and they can play well; the mother ly by acting as though desirous to make proudly exhibits the specimens of pro- them religious. It is thus we apply our ficiency in painting, and the father subject to those amongst you who are dwells, with an air of delight, on the parents or guardians. But it applies to progress made in Virgil and Homer-all. We call upon you all to observe, but if you inquire how far these parents that, in place of being beneath the noare providing for their own in the things tice of the intellectual, the Bible is the of eternity, why, the children have per- great nourisher of intellect. We rehaps learned the Church Catechism, quire of you to bear away to your and they read a chapter occasionally homes as an undeniable fact, that to on a Sunday afternoon. And that ye care for the soul is to cultivate the may avoid the mistake into which, as mind. We will not yield the culture we think, the temper of the times is of the understanding to earthly husbut too likely to lead you, we would bandmen. There are heavenly minishave you learn, from the subject which ters who water it with a choicer dew, has now been discussed, that, in edu- and pour on it the beams of a more eating your children for the next life, brilliant sun, and prune its branches you best educate them for the present. with a kinder and more skilful hand. We give it you, as a truth, made known We will not give up reason to stand to us by God, and, at the same time de- always as a priestess at the altars of monstrable by reason, that, in going human philosophy. She hath a more through the courses of Bible-instruc- majestic temple to tread, and more tion, there is better mental discipline, beauteous robes wherein to walk, and whether for a child or an adult, than in incense rarer and more fragrant to burn any of the cleverly devised methods for in golden censers. She does well when opening and strengthening the facul- exploring boldly God's visible works. ties. We say not that the study of She does better, when she meekly subScripture should exclude other studies, mits to spiritual teaching, and sits, as or be substituted for them. Natural a child, at the Savior's feet: for then philosophy is not to be learned from shall she experience the truth, that Scripture nor general history; and we would not have such matters neglected. But we say that Scriptural study should be, at once, the ground-work and companion of every other; and that the mind will advance, with the firmest and most dominant step, into the various departments of knowledge, when familiarized with the truths of revelation, and accustomed to walk their unlimited spreadings. If parents had no higher ambition than to make their children intellectual, they would act most shrewd

"the entrance of God's words giveth light and understanding." And, therefore, be ye heedful--the young amongst you more especially-that ye be not ashamed of piety, as though it argued a feeble capacity. Rather be assured, forasmuch as revelation is the great strengthener of reason, that the march of mind which leaves the Bible in the rear is an advance, like that of our first parents in Paradise, towards knowledge, but, at the same time, towards death.

SERMON VIII.

THE PROVISION MADE BY GOD FOR THE POOR.

"Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor."-Psalm 68: 10.

word of inspiration. We hold it to be clear to every student of Scripture, that God hath ordained successive ranks in human society, and that uniformity of earthly allotment was never contemplated by his providence. And, therefore, do we likewise hold, that attempts at equalization would be tantamount to rebellion against the appointments of heaven; and that infidelity must upheave the altars of a land, ere its inhabitants could venture out on such enterprise. It is just that enterprise which may be looked for as the offspring of a doctrine, demonstrable only when the Bible shall have perished

We think it one of the most remark- slightest reference to it engages, at able sayings of holy writ, that "the once, the feelings of a multitude. And poor shall never cease out of the land." whensoever a bold and talented demaDeut. 15 11. The words may be re- gogue works up into his speeches the garded as a prophecy, and their fulfil- doctrine, that all men are born with ment has been every way most surpri- equal rights, he plies his audience with sing. Amid all the revolutions whereof the strongest excitement, but does, at our earth has been the scene-revolu- the same time, greatest despite to the tions which have presented to us empire after empire rising to the summit of greatness, and gathering into its provinces the wealth of the world-there has never been a nation over which riches have been equally diffused. The many have had poverty for their portion, whilst abundance has been poured into the laps of the few. And if you refuse to consider this as a divine appointment, it will be hard, we think, to account for the phenomenon. It might have been expected that the distribution of physical comfort would be proportioned to the amount of physical strength; so that numbers would dictate to individuals; and the power of the doctrine, that all power emanates bone and muscle be brought to bear on the production of equality of circumstance. And just in the degree that we recognize the fulfilment of prophecy in the continuance of poverty, we must be prepared to allow, that the unequal distribution of temporal advantages is a result of the Almighty's good plea- the rights of property, is to introduce sure; and that, consequently, all popular harangues on equality of rights are nothing less than contradictions to the assertions, "the rich and poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them all." Proverbs, 22: 2.

There is no easier subject for stormy and factious declamation, than the hard and unnatural estate of poverty. The

from the people. When a population have been nursed into the belief that sovereignty is theirs, the likelihood is that the first assertion of this sovereignty will be the seizing the possessions of those who gave them the lesson. The readiest way of overturning

false theories on the origin of power. And they must, at the least, be shortsighted calculators, who, having taught our mechanics and laborers that they are the true king of the land, expect them to continue well contented with the title, and quite willing that superiors should keep the advantages.

But our main concern lies, at pre

sent, with the fact, that poverty is an assured upon the point, that, in conappointment of God. We assume this structing the framework of society, fact as one not to be questioned by a God designed that one class should dechristian congregation. And when we pend greatly on another, and that some have fastened on the truth that God should have nothing but a hard-earned hath appointed poverty, we must set pittance, whilst others were charioted ourselves to ascertain that God hath in plenty. But we are to the full as not overlooked the poor; there being clear upon another point, namely, that nothing upon which we may have a if in any case there be positive destitugreater prior certainty than on this, tion, it is not to be referred to the esnamely, that if it be God's will that the tablished ordinance of God, but only poor should not cease, it must also be to some forgetfulness, or violation, of his arrangement that the poor should that mutual dependence which this orbe cared for. dinance would encourage. There has Now our text is a concise, but strik- never yet been the state of thingsing, declaration that the solicitudes of and, in spite of the fears of political God are engaged on the side of the economists, we know not that there poor. It would seem, indeed, from the ever will be-in which the produce of context, that spiritual blessings were this earth sufficed not for its populaspecially intended by the Psalmist, tion. God has given the globe for the when addressing himself to God in the dwelling-place of man, and, causing words to be examined. He speaks of that its valleys stand thick with corn, the Almighty as sending a plentiful scatters food over its surface to satisfy rain, and refreshing the weary inherit- the wants of an enormous and multiance. And we think it required by the plying tenantry. And unless you can nature of this imagery, as compared show that he hath sent such excess of with the rest of scriptural metaphor, inhabitants into this district of his emthat we understand an outpouring of pire, that there cannot be wrung for the Spirit as the mercy which David them sufficiency of sustenance from the commemorates. But still there is no- overtasked soil, you will have made no thing, either in the words themselves, advances towards a demonstration, that or in those which accompany them, re- the veriest outcast, worn to a mere quiring that we circumscribe the bear- skeleton by famine, disproves the asings of the passage. We may take it sertion, that God, of his goodness, has as a general truth, that "thou, O God, prepared for the poor. The question is hast prepared of thy goodness for the not whether every poor man obtains poor." And we shall, therefore, en- enough: for this brings into the acdeavor to turn your thoughts on two count human management. It is simseparate inquiries; examining, in the ply, whether God has given enough: first place, how the assertion holds for this limits our thoughts to divine good in temporal things, and in the se- appointment. And beyond all doubt, cond place, how it holds good in spiritual things. This second inquiry is the more closely connected with the business of our Sabbath assemblings, and we shall give it, therefore, the main of our time and attention.

when we take this plain and straightforward view of the subject, we cannot put from us the conclusion, that God, of his goodness, has prepared for the poor. If he had so limited the productiveness of the earth that it would yield Now if we set ourselves to establish only enough for a fraction of its inhaas a matter-of-fact, that, in temporal bitants; and if he had allowed that the things, God, of his goodness, has pre- storehouses of nature might be exhaustpared for the poor, we seem, at once, ed by the demands of the myriads whom arrested in our demonstration by that he summoned into life; there would lie undeniable wretchedness which lies objections against a statement which heavy on the mass of a crowded popu- ascribes to his goodness the having lation. But it would be altogether made an universal provision. But ifwrong that we should judge any ap- and we have here a point admitting not pointment of God, without reference of controversy-he have always hithbeing had to the distortions which erto caused that the productions of the man has himself introduced. We feel globe should keep pace with its popu

But we said that we should dwell at no great length on the first division of our subject; and we now, therefore, pass on to investigate the second. We are to show how the assertion holds good in spiritual things, that God, of his goodness, has prepared for the poor.

lation, it is nothing better than the enterprising have carried on crusades reasoning of a child, that God hath not against ignorance and barbarism; we provided for the poor, because, through can still bring you back to the dust out maladministration of his bounties, the of which we were made, and bid you poor may, in certain cases, have been find in its particles the elements of the wholly unprovided for. results on which your admiration is And it is worth your while to observe, poured, and tie you down, with the rithat God prepared more than mere sus- gor of a mathematical demonstration, tenance for the poor, when he endowed to the marvellous, though half-forgotthe soil with its surprising, and still ten, fact, that God invested the ground undeveloped productiveness. We are with the power of ministering to man's indebted to the ground on which we many necessities-so that the arts by tread for the arts which adorn, and the which the comforts of a population are learning which ennobles, as well as for multiplied, and the laws by which their the food which sustains human life. If rights are upheld, and the schools in God had thrown such barrenness into which their minds are disciplined, and the earth that it would yield only enough the churches in which their souls are to support those who tilled it, you may instructed-all these may be referred all perceive that every man must have to one and the same grand ordinance; labored at agriculture for himself; there all ascribed to that fruitfulness of the being no overplus of produce which the earth by which God, "of his goodness, toil of one individual could have pro- has prepared for the poor." cured for another. Thus, if you examine with any carefulness, you must necessarily discover, that the sole reason why this company of men can devote themselves to the business of legislation, and that to the study of jurisprudence; why we may erect schools, and universities, and so set apart indi- Now we often set before you the viduals who shall employ themselves noble doctrine of Scripture and our on the instruction of their fellows; why church, that Christ died for the whole we can have armies to defend the poor world; and that, consequently, the human's cottage and the rich man's pa- man being can never be born whose lace, and navies to prosecute commerce, sins were not laid on the surety of the and preachers to stand up in our cities apostate. It is a deep and mysterious, and villages, pointing mankind to Jesus but glorious, truth, that the sins of of Nazareth-that the alone practical every man were punished in Jesus, so reason of all this must be sought in the that the guiltiness of each individual fertility of the soil: for if the soil were pressed in upon the Mediator, and not fertile enough to yield more than wrung out its penalties from his flesh the tiller requires for himself, every and his spirit. The person of Christ man must be a husbandman, and none Jesus was divine; whilst in that person could follow any other avocations. So were united two natures, the human that, by an arrangement which appears and divine. And on this account it was the more wonderful the more it is pon- that the sins of every man could rush dered, God hath literally wrought into against the surety, and take their pethe soil of this globe a provision for nalty out of his anguish. It is not the varied wants, physical, and moral, merely that Christ was the brother of and intellectual, of the race whose ge- every man. A man and his brother are nerations possess successively its pro-walled-off, and separated, by their pervinces. That which made wealth pos- sonality. What is done by the one cansible was equally a preparation for the not be felt, as his own action, by the well-being of poverty. And though you other. But Christ, by assuming our may trace, with a curious accuracy, nature, took, as it were, a part of evethe rise and progress of sciences; and ry man. He was not, as any of us is, a map down the steps of the march of mere human individual. But having hucivilization; and show how, in the ad- man nature, and not human personality, vancings of a nation, the talented and he was tied, so to speak, by a most sen

sitive fibre, to each member of the a province of his empire tenanted by enormous family of man. And along the wayward and the wretched. He these unnumbered threads of sympathy cared for each single descendant of there came travelling the evil deeds, Adam. We know, with an assurance and the evil thoughts, and the evil which it is beyond the power of arguwords, of every child of a rebellious ment to shake, that Christ Jesus tasted seed; and they knocked at his heart, death for every man. We are commisand asked for vengeance: and thus the sioned to say to each individual—it sin became his own in every thing but matters not who he be, scorched by an its guiltiness; and the wondrous result eastern sun, or girt in by polar snows was brought round, that he "who did the Son of the Eternal died for thee, no sin, neither was guile found in his for thee separately, for thee individumouth," 1 Peter, 2: 22, felt every sin ally. And if, then, you cannot find us which can ever be committed, and was the outcast unredeemed by the costly pierced by it, and torn by it: and the processes of the incarnation and crucialone innocent one-the solitary unde- fixion; if, addressing ourselves to the filed and unprofaned man-he was so least known, and the most insignificant bound up with each rebel against God of our species, we can tell him that, that the rebellion, in all its ramifica- though he be but an unit, yea almost a tions, seemed to throw itself into his cipher in the vast sum of human existheart; and, convulsing where it could ence, he has so engaged the solici not contaminate, dislocated the soul tudes of the Almighty that a divine perwhich it did not defile, and caused the son undertook his suretyship, and threw thorough endurance of all the wretch- down the barriers which sin had cast edness, and all the anguish, which were up between him and happiness-oh, due to the transgressions of a mighty have we not an overpowering proof, population. Ay, and it is because I can that God has been mindful of the desclearly perceive, that, in taking human pised ones and the destitute; and whilst nature, Christ fastened me to himself we can appeal to such provision on beby one of those sympathetic threads half of the poor as places heaven withwhich can never be snapped, that I feel in their reach, in all its magnificence, certified that every sin which I have and in all its blessedness, where is the committed, and every sin which I shall tongue that can presume to deny that yet commit, went in upon the Mediator God hath, "of his goodness, prepared and swelled his sufferings. When he for the poor ?" died, my sins, indeed, had not been per- But we cannot content ourselves with petrated. Yet, forasmuch as they were this general proof. It seems implied in to be perpetrated in the nature which our text-that this is the point which he had taken to himself, they came we seek to establish-that, in spiritual crowding up from the unborn ages; things, God has prepared for the poor and they ran, like molten lead, along even more than for the rich. We prothe fibre which, even then, bound me ceed, then, to observe that God has so to the Savior; and pouring themselves manifested a tender and impartial coninto the sanctuary of his righteous soul, cern for his creatures, as to have thrown contributed to the wringing from him advantages round poverty which may the mysterious cry, "mine iniquities" well be said to counterbalance its dis-mine, done in that nature, which is advantages. It is unquestionable that emphatically mine-"mine iniquities the condition of a poor man is more have taken hold upon me so that I am favorable than that of a rich to the renot able to look up; they are more ception of Christ. Had not this been than the hairs of my head; therefore matter-of-fact, the Redeemer would nemy heart faileth me." Psalm 40 12. ver have pronounced it "easier for a Now it was thus with a distinct and camel to go through a needle's eye, specific reference to every individual, than for a rich man to enter into the the poorest and the meanest of our kingdom of heaven." Luke, 18:25. race, that the word was made flesh," There is in poverty what we may alJohn, 1: 14, and dwelt and died upon most call a natural tendency to the leadthis earth. It was not merely that God ing men to dependence on God, and cared for the world in the mass, as for faith in his promises. On the other