piness. After the fall, God appointed sacrifices to propitiate his favour. Cain slew his brother over the altar he had raised; envious that Abel's sacrifice was accepted, whilst his own was not, he murdered him whom he was bound to love, and thus shut himself out from those blessings which he might otherwise have gained. Abraham and Lot continued to live together in friendship until God had blessed them, and made them prosperous: this very prosperity caused their separation, and resulted in Lot's choice of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, which God for its wickedness soon destroyed with fire and brimstone, whilst Lot himself scarcely escaped with his life from its destruction. We have but to peruse the scriptures carefully to see this perversion of motives continually exercised, and even a little knowledge of the human heart is sufficient to show us how far in this respect it has departed from its original righteousness.

The sentiment contained in the text may be perverted in the same manner

but it is no less our duty to bring it before you, and leave the operation to him who seeth not as man seeth, but maketh even the wickedness of man to praise him.

In our further observations on the words of the text, we shall consider,

1. The duty enjoined Honour the Lord.

2. The means-With thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.

3. The reward promised-So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. And

Lastly-The method by which this duty may be, in our own case, most effectually performed.

Let us consider in the first place the duty enjoined-Honour the Lord. Here seems a difficulty at the commencement. How is it possible, it may be asked, for us, feeble and insignificant as we are, to honour him who is the Lord of heaven and earth ?-how can we do any thing worthy of the acceptance of Him who says, "All the beasts of the forest are mine, and the cattle

upon a thousand hills ;" and this objection would be a valid one, if we did not find, both from scripture and from reason, that the superior, however exalted he may be, may be honoured by the inferior. The child is early taught to honour the parent who has given him birth: "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee:" and this word is used again by the apostle Peter in his Epistle, in which he says, "Honour all men; fear God; honour the king." We thus see that as the superior by condescension can honour the inferior, who looks up to him for support,—so the inferior, by attention and service, can pay honour to one placed infinitely above him. Our Saviour speaks of honour, both as applied to Himself and to his Father, in the 5th chapter of John, verse 22:-" For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all meu should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth

not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him;"-and he complains. of the Jews who had said he had a devil. "Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me." And Isaiah, in his 29th chapter, 13th verse, says, "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, therefore will I proceed to do a marvellous thing among this people." Thus we see that we can honour God by our devotion and service, and by the consecration of ourselves to him. And this leads me to consider, in the second place, the means of fulfilling the duty enjoined in the text" Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase."

It has been with truth remarked, that he who attacks a man's purse is in a fair way to lose his friendship. Fair speeches and soft expressions are made use of in abundance; and if the language of the lips were the test of the feeling of the

heart, our friends would be almost as numerous as our acquaintance, and honest poverty would only have to make known its wants to have them immediately relieved; but such is not the case-that which has in many instances been with difficulty earned, is with equal difficulty resigned; even if we are disposed to bestow it with liberality on that which our own selfishness may require, it is grasped with vigilant tenacity when others are to be the recipients; and nothing but sincere friendship, or a real feeling for distress, will induce the man whom the world calls prudent, to part with that which is so much prized, and which more or less all covet and admire. He who knoweth the heart, and what is in man, therefore applies this test. He asks not for the sacrifice of the lips, or the offerings of the mouth, but the free-will offerings of the heart; and in order to show that this is really given, he demands that we surrender unto him our substance, a portion of our property and gains. "Honour the Lord