O let it not be your condemnation that light has come into the world, but that you love darkness rather than light because your deeds are evil. For if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

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SERMON II.

THE IMPORTANCE OF AN AFFECTIONATE MANNER IN THE PULPIT.

EPHESIANS iv. 15.

Speaking the truth in love.

FEW scenes are calculated more deeply to impress the mind and to affect the heart, than that which we are this day called to witness.

We are assembled together to attend, not an ephemeral transaction, which will be forgotten as soon as past, and by the result of which no one will be sensibly affected, but to unite in a service, inexpressibly interesting and infinitely important-a service whose interest is in no degree lessened by its frequent recurrence in our churches, but which is ever attended with pecu

liar solemnity, and productive of consequences momentous and lasting as eternity.

Who is not impressed with anxious solicitude in beholding a young man entering upon the arduous and responsible work of the gospel ministry? Who does not tremble for him in view of the difficulties, trials and temptations to which he must be exposed? What bosom does not heave for the young soldier, when about to gird on his armor, and for the first time to enter the field of battle? What Christian will not breathe the fervent prayer that the grace of God may be sufficient for him, and that he may ever enjoy the presence of that Saviour who has promised to be with his ministers even unto the end of the world?

As it devolves upon me from the relation which I sustain to the pastor elect, to address this large and respectable audience, I would solicit your candor and your prayers, while I attempt, with a humble reliance on divine aid, to direct your attention to a subject, adapted to the occasion upon which we have assembled.

The words of the text form a part of the apostle's exhortation to Christian unity. The sentiment which they obviously contain is this,

That the truth should be maintained with a

spirit of love.

That the words speaking the truth, are thus to be understood, and not to be considered, merely, as expressing sincerity, according to some translations, is obvious from their connection with the preceding verse. That we henceforth, says the apostle, be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine— but speaking, or maintaining, the truth in love. Here it is obvious that by THE TRUTH, the apostle means true doctrine as opposed to false, and exhorts the Ephesians to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, by maintaining or defending the truth with a spirit of love or charity, that, thus, they may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. If this is the duty of Christians in general, surely it is the duty of those, who minister in holy things, and who are set for the defence of the gospel.

There are many and different ways in which ministers may defend and maintain the truth; but we shall confine ourselves chiefly to the consideration of the usual and ordinary method, that of public preaching: speaking the truth in love.

With this application of the text, our subject naturally divides itself into two parts.

We are led to observe,

I. That it is the duty of ministers to preach the Truth.

II. That it is their duty to preach it in Love.

I. It is the duty of ministers to preach the Truth.

The memorable question of Pilate, naturally presents itself in the commencement of this part of our subject. What is truth? said the Roman governor to his illustrious prisoner. To this highly important question the Son of God returned no answer. His silence on a subject of such vast importance, however singular it may appear, was doubtless the dictate of infinite wisdom. He well knew the motive in which the question originated. Had Pilate possessed a sincere and ardent desire to know the truth, we cannot suppose that He, who came into the world to bear witness of the truth, would have treated his humble request with cold neglect. But if, as we have reason to think, this wicked judge was actuated by nothing more than a vain and idle curiosity, which was not of itself sufficiently strong to prompt the renewal of his