their origin, ever corrupted in man's use of them. It acts acording to God's will, (this time or that, as it comes,) boldly and promptly; yet letting each act stand by itself, as a sufficient service to Him, not connecting them by hope, or working them into system, further than He commands. In a word, Christian Zeal is not political.

Two reflections arise from considering this last characteristic of the virtue in question; and with a brief notice of these I will conclude.

1. First, it is too evident how grievously the Church of Rome has erred in this part of Christian duty. Let her doctrines be as pure as her defenders represent, still she has indisputably made the Church an instrument of worldly politics by a "zeal not according to knowledge." Let us grant that her doctrine was not fatally corrupted till the sixteenth century, nevertheless, from the eleventh at least, she has made Christ's Kingdom of this world. I will not inquire whether she committed the additional most miserable sin of rebellion against Cæsar; though from what we see around us at this day, there is great reason to fear, that from the beginning of her power she has been tainted with it. But consider the principles recognised in her practice, though not adopted into her formal teaching, since the date I have mentioned, and then say, whether she has not failed in this essential duty of a Christian Witness, viz. in preserving the spiritual character of Christ's king

dom'. In saying this, I would not willingly deny the great debt we owe to that Church for her faithful custody of the Faith itself through so many centuries; nor seem unmindful of the circumstances of other times, the gradual growth of religious error, and the external dangers which appeared to place the cause of Christianity itself in jeopardy, and to call for extraordinary measures of defence. Much less would I speak disrespectfully of the eminent men, who were the agents under Providence in various stages of that mysterious Dispensation, and whom, however our Zeal may burn, we must in very Charity believe to be, what their works and sufferings betoken, singleminded, self-denying servants of their God and Saviour.

2. The Roman Church then has become political; but let us of the present day, beware of running into the other extreme, and of supposing that, because Christ's Kingdom is not based upon this world, that it is not connected with it. Surely it was established here for the sake of this world, and must ever act in it, as if a part of it, though its origin is from above. Like the Angels which appeared to the Patriarchs, it is a Heavenly Messenger in human form. In its Polity, its Public

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Among the principles referred to are the following, which occur among the Dictatus Hildebrandi; "Quod liceat illi [Papæ] imperatores deponere ;" "Quod à fidelitate iniquorum subditos potest absolvere." Vid. Laud against Fisher, p. 181.

Assemblies, its Rules and Ordinances, its Censures, and its Possessions, it is a visible body, and to appearance, an institution of this world. It is no faulty zeal to labour to preserve it in the form in which Christ gave it.

And further, it should ever be recollected, that, though the Church is not of this world, yet we have assurance from God's infallible word, that there are in the world temporal and present Dispensers of His Eternal Justice. We are expressly told, that "the powers that be are ordained of God;" that they "bear not the sword in vain, but are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath upon the evildoer," and bestow "praise" on those who do well. Hence, as being gifted with a portion of God's power, they hold an office of a priestly nature', and are armed with the fearful sanction, that " "they that resist them, shall receive to themselves Judgment." On this ground, religious Rulers have always felt it to be their duty to act as in God's place for the promulgation of the Truth; and the Church, on the other hand, has seen her obligation not only to submit to them in things temporal, but zealously to co-operate with them in her own line, towards those sacred objects which they have both in common. And thus has been happily fulfilled for fifteen hundred years, Isaiah's prophecy, that kings should be nursing fathers to the Church,

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and queens her nursing mothers." Yet, clearly there is nothing here, either of a self-willed zeal, or political craft, in the conduct of the Church; inasmuch as she has but submitted herself thereby to the guidance of the revealed Word.

May Almighty God, for His dear Son's sake, lead us safely through these dangerous times; so that, while we never lay aside our Zeal for His honour, we may sanctify it by Faith and Charity, neither staining our garments by wrath or violence, nor soiling them with the dust of a turbulent world!

SERMON XXXII.

THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS.

USE OF SAINTS' DAYS.

Acts i. 8.

Ye shall be Witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

So many were the wonderful works which our Saviour did on earth, that not even the world itself could have contained the books recording them. Nor have his marvels been less since He ascended on high; those works of higher grace and more abiding fruit, wrought in the souls of men, from the first hour till now,-the captives of His power, the ransomed heirs of His kingdom, whom He has called by His Spirit working in due season, and led on from strength to strength till they appear before His face in Zion. Surely not even the world itself could contain the records of His love, the history of those many Saints, that "cloud of Witnesses," whom we to-day celebrate, His purchased possession in every age! We crowd these all up into