to earthly things, how much more weighty the trust of fitting them for their celestial calling? Christian Parents! at the sacred font of regeneration you have solemnly dedicated your children to the service of GOD. Through His authorized ambassador they have been admitted to be God's "children by adoption and grace;" received as members of the Church, the body and the spouse of the Redeemer, and fellow-heirs with CHRIST. Looking forward to the high destinies of so holy a calling, are you not under the most solemn obligations to train them up in the ways of piety and religion; in the nurture and admonition of the LORD; that by the sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, transforming and renewing their hearts, they may be rendered meet for admission, through the alone merits of a divine Saviour, into the communion of the Church triumphant ? Moreover, correct principles are essential to correct practice; and if we would that our children should be useful and honored in life, and after death be admitted to glory, it is of the highest importance that their minds be stored with the principles of piety and virtue in early youth. And, Christian brethren, if you have any regard for the evangelical institutions of the Church, if she has secured your own attachment, because of the soundness of her doctrine, the purity and fervor of her worship, and the apostolic origin of her ministry,--ought you not to feel yourselves interested in teaching your children to walk in those " old paths" which you are persuaded are leading yourselves into the way of life everlasting? Ought you not to labor diligently for their spiritual improvement, by leading them to "drink of those fountains of living waters"* which flow through the ordinances of the Church? For these have been instituted by GOD himself as the means of grace,-the pledges of his love, the assuring symbols of his pardon and acceptance, -and the channels through which divine mercy is conveyed to the penitent and believing soul. O then, as you value your own eternal interests, -as you * Jer. ii. 13. regard the everlasting welfare of the immortals committed to your trust, who look to you for guidance and direction, see that they are brought to your and their minister to hear the words of life, and by him be taught the truth as it is in JESUS, for their edification and salvation. These are the lambs of the fold which demand earnest care and unceasing vigilance, if you would have them grounded and settled in the faith; and which, unless you, their parents, become, in this matter, to the clergy "helpers in CHRIST JESUS,"-are beyond the reach of their oversight or instruction. III. Another particular in which a Christian laity may aid the clergy, and become their "helpers in CHRIST JESUS," nearly allied to the catechetical and religious instruction of their own children, is that of lending their personal labors in the work of the Sunday School. Highly important, in every point of view, are these institutions. Their effects upon the community at large, and upon teachers and scholars, are in the very chiefest degree salutary. But time and experience have so fully developed and confirmed the most sanguine anticipations of their philanthropic founders, that you need no arguments of mine to persuade you of their utility in these respects, or to enforce their claims upon your nurturing care. Under this head I will detain you but a few moments, while I urge on you the duty of co-operating in Sunday School instruction, from its beneficial results upon the CHURCH. If we regard the Church as a divine institution, ordained of GOD to be "the ground and pillar of the truth;"* and consequently a visible society distinguished by a divinely constituted priesthood, as its only lawful officers, who alone are empowered to administer its ordinances, and that union with this "Church of the living GOD" is essential to the enjoyment of a covenanted title to salvation; and if we believe that our Church in the different grades of her ministry,-in her evangelical doctrine, and her solemn and impressive worship,-possesses those characteristics which belong to the Church universal, and which * 1 Tim. iii. 15. have been transmitted to her by uninterrupted and apostolic succession from JESUS CHRIST himself, the great head of the Church, and the only source of power and authority therein; how imperious is the obligation to labor with his ministers for the extension of the kingdom of the Redeemer? And, brethren, where can you find so legitimate a field for the cooperation of the laity in the work of spiritual instruction, as in the Sunday School? This is the nursery in which the youthful mind is to be trained to an enlightened and ardent attachment to those distinctive principles which, as integral parts of Gospel verity, constitute the excellence of the Church. This is the field wherein may be planted the seed of divine truth, which will grow up into a goodly tree, whose branches shall cover the earth, and its boughs shelter this fallen race of ours from the pestiferous blasts of heresy and schism. Yes, my fellow Christians by your pecuniary contributions; but still more, by your personal labors and exertions in the Sunday School, may you do much,-very much,-for the Church,—for the Gospel, for the souls of men. O, that our laity could be awakened to a deep sense of the magnitude of this duty; that their zeal, in the cause of divine truth, could be so enlivened, that our Sunday Schools should no longer languish for lack of the pecuniary means indispensable to their success; or their usefulness to the souls of our fellow immortals, and their advantages to the Church of the Redeemer, be committed to the uncertain care of youth who need themselves to be guided and instructed! Christians, I appeal to you as philanthropists, to aid the cause of Sunday School instruction, because you thus advance the best interests of your fellow creatures. I appeal to you as Churchmen, to give yourselves to this work, because you thus promote the cause of divine truth. I appeal to you as parents,--as Christian parents,— who feel on your souls the solemn vows and obligations of the baptismal covenant to bring up your children "in the way in which they should go,"*--to instruct them in the "one faith"† of the Gospel,-and to induce them by all possible means "to renounce and forsake the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same unto their life's end."* These are, indeed, responsible trusts, the faithful discharge of which will meet with its reward. It will be rewarded Now in the approbation of your own consciences,--in the increase of piety and virtue, of pure and undefiled religion, and all the inestimable blessings which follow in their train. It will receive. its reward HEREAFTER in the blessing of your God and Saviour, and the admission of your glorified bodies, re-united to their purified souls, into those mansions of eternal blessedness, purchased for the righteous by the meritorious obedience unto death of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. IV. A Christian laity may, still further, become the "helpers in CHRIST JESUS" to the clergy, as the divinely commissioned ambassadors of the LORD, by their prayers for the success of their labors; and by their daily walk and conversation. 1. Inspired Scripture warrants the belief, that "the fervent effectual prayer"† shall be heard and answered by "our Father in heaven;" and the apostles and first heralds of the cross besought the devout prayers of their pious converts. St. Paul, in various passages, entreated Christians to "pray for him." And, brethren, as "ministers of CHRIST," and "stewards of the mysteries of GOD," weighty indeed is the charge committed to the clergy,-numerous the difficulties of executing it faithfully and effectually,-manifold the temptations to which they are exposed,-fearful the scrutiny they must encounter at the great day of trial,—and awful the consequences of failure both to themselves and the people of their charge! O, my GoD! I shudder when I think thereon!"Who is sufficient for these things?" Taken as are the clergy from among your brethren,-men of the same tempers, and the like passions as yourselves; though set to watch over your souls, and to guide your feet into the way of salvation, we are equally subject to the infirmities of a * Office for Baptism. VOL. IV.-4 † James v. 16. 2 Cor. ii. 16. weak and depraved nature as other Christians. The great and precious "treasure" committed to us, is reposed in "earthen vessels."* Hence the necessity of God's grace to enable us to prosecute the work, and perfect our weakness in divine strength. This grace and this strength must be sought by diligent prayer. An especial promise awaits that prayer where "two or three" unite their "common supplications" "in CHRIST's name;"† and if" the fervent effectual prayer of one righteous man availeth much," how exceedingly may a united people help" their clergy when their petitions ascend to heaven as one voice, imploring "grace to help in time of need" upon the faithful pastor's head,-to strengthen his weakness,-to enlarge his mind, and to fill his heart with zealous and faithful longings for the salvation of the souls committed to his charge! 2. The laity, moreover, may do much, very much, to aid the diffusion of Gospel truth, by their daily walk and conversation. The precepts inculcated by the clergy they may enforce upon all within the sphere of their influence; their expostulations and exhortations may find responsive notes in the hearts of their hearers, and by these be conveyed with powerful and resistless effect in their own families, and places where the voice of the messenger of the Lord JESUS might scarcely reach. Yes, Christian Laity! when you cause "your light to shine before men, that they seeing your good works glorify your Father in heaven," your example carries the seasonable admonitions of your pastors, where their voice might not have sounded; for it presents a standing exhortation to piety and virtue, and becomes a stern-visaged reproof to iniquity and vice. Every individual in the community is possessed of influence within his sphere, which it is his bounden duty to exert for the cause of truth. As Churchmen, therefore, it should be your privilege, as well as your duty, to labor for the extension of the Church in its integrity,-ministry and worship and ordinances. From various causes prejudices, strong and bitter, thanks to Gon, gradually wearing away, but of long continuance, exist * 2 Cor. iv. 7. + Matt. xviii. 20. Heb. iv. 16. § Matt. v. 16. |