humble mind, an increase of knowledge may injure, instead of benefitting the holy cause, which otherwise it may promote. Much as is claimed for clerical learning, and however great its importance, yet without the religion of the soul,-without the life of GOD experienced there,-without an abiding love for the Saviour, prompting the desire to become more and more worthy in a ministerial station, knowledge will be vain and useless. The man who dares to seek the office of an ordained servant of the ALMIGHTY, without the spiritual qualifications,— without a full measure of practical piety,-without a renewed heart, without the holy desire prompting him to glorify his GOD and Saviour, touches the ark of the LORD with unclean hands, and at the peril of his poor soul. Yet, while his godly conversation in one particular, is all requisite to the exercising of his ministry to the honor of his great Head; there is an additional claim, that he be "apt and meet for his learning, in edifying the Church ;"-that " he be furnished with all needful knowledge," to the end that "he may rightly divide the word of truth." He is to look to the souls within his cure ;-to dispense to them, when wearied and oppressed with the convictions of sin, the gracious promises of a crucified LORD;—to bid them hope, when they would despair;-to close up their wounds with the balm of the everlasting word, and to cheer them with the communications of future glory, amid present sorrow and affliction. Holy sacraments and ordained mysteries are committed to his administration, as means of grace, and the confirming of a saving faith. An interest in eternity, and the things of eternity, is to be awakened, and, through the aid of a divine Spirit, holiness of life, and the increase of the lovely graces of the blessed Gospel, are to be promoted in the heart. He is not only to direct immortal beings to the Church in her triumphant glory, but also labor, through gracious assistance from above, to qualify them here for the blessed company that surrounds the throne of the Lamb.

But beside these fearful responsibilities, the minister of CHRIST is called to the discharge of others, of which that altar has witnessed the assumption. He is to "be ever ready with.

all faithful diligence to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God's word;"

"to be constant in reading the holy Scriptures, and in applying himself to such studies as help to the knowledge of the same." With engagements like these, such vows uttered before omniscience, with the expectations, nay, the claims that our beloved communion has upon us, can we be remiss in providing the necessary stores of sacred learning? If the expulsion of heresy, if a fearless contending for "the faith once delivered to the saints," and for which saints have cheerfully died, are made to be our duty, how can that duty be more effectually discharged, than by arming ourselves with those weapons, through which, and heavenly power, the glory of the Church may be preserved. The advocates of evangelical truth and primitive order ought to strive to become more learned than the promoters of human schemes and modern irregularities. The successors of the apostles, and the ministry in the Church, which they transmitted in purity to our keeping, should qualify themselves for exposing, by sound arguments derived from the source of all truth, the hurtful theories which fanaticism have so fearlessly proclaimed. In our day, the strongest appeals are addressed to us, that, amid the convulsive movements in Christendom, we be not indifferent to the "signs of the times;" that, while the bold attacks of infidelity,-the energetic and extensive operations of a corrupt Church,-the hidden, but yet progressive extension of Socinian heresy,-the wild and uncontrolled frenzy of fanatical proselytism, we be not unmindful of our sacred trust,-to preserve our altars from impurity, to afford an asylum to the soul of man, and a secure refuge, where she may rest upon the holy Scriptures for her faith, and contemplate in spirit, holy apostles and martyrs as its confessors.

Brethren in the ministry, these remarks have been made in all humility, and not from a self-flattering belief, that he who has presented them, is qualified to offer any thing more instructive than has already been examined by your own minds. His object has only been to remind you, and above all, his own

heart and conscience, that we are stewards of divine mysteries, -preachers to an unbelieving and vain-glorious world,expounders of the book of eternal life; he would remind you that our Divine Master has committed to our keeping and due employment a most sacred trust, a most precious talent, and that hereafter, a strict inquisition will be had, as to its profitable exercise. He would refer you to the long array, the mighty host, so calm and beautiful, of the fathers of the Church to which it is our privilege to belong, who from age to age have stood forth her boldest champions, raising their voices in defence of our holy religion: he would point out to you the virtuous, and pious, and learned of our communion, who have merited so well of it, and all Christendom;-men who headed the Reformation, and went glorying to the stake,-who translated the Bible, and at the imminent, deadly peril of their lives, procured that it be set up in churches;-men whose works will endure so long as the language in which they are written will last, and which will be read so long as veneration for the good, and admiration of sacred literature, are among the sensibilitles of the human heart. "If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think" upon those who once ministered at our altars; and, while enjoying the shade and shelter of their noble strength,-when looking up to the majestic fabric which singly they have aided in erecting, be it our delight to emulate their splendid example: though to fall short of their deservings would be no shame, as to reach the lowest point of their excellence would be our glory!

And we might refer you to those of this branch of the LORD'S Zion, whose names and lives are a savour of sanctity and learning;—to that holy man of GOD,* that venerable patriarch in the existing line of the Apostles' successors, whom heaven, in mercy, has spared unto this generation,-the living commentary upon Gospel virtue, and the cheering evidence of its hallowing influence upon the heart. We would point to him in his "good old age," so serene and calm, so honored and

* Bishop White.

reverenced, prepared and waiting for the summons of that Master, whom he has so well and so long served in his kingdom on earth, and would say that he, to whom all delight to render the tribute of their esteem, is not more eminent for his piety than illustrious for his sacred learning. And we would call to your remembrance another,* but who has been gathered to his reward!—whose name and whose praise can be found "in all the churches,"-whose active and devoted labors in the Redeemer's cause have been rehearsed in far-off lands, and which have earned for him the meed of honor for primitive zeal, and an apostle's spirit. Is it necessary to mention the name of Hobart, who bent his mitred head to the lisping child of the Sunday School, and supplied it with the primary lessons of our divine religion; or who, looking to the numerous wants of the communion, furnished its clergy with the valuable productions of his vigorous and well-cultivated mind. Or is it called for, that we remind you of him whom we all knew, and knowing, loved, and loved, too, so much,-that fearless champion, who so earnestly contended for the "apostles' doctrine" and primitive order in your Diocese, when irregularity prevailed, and error was triumphant,-who toiled, and that successfully, the LORD strengthening him, in the field of labor, to which he was ordained;—who, living, planted himself before the altar of his GOD, and when dying, grasped its horns, still harnessed for the warfare, breathing forth with his departing spirit the victorious confession of his faith, and the fervent prayer for acceptance with the great Captain of his salvation.

These are names that will be for ever hallowed in the memory of the Church,-names of sainted men, dear to her people for all that gives grace to the heart, and elevation to the mind. Let it be our endeavor to trace their path to eminence ; let our piety be as ardent as theirs,-our zeal as devoted,our concern for souls as great. Our duty is before us, as the register of our vows is in heaven; and divine assistance is promised in aid of their fulfilment. With an abiding sense of

* Bishop Ravenscroft.

VOL. IV.-18

our momentous responsibility, let us continue in spiritual improvement of ourselves, and in dispensing immortal food to others. And when our stewardship shall have ended, and our account been called for, may an admission into the temple above, into the Church triumphant, be our reward, through the merits of the Great Shepherd and Bishop of souls!

THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISES GOD:

A Sermon,

BY THE REV. PALMER DYER,

MISSIONARY AT SYRACUSE, ONONDAGA CO., N. Y.

Psalm lxxvi. 10.-"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

THIS psalm was probably written shortly after the destruction of the army of Sennacherib, and in special reference to that wonderful event by which God delivered his people from the hands of their enemies. In order to punish the Jews for their iniquities, and to humble and reform them, that they might be more faithful in serving and honoring him, the ALMIGHTY employed the impious king of Assyria as his instrument. Sennacherib was permitted to inflict his wrath upon that people, and to chastise them, by taking all the fenced cities of Judah. Thus far his rage was suffered to vent itself, because it was working the Divine will, and its beneficial consequences to the Jewish people would redound to the glory of God. But when Sennacherib would have proceeded against them further than was necessary to accomplish the ends of justice and mercy,-when he would have carried his rage to an extremity, by sacking and destroying the holy city, GoD restrained his wrath, by cutting off in one night his numerous host, and thus preventing the execution of his barbarous purpose.

Thus doth the great Head of the Church and Governor of the Universe always control the enmity and rage of the ungodly.