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the high purposes for which they profess to meet. What could be more pitiable? What could be a greater mockery of every thing sacred and solemn? Or, if either were uninterested in the avowed object of meeting, how would this beautiful picture be spoiled and marred! How lamentable would it be, to see on the one side, an hireling, who careth not for the sheep," "casting among them that which is unwholesome and poisonous, or holding forth to them the expectation of something better, while from time to time, "the hungry sheep look up, and are not fed;" behold them, on the other hand, rejecting and trampling under foot, either in disdain or in wanton carelessness, all the abundance of rich nutriment, which he, in compassion for their starving condition, most anxiously and zealously provides.

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I sincerely trust that neither of these sad cases is descriptive of us. I trust you will believe me, when I say that, next to my own salvation, I have nothing in the world so much at heart, as the eternal welfare of those with whom I stand connected as a minister of Jesus Christ. (Alas, St. Paul's zeal would have led him to say, not only,

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My hearts' desire for you is, that you may be saved," but even, "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren's sake.") And truly rejoiced I am, to meet so many of you

here on these solemn and interesting occasions; I hope it is a sign that you do feel your need of spiritual food, and are anxious for a supply of it; that there is a hungering and a thirsting among you, and that you "grudge, if you be not satisfied; " that you do desire that which is wholesome and nutritious, "that you may grow thereby ; that when we endeavour to administer to your necessities, it is not as unprofitable a work, as "casting pearls before swine," but that you value what you receive, and sincerely hope that it may be blessed to your everlasting good.

I say this to you as a body-I know there must be exceptions; but I do hope, that the generality of you are more or less in the state which I have described. That you come here with some serious thoughts on the subject of your salvation -that you have some desire for religious instruction-that though you be not all decided christians, firmly established in your faith, and fruitful in all holy living,-yet that you experience somewhat of the beginnings of a spiritual state-that you have some questioning with yourselves upon these momentous matters-that you feel some strivings between the flesh and the spirit-that you have some wish to shake off the dominion of sin, and to be led into the paths of righteousness and eternal life. Of course I cannot treat you all

as perfect christians,-you would not wish me to do so; for you would know that I should only be endeavouring to deceive you to your ruin. You would wish me always to address you sincerely, honestly, and faithfully-without disguise or flattery. For I cannot but know that there must be some among you, who are far from being in a christian state;—and you know it too. Your consciences are perhaps charging you with it at this moment; you are conscious to yourselves that if you go on in your present courses, you can never reach heaven. You are thinking, perhaps, of the besetting sins to which you are addicted; it flashes across one man's mind that he is a drunkard; another reflects on his habit of swearing; another on his impure and unchaste conduct and language; another on his dishonesty :-different persons on different vices, according as each thinks himself most addicted to this or that. And you feel that, notwithstanding all your coming to church and hearing sermons, yet it is impossible you can have any thing like the true faith by which a man's soul is to be saved, as long as you continue in bondage to these several sins. I can readily believe that here in the quietness of this sacred place, with every advantage for calm reflection, your minds being almost unavoidably impressed with some feeling of the solemnity that

reigns around, and with some thoughts of better and holier things than are presented to your view in the bustle of your every-day occupations ;--I say, I can readily believe that under these favourable circumstances, all temptations being out of the way, you regret that you should be living in so unsanctified a state, and that you heartily wish you could devote yourselves to God, and enjoy the peace and happiness of which christians speak. Perhaps while you listen to me now, it is with a desire that I may say something strong and persuasive, to fix your wavering resolutions, and to deter you from your sins ;-perhaps you even feel a wish that I would touch upon those very vices which most torment you, that you might be fortified with some powerful argument against them; you have in short a longing to be by some means or other rescued from your present dangerous condition, and set in the way of salvation. I fear I must add, "I speak not of you all," but I hope that a great many of you, conscious that all is not right with you at present, are desirous to receive some instruction by which you may be everlastingly benefitted.

And how do you suppose me to feel all this while? My brethren, why should I, through a too scrupulous delicacy or reserve, refrain from expressing the real sentiments which exist in my

mind? It may do you good that I should utter them. I do feel deeply, (I will not say as deeply as I ought), my great responsibility before God, on your account. I think of St. Paul's charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus; "take heed unto yourselves, and all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." I think of the same apostle's admonition to Timothy; "take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." I think of his message to Archippus; "take heed of the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Nor can I ever forget that affecting question thrice proposed to Peter, by our blessed Lord, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me ? And he said unto him Lord, thou knowest all

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