bringing joy to the heart, and life to the soul, of him who quaffs it. But what is friendship without religion? It is at best but a fleeting and transient good-a meteor, that sheds a momentary light upon our path, which the eager eye has no sooner caught than it vanishes forever-a cup of sweets, dashed from the lips almost before it can be tasted. It may be worse. Friendship without religion may prove the bane, instead of the blessing, of life-its influences, poisonous instead of medicinal. Nor is this unlikely to be the case.

On the subject of religion it is impossible to be, or to appear, altogether indifferent. If we are not with her, we must be at least partially against her. If your friend, the depository of all your other thoughts, never hears the sacred truths of religion from your lips, it will not surely be an unnatural conclusion that you never think of them; and if you never think of them, what must be suppose, but that you do not deem them worthy of your thoughts? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak," not always to the world indeed, but in the ear of friendship without fail. The subject can have little interest for ourselves, on which we never feel impelled to converse with those we love.

On this topic, therefore, and in this relation, even silence is dangerous, since it may be naturally and probably ascribed to indifference, if not to infidelity. Nor is this all in the intercourses of friendship the parties naturally endeavor to recommend themselves to each other by mutual compliance; but where the guiding and controlling influence of religion is absent, such compliance, it is greatly to be feared, will

often be extended to cases where it is not innocent; where it is positively wrong, and must therefore prove directly injurious to the moral health of the individual. How strong is the temptation often felt to leave unreproved, if not to cherish by indulgence, the follies, the foibles, and the evil propensities of those, whose good-will we are anxious to conciliate. To flatter the self-delusion of frail and sinful men, to supply fuel for their passions, and food for their vices, though a most unworthy, is not unfrequently a sure and easy, method of obtaining their present regard. Cases are constantly occurring, in which falsehood, if we can condescend to use it, may serve to draw closer the attachment, which honest plain-spoken truth would alienate. Too many are there who have the weakness and folly to prefer the deceitful kisses of an enemy, to the faithful wounds of a friend. This friendship of the world, however, this self-seeking, soul-destroying friendship, it becomes us to recollect, is enmity with God. How strong soever the temptation, we must not gratify our friends by any compliance that would injuriously affect their moral welfare. Even silence is criminal, when speech might show them their true characters, and supply them with the means and motives of improvement. For the sake of ourselves, therefore, and of the objects of our love, let us cultivate the spirit of religious sympathy, under the influence of which, we shall feel it a most sacred duty to watch over each other's moral and spiritual interest, and thus to render our mutual regard productive of eternal blessings. There is not a more glorious sight before the throne of God, than when friends and fellow-christians, in sacred

fellowship of love, approach the presence of the universal Father, sympathize with all their hearts in the admiration of his perfections, and unite with all their powers in obedience to his will. Formed upon the principles and guided by the spirit of religion, true friendship is perhaps the richest blessing that this world has in its power to bestow. Should the Giver of all good place it within our reach, may we receive it with pious gratitude, watch over it with unceasing care, and preserve it unto life eternal. Amen.

PRAYER.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father who art in heaven, we thank Thee that Thou hast made us of one blood to dwell together on the face of the earth. We regard it as one of the brightest proofs of Thy paternal love and mercy, that Thou placest the solitary in families, and unitest men with their fellow-men in the close bonds of brotherhood and friendship. Blessed be Thy name for those benevolent affections and kindred sympathies which Thou hast planted in our breasts, by which we are led to seek our own happiness in the promotion of each other's welfare. Impressed with a deep sense of our accountability to Thee for the use of all Thy gifts, may we value and improve, as a precious talent, the influence which we possess over the minds and hearts of those with whom Thou hast connected us in the relation of social life. For the sake of the brethren and friends whom we love, may we sanctify ourselves, that

they also may be sanctified through the truth. By an unreserved and faithful obedience to the first and great commandment of Thy law, may we be rendered capable of obeying perfectly the second, which is like unto it. May our love of Thee give purity, and strength, and permanence to our love of our neighbor. May we be one with Thyself and with Jesus Christ Thy beloved Son, that we may find it a benefit and a blessing to be one with each other. May our friends be Thy friends, O Lord, and may they and we be mutual helpers of each other's faith, and hope, and joy. Forbid it, gracious Father, that by word or deed we should stain the innocence or impair the virtue of any one of those whom we hold dear. Rather by a pure and holy example, and a conversation such as becometh the Gospel, may we endeavor to build them up in the love and practice of all righteousness: and may they act the like faithful part by us, withholding no word in season, whether of wise counsel, kind encouragement, or wholesome reproof, by which we may be instructed in the knowledge of our duty, or supplied with additional means and motives to perform it. O Lord God, hear our prayers, and bless our mutual exertions for each other's welfare; and what, through our ignorance and frailty, we cannot do for ourselves and for those who claim an interest in our petitions, do Thou, both for us and them. Thou alone art all-wise to know, and allpowerful to supply, the wants that Thy children feel. As a Father, Thou lovest and carest for us always: to Thee, therefore, in the full assurance of faith and hope, we humbly commit our joint and separate interests, ascribing unto Thee, as fellow-disciples of Jesus Christ Thy beloved Son, glory in the highest. Amen.

SERMON XX.

PART II.

THE UNION OF RELIGION WITH FRIENDSHIP RECOMMENDED.

Psalm lv. 14.

"WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER, AND WALKED UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN COMPANY."

In a former discourse from these words, I addressed to you some observations on the value of religion as an ingredient of friendship. In estimating the worth of a possession, we should always consider, not merely the present pleasure which it affords, but also the future good which it can purchase or insure. It is with friendship as with life; both are valuable and pleasant in themselves, and as such to be prized for their own sakes ; but look beyond them to their consequences; consider life as the appointed state of preparation for eternity, friendship as the spring of everlasting joys, and the commencement of an everlasting union, and the value and importance of both are infinitely raised in our estimation. But, that friendship may receive this infinite accession of value, it must be formed, we have seen, upon the principles and conducted in the spirit