malice, against wrath and strife, against violence and sedition. Men have frequently been hurried on to the act of shedding innocent blood, while their hearts have been enslaved by some unlawful object. Here also we must diligently keep our hearts, since out of them are the issues of life;" and we must cautiously guard against the beginnings of evil, which though small at the first, may soon acquire an overpowering velocity. But if we are duly sensible of our own weakness and depravity, we shall earnestly cry unto God, as the God of our salvation, for grace and power, that we may be delivered from all blood-guiltiness, and may "lift up holy hands" unto him in prayer "without wrath and doubting"; that the love of God and of our neighbour being shed abroad in our hearts, we may follow all such things as are pure and peaceable, lovely and of good report; and may be ready to promote the present and everlasting welfare of all mankind.

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There is another view according to which we may become obnoxious to the charge of bloodguiltiness, this is in a spiritual sense, when we are negligent about our own salvation, and the salvation of those who are committed to our trust. How frequently have parents, and

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masters, and rulers, exposed themselves to a severe sentence by not making a suitable provision for the eternal happiness of their children, their servants, or their subjects; by withholding from them wholesome instruction, and by causing them to go astray by means of their own corrupt and impure example! If those are verily guilty of a heinous crime who destroy men's lives, who shed human blood, what shall be said of the guilt of those who destroy men's souls, who lead the young and thoughtless into the haunts of vice; and instead of checking them, encourage and embolden them to proceed in the broad way which endeth in destruction!

This is an important consideration for the heads of families; and seeing how defective are all our exertions with respect to those who are placed under our authority, we may well adopt the prayer of David, each for himself,--Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

*[ We also to whom the dispensation of the Gospel is committed, may often be afraid, lest This passage inclosed within Brackets may be omitted, if the Sermon is read in a family,

any of our charge should perish through our inattention, or in consequence of our not "declaring unto them all the counsel of God." On this ground it becomes us to be watchful and vigilant; and it should be our constant desire and prayer to be " pure from the blood of all men," that if any are lost, "their blood may be on their own head," and that on our part there may be no want of sound instruction, affectionate warnings, friendly admonitions, encouraging advice, and unceasing prayers. We must so preach "repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," that we" may warn every man, and teach every man in all wisdom," and if possible "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; and may thus become, not "the savour of death unto death, but of life unto life" to all our hearers.]

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3. We observe, that we cannot praise God aright, unless he opens our lips. Our lips are often closed by a sense of guilt, and the fear which oppresses our hearts causes us to feel a reluctance to set forth the praises of God, though we confess that he is the God of our salvation, and that our tongues ought to sing aloud of his righteousness. But when he sets our hearts at liberty, by shewing us his exceedb Acts xx. 26, 27. e Acts xviii. 6. d Acts xx. 21. e Coloss. i. 28. f2 Cor. ii. 16.

ing great and precious promises, by causing us to see his loving kindness in the land of the living, by affording us a lively hope of mercy and forgiveness; then our lips are opened and our mouth will show forth his praise. From the fountain of love and gratitude that is opened within our hearts, we shall send forth a stream of praise and thanksgiving; we shall sincerely endeavour to make a suitable return to the God of our salvation for all the benefits that he hath done unto us: we shall "sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." When this takes place, we shall praise God, not "with feigned lips," but with a heart overflowing with a sense of his loving kindness.

Again; our lips are often closed, as to things of a spiritual and heavenly nature, by the heavy cares and polluted enjoyments of this present world. Many can open their lips in speaking readily on the fluctuating occurrences of time, or in spreading defamation around them, or in uttering such words as may do hurt; but they seldom pray with David, Open thou my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. Here they are dumb, and that member which ought to be their glory, is slow g Ephes. v. 19, 20. h Psal. xvii. 1.

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in setting forth the praises of their heavenly King. We ought therefore to "keep our mouth," as it were, "with a bridle," that we may not speak unadvisedly with our lips, that when we come into the sanctuary of God, our lips may not be closed with the feeling of shame, nor be chilled by fear, nor be rendered barren by earthly cares. We should desire to set forth the praises of God with our mouth, in magnifying his righteousness, in justifying his ways, in spreading abroad his truth, and by "declaring his salvation from day to day," as the God of our life, the source of all blessings, "the fountain of all goodness," and "the Father of mercies." We should praise Him who has hitherto supported us, and has borne with our ingratitude, and has provided for our redemption through the Gospel of his Son. When our lips are properly opened to set forth the praises of God, we shall be ready to say with David, on another occasion, "Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.'

i Psal. xxxix. 1. k xcvi. 2. 1 Psal. ciii. 1-4.