the same grace is still treasured up in Him whose "throne is for ever and ever," and may be manifested in us amidst all our weakness and unworthiness. The same Almighty King of Zion, by whose consoling and sanctifying Spirit it was that the churches, even in the days of bitter persecution, "had rest, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multi. plied,"-still lives, and can cause his ministers to be equally faithful, and his word to be clothed with equal power in our day. Under whatever cloud the glory of our Zion may be in a degree obscured, for the present, He can cause her to shine forth with more beauty than ever, "through his own comeliness put upon her."

Do you ask, my Christian friends, how this happy attain. ment may, under the divine blessing, he reached? Do you enquire, by what means we may hope to be most effectually delivered from our discord and strife, and blessed with that spiritual peace and strength which form the true glory of a church? I answer, let us adopt the policy of some sagacious worldly counsellors, who tell us, that the most direct way to remove a morbid action in the animal body, is to excite a different and salutary action in its neighbourhood:-that the best method of putting out one fire which is raging and likely to triumph, is to kindle a counter fire. Upon the same principle, if we desire most speedily and most effectually to extinguish the fire of party spirit, and to arrest the progress of erroneous opinions; let us try to kindle the fire of Christian benevolence, and to rouse in all our congregations and judicatories, from the lowest to the highest, that fervent desire for the spread of the gospel, and the salvation of a perishing world, which ought to reign in every heart, and in every church which bears the name of Christ. Let such a hallowed flame be kindled: and it is not more certain that oil, cast on an agitated body of water, will calm its troubled surface, than is it that an ardent zeal for the extension of ' the Redeemer's kingdom,-for promoting the temporal and eternal happiness of mankind,-is better adapted than any thing else to calm angry passions; to terminate strife; to turn away the minds of men from the conflicts of selfishness and ambition; and to bind them together in the bonds of fraternal affection. Only let this blessed spirit spring up, and exert a governing influence in all our eccle. siastical assemblies; and their meetings will, of course, be peaceful and harmonious; their deliberations will be

marked with gravity, with dignity, with mutual respect, and with genuine Christian benevolence. And when their business is brought to a close, the members will separate, not, as has too often happened, with disgust, alienation and weariness; but with warmer affection than when they came together; will return to their respective charges with increased attachment to their Master and his work; and will look forward to another meeting as to a delightful feast of Christian fellowship.

Here, then, my Christian brethren, is the grand, and, as I think, under God, the only effectual remedy for all our ecclesiastical difficulties. The prescription of the immortal Howard for shaking off trouble, was conveyed in the following strong and pointed language;-"Set about DOING GOOD: put on your hat, and go and visit the sick and the poor in your neighbourhood; inquire into their wants, and minister to them; seek out the desolate and the oppressed, and tell them of the consolations of religion. I have often tried this method, he adds, and have always found it the best medicine for a heavy heart." So shall WE, as a church, find the spirit of ACTIVE GOOD-DOING,-if we honestly and in good earnest apply it,-the best cure for all our trials and conflicts. And, in order to the attainment of this blessing, as the whole cannot be greater or better than its parts, it will be our wisdom to begin, systematically, with the individual ministers, elders, and churches which compose our aggregate body.

From this good hour, then, let every minister in the Presbyterian church feel himself just as distinctly and solemnly called upon to engage, with his whole heart, in the various benevolent enterprises of the day, as he is to preach the gospel, and administer the sacraments of the Christian church. Let him, accordingly, take the earliest opportunity of forming within the congregation committed to his charge, an auxiliary Bible association; a society for aiding in Foreign Missions, and another for aiding in Domestic Missions; a Tract Society; a Temperance Society; and an Education Society; in short, let him form, as far as possible, all the members of his church, young and old, male and female, and as many of his stated hearers as may be willing to join them,-into bodies more or less orga nized, for aiding in the great work of promoting the extension of truth and happiness among men, and bringing the whole world to the knowledge of the glorious Gospel. Let even the little children of his congregation have a place assigned them in these hallowed ranks for doing good.

There is no danger that, by pursuing this course, he will impoverish his people. However few and poor they may be, it will rather enrich them in pocket as well as in soul. He will, undoubtedly, strengthen, enlarge, and build them up by it. Those who are engaged in saving and giving for the cause of Christ, will of course be economical and industrious, and will generally be found more thrifty and prosperous than those who live without this secret impulse. The blessing of the Lord will infallibly descend upon such a church. "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth, but it tendeth to poverty." No children and young people will be so likely to be all that their parents desire, as those who are trained up under such a purifying and elevating influence.

But to form and preside over these benevolent associations in his own church, ought not to be regarded as the whole of the Pastor's duty. Let him be a member of each himself. Let him be present, if possible, at all their meetings; and endeavour to impart to all of them, at each meeting, a new and more powerful impulse. Let him, whenever he meets the elders of his church, either individually, or in their official capacity, make it his study to engage them cordially and zealously in the same enterprise. Let him in his preaching, in his prayers, and in all his public and private intercourse with his people, study to recommend a growing attention to these benevolent objects, as at once the duty and the privilege of all Christians. In short, let him habitually regard the nurturing, strengthening, and extending these associations, as among the primary objects of his ministry; as not only adapted to aid in the great work of converting the world to Christ; but also as one of the richest means of grace that can be employed for promoting the spiritual benefit of the people themselves who are zealously employed in this glorious cause. The truth is, a faithful pastor cannot possibly engage his people in any work better adapted to draw down blessings on themselves and their children; better adapted to enlighten, to sanctify, to enlarge, to enrich, and to strengthen themselves, as a church, than to engage them with their whole heart in the benevolent enterprise of bringing their fellow men to the knowledge and love of the Saviour.

A Presbytery composed of ministers and elders who have drunk largely of this spirit, will, of course, come together, from time to time, for the great purpose of DOING GOOD. Accordingly, let this body, whenever it convenes,

while it attends with fidelity to all the details of review, and of government and discipline which demand attention, consider these details as subservient to the grand purpose of ecclesiastical union, doing good to the souls of men, and spreading the knowledge and reign of the glorious Gospel. Let the members, at every meeting, make it a primary object to encourage each other's hearts, and strengthen each other's hands, in all the appropriate labours of Christian benevolence. Let them inquire with fraternal fidelity and affection of each other, what is the state of religion in their respective charges; how far the benevolent enterprises of the day are countenanced and sustained in the several congregations; and what further can be done to extend the reign of Christian zeal and effort in all the churches under their care? Let every meeting of the Presbytery be the signal of a little jubilee in the town or village where it is held. Let meetings in all cases in which it is practicable, be marked by such seasons of prayer and mutual conference among the members of the body, and such a judicious, preconcerted series of public services, as shall make it an object of earnest desire among the pious members of the several churches, to be favoured with these meetings as often as possible.

Let every Synod bear the same character and take the same course; only remembering that its larger size, and more interesting character, will ever afford an opportunity of rendering its meetings more deeply impressive, and more extensively useful. Let every member come to this annual convention of teachers and rulers in the house of God, with an humble desire and fervent prayer that he may be enabled to get as much good himself and to do as much good to the Redeemer's kingdom as may be possible while he and his brethren continue together. Conducted in this manner, every Synodical meeting will be instrumental in giving new ardour to Christian zeal, and a new impulse to Christian activity.

When all the subordinate judicatories shall be animated with this spirit, and shall convene with these views, we may expect to see the General Assembly crowning the whole with a corresponding character. Let the ministers and elders deputed from the respective Presbyteries all come to our ecclesiastical metropolis, as so many single streams all pouring into one mighty reservoir of Christian benevolence, as so many fires kindled from the altar of God, and preparing to unite in one sacred flame to enlighten a dark world. Let them come, not to represent

parties-not to contend for victory-but fraught with the spirit of DOING GOOD; with hearts overflowing with desire for the spread of the Gospel, and resolving, as God shall enable them, by mutual counsel and prayer, to impart new life and vigour to all the departments of evangelical enterprise within our bounds. Let this be unceasingly done. Let no part of the routine business annually devolving on this court of ultimate appeal, be neglected or slighted but let the subserviency of all to the great work of promoting human purity and happiness, and evangelizing the world, be the grand, the favourite object with every member. Let the opening sermon be a powerful plea for united and affectionate co-operation in extending the Redeemer's kingdom. Let every prayer that passes the Moderator's lips, at the commencement and close of every session, and every speech that may be offered on whatever subject, breathe the same consecrated spirit. In a word, let every vote that passes, every report that is offered, and every act of correspondence with other churches, whether at home or abroad, disclose the hearts of men supremely intent on exciting one another, and all with whom they have any intercourse, to the highest efforts for promoting the salvation of immortal souls. Let every

successive General Assembly manifest this spirit, and leave behind it, when it dissolves, a series of acts which display the reign of unfeigned Christian benevolence; and more will be done to gladden the hearts of the pious than my feeble pen can portray. The month of May will be considered by the friends of Zion as the most blessed month in the year. Philadelphia will have great reason to rejoice. Surrounding denominations will be constrained at once to respect, to love, and to imitate us. And an annual impulse will be given to the progress of religion, which will be felt not only through the United States, but throughout the world. Only let the fervent zeal for the glory of God and the welfare of mankind;-in other words, the deep and active spirit of DOING GOOD, reign in our beloved church, and we shall, undoubtedly, witness the following effects:

1. There will be, immediately, much less heresy in the church to be put down, or to be disputed about. For, as the prevalence of truth never fails to generate a spirit of active obedience; so the spirit of active Christian obedience, the genuine spirit of DOING. GOOD, has a direct tendency to promote the love of truth, and, of course, to exclude error.