“I sin in every breath I draw, Nor do thy will, nor keep thy law On earth as angels do above: But still the fountain open stands, Washes my feet, my heart, my hands, Till I am perfected in love.” 4. We may observe, thirdly, a deep conviction of our utter _helplessness_, of our total inability to retain any thing we have received, much more to deliver ourselves from the world of iniquity remaining both in our hearts and lives, teaches us truly to live upon Christ by faith, not only as our priest, but as our king. Hereby we are brought to “magnify him” indeed, to “give him all the glory of his grace,” to “make him a whole Christ, an entire Saviour,” and truly to “set the crown upon his head.” These excellent words, as they have frequently been used, have little or no meaning. But they are fulfilled in a strong and a deep sense, when we thus, as it were, go out of ourselves, in order to be swallowed up in him; when we sink into nothing, that he may be all in all. Then his almighty grace having abolished _every high thing which exalted itself against_ him, every temper, and thought, and word, and work is _brought to the obedience of Christ_. LONDONDERRY, _April 24, 1767_. SERMON XV.[28] THE GREAT ASSIZE: ROM. xiv. 10. _We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ._ 1. HOW many circumstances concur, to raise the awfulness of the present solemnity? The general _concourse_ of people of every age, sex, rank and condition of life, willingly or unwillingly gathered together, not only from the neighbouring but from distant parts! _Criminals_, speedily to be brought forth, and having no way to escape: _officers_ waiting in their various posts, to execute the orders which shall be given: and the _Representative_ of our Gracious Sovereign, whom we so highly reverence, and honour. The _occasion_ likewise of this assembly, adds not a little to the solemnity of it: to hear and determine causes of every kind, some of which are of the most important nature: on which depends no less than life or death; death, that uncovers the face of eternity! It was doubtless in order to increase the serious sense of these things, and not in the minds of the vulgar only, that the wisdom of our forefathers did not disdain to appoint even several minute circumstances of this solemnity. For these also, by means of the eye or ear, may more deeply affect the heart. And when viewed in this light, trumpets, staves, apparel, are no longer trifling or insignificant, but subservient in their kind and degree to the most valuable ends of society.