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now be suffering in this moment of your mortal life, work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while "look always unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God," where "He ever liveth to make intercession for us," and to a participation of which glory he will exalt us at the last day, if through his name we come unto the Father for pardon and salvation.

SERMON XVIII.

RELIGIOUS FEELINGS.

ST. LUKE xxii. 62.

And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

A STRIKING example of human presumption and infirmity is displayed in the conduct of our Lord's disciples, on the occasion to which these words refer; of presumption in refusing to apply for divine assistance against a temptation of which they were fore-warned, and in depending solely on themselves for strength and courage to resist it, of infirmity, in the sad issue of the trial which they had so resolutely engaged to undergo. And since all holy " scripture is written for our learning," I hope that the consideration of this example will not be altogether unproductive of sentiments within us, that may be

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turned to a profitable account in the prosecution of our Christian warfare. I trust we shall learn how dangerous it is in such weak mortals to confide in our own strength, and how necessary to rely on God for support against the power of our spiritual enemies; and if the failure of these selfconfident and careless disciples shall teach us to be more watchful, and more frequent and earnest in prayer, an important advantage will be "educed out of a seeming evil,"-we shall have reason to be thankful for the useful lesson with which the unhappy experience of others has thus provided us. In all probability, not St Peter only, but the other disciples also were improved by their fall. Their presumption received a check, which I doubt not operated on their minds during the remainder of their lives, and made them ever after more suspicious of themselves, more fully aware that there was no strength or safety but in the help of God. History has left us no reason to suspect that they ever fell into a similar error; and may Almighty God grant that the same events may be a warning to us, and that we may never furnish an example of the like arrogance and security, but feel our only safety to be in the assurance that, amidst all the dangers and trials of the world, the "Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge!"

I do not intend to prosecute these remarks farther. The purpose of my present discourse

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any is to take occasion from the character of St. Peter, which has this day* fallen under our more particular notice, to enter upon a subject which I have never before more than incidentally touched upon, but which is important enough to deserve a detailed consideration; I mean, the subject of religious feelings and affections. say, the character of St. Peter has suggested this topic, because I know of no one in the whole range of Scripture history so remarkable for a peculiar warmth of temperament. He was always zealous, and animated, and vehement; and all the errors which are recorded of him may be ascribed to the impetuosity of feeling, which he did not sufficiently regulate and controul.

We read of three instances in which St. Peter fell under his Lord's rebuke, in consequence of having followed the immediate impulse of his strong emotions, without allowing himself time for consideration. It was the ardour of his love that hurried him forward to be the first to meet Christ when walking on the sea. Here was an exhibition of feeling rather than of faith, as was proved by the result. Again, when our Saviour had predicted the sufferings and death which he • Sunday next before Easter.

was about to undergo, this warm hearted disciple could not restrain the expressions which his affection prompted, but earnestly declared his hope that such things would not happen. That he ought not to have been so carried away by his human feelings, but to have had a more spiritual understanding of the necessity of that sacrifice which his master was about to offer, is clear, from our Saviour's unusually severe reply-"Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." Lastly,-in the case which we have this day so much dwelt upon; it was his excess of feeling that made him so vehement in his language, and persuaded him that he was so secure against that baseness and cowardice into which he was eventually betrayed, and which entailed on him so bitter a repentance. Mere feeling, then, you perceive by these instances, is a deceitful guide and a weak protector; sound principles and a calm judgment afford better security for consistency and perseverance.

Although I have said this, do not suppose that I am one of those who would exclude the feelings from having their share in the work of religion; so far from it, I greatly admire those who are capable of feeling deeply and intensely on this most interesting and important of all sub