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our present houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, whose strength must be perpetually renewed by sleep and refreshment, whose motions are sluggish and inactive, which are every moment subject to sickness and pain, decay, death and corruption. But, I cannot state the contrast in more striking language than it has already been done by St. Paul."It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption-it is sown in dishonour, it is raised "in glory-it is sown in weakness, it is raised "in power-it is sown a natural body, it is "raised a spiritual body." I shall only add, that, the same change shall take place in those who are alive at Christ's second coming, as well as in those who have been dead and buried. For, as the same great Apostle says, "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of "an eye, at the last trump."

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Wherefore, my beloved brethren, seeing "these our bodies are to become instruments "of glory hereafter, how ought they to be in"struments of grace here? for grace is the "dawn of glory, as glory is the meridian of grace. Seeing we are to have such bodies, "what ought our souls to be, for whom such

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"bodies are prepared? And how ought we to 'spend our short moments of probation in

cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the "flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the "fear of God."* In a word, since death is swallowed up of victory, since they who sleep in the dust shall awake, let us ascribe thanks to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishop Horne.

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SERMON IX.

On the tendency of afflictions to form the christian character.

HEB. CHAP. 12, Ver. 11.

"Now, no chastening, for the present, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

IT perplexed the sages of antiquity to reconcile many parts of the plan of providence, with the justice and goodness of the Governour of the world; and it has often disquieted the minds of good men to behold the exaltation of the wicked, and the depression of the righteous. The wiser among the heathens had, in general, recourse to the supposition of a future state, wherein men would be rewarded or punished according to their actions and characters; and christians have trusted, with humble resignation, in the wisdom of that Being

who makes light to arise out of darkness, and order out of confusion. Indeed, though clouds and darkness frequently surround the Supreme Being, yet justice and judgment are always the habitation of his throne. Though his ways are often beyond the reach of mortal eyes, yet his plan, when completed, shall be found consistent with the most perfect goodness and rectitude. For, though pain and evil cannot be emanations from the divine attributes, they may still be essential parts of the divine administration, considered as means to an end, and as tending to promote the perfection of the christian character.

The question, then, is whether afflictions have such an influence? The Apostle says they have : they yield the peaceable "fruit of righteousness to those who are exer"cised thereby." To illustrate this proposition, is the object of this discourse. It will, therefore, be necessary

I. To explain the effects which, by the assistance of the Spirit, afflictions are calculated to produce upon the heart and character of christians.

II. To state those conclusions which obviously arise from the subject.

The present is evidently a state of probation, wherein man is bred up amidst trials and hardships, and thereby fitted for a more perfect state in another scene of existence. The progress of sanctification is gradual; and it is only after long discipline and much correction that the child of God becomes complete in holiness. If, at regeneration, the corruption of the sinner were totally removed; if the seeds of grace, when once implanted in the soul, did instantly grow up to maturity, then, it might be difficult to perceive, either, the necessity or utility of afflictions. But in this mixed state of things, when even in the best of men, there is a law in the members which wars against the law of the mind, afflictions become highly necessary to aid the exertions of the latter, and to promote the christian's growth in grace. For scripture, experience, and the reason of the thing must convince us that they are excellent ministers to bring men unto Christ.

It must be observed, however, and the observation refers to the whole of this discourse, that, afflictions can produce no good effect, where they do not meet with grace in the heart. Unless God's spirit co-operate with