checked, bend the strongest spirit, and break the stoutest heart.

We talk much at times of worldly comforts; of the comforts of home, of the comforts of children and kindred, of the comforts of society and friendship, and far, very far be from me the wish to depreciate these blessings which a kind and bounteous Creator has shed upon our pilgrimage. I have experienced and enjoyed them all, and I bless God for the mercy which has bestowed them on me. But who does not feel, that these are uncertain advantages at best; that they may, that they often do disappoint us, and become a source of much anguish and care. The blast of death may desolate our dwellings, or that far heavier woe, dishonour, may blight the hopes we had so fondly fostered. For friendship, alas! who has not often proved its insincerity? Who has not often found, that the world can smile and yet be a deadly foe? If then, I could guide you to no better source of consolation than these unstable benefits afford; if, when a brother in his affliction, asked me to soothe his sorrows, I could give him no better comfort, than to bid him go home to his own family, or consult the advice and ask the sympathy of his friends; few would be the troubles relieved by such counsel-few the spirits, to whom such exhortation would convey a ray of gladness or a gleam of hope. But

God has not left his ministers so powerless in their admonitions. Blessed be his name we are

not so forsaken as to have no other source of support in distress, than that which the world can give. That Holy Spirit, who did, as on this day, first send down his light upon the apostles, left not the world when their ministry and labours were ended. He is still present with us, to guide and cheer our steps, wherever our feet may tread. Without his aid, indeed, we can do nothing which God will accept; his sacred influence must purify our hearts, ere they can conceive a good thought or counsel a pious action.

On this occasion, however, I have considered this blessed messenger of our Saviour's mercy, in that point of view, in which he himself has been graciously pleased to place him. I have dwelt upon his holy assistance, as a comforter when no other friend could comfort; a giver of gladness, when no other voice could cheer. I have endeavoured to induce you to seek his aid, by bringing before you two striking instances, in which that aid had been found so powerful in times of unusual peril and distress. I have shewn you, (few words indeed were necessary for that,) that the world could never bestow such consolation, nor minister such support. The choice, my brethren, must remain with yourselves; I can but exhort you to embrace that which will alone

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save you in the day of trial. If this be the hope to which you cling; implore the help and direction of that Spirit of God, who alone can spread a table in the wilderness, and provide water in the desert. But remember the prophet's warning, "Seek the Lord whilst he may be found, call upon him whilst he is near." Defer not until a future period to solicit that divine grace, which be assured will never be granted to the careless or dilatory petitioner. He can find indeed no resting place in the heart which is not warmed into piety by the great truths of our holy faith. For deem not, that this Spirit of Holiness will bring us wealth, or pleasure, or renown. His scource of comfort springs not from a renewed participation in mortal enjoyments, but from the contemplation of the pure delights which the Saviour has prepared in heaven for those that love him. When he shed his consolations around the earliest martyr's head, he promised him no earthly recompense, he held out no hope of deliverance from the fate before him: but he did far more than this; he shewed him "the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." If then your hearts be softened; if the consideration of your Saviour's great and wondrous mercies, which have so lately been made the theme of your prayer and praise, has disposed your souls to bless and adore his name; if

you

have followed him with the eye of faith, from the field of Gethsemane to the hill of Calvary and the sepulchre in the garden: if you have seen him rise from the tomb, and after a brief sojourn amongst his now comforted disciples, ascend up to the mansions of eternal glory, which he had for our sakes forsaken; do not, I beseech you, leave this beginning of godliness unfinished. On this day, my brethren, so fitted, so congenial to such a service, bow down before the great and eternal God, and beseech him, that on your heads also as well as on those of the apostles, his Holy Spirit may descend, to bless your ways in righteousness, and guide your feet into the paths of peace.

SERMON XV.

1 CORINTHIANS VI, 19, 20.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the

Holy Ghost which is in and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's.

you, which ye have of God,

THE season just passed* has naturally led us to frequent reflection upon those mercies of redemption, which it was designed especially to bring forward to our notice. We have followed the Saviour with the footsteps of faith, through the last scenes of his earthly sufferings; we have seen him bound and derided, scourged and crucified. We beheld him rising on the third day from the dead, and triumphing alike over the malice of his accusers, and the power of the grave. We have considered too the spiritual gifts which this astonishing work of Almighty

* Easter.