Redeemer's blood, which truly speaks better things than that of murdered Abel. The blood of Abel spoke nothing but the sanguinary wrath of man, whereas the blood of Jesus shewed forth the benevolence and compassion of a God. When the shining heralds from heaven announced a Saviour's birth to the shepards watching their flocks, they proclaimed "peace on earth." The gospel is said to be a subject which belongs to our peace. Jesus lamented over the blindness and obstinacy of the Jews, because the things that belonged to their peace were "hidden from their eyes." Thus the gospel breathes nothing but peace and good will, and those who believe it, have "joy and peace in believing."

By this standard try your opinions--square them all, ye professors of christianity, by this simple rule. Bring all your notions to this criterion. Enter into a close examination. Take your creeds and confessions of faith, and bring them up to this test. By this rule you may determine how far your opinions harmonize with the gospel of peace.-Ask yourselves, in view of every article of your faith, does the belief of this article give me peace? Do the best feelings of my nature acquiesce in it? Can my soul say Amen to it? Does the belief of this give me peace and joy? If it does, it may be gospel. If it does not, it cannot be the gospel; for in believing the gospel, (or good news,) there must of necessity be peace and joy. By such a process of examination of ourselves and our creeds, we may easily determine whether we are believers of the gospel or not.

The preaching of peace by Jesus Christ, appears to be the great instrument designed in the hand of God to destroy tumults, war and enmity amongst men, and bring about the reign of universal peace and harmony. Let then the soldiers of Christ have their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace." Let them declare, both far and

near, that Christ hath broken down the middle wall between Jew and Gentile, to make of the twain one new man, so making peace--and that our captain, Jesus, is our peace (or peacemaker) who hath given Satan a mortal wound and triumphed over death, and all the powers of hell, or the grave.

Again the christian ought always to be an advocate for the things that make for peace. Whenever he sees broils and contentions on foot, let him be ready to step in as the negotiator of peace. Remember that a blessing is pronounced on the peace-maker: "Blessed," says Jesus, "are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the sons of God." Endeavor to live quiet and peaceable lives with all men.— "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” One tattler is sometimes sufficient

to keep a whole neighborhood in an uproar, but where there are peace-makers, the flames of strife soon subside and expire.

Thus the christian, by holding out the white flag of the gospel of peace for his constant signal and motto-by living peaceably himself and endeavoring to keep others so, shows to the world that he is engaged in the holy war as a soldier of king Jesus, and that his feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.

But there is another article which the Apostle introduces, as though he considered it as a part of the equipage more important still. He mentions it with peculiar emphasis. But above all, says he, "taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Well might Paul bring this in with an emphasis. For let us have all the armour of God besides, yet without faith, we cannot contend with the enemy with the least hope of

success.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God."Christ, on various occasions, taught the importance of faith. He told the disciples that if they had faith, they might "remove mountains; (i. e. mountains of difficulties and obstacles ;) or say to this sycamore tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you."

Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness; for he had faith to believe the promise of God, viz: that in him and his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. A gospel faith is a firm belief of the promises of the gospel. These promises are numerous, great and glorious; they are contained in all the prophets, evangelists and apostles. For as Peter says, the restitution of all things hath been spoken by all God's holy prophets, since the world began. The prophets predict the coming of a Messiah, who should finish sin and make an end of transgression. In agreement therewith the author of our text declares that Christ took part of flesh and blood, that through death he might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is the Devil.

Without faith, it is impossible to discharge religious duties in a proper or consistent manner. Can the minister of the word preach with effect, or to any good purpose, unless he hath faith to believe, not only that his doctrine is true, but that success will attend his labors? Can any christian pray for the salvation of every sinner, unless he has faith to believe that every sinner will be eventually saved from sin? Is it consistent to pray for the salvation of those whom the petitioner believes God has consigned over to eternal perdition, by an irreversible decree? Hence you see the indispensable necessity of faith, in the performance of religious duties. Can God be well pleased to have his children

ask him for things, which they, in their souls, believe he will never grant? No. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Faithless prayers, like those of the hypocrite, avail nothing.

Even in worldly concerns, nothing can be done to any good purpose, without faith; for this is the main-spring of action, and the more faith we have, the more active and persevering we shall be.

Would the farmer ever till the field, or scatter the grain upon the furrow, had he no faith in a future harvest? But he has faith to believe that he shall be rewarded with a crop; this stimulates him to toil-to commence his labor with the rising, and end it with the closing day. If he had no faith, he would doze away the spring in inglorious ease, and idly squander the long summer's day. And how can professed christians embark with a proper spirit, in the work of spreading the gospel, or of building up christian society, unless they have faith to believe that something can be done, in this way, for their own and others' good, and for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom? And how shall the christian soldier wage war against the enemy of souls, unless he has faith to believe he can meet and conquer the foe? A christian soldier without faith, would be like a common soldier without courage-instead of doing good in an army, he would only infuse his cowardly spirit into others, and bring on the defeat of the whole. Brethren, without faith, your efforts are in vain in the work of the Lord.Then ask faith of God. He giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not. If you had but a small amount of faith, even like a grain of mustard seed, obstacles in your way, though seemingly huge as mountains, might be removed, and habits, vices and prejudices, though rooted in your natures strong as the roots of the sycamore tree, might be plucked up and

planted in the sea of oblivion. But we who profess to be disciples of the Lord, are many of us a faithless and unbelieving race. Lord increase our faith!

But again, a soldier needs a helmet. Literally, a helmet is a piece of brass, steel, or some other metal, worn on the front part of the head to defend it from the weapons of the enemy. This kind of defence was always worn by soldiers in ancient days, and is not entirely out of use at present.— Paul, therefore, exhorts the soldiers of the cross to put on the helmet. This is the most glorious and beautiful part of the equipage of the christian soldier. What is this helmet? Paul will inform you. "And take" says he "the helmet of salvation." Salvation is the helmet which the christian wears. And where does he wear it? Ans. He wears it on his head. Having on the helmet of salvation, implies that the christian has a firm unshaken hope of salvation. But what is his hope founded on? Where is his helmet placed? A helmet would be of little use to the soldier unless fastened upon the right place. The proper place for it is the head; and the most conspicuous part of the head, is the front or forehead. Thus, the christian's hope of eternal life, or salvation, is fastened on his head: it is fixed on Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Saviour of the world; who is the glorious risen "head of every man ;" who tasted death for every man; who gave himself a ransom for all; pitiation for the sins of the whole world.

who is the pro

"God hath not

appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ; who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him." 1 Thess. v. 9, 10.

Thus, when the enemy of souls would assault the christian soldier with doubts and gloomy fears, he immediately recollects his helmet, the hope of salvation, placed on his triumphant head, the mighty Saviour of sinners. Thus