was intended to secure. "CHRIST crucified," as a doctrine, is, in its most simple form of expression, that method which a GoD of infinite purity and holiness has devised, by which he might extend pardon to his guilty and rebellious creatures. We mean by it, that the death of CHRIST was a satisfaction made to the Divine justice for the sins of mankind, the benefits of which we personally appropriate by faith in CHRIST, or the acceptance of him as a Savior; we mean that without this faith in CHRIST as a Divine Savior and sacrifice for sin, that faith which receives him as a Savior, we have no rational hope of Heaven. The Scripture representation is most emphatically summed up in the Articles and Liturgy of our Church. Let me call your attention to the language, "the offering of CHRIST once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual." (Article xxxi.) In the exhortation to the Communion, that ordinance is spoken of as to be by believers, "received in remembrance of his (CHRIST's) meritorious Cross and Passion whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins and are made partakers of the kingdom of Heaven," and in another exhortation, "above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to GOD, the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY GHOST, for the redemption of the world by the Death and Passion of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who did humble himself even to the death upon the cross, for us miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death; that he might make us the children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life" and in the prayer of Consecration: "all glory be to thee, Almighty GoD, our Heavenly Father, for that thou of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son, JESUS CHRIST, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there (on the cross) by his one oblation of Himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world."

Were I to repeat the Scripture passages on which these quotations are founded, and where the doctrine is set forth in the words of inspiration, I should occupy your time far beyond the period allowed me. Suffice it to quote, " other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is JESUS CHRIST," "there is no

other name under Heaven given among men whereby we may be saved but the name of JESUS CHRIST," "CHRIST came into the world to save sinners," "In whom we have redemption by his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins."

As this is the subject of my continued pulpit instructions, and as much of what is involved in the idea of "CHRIST crucified," as a doctrine, will be connected with my subsequent discussion, I shall pass on to my second division; which is the question,

II. Why do we preach this?—and the answer is,

1. Because we know of no other way of saving sinners. Other methods have been tried, but have always failed. On this subject, there is a method of placing the truth before you, which may serve a more important purpose than argument: It is the mere naked statement of facts. The following, is from a speech of one of our Indians, on the best method of converting the Heathen. "Brethren, I have been a Heathen myself, and grown old among them; I therefore know their modes of thinking. A preacher once came to us, desiring to instruct us; and began by proving to us that there was a GOD, on which we said to him, 'Well, and dost thou think we are ignorant of that? Go back to the place whence thou camest? Then again another preacher came, and began to instruct us, saying, 'You must not steal, or become inebriated, or tell falsehoods, or lead abandoned lives.' We answered him; "Thinkest thou that we know not that? Go and practically learn these things thyself, and then teach them to thine own people; for who are more addicted to such vices than they?" Thus we sent him away also. At length a missionary came to my hut, and sat down by me. The contents of his discourse were

nearly these; 'I come to thee, in the name of the LORD of Heaven and earth. He sends me to acquaint thee, that he would gladly save thee, and make thee happy, and deliver thee from the miserable condition in which thou at present liest. To this end he became man; gave his life a ransom for man, and shed his blood for man; all that believe in the name of this Jesus, obtain the forgiveness of sins. To all that receive him by faith, he giveth power to become the sons of GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT VOL. II.-30

dwelleth in their hearts; and they are made free, through the blood of CHRIST from the slavery of sin. And though thou art the chief of sinners; yet, if thou prayest the Father in his name, and believest in him as the sacrifice for thy sins, thou shalt be heard and saved, and he will give thee a crown of life, and thou shalt live with him forever in Heaven?' I could not," added the converted native, "I could not forget his words. They constantly recurred to my mind; even in sleep, I dreamed of the blood which CHRIST shed for us. If, then," continued he, "you would have your words gain an entrance among the Heathen, preach to them CHRIST JESUS, his blood, his sufferings, and his death." Such was the judgment of this converted Heathen, and it may be illustrated and confirmed by the examination of almost any page in the history of idolatry.

Again. I was lately reading a very interesting work, viz: Polynesian Researches, or the History of Missions in the Pacific, and I was struck with the following passage, which, at the time of reading I marked down, for the purpose of using it in this discourse. It relates to the preaching of the missionaries in the island of Tahiti. "It was the custom of the missionaries, not only to instruct the natives in the school, preach to them in the chapel, and itinerate through the villages, but to assemble them for the purpose of reading from manuscript such portions of the Scripture as were deemed suitable to the circumstances. On one of these occasions, Mr. Nott was reading the first portion of the Gospel of St. John, to a number of the natives; when he had finished the sixteenth verse of the third chapter, a native who had listened with avidity to the words, interrupted him and said, 'what words are these you read; what words were those I heard? Let me hear those words again.' Mr. Nott again read the verseGod so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. When the native arose from his seat, and said, 'Is that true? Can that be true? GOD love the world, when the world not love him? GOD so love the world as to give his son to die, that man not die? Can that be true?' Mr. Nott again read the verse, told him that it was true, and that it was the message GoD

had sent to them, and that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. The overwhelming feelings of the native were too powerful for restraint or expression,-He burst into tears, and as these chased each other down his cheeks, he retired to meditate in private, on the amazing love of God which had that day reached his soul; and there was every reason to believe he was afterwards raised to share the peace and happiness resulting from the love of God, shed abroad in his heart."

Besides this, there is another most striking instance in the case of the deservedly distinguished Dr. Chalmers-1 will give his own language. "I cannot," says he "but record the effect of an actual, and undesigned experiment which I prosecuted for upwards of twelve years. During that time, I am not sensible that all the vehemence with which I urged the virtues and proprieties of social life, had the weight of a feather on the moral habits of my parishioners, and it was not till I got impressed by the utter alienation of the heart, in its desires and affections from GOD; it was not till reconciliation to him, became the distinct and prominent object of my ministerial exertions; it was not till I took the Scriptural way of laying the method of reconciliation before them; it was not till the free offer of forgiveness, through the blood of CHRIST, was urged upon their acceptance, and the HOLY SPIRIT given through the channel of CHRIST'S mediation to all who ask him, was set before them, as the unceasing object of their dependence and their prayers; it was not, in one word, till the contemplation of my people were turned to these great and essential elements in the business of a soul providing for its interest with GOD, and the concerns of eternity, that I ever heard of any of these subordinate reformations which I aforetime made the earnest and the zealous, but I am afraid, at the same time, the ultimate object of my earlier ministrations."

It is his solemn declaration, "that preaching CHRIST is the only effective way of preaching morality in all its branches." This is a subject of deep interest and value, and tells to perfect satisfaction from the experience of one of the greatest men now living; that as the preaching of CHRIST is the only way of preaching morality in all its branches, it is of course the only way of

making sinners what they ought to be; or in other words, converting them from the error of their ways, to serve the living God. And this is a main, and sufficiently impressive reason why we preach CHRIST crucified.

2. Another reason is, that this is the one great and distinguishing method adopted by the first and most successful preachers of the Gospel of the Savior.

Look at the apostles when they went forth to convert the world, and ascertain the subjects on which they insisted, in order to accomplish their object on the hearts and consciences of their hearers. The language of my text, in its impressive connection, will give you the information of their method. "The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach CHRIST crucified; to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the power of GoD and the wisdom of God." Examine also the declaration of the same apostle in another chapter. "For I determine not to know any thing among you, save JESUS CHRIST and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the SPIRIT and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." And now observe the result of this mode of proceeding. It is most beautifully and truly said by Cunningham--" During the life of CHRIST, though that life was adorned by every thing most lovely and attractive; though he spake as never man spake; though his ministry was surrounded by a blaze of miracles and mighty demonstrations of the power of GoD, few converts, comparatively, were made. But as soon as the apostles could plead the death of their master-could lead the sinner to the tomb of his Savior-could exhibit the Son of GoD, bleeding and mangled on the cross, a new impulse appears to have been given to religion, and fresh power to every sentence which they uttered. St. Peter no sooner stood up and proclaimed the Savior, whom his hearers, with wicked hands, had crucified and slain, then multitudes, as by power resistless, 'were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren what shall we do?"