ing the actions of Deity, whether in His divine character or when incarnate, the sacred writers have named human passions and infirmities, those feelings are therefore sinless in their real existence in man. If that were so, this whole inference would arise: that the excess of anger would also be right, because the effects of divine wrath are spoken of in terms descriptive of the highest pitch of anger in the human soul. Who would argue thus from the words of the Prophet Ezekiel ? “And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken."* These and many similar expressions are evidently figurative; and as they mark the excess of anger, which Scripture, all acknowledge, clearly forbids, they plainly prove that though anger is ascribed to the Divine Mind, it by no means follows that anger in man is not a sin. The terms are simply adapted to the common ways of thinking and acting amongst men, and prove nothing in support of the argument for upholding anger as a lawful feeling.

The texts upon the necessity of meekness and deep humility of mind are plain and express, and very numerous. We must not then * Ezekiel, xxxviii. 18, 19. 2 F

THIRD COURSE.

suffer that which can be but figurative, to be identified as feeling for a useful aid and guide, which is elsewhere virtually forbidden, and from which the ordinary ills and trials of human life, even in its nearest relations, continually flow.

The time will not now permit us to continue the argument in support of that view of the subject before us, which has been defended; and we must therefore postpone the further consideration of this important subject till we may again be permitted to meet for purposes of mutual instruction.

In the mean time let us remember the only real and practical end of all religious discussion, the progress of the soul in the spiritual life, according to the ascertained will and command of Almighty God. Without this, all our researches into the word of His sacred book will be unprofitable, and vain, and dangerous. They will then serve only to puff up our minds with knowledge that "edifieth not," and to harass our souls with feelings of unkindly suspicion, and unbrotherly demeanour towards those with whom we differ. The only proper end of searching the Scripture is, that we may find out what the will of God is, that, by the help of His Holy Spirit, we may perform it in our daily lives, and make it the only foundation of all our hopes of peace and

happiness, as well in this world, as in the world

to come.

Let us, then, so learn Christ. He is the Word, and in and through Him are revealed "the whole counsel of God." We are His, through His own redemption; we are His, if we seek Him, through the gracious inhabitation of His Spirit, who condescends to make the bodies of penitent believers "the temples of the Holy Ghost." Let us remember this great "mystery of godliness," and cultivate and pray for that meekness, gentle ness, and goodness, which He only can give, and which He will not refuse to fervent prayer, followed up by a holy faith and a consistent life. The evil that is within us will become subdued more and more, and the graces, the peace, and the joy of the spiritual life will abound in us. The discipline of time will then advance us to the knowledge and to the obedience of God's will; and His own promise in Christ will be our great, our most undeserved reward: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." This if we gain, our salvation will be finished: but if, through sin, we lose the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Saviour, we have no other who shall plead for us "in that day." The sins of time will then be followed up by the punishments of eternity, and the evil disposi

tions, selfish feelings, and unkind tempers, which shall have marred our peace and destroyed charity here, will be made in dreadful increase, the bitter accompaniments of unmixed wretchedness, when the last sentence shall be passed; when the respite of an hour must be refused, and the eternal separation from God, in His great attribute of mercy, be finally fulfilled.

1

SECOND SERMON ON ANGER.

1 ST. PETER, CHAPTER 3, VERSES 3, 4.

"Whose adorning―let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price."

WHEN We all feel convinced of the prevailing influence of temper, good or bad, upon the happiness or the misery of mankind, in all classes, ages, and distinctions of human society, it will not seem a needless employment of o our time and attention to renew the consideration of these words of the holy Apostle. A clear and positive determination of what is intended by them, as well as by multiplied other and similar passages in the Word of God, will best lead us to the great and profitable application of what we learn, for the government of the natural feelings, and the acquirement of better feelings from the gift and mercy of God.

When we lately considered the character of the human passion of anger, our thoughts