something done for the glory of God?-Every movement is to find us in the position of servants, at work for their Lord.-Every thought, every purpose, is to be hallowed by its tendency to good works.-Every power, whether of mind or body, is to be consecrated to God and good works. In a word, if we are God's workmanship, his peculiar people, we shall be "zealous of good works,"-cultivating them not merely as occasion may present, but diligently seeking ways and means of doing good; passing from one act of piety to another, enlarging as we go, and longing and striving to overtake the evils that abound every where about us, with still more abundant remedies and appropriate antidotes,-constrained by the love of Christ, who died for us, that we should not live to ourselves; but, identifying ourselves with his cause and the spiritual interests of our fellow men, cheerfully "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service."

This is to be increasingly diligent and persevering in the duties of the christian life,to be "always abounding in the work of the

Lord." But" who," you will ask, “is sufficient for these things?" The true answer is that which the apostle himself has given, "Our sufficiency is of God." We are not of ourselves equal to the least of our duties; but God has promised us every needful supply. "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." We can undertake no service for God, in which he cannot fully sustain us; for "in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." He enjoins upon his people no task, for the accomplishment of which he cannot bestow adequate means; he lays upon them no burden, which he cannot enable them to carry, during his pleasure; for "he giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

Come then, my brethren, let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord. Stir up the gifts and graces that are in you. Ply your heavenly course with

renewed vigour. Draw that vigour more copiously from above by urgent prayer. Go in the strength of the Lord your God; and you will not then fail to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Thus will your own souls be enriched, and your joys will run high; "for ye shall eat the labour of your hands, and it shall be well with you." Thus also will ye become the benefactors of your age; for while you are thus blessed, you will become blessings. You will shine as lights in the world, by which some wanderers may be shown into the way of righteousness and peace. You will prove the salt of the earth, which, as you mingle with society, will preserve it from corruption, and draw the favour of God upon it. And thus, finally, like fresh-pruned branches of the true vine, you will bring forth more and more fruit, to the Divine Husbandman, your heavenly Father; and your intimate relation to the vine will then be more clearly proved. God will look with complacency on the fruit of his own cultivation;""your leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever ye do will prosper." God will not

forget "your works of faith, and labours of love;" but you will then realize in your own experience, the blessing with which Aaron and his sons were commanded to bless the children of Israel: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!"

LECTURE III.

THE DUTIES OF HEADS OF FAMILIES.

"And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation; and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him: for I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."-Gen. xviii. 17-19.

BRETHREN, we have been lifting up our voice, and calling upon Christians, in general, to ob serve the character of the times; and urging upon their attention the duties arising from it. But, supposing this call, in many exemplary instances, well responded to, and the christian duties which have been recommended generally, and even efficiently, discharged, much