selves to imitate. There are striking traits of greatness and goodness in the countenance of a righteous man, which command the veneration even of those whom his conduct most loudly condemns. Nay, for what can they censure you? for discharging all your obligations ?—for being upright in all your dealings?—for faithfully and affectionately performing all the sacred duties, arising from the relations of pareut, child, husband, master, servant, or friend?-for maintaining the peace and promoting the happiness of society?—for daily praying that the blessings of heaven may be showered down on your country, and make it flourish in full prosperity?— for edifying your brethren by your example?— for consoling them in their tribulations?—for relieving them in their distresses! Oh! when the turbulence of passion subsides, and judgment exercises its calin dominion, they will admire you, they will envy you, they will acknowledge your superiority over them, they will revere and extol your elevation of sentiment and dignity of soul.

. I cannot conclude these reflections, without addressing myself particularly to you in this assembly, whom the Almighty hath placed in a distinguished rank; to parents, to superiors, and heads of families, and to all who exercise over others any degree of authority. It is espe

cially your duty to exert yourselves against the evil of human respects. You are the persons, whom the rest of the world seek most to please. You are the objects of human respects. You are bound therefore to take from it all that is pernicious, and even to sanctify it in your inferiors, by making it evident, both by your words and conduct, that the only means of conciliating your esteem and securing your protection are sincere piety and moral virtue. Thus you must oppose human respect against human respect, and turn the arts and stratagems of hell against itself.

The present age, unhappily alas! for the peace of Europe! is fertile of men, who aim at overturning religion and social order, and utterly extirpating every moral principle. But do you dare to be what you ought to be, and they will soon crouch before you in their native meanness and insignificance. Let your doors be never open to those, whose conversation or writings has any thing of this destructive tendency. Receive not into your society men, whom religion accuses of all its misfortunes. Let their publications meet from you with that disdain and contempt, which they deserve. Combine together to drive them from the haunts of men into a despised obscurity; and their voice will no longer have the power of seduc

ing, and their pride will be humbled into silence. Encourage by your example that piety, which is feeble and timid; and let your openly avowed convictions of the divine authority of the Christian law strengthen the faith of those, who are fluctuating between their own intimate persuasions, and the doubts, which are raised by philosophical sophistry. Then shall religion dry up her tears; the church of Christ will gather together her dispersed children; the solemnities of Sion will resume their ancient splendour; our nation will flourish in full prosperity in the enjoyment of peace, under the auspices of virtue and you, who under the influence of divine grace have co-operated in bringing on so happy a revolution, shall receive from the Lord, whose kingdom you have supported on earth, and whose children you have so much befriended, a crown of unfading glory, in a blissful immortality.

SERMON XXV.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PERSEVERANCE
IN GOOD.

A little while, and now you shall not see me, &c. -John xvi. 16.

THIS gospel forms a part of the last, the most interesting and most affecting conference, which our Redeemer held with his disciples. Drawing near to his passion, his ignominy, and his death, that he might give them comfort, and enable them to support themselves under the approaching distress and calamity, he spoke to them to this effect: It is now indeed but a very little while before I shall be taken away from you: nevertheless, let not this cause you to despond; for, after I am departed, it will be likewise as little a while, before I appear to you again in fact, when I am taken from you, I shall not perish, but only return to my Father. This declaration, my brethren, caused to his

disciples considerable uneasiness and trouble. Not understanding his true meaning, which was, that in a short time he should be taken away from them by death; and that after having overcome death, by a glorious resurrection, he would appear to them again before his ascension to the right hand of his heavenly Father. -not understanding this, they whispered among themselves, saying: What can be the meaning of his obscure discourse?

Jesus seeing their perplexity, and knowing that they were desirous to ask him about it, but durst not, replied to their thoughts: Why are you thus disturbed about what I have told you? Is it a thing so very unintelligible, that in a little time I shall be taken from you, and in a little time more shall appear to you again. I tell you assuredly that very soon I must depart out of this world; and then the world, who are my enemies, will rejoice and triumph, as if they had destroyed me, and wholly oppressed you; and you, for your parts, shall be sorrowful, you shall be overwhelmed with grief: but I shall shortly return to you, and then your sorrow shall be turned into exceeding great joy. In the same manner as a woman when she is in labour, has great pain and sorrow, for the present; but after she is delivered forgets the pain she endured, exulting in the birth of her son: so you, during the