within myself, what a wretched world would this be, if there were no truth in religion. What miserable, hopeless, comfortless creatures should we be! How soon our dearest and purest joys may be snatched away! How painfully may our tenderest affections be wounded at any moment by an unexpected casualty! How little able are all the joys of life to heal the sores which these poor mourners feel, and how soon may the happiest on earth be bowed down under the pressure of an equal load of suffering!

What then is the value of life, for its own sake, when the heart may be overwhelmed and crushed in an instant, by a mountain of sorrow, which no human foresight can avert, no earthly power remove, no worldly help enable us to sustain? But was there no comfort then for those who mourned? Oh yes! in the very depth of grief there was comfort, there was hope, there was relief; in the very darkest gloom there was a light which shed a cheering ray. Need I tell you that the gospel was the source of that light? that the mercy of God furnished an argument of resignation? that the doctrine of a life of happiness hereafter, supplied ground of real comfort? that the only consolation which could be offered was administered by religion? Where else was it to

be sought? All the riches in the world would have been thought a cheap exchange for the treasure that was lost; all the pleasures in the world would have been tasteless, in the misery that oppressed the mourners' souls. The prospect of a resurrection could alone support their heavy-laden hearts.

Is not this then the scene in which to learn wisdom and instruction? Is it not to the "house of mourning" that we should repair, to be taught the vanity of life, and the value, the supreme importance of religion? Is not one hour spent among a weeping and afflicted family more profitably bestowed, than whole years devoted to heedless pleasure and thoughtless dissipation? Would that they, who fritted away their little lives in pursuit of the idle phantom of vanity, could be persuaded to pass an occasional hour in such How company as this! many hard hearts would it soften! How many careless minds would it render serious! How many that are now rejoicing in their youth, and their wealth, and their empty pleasures, would it convert from those follies to that religion, which must be their refuge at last, but in which they may strive to take shelter, when it will no longer be afforded to them! How many a soul might be saved in the house of

mourning, which is now in danger of perishing for ever through the treacherous enticements of the house of feasting.

My brethren, I shall conclude with a wish, which may seem unkind, but which I offer with a sincere desire for your truest happiness. It is this;-If earthly delights so engross you, that the ordinary warnings and calls to reflection pass unheeded by; if you are not capable of being roused by the gentle suggestions of the Spirit of God,by the secret reproaches of your consciences,by the earnest exhortation of the minister of religion,-by the frequent examples of the insecurity of life and happiness which you witness, -may it please God in his mercy to touch your hearts, before it be too late, in their tenderest affections! May he open your eyes by some awakening personal affliction, to see that the world and worldly happiness are but idle dreams; and that the well-founded hope of heaven, purchased by your Redeemer, is the only substantial good which in this life you can possess! And, if it should please him to deal so mercifully with you, may the "God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that (though afflicted) you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost!" And may those light afflictions, which any of you may now be suffering in this

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moment of your mortal life, work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while you "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 Goù," 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 turned to a pro