Now if the Father give unto us His Spirit, He will make us His true sons and heirs, that we may with confidence cry with Christ, Abba, Father; being His brethren and fellow heirs. The Apostle has well set forth the goodness of God which makes us partakers with Christ, and causes us to have all things common with Him, so that we live and are led by the same Spirit. These words of the Apostle show that the Holy Ghost proceeds from Christ, as he calls Him his Spirit. So God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son, that is, of Christ, for He is the Spirit of God, and comes from God to us, and not ours, unless one will say after this manner, "my Holy Spir it," as we say "my God," "my Lord," etc. As He is said to be the Holy Spirit of Christ, it proves Him to be God of whom that Spirit is sent, therefore it is counted H's Spirit.

Christians may perceive by this whether they have in themselves the Holy Ghost, to wit, the Spirit of sons; whether they hear His voice in their hearts: for Paul saith, He crieth in the hearts which He possesseth, Abba, Father; he saith also, "We have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father." Thou hearest this voice when thou findest so much faith in thyself that thou dost assuredly without doubting, presume that not only thy sins are forgiven thee, but also that thou art the beloved sons of God, who, being certain of eternal salvation, durst both call Him Father, and be delighted in Him with a joyful and confident heart. To doubt these things brings a reproach upon the death of Christ, as though He had not obtained all things for us.

It may be that thou shalt be so tempted as to fear and doubt, and think plainly that God is not a favorable Father, but a wrathful revenger of sins, as it happened with Job, and many other saints: but in such a conflict, this trust and confidence that thou art a son ought to prevail and overcome. It is said "The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered; and that He beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." How can it therefore be that our hearts should not hear this cry and testimony of the Spirit? But if thou dost not feel this cry, take heed that thou be not slothful and secure; pray constantly, for thou art in an evil state.

Cain saith, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from Thy face shall I be hid; and it shall come to pass that every one that findeth me shall slay me." This is a dreadful and terrible cry, which is heard from all Cain's progeny, all such as trust to themselves and their own works, who put not their trust in the Son

of God, neither consider that He was sent from the Father, made of a woman under the law, much less that all these things were done for their salvation. And while their ungodliness is not herewith content, they begin to persecute even the sons of God, and grow so cruel, that, after the example of their father Cain, they can not rest until they slay their righteous brother Abel, wherefore the blood of Christ continually cries out against them nothing but punishment and vengeance; but for the heirs of salvation it cries by the Spirit of Christ for nothing but grace and reconciliation.

The Apostle here uses a Syrian and Greek word, saying, Abba, Pater. This word Abba, in the Syrian tongue, signifies a father, by which name the chief of monasteries are still called; and by the same name, Heremites in times past, being holy men, called their presi dents at last, by use, it was also made a Latin word Therefore that which Paul saith is as much as Father, Father; or if thou hadst rather, "my Father."

Verse 7. "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." He saith, that after the coming of the Spirit, after the knowledge of Christ, "thou art not a servant." A son is free and willing, a servant is compelled and unwilling; a son liveth and resteth in faith, a servant in works. Therefore it appears that we can not obtain salvation of God by works, but before thou workest that which is acceptable to Him, it is necessary that thou receive salvation; then good works will freely flow, to the honor of thy heavenly Father, and to the profit of thy neighbors; without any fear of punishment, or looking for reward.

If this inheritance of the Father be thine by faith, surely thou art rich in all things, before thou hast wrought any thing. It is said "Your salvation is prepared and reserved in heaven, to be showed in the last time," wherefore the works of a Christian ought to have no regard to merit, which is the manner of servants, but only for the use and benefit of our neighbors, whereby we may truly live to the glory of God. Lest that any think that so great an inheritance cometh to us without cost (although it be given to us without our cost or merit), yet it cost Christ a dear price, who, that He might purchase it for us, was made under the law, and satisfied it for us, both by life and also by death.

Those benefits which from love we bestow upon our neighbor, come to him freely, without any charges or labor of his, notwithstanding they cost us something, even as Christ hath bestowed those things which are His upon us. Thus hath Paul called back the

Galatians from the teachers of works, which preached nothing but the law, perverting the Gospel of Christ. Which things are very necessary to be marked of us also: for the Pope, with his prelates and monks hath for a long time intruded, urging his laws, which are foolish and pernicious, disagreeing in every respect with the Word of God, seducing almost the whole world from the Gospel of Christ, and plainly extinguishing the faith of sons, as the Scripture hath in divers places manifestly prophesied of His kingdom. Wherefore let every one that desires salvation, diligently take heed of him and his followers, no otherwise than Satan himself.

DISCOURSE THIRTY SECOND.

PHILIP MELANCTHON.

THIS distinguished fellow-laborer of Luther was born February 16, 1497, at Bretten, in the palatinate of the Rhine. His name was origin. ally Schwartzerd, (blackearth,) which he changed, in keeping with a frequent custom of that age, into the Greek name of the same signification -Melancthon. In 1510 he distinguished himself as a student in the University at Heidelburg, and later at Tübingen, where he acquired great reputation as Lecturer on the Greek and Latin authors. In the twenty-second year of his age he became Professor of the Greek language and literature at Wittenburg, where he embraced the evangelical faith, and soon after began those efforts which contributed so much to the progress of the Reformation. His mildness softened the rigor of Luther; and his superior scholarship, amiable disposition, gentleness, tenderness, and moderation with the opposite party, made him peculiarly suitable as a mediator. Melancthon wrote several able works, drew up the Augsburg Confession, and its celebrated apology, preached, and lectured, and traveled, and labored incessantly, often amid injustice and abuse, until in the month of April 1560, at Wittenburg, he fell asleep in Jesus. Melancthon's figure is described as diminutive, and meager from industry and abstemiousness; but his forehead was high, arched and open, beneath which his clear, handsome eyes announced an energetic, lively mind, which lighted up the countenance when he spoke.

A new edition of Melancthon's works complete is given by Bretschneider in his "Corpus Reformatorum," commenced in Halle in 1835. In his religious discourses plain good sense, extensive erudition and profound piety are prominent characteristics. With little regard, apparently, to rhetorical niceties, he brings forth the treasures of Scriptural truth in a good, homely manner, and with a sympathetic and paternal spirit apportions it to the necessities of his hearers. For him the doc trines of Christianity, as he conceived them, were a living and precious reality; and as such he impressed them on people who thought not of caviling, but accepted them with believing simplicity, as the indubitable and entire counsel of God.

We are not aware that a sermon of Melancthon has ever before been given to the English reader. The discourse which follows was delivered in 1550, and breathes the sweet and gentle spirit of its author.

THE SECURITY OF GOD'S CHILDREN.

"Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand."-JOHN, x. 28.

To Thee, almighty and true God, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all creatures, together with Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, to Thee, the wise, good, true, righteous, compassionate, pure, gracious God we render thanks that Thou hast hitherto upheld the Church in these lands, and graciously afforded it protection and care, and we earnestly beseech Thee evermore to gather among us an inheritance for Thy Son, which may praise Thee to all eternity.

I have in these our assemblies often uttered partly admonitions and partly reproofs, which I hope the most of you will bear in mind. But since I must presume that now the hearts of all are wrung with a new grief and a new pang by reason of the war in our neighborhood, this season seems to call for a word of consolation. And as we commonly say, "Where the pain is there one claps his hand," I could not in this so great affliction make up my mind to turn my discourse upon any other subject. I do not, indeed, doubt that you yourselves seek comfort in the Divine declarations, yet will I also bring before you some things collected therefrom, because always that on which we had ourselves thought becomes more precious to us when we hear that it proves itself salutary also to others. And because long discourses are burdensome in time of sorrow and mourning, I will without delay bring forward that comfort which is the most effectual.

Our pains are best assuaged when something good and beneficial, especially some help toward a happy issue, presents itself. All other topics of consolation, such as men borrow from the unavoidableness of suffering, and the examples of others, bring us no great alleviation. But the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us and raised again, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, offers us help and deliverance, and has manifested this disposition in many declarations, I will now speak of the words, "No man shall pluck