of his principles. The Chapel was finished within the space of six months; and when every preparation was made for opening it, he paid another visit to his native village, accompanied by Mrs. and Miss Holmes. The opposition which had been raised against the measure, gra dually died away, and some of the most violent, and bigoted, were brought to admit, that it was likely to prove advantageous to the morals of the people. At length the morning dawned on which the Chapel was to be dedicated to God, and Mr. Holmes rose at an early hour, when he saw the heavens assuming a frowning aspect. About six o'clock, the storm appeared to have collected all its materials; and threatened every moment to break forth in the violence of its fury-The industrious bees were returning with breathless rapidity from their distant excursions; the cattle sought shelter under the wide spreading branches of the trees, or the sheds in the neighbouring yards; the song of the earliest bird was silenced, and no sounds were heard, but the bleating of a few sheep-the fall of a beautiful cascade in a distant glen-and the hollow murmurings of the wind, amongst the trees which surrounded the sequestered dwelling, from whence he viewed this appalling scene.-On entering the kitchen, he met the old shepherd, who had penned his folds on the farm for more than fifty winters, who in reply to a question respecting the weather, said, "I think, Sir, the storm will blow off, and we shall have a fine day." This remark raised his spirits, and he collected together the family and knelt down and prayed. About seven o'clock the clouds began to disperse, the bees were seen repassing the parlour window in which the family was taking breakfast, and when they had finished, the sun disengaged himself from the vail of darkness in which he had been enveloped, and threw around him his bright and enlivening rays. It is a pleasant thing," said Mr. Holmes, "to see the sun; but I have never gazed on him with so much delight as at this moment." "A fine emblem," Miss Holmes replied, "of Him, who sometimes in an unexpected moment breaks in upon the midnight of the soul; and who, I trust, will arise and shine on the inhabitants of this darkened village, and bless them with the light of life, and of bliss."

The Chapel was erected on a piece of freehold land, near the Inn, where the villagers had been accustomed to spend the sacred hours of the Christian Sabbath; and about ten o'clock the village began to present a delightful scene to the eye of the Christian Philanthropist. On the green, was pitched a large and handsome marquee, which Mr. Holmes brought from London, for the purpose; it was surrounded by every kind of vehicle, from the tax cart, to the stately carriage, and different groups of people were moving towards the house of prayer, as the bell sent forth its sounds, which were returned in more softened notes from neighbouring and distant echoes. The chapel was crowded to excess, and the Rev. Mr. B. of commenced the Service, by reading the following hymn, which was sung with great animation and delight.

O Lord our God, thy people hear,

Thy presence now display:

May this be call'd an "house of prayer;"
O grant us hearts to pray.

Within these walls let holy peace,

And love, and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience easé,
The wounded spirit heal.

Send down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love
Who never lov'd before.

The feeling heart, the melting eye,
The humbled mind bestow,
And shine upon us from on high
To make our virtues grow.
May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our prayers:
And in the presence of our Lord,
Unburthen all our cares.

And may the gospel's joyful sound,
Enforc'd by sovereign grace,

Awaken many sinners round,

To come and fill the place.

After reading the Scripture, and offering up a solemn and appropriate prayer, the Rev. Mr. who accompanied Mr. Holmes from London, preached a very beautiful and impressive sermon from John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begot

ten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "I am not aware," he remarked, after he had repeated his text, "that I could have selected a more important, or a more interesting passage than that which I have just read. A passage which throws open to our view, our moral danger, and the exuberance of the Divine compassion; and such is the force of emphasis which the Redeemer has given to the love that God has displayed towards fallen man, that if I could speak with an eloquence superior to the captivating and subduing powers of an Angel of light, I should be incapable of doing it adequate justice. He so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son; and yet, by many, this gift is esteemed as a thing of nought; and all references which are made to its immense value, are regarded as the sallies or excesses of a disordered imagination, or a mean, and contemptible fanaticism. He has so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. But alas! the danger which awaits us is disbelieved; and the happiness the Son of God came to bestow is despised."

He divided his text in the following order,

1. The moral condition of men, of every rank, and of every description of character, is alarming.

II. To deliver them from this state of moral danger was the express design of our Lord's mission.

III. Such is the tenderness of his compassion, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

IV. Saving us from the misery which we deserve, by the gift of his only-begotten Son, is a most astonishing display of the love of God.

When speaking under the second division of his sermon on the design of our Lord's mission, he delivered the following passage, which made a deep impression on the audience. "Had one of the highest orders of Angels assumed a human form, and announced to us some scheme of redemption from evil, and from ruin, it would have been, on our part, an act of folly and ingratitude to have treated the message of mercy with indifference. But, Brethren, no Angel, however exalted, could

redeem man from the curse of that law which he has broken, or conduct him to the repossession of that purity, and honour, from which, by transgression, he has fallen. Therefore God gave his only-begotten Son. He united, in his own person, every attribute of Deity, and every perfection of humanity;-displaying a majesty, combined with a tenderness of character, which alternately excite our awe, and confidence. With what ease did he rule the elements of nature-heal the maladies and disorders of sin-remand the souls of the departed from the invisible world; while, with all the familiarity and compassion of a near and beloved friend, he mingles his tears of sympathy with the suffering mourner, and enthrones the peace of heaven, in the heart of woe.

Suppose, my brethren, one of the elders of Israel, after having been present at the giving of the law at Sinai, and after having seen the mysterious sights, and heard the mysterious sounds, which were seen and heard on that Mount of awful majesty and terror, had then fallen into a trance, and continued in that state till the night before the angels of Bethlehem made their appearance. Suppose he had then awoke and had been told, that, that law which had been given with so many awful accompaniments, had been broken, and that the lawgiver, was on the eve of sending his only-begotten Son into the world; would he not have concluded, that his mission would have been one of vengeance?-But no!-God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He gave his only-begotten Son, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life. What is it, for man to perish? I cannot tell-I have never seen the judgment seat of Christ!I have never beheld the awful glory of that scene of terror!-I have never heard the final sentence, Depart!-I have never been banished far, and for ever away, from bliss!-I have never endured the agonies of the worm that never dies! the fire that is never quenched!--Indeed, my Brethren, I cannot tell what it is to perish!-It is a state of misery which no imagery can represent which no language can describe-which no imagination can conceive-But have everlasting life!! It is life which gives to every other

possession its determinate value. For what is beauty without life, but a faded ornament? what is wealth without life, but a useless substance? what is honour without life, but a bursted bubble? Skin for skin, all that a man hath, will he give for his life. So much do we prize this invaluable possession, that rather than lose it, we should consent to part with one limb, and one sense after another, till all are gone. But, brethren, the period is not far distant, when like our forefathers we must resign it, and be numbered with the dead; yet Jesus Christ says he that believeth in me shall never die. This promise must be taken in a restricted sense, as his disciples are no less liable to the visitations of death than his enemies. Their faith in him does not operate as a charm to repeal the law of mortality; neither does it exempt them from the diseases and pains which usually precede its infliction. But though they die a natural death, yet they immediately enter on the full enjoyment of eternal life-when they

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dissolve their connexion with the inhabitants of this world, they become fellow citizens with the saints in light-when they close their eyes, on the present scene of mortality, they open them on the visions of celestial glory; and when their bodies are committed to the tomb, their immortal spirits are enjoying that endless life, over which death has no power. This life will be a life of perfect purity-of perfect knowledge, and of perfect felicity; and will continue unimpaired by sickness, and undisturbed by care, for ever and for ever.

And our text says that whosoever believeth in the Son of God shall have everlasting life. No one is denied the invaluable blessing on account of the obscurity of his origin, or the inferiority of his rank; for though these circumstances of distinction have a powerful effect on us, yet they have no influence over the mind of the Saviour, who looks with as much benign regard on a penitent villager, as a repenting citizen; and is no less willing to save a poor neglected pauper, than the rich nobleman, who fares sumptuously every day.

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