the human character, than is generally supposed. And every drop of tiger-blood there is in the heart of men, will fight against the doctrine of universal salvation. Can you wonder that it is so much reproached?

Yes, all the lusts of the world" from whence come wars and fightings among us," are at enmity with "the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men." There is the love of martial glory, that exults in its fields of carnage; there is the passion of private revenge, that plays its part on a narrower field; there are the ranklings of envy, that pines at the sight of another's good; there are the every-day bickerings, and strifes, and petty resentments, all these have a large share in men's feelings; and how can we expect that they will harmonize with the doctrine of infinite and impartial love?

When I consider how much o harisaism and false religion there is even in Christendom, opposed, as they are, in their very spirit to the purer principles of the Gospel, - when I think how much pride, selfishness, exclusiveness, cruelty, and strife, there are perpetually at work in the world, I cease to wonder at the tide of re

proach that sets, like an angry sea, against the truth of "the living God, who is the Saviour of all men." I see it to be according to the natural law of the case, that all these unholy elements should go counter to that doctrine, and incline people to prefer a religion which will furnish them with some gratification and compromise. It is a great mistake to suppose that the unsanctified passions of men lead them to choose mercy rather than sacrifice, either in their faith, or in their practice. The carnal heart itself can very willingly perform sacrifice, especially if it be well paid for the trouble; but it cannot love God supremely, and our neighbor as ourselves, nor can it be made even to pretend to do so, except on

hire.

I have thus endeavored to lay open the general, as well as the particular, causes of the reproach spoken of in our text. Did time permit, I should be glad to dwell more positively than I have done, on the moral and religious influence of the Gospel of universal salvation, and to enforce its lesson on its believers. But at this late hour, I can only commit the whole subject to

your own consciences, in the words of St. Paul in another passage: "the grace of God, which bringeth salvation to all men, teacheth us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." May God grant us the spirit of obedience to this faith, through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

13*

SERMON VI.

HOPE.

BY REV. EBENEZER FISHER.

"Hope thou in God." - Psalm xlii. 5.

Amid the troubles, and discouragements of the world, which are many; it is well to keep alive a cheering hope within the soul. It will be of great service to us to bear in mind, that to such a hope, God lends encouragement. The hope to which the writer of this Psalm exhorts his disquieted and downcast soul, has not regard to any specific thing, it is a general hope in God, and may encourage us to cherish a similar hope in him, as the Giver of all "good and perfect gifts," with whom are in store, if not the precise gifts which we expect, such, at least, as shall be sufficient for our real needs. This general hope in God, is finely expressed in the discourse on hope,