converse of this proposition, would seem to impugn the Divine Wisdom, and to charge the Almighty with folly. We doubt whether this point is sufficiently considered by contenders against established or national churches. Then, too, with reference to a state provision for an authorized ministry: were not the Priests and Levites of the former dispensation considerately and liberally provided for by express appointment from above? And is it not by the same authority commanded under the gospel that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel? 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14. Ye have robbed me, said the Lord, by Malachi, to Israel: even this whole nation: Wherein, they presumingly reply, have we robbed thee? In tithes and in offerings, the Lord rejoins. Chap. iii.8. Hence, the temporal things appropriated to the maintenance of Divine worship and a stated ministry, cannot be withheld with impunity. There is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty, Prov. xi. 24: whereas generosity and self-devotedness in the Lord's service, will assuredly induce a rich reciprocal blessing. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. iii. 10. This is a method whereby to fill our barns with plenteousness, and our hearts with joyfulness. Showers of heavenly blessing, penetrating to the roots of our Christian knowledge and experience, would indeed render us, as a religious community, a blessing and a praise in the earth.

2ndly. The sacredness of the Christian ministry, and the solemn responsibility of those who admit candidates

to holy orders in the church of Christ, can scarcely be overrated. Consider Aaron; he might not serve at the altar without an express call to the duty: look at the Greater than Aaron, the glorious Anti-type of all priesthood and of all holy ministration, Jesus Christ; he glorified not himself to be made an high-priest: and yet, alas! how many rush into the sacred office with no due credentials or befitting preparation of heart for its affecting and awful duties! Is this deemed an uncharitable insinuation? Oh would it could be uniformly disproved, and that too well-known fact did not corroborate the assumption! Character and conduct speak in language intelligible to the simplest capacity. What an anomaly is a gay clergyman! how incongruous are the hunt, the race, the midnight assembly, and the various pleasures of a frivolous worldly taste, with death-beds, sacramental ordinances, and the promulgation of a religion whose very elementary command it is, Love not the world, neither the things of the world; and whose solemn declaration reads, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John ii. 15. Churches can only flourish but as their pastors become spiritually-minded and devoted men. It is not office which can sanctify the man: witness Nadab and Abihu under the Old Testament, and Judas under the New. The Holy Ghost must both call and qualify the teacher, or the taught cannot be truly edified. High intellectual attainment and great respectability of rank or station in society, cannot alone suffice to constitute a faithful ambassador of Christ. Rightness of heart with God, is the grand preparative, nay, the indispensable requisite; and where the word of reconciliation is both experimentally and practically known unto the messenger, it will be no difficult matter, under grace, to con

ciliate and to win the hearts of those to whom he is commissioned. It is always sad and painful when the young children ask bread and no man breaketh it unto them. Lam. iv. 4. It is a natural and legitimate consequence, when the day becomes dark over such unprofitable ministers, and the Lord intrusts his commission unto others. Mic. iii. 1-12. Orthodoxy of sentiment apart from inward feeling, is as the moonlight of a winter's night: it illuminates, but it does not comfort. Apostolical succession may be valuable in its place, but what can it avail to salvation unaccompanied by apostolical knowledge, zeal, and love? We fervently desire that ALL bishops, priests, and deacons in the church of our favoured land, may be abundantly illuminated with the true knowledge and understanding of God's holy Word, and that BOTH by their preaching and living they might set it forth, and show it accordingly. Preservation from insidious error on the one hand, and stedfastness in simple gospel-truth on the other, are grand desiderata in our day.

3rdly. The real worshippers of God, who go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach, and feeling that here they have no continuing city, should keep in continual memory that although now, for a season, their High-Priest is invisible unto them, yet is He, nevertheless, carrying steadily and unweariedly forward the great work of his mediation, and that soon the little while of his personal absence will terminate in his manifestation with power and great glory. John xvi. 16-22. The children of the bride-chamber fast because the Bridegroom is away from them. His renewed · presence will turn their mourning into joy, and their joy no one shall evermore take from them. Mark ii. 19.

Occupy till I come, is his command. Luke xix. 13. There is no single individual of the family of God, but in the Divine appointment, has a talent to improve, a something to do or to endure for the Lord's sake. Let each one ascertain his peculiar gift or gifts, and be sedulous to render unto the great Master and Giver of them all, his own with usury. We know that he will come to reckon with us: ignorance therefore can never be pleaded in excuse for slothfulness. Let then patience have its perfect work: let faith repose with child-like confidence upon the holy Word, and aim to substantiate unto itself things not seen as yet: let love be always active in devising and attempting schemes of usefulness for the Redeemer's name, and in furtherance of his cause upon earth and hope cling with most unyielding tenacity to the only Intercessor, until, as the true Aaron, he shall come forth to realize all the expectations which his Spirit and his grace inspire. Blessed, truly, are all they that wait for him! The hand of his great beneficence will bestow upon them the purchase of his blood. You shall have life for his death, honour for his shame, and a throne for his cross. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off, or that is widely extended: the inhabitant thereof shall be forgiven his iniquity, and shall no more say, I am sick. There the glorious Lord will be unto us as a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby for the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us. Isa. xxxiii. 17-24.

DISCOURSE IX.

THE HOLY GARMENTS.

EXODUS XXviii. 2.

Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.

IT may be seen in Sir Isaac Newton's Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, how very much of the scenery and general character of the latter, is derived from the Levitical or ceremonial law. Indeed, it is asserted by this great man, that he who would most readily understand the prophetic writings of the Old Testament, should begin his inquiries by a careful study of the book of Revelation in the New Testament. Be this, however, as it may, it is certainly remarkable that this particular book should both commence and close with a promise of peculiar blessing to him that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein. See chapters i. 3, and xxii. 7. Surprise or regret has been sometimes expressed that the Church of England has not availed itself of the Revelation in its selected and appointed Lessons; we know no assignable reason for this omission, unless it be that the framers of our Liturgy felt the deep necessity