prepared to begin an endless course of happiness and glory. All these delightful things have been poured into your lap, and have come unbidden to solicit your acceptance. If these blessings awaken not gratitude, it cannot be awakened by blessings in the present world. If they are not thankfully felt by you, it is because you know not how to be thankful. Think what you are and where you are, and what and where you just as easily might have been. Remember that, instead of cherishing tender affections, imbibing refined sentiments, exploring the field of science, and assuming the name and character of the sons of God, you might as easily have been dozing in the smoke of a weekwain, brandishing a tomahawk, or dancing round an embowelled captive; or that you might yourselves have been embowelled by the hand of superstition, and burnt on the altars of Moloch. If you remember these things, you cannot but call to mind also, who made you to differ' from the miserable beings who have thus lived and died.

2. This doctrine forcibly demands of you moderate desires and expectations.

There are modes in which men seek happiness, in the enjoyments of the present world. Most persons freely indulge their wishes, and intend to find objects sufficient in number and value to satisfy them. A few aim at satisfaction by proportioning their desires to the number and measure of their probable gratifications. By the doctrine of the text the latter method is stamped with the name of wisdom, and on the former is inscribed the name of folly. Desires indulged, grow faster, and farther, than gratifications extend. Ungratified desire is misery. Expectations eagerly indulged, and terminated by disappointment, are often exquisite misery. But how frequently are expectations raised, only to be disappointed; and desires let loose, only to terminate in distress. The child pines for a toy. The moment he possesses it he throws it by, and cries for another. When they are piled up in heaps around him, he looks at them without pleasure, and leaves them without regret. He knew not that all the good which they could yield, lay in expectation; nor that his wishes for more would increase faster than toys could be multiplied; and is unhappy at last. for the same reason as at first: his wishes are

ungratified. Still indulging them, and still believing that the gratification of them will furnish the enjoyment for which he pines, he goes on, only to be unhappy.

Men are merely taller children. Honour, wealth and splendour, are the toys for which grown children pine; but which, however accumulated, leave them still disappointed and unhappy. God never designed that intelligent beings should be satisfied with these enjoyments. By his wisdom and goodness, they were formed to derive their happiness from Virtue.

Moderated desires constitute a character, fitted to acquire all the good which this world can yield. He who is prepared, in whatever situation he is, therewith to be content,' has learned effectually the science of being happy; and possesses the alchymic stone which will change every metal into gold. Such a man will smile upon a stool, while Alexander at his side sits weeping on the throne of the world.

The doctrine of the text teaches you irresistibly, that since you cannot command gratifications, you should command your desires and that as the events of life do not accord with your wishes, your wishes should accord with them. Multiplied enjoyments fall but to few men, and are no more rationally expected than the highest prize in a lottery. But a well regulated mind, a dignified independence of the world, and a wise preparation to possess one's soul in patience, whatever circumstances may exist, is in the power of every man ; and is greater wealth than that of both the Indies, and greater honour than Cæsar ever acquired.

3. As your course and your success through life are not under your controul, you are strongly urged to commit yourselves to God, who can controul both.

That you cannot direct your course through the world, that your best concerted plans will often fail, that your sanguine expectations will be disappointed, and that your fondest worldly wishes will terminate in mortification, cannot admit of a momentary doubt. That God can direct you, that he actu ally controuls all your concerns; and that, if you commit yourselves to his care, he will direct you kindly and safely, can be doubted only of choice. Why then do you hesitate to yield yourselves and your interests to the guidance of your Maker?

There are two reasons which appear especially to govern mankind in this important concern; they do not and will not realize the agency of God in their affairs, and they do not choose to have them directed as they imagine he will direct them. The former is the result of stupidity, the latter of impiety. Both are foolish in the extreme, and not less sinful than foolish.

That he who

St. Paul

The infinitely wise, great and glorious Benefactor of the universe, has offered to take. men by the hand, lead them through the journey of life, and conduct them to his own house in the heavens. The proof of his sincerity in making this offer has been already produced. He has given his own Son to live, and die, and rise, and reign, and intercede for our race. • Herein is love,' if there ever was love; not that we have loved him, but that he has loved us.' has done this should not be sincere, is impossible. therefore triumphantly asks what none can answer, 'He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' Trust then his word with undoubting confidence, take his hand with humble gratitude, and with all the heart obey his voice, which you will, everywhere hear, saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it. In sickness and in health, by night and by day, at home and in crowds, he will watch over you with tenderness inexpressible. He will make you lie down in green pastures, lead you beside the still waters, and guide you in paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.

He will prepare a table enemies, and eause your When you pass through

before you in the presence of your cup to run over with blessings.' the waters' of affliction, he will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you.' From their native heavens, he will commission those charming twin sisters, Goodness and Mercy, to descend, and follow you all your days.'

But if you wish God to be your guide and your friend, you must conform to his pleasure. Certainly you cannot wonder, that the infinitely Wise should prefer his own wisdom to yours; and that he should choose for his children their allotments, rather than leave them to choose for themselves. That part

of his pleasure which you are to obey, is all summed up in the

single word Duty; and is perfectly disclosed in the Scriptures, The whole scheme is so formed as to be plain, easy, profitable, and delightful: profitable in hand, delightful in the possession Every part and precept of the whole is calculated for this end, and will make you only wise, good, and happy.

Life has been often styled an ocean, and our progress through it, a voyage. The ocean is tempestuous and billowy, overspread by a cloudy sky, and fraught beneath with shelves and quicksands. The voyage is eventful beyond comprehension, and at the same time full of uncertainty, and replete with danger. Every adventurer needs to be well prepared for whatever may befal him, and well secured against the manifold hazards of losing his course, sinking in the abyss, or of being wrecked against the shore.

These evils have existed at all times. The present, and that part of the past which is known to you by experience, has seen them multiplied beyond example. It has seen the ancient and acknowledged standards of thinking violently thrown down. Religion, morals, government, and the estimate formed by man of crimes and virtues, and of all the means of usefulness and enjoyment, have been questioned, attacked, and, in various places, and with respect to millions of the human race, finally overthrown. A licentiousness of opinion and conduct, daring, outrageous, and rending asunder every bond formed by God or man, has taken place of former good sense and sound morals, and has long threatened the destruction of human good. Industry, cunning, and fraud, have toiled with unrivaled exertions, to convert man into a savage, and the world into a desert. A wretched and hypocritical philanthropy also, not less mischievous, has stalked forth as the companion of these ravagers; a philanthropy born in a dream, bred in a novel, and living only in professions. This guardian genius of human interests, this friend of human rights, this redresser of human wrongs, is yet without a heart to feel, and and without a hand to bless. But she is well furnished with lungs, with eyes, and a tongue. She can talk and sigh, and weep at pleasure, but can neither pity nor give. The objects of her attachment are either knaves and villains at home, or unknown sufferers beyond her reach abroad. she ministers the sword and the dagger, that they may fight their way into place, and power, and profit.

To the former,

At the latter,

she only looks through a telescope of fancy, as an astronomer searches for stars invisible to the eye. To every real object of charity within her reach, she complacently says, Be thou warmed, and be thou filled; depart in peace.'

By the daring spirit, the vigorous efforts, and the ingenious cunning so industriously exerted on the one hand, and the smooth and gentle benevolence so softly professed on the other, multitudes have been, and you easily may be, destroyed. The mischief has indeed been met, resisted, and overcome; but it has the heads, and the lives, of the Hydra; and its' wounds,' which at times have seemed deadly,' are much more readily 'healed' than any good man could wish, than any sober man could expect. Hope not to escape the assaults of this enemy: to feel that you are in danger will ever be a preparation for your safety. But it will be only such a preparation; your deliverance must ultimately and only flow from your Maker. Resolve then to commit yourselves to him, with a cordial reliance on his wisdom, power and protection. Consider how much you have at stake; that you are bound to eternity, that your existence will be immortal, and that you will either rise to endless glory, or be lost in absolute perdition. Heaven is your proper home. The path which I have recommended to you, will conduct you safely and certainly to that happy world. Fill up life therefore with obedience to God, with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and repentance unto life, the obedience to the two great commands of the Gospel; with supreme love to God, and universal good-will to men, the obedience to the two great commands of the Law. On all your

sincere endeavours to honour him and befriend your fellowmen, he will smile: every virtuous attempt he will bless: every act of obedience he will reward. Life in this manner will be pleasant amid all its sorrows; and beams of hope will continually shine through the gloom, by which it is so often overcast. Virtue, the seed that cannot die, planted from heaven, and cultivated by the Divine hand, will grow up in your hearts with increasing vigour, and blossom in your lives with supernal beauty. Your path will be that of the just,' and will gloriously resemble the dawning light, which shines brighter and brighter to the perfect day.' Peace will take you by the hand, and offer herself as the constant and delightful companion of your progress. Hope will walk before you, and with