much as they like, provided they are content to take the earthly consequences which ensue from carelessness or neglect, the well instructed Christian sees in every, even the smallest, case of action, a case of training and improvement in heavenly tempers. He knows, indeed, that nothing but the grace of God, cherished in continual prayer, can ever make his ways pleasing to God, but he also feels that it is a cherishing of God's grace to keep his heart straight in the direction of heavenly virtue.

This consideration is particularly important to those who are placed in a station where labour is not absolutely necessary for their support. They are, above all men, apt to think that they may please themselves, and take the world easily. How essential then is it for them to remember, that the temper of carelessness, and incomplete labour, in respect of men, is the temper of imperfect service, and practical disobedience in respect of God; that, if they serve not with full and exact duty men whom they have seen, they cannot fully serve God, whom they have not seen.

Let us then remember, my brethren, this great and most important truth, that there is not in our common lives one case of action so small, so apparently secular, as not to be of great consequence to our religious character; first, as being due as an offering of service of God; and, secondly, as being a means of training our hearts towards the perfect

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practice of our heavenly duties. It will be a mark that we are learning to feel the real connexion between religion and our common life, if we get into the habit of seeing the shadows of what is heavenly, in the midst of what we used to think merely earthly.

For instance, if in matters of interest, or even mere amusement, we cannot bear reverses; if, instead of cheerfully making the best of our position, we find that the common effect of long continued discouragement is to ruffle our temper, or make us throw up all effort in despair, is it not well to think whether we are getting ourselves ready, in case God should be pleased to visit us with long and hopeless sickness, or to try our faith by withholding the comfortable sense of grace; whether, I say, we are getting ourselves ready to fight the long and upward fight of patience under discouragement, of hope against hope, of effort for duty's sake?

And if we find that in those occupations and duties which we have to perform in our position in society, we are habitually careless, procrastinating, and imperfect, is it not well that we should bethink ourselves whether this temper will not affect the punctuality and completeness of our repentance, for instance, or of our self-government, or of our prayers or meditations, or indeed of every religious duty whatever?

The grace of God's Holy Spirit is not confined

to stimulating prayer, or assisting us in things expressly religious. It will be given to quicken our diligence, to uphold our flagging purposes, to enable us to be punctual and exact in secular business, if we pray for it. The Holy Ghost, whose temple we are, will sanctify our hearts in every thing we think, speak, or do, if we submit ourselves wholly to His teaching. We must learn, if we would please God, whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, to do all to His glory.

May God give us grace to devote our whole hearts to Him, and to be found in His fear and service all our days, through Jesus Christ.

SERMON XXIV.

CHRISTIAN COMPANIONSHIP.

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PSALM lv. part of ver. 14, 15.

My companion, my guide, and mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends."

THESE words, as used by the prophet David, are words of painful remonstrance and complaint. In their first application, they refer to the treason of Ahithophel; in the second, to that of Judas; in both, they denote the sad and aggravated distress which is felt when treachery and falsehood have concealed themselves under the garb of religious sympathy and friendship; when the dearest and holiest feelings, which the heart cherishes most closely and warmly, have been used by a traitor to gain access to a man's love, and wound him most deeply by his treason.

But my object in selecting them for our medita

tion to-day, is not to speak of the violation or disappointment of such holy and tender affection; that is, not to speak of them in connexion with their context in the fifty-fifth Psalm, but rather to take them as they stand by themselves; as furnishing a short, beautiful, and well known picture of a Christian friendship. "My companion, my guide, and mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends."

It is commonly observed, that a man may, in great measure, be judged of from his friends; and the truth of this common remark seems to be founded upon the fact, that friends exercise great power in forming or modifying the character. Such as a man is, so he commonly chooses his friends: such as his friends are, such he probably becomes : so that his ultimate character depends in great measure upon the goodness of his choice. And it is not to be forgotten, that besides the real influence which friends exercise over a man's mind, the world commonly attributes still more to them; or, at least, finds in the friends whom he has chosen, one of the easiest, and not least trust-worthy means of judging of himself.

Important as this subject is to all, it is emphatically so to the young; and that for many reasons. They are open and confiding, and ready to make friends; and, from want of experience, have little or none of that cold caution which keeps older people back from forming hasty friendships. Their