cherishes and cultivates those seeds of Christian perfection, to which alone our Lord has promised a blessing. Imaginary notions of excellence, or of utility, incompatible with these, will neither permanently advance the interests of the Gospel, nor obtain its final re

compense.

Many a project regarded with admiration and pursued with eagerness by the undiscerning multitude, will, it is to be feared, be little able to abide this scrutiny. The world is full of devices for the improvement of mankind, plausible in appearance, but resting on no solid basis of Christian principle. Even Christianity itself is not unfrequently put forward to sanction that which partakes but little of its genuine character. There is no want among us of energy and activity, capable of producing great and splendid benefits, if under the control of sound judgment and wellregulated piety. But where these are wanting, fame is but "as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal'," and the good that results will be but as " a morning cloud, and as the early "dew that goeth away"."-That which is most needed among us in the present day is a steadfast, yet moderated zeal for the truth, equally remote from languor and impetuosity,

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11 Cor. xiii. 1.

m Hosea vi. 4.

vigilant and strenuous in defending the bulwarks of our faith, charitable and circumspect in conducting its defence. On the one hand, is to be avoided that restless spirit which wastes its strength in ill-applied exertions; on the other, that somnolency which slumbers in the midst of dangers, that apathy which is indifferent to the great interests entrusted to us for their preservation and support.

The well-instructed Christian, seeing thus the path of duty, and sensible of what importance, in pursuing it, may be the effect of his own individual example and exertions, will not rest satisfied with his inward persuasion of what is right and good, but will embrace every opportunity of testifying its influence upon his mind. Thus his personal

virtues will both benefit mankind and promote the glory of God. Even in the remotest walks of life he will shine as a light to others. In a more public and elevated sphere, the demands of society upon him, and the imperative calls of religious duty, will be proportionably increased. Negative worth alone will not satisfy these demands. If the single talent buried in the earth bring a condemnation upon the unprofitable servant, how much more the waste, the neglect, k k

VOL. II.

of five or ten! To those who are thus gifted, religion looks for especial support, protection, and aid. She expects the labours of the learned, the munificence of the wealthy, the patronage of the powerful, the leisure that ease and affluence can command, the vigour which native talents can supply. Wherever good is to be done; wherever piety, virtue, and humanity are to be promoted; wherever truth stands in need of vindication, or error requires to be discountenanced or restrained; all ranks and degrees of men owe their appropriate contributions and exertions. no other way can the sacred precept in the text be faithfully and effectually fulfilled.

In

That such examples do indeed abound among us in the present day, it were ungrateful to deny ;-examples of persons who, in every station or occupation, may truly be said to "adorn the doctrine of God their Sa"viour";" and whose influence, whether more or less perceptible upon the mass of the community, cannot but be widely diffusive and extensively beneficial. Nor may we doubt that in the eye of an all-seeing God, whose glory is thus most effectually manifested to the world, these are among the surest tokens that, whatever may be our demerits as a

n Titus ii. 10.

people, we are not yet entirely cast out of his favour and regard. Fearful indeed would be the times, when "the faithful" should "fail from among the children of men"." No surer prognostick could be imagined of the impending judgments of the Almighty, than that a people should thus be bereft of its best safeguard; if indeed any judgment could be more severe, or more certainly fatal, than that which leaves a nation to its own devices; undisciplined, unrestrained, uncontrolled by those feelings of love or fear towards HIM "whose kingdom ruleth over all," which alone can preserve it from working its own downfal and destruction.

They who view the subject in this light, and are sensible that "the loving-kindness of "God is better than life itself"," will be solicitous to increase the number and the influence of those whose purity of faith and practice may ensure the Divine blessing upon their country. To them, under Providence, will it be owing, that we may still flourish among surrounding nations, and our Church still continue to be "a praise in the earth 1.” Nor will they be discouraged from this perseverance in well-doing, under whatever circumstances of conflict, of difficulty, or of

• Psalm xii. 1. P Psalm lxiii. 3. q Isaiah lxvii. 2.

danger, under whatever obloquy or opposition from the enemies of righteousness and truth; knowing that it must ever be to their own temporal and eternal benefit, as well as to the welfare of the state, thus to acquit themselves as "blameless and harmless, the "sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of

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a crooked and perverse generation, among "whom they shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life;" and that they shall "rejoice in the day of Christ, that they have not run in vain, neither laboured " in vain '."

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Phil. ii. 15, 16.