By his spirit He was able to quicken, renew, and sanctify the soul; to deliver it from the dominion of original corruption; and to make all things new within. By the merits of his obedience and death, He was able to atone for its of fences, to justify it in the sight of God, and to reconcile it to His favour. For all these purposes the Apostle was persuaded of the ability of Christ: for he knew that He was God and Man in one Christ. He knew that by virtue of this mysterious union He had of fered up a sufficient sacrifice of a sweetsmelling savour unto God, was advanced to the Head of the Mediatorial Kingdom, and had received of the Father the promise of the Spirit. Knowing these things, the Apostle did not doubt of Christ's Power and Efficiency to bring the soul into a state of Salvation. He was persuaded of his Ability to do

guilt and corruption, and for imparting to it a meetness and a title for heavenly glory.

Secondly, This Persuasion of the Apostle implied that Christ is able also to preserve the soul in a state of salvation. To bring the soul out of its natural state of depravity, gnilt, and misery, into a new state of holiness, peace, and happiness, is one thing; but to keep and preserve it in this state, is another thing: and another, not less essential to its final salvation. To have been redeemed from the bondage of corruption; to have received a new life, new prospects, new hopes; to have been rescued from the pit of destruction; and to have had the Kingdom of Heaven opened before it, would after all be but a small thing for the soul, if it should be afterwards suffered to lose the things which it had gained; if it should be left to fall away from this state of salvation, to relapse under the power of sin, and to become subject again to condemnation. It is not enough for the saving of the soul that it has been brought into a state of salvation; it must be kept and preserved in that state. And consider, what this keeping and preserving of the soul in a state of salvation includes. Consider, how many things oppose the progress of the soul in its way to Heaven. Within there is the remainder of the old nature, which still strives for mastery, struggles against the new na

ture, and labours to bring the soul again under the dominion of sin and lust. Without there is the world assaulting it with all its formidable engines; at one time alluring with its flattering promises and tempting prospects; at another threatening with all its fury, virulence, and malice. Around on every side, and at every step, are the innumerable and invisible Powers of Darkness, plotting and endeavouring the soul's destruction; all leagued against it under their subtle and implacable Leader, who as a roaring lion goeth about, seeking whom He may devour. Surely amidst such dangers, and against such enemies, to keep the soul in safety, to preserve it in a progressive course of faith and holiness, is no easy work, and requires no feeble efforts. Who is sufficient for these things? St. Paul again will answer us, "Christ is sufficient for them." "I am persuaded that He is able to keep the soul unto that day :" unto the end of its course, unto the day of its separation from the body; unto the day of its final judgement, and of its actual admission into the realms of glory. The same Divine and Almighty Saviour, who has begun a good work in us, is able also to perfect it. He who first quickened us, can preserve the life which he has given. He, who reconciled us when enemies to God, by His own blood,

us by His power unto salvation. He, who has brought us nigh unto God, is surely able to save us unto the uttermost, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us. He, who came to destroy sin, can surely destroy its power in our hearts. He, who overcame the world, can enable us to overcome it too. He, who vanquished the Powers of Darkness, can make us more than Conquerors over them. He, who triumphed over Death and the Grave, can cause us also to triumph over them. Surely the Lord is sufficient for these things. His works, His offices, His victories, all proclaim His ability "to keep that which is committed unto Him." Well might the Apostle be persuaded of this truth, and in the Persuasion of it look forward with confidence to his own everlasting Salvation. Especially when to this persuasion he added, as the other ground of his assurance,

II. A Consciousness that he had himself committed unto Christ his own Soul.

It must be evident that such a Consciousness was indispensably requisite to complete the foundation of his hopes; for however firmly he might be persuaded of Christ's ability to save the souls committed to Him, he yet could not be assured that He would save his soul unless he felt conscious of the fact, that it was really committed unto him, But he did feel conscious of this fact. He did

feel conscious, that He had committed his soul unto Christ to be saved, and kept by Him against that day.

Let us now see what things this Consciousness also implied.

It implied that he had knowingly given up all thoughts and hopes of saving himself by his own merits and doings. Once these had been his thoughts and hopes. He had thought of recommending himself to God by his own works. He had hoped to obtain eternal life by his own righteousness. In these thoughts and hopes he had long lived. He had fondly cherished them, and anxiously clung to them. But he was now conscious that in this respect He had been greatly changed. He had distinctly and decidedly renounced all thoughts and hopes of this kind. He had seen the vanity of all such delusive foundations, He had renounced them for ever. In examining the state of his mind, and on looking back into his feelings and experience, he was convinced that this was the case. could clearly trace the progress and change, which had taken place in his sentiments in this respect. Those things, which had once been gain to him, he now counted loss. His own righteousness, which once appeared to him a rock, he now saw to be sand. He had

He