immediately informed; but, it is evident from his subsequent conduct, that he retained his faith, and grew more and more confident in the profession of it. On a future occasion, when the chief priests and Pharisees had sent officers to take Jesus, with an intention to punish him without a legal trial; Nicodemus gently reproved their prejudice, and checked their violence; "he said unto them, Doth our law judge any man "before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" And, after the crucifixion of our Lord, he is particularly mentioned as uniting with Joseph of Arimathea in paying the last honours to the dead body of their crucified Redeemer; "for he brought a mixture of "myrrh and aloes; and they took the body of Jesus, " and wound it in linen clothes, with the spices, as the "manner of the Jews is to bury; and laid it in a new "sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid." All these circumstances combined, present to our view a character, to which I shall, at this time, request your particular attention: from a due contemplation of it, we may derive much instruction, adapted to the situation of Christians in general, but especially of those who move in the more elevated ranks of life, distinguished by wealth and power.

And, 1st. We may observe the unhappy state of that man, whose bosom is agitated with two opposite and contending principles; who is not yet directed by what our Saviour denominates a single eye, which fills the whole body with light. Perhaps, perfect consistency and uniformity of conduct is never to be attained by such a weak and complicated creature as man. But still, a settled principle of action may be acquired, which will evidence itself in all the more material

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i occurrences of life. Though the flesh, (the vicious part of our nature,) lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these two are contrary the one to the other, it is possible, if not to exterminate the foe, at least to abate and restrain his power. When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he had engaged in the :contest, but his victory was far from being complete. Either from ocular demonstration, or from credible

report, the miracles which had been performed convinced him, that Jesus was a teacher sent from God; and that, therefore, his word deserved the highest reverence and most implicit obedience. But, he was a ruler of the Jews; his conduct would be, therefore, severely scrutinized: that divine Teacher, whose cause he was inclined to espouse, was persecuted by the people, and was particularly odious to his brethren the scribes and Pharisees. Thus, truth called him one way, and worldly interest and honour prompted him to a contrary course. The force of truth, indeed, prevailed-he followed her heavenly direction; but it was with caution and timidity. This is a pitiable state, for, while the mind is thus distracted, there can be no vigorous exertions; and, of course, no high attainments in virtue.

The Gospel has been transmitted down to us, as the word of God revealing a wonderful method of salvation to ignorant and helpless mortals. And if, with Nicodemus, we are convinced, that Jesus was a teacher sent from God; let us receive his instructions with reverence, and obey them with affectionate zeal. Let our professions of fidelity and love be sincere, and our obedience prompt and unreserved. Our Lord will not be satisfied with partial affections and mutilated

services. The kingdom of God is the pearl of great price; to purchase it, we must sell all that we have. The world is not to be gained, if it cannot be acquired, but with the loss of our own souls. The most laudable affections of our hearts are to be restrained, whenever they rise in competition with the love and duty which we owe to God. For thus our divine Teacher has assured us-"He that loveth father or mother more "than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth "son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. "But, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy "heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy "strength." Let it not be said, that these are severe injunctions. The most worthy objects are certainly entitled to the highest regard. Every tender and benevolent passion was undoubtedly implanted in our bosoms for wise and useful purposes; but still, on all occasions, they should be exerted in subordination to the will of God. He deals with us, as with creatures who were formed for immortality; and therefore with justice expects, that we should never hesitate to sacrifice things temporal, whenever they would obstruct the attainment of the happiness which is eternal.

2dly. From this passage of sacred history, we may remark, what dangerous temptations worldly wealth and honour throw in our way, to cause us to swerve from the direct path of our duty; or, at least, to embarrass and impede our progress. Had not Nicodemus been a rich and powerful ruler of the Jews, he would not have come to Jesus with such cautious secrecy, and trembling hesitation. Hence, our Lord declares "That a rich man," that is, one who trusts in riches, "shall hardly enter into the kingdom of

"heaven." And, it is to be feared, there will be too much reason to acknowledge the justice of this alarming declaration; if we consider the common frailty of human nature, and the general tendency of affluence and power. Is it not a melancholy truth, that the rich and prosperous man, in the multiplicity of the blessings which surrounded him, is too often seduced into a disregard of the bountiful Giver of all good things? that he is so elated with his superiority on earth, as to forget that he is accountable to a Master who is in heaven? that he is so perplexed with the cares, or dissipated with the pleasures of this world, as to make religion merely a secondary concern? Why is the beauty of holiness, the public service of the Church, so frequently disregarded? It is wealth that, in too many instances, seduces and vitiates the hearts of men. Furnished with the means of immoderate gratification, they depart from the practice of the primitive disciples; and eat not their meat, the rich portion which has been imparted to them, with pious gladness, and singleness of heart. They forsake the house of God, of which the Psalmist asserts-"I have loved the habitation "of thy house, and the place where thine honour "dwelleth." They absent themselves from the prayers and praises which are offered up in the congregation of the faithful, upon pretences which neither reason nor Scripture will justify; either to complete some worldly business, which might have been sooner settled; or to saunter away an idle hour; or to recruit from the stupifying effects of some late scene of dissipation; or, in compliance with the dictates of imperious fashion, to revel at some luxurious entertainment. But, is this a reasonable way of testifying our gratitude

to God, for all the benefits which he has bestowed upon us? Shall the greatest blessings only give occasion to the greatest neglect of our religious duties? Shall they who enjoy most, for which they ought to be thankful, be the most remarkable for ingratitude? Shall they who are so situated as to be least in subjection to the will of others, regulate their time in such a manner, as to devote the smallest part, or no part at all of it, to the service of Almighty God?

Would those who are fixed in the conspicuous ranks of life, seriously consider the extensive influence of their good example; how decent and ornamental rational piety is, even in the most elevated stations; what countenance they might afford to the weak and needy; what encouragement to those who are appointed to minister at the altar; what advantage to the community at large, by diffusing a spirit of pure and undefiled religionwould the rich and powerful seriously consider these momentous truths; surely, not much persuasion could be necessary to induce them, with uniform attention to keep God's Sabbaths, and to reverence all the ordinances of his sanctuary. They would be ready to exclaim" My foot standeth right; I will praise the "Lord in the congregations. I will hate the assembly "of the wicked, and will not sit among the ungodly. "I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord, and so "will I go to thine altar: that I may show the voice "of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. "For I shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy "house; and thou shalt give me drink of thy plea"sures, as out of the river. For with thee is the well "of life, and in thy light shall we see light."

3dly. We may observe, that the dread of singu