ber of the elect, and that the Spirit of God, is engaged in sanctifying them as such; and she prays that they may continue in this state unto their lives' end. She calls their attention to this point, for the useful practical purpose of exciting gratitude to God, for having thus called them "to the knowledge of his grace and faith in him," for having placed them in a state of salvation, and given them the necessary means and opportunities of making this "their calling and election sure." The Christian is thus taught to view his enjoyment of Gospel privileges as a state, to which, by the goodness of God in the disposal of his lot, he was originally predestinated; and, so long as he continues in that goodness, to look to Heaven itself as the kingdom prepared before the foundation of the world for all those who love God and obey the Gospel; and in a certain degree prepared for himself, even as the prize is prepared for all who are called to run the race. He is the more encouraged to entertain this hope, because he finds himself even now actually placed in a state of education, and preparation for the attainment of it: and when appalled at the view of his own frailties and imperfections, even in his best moments, he takes comfort in the assurance that they were all known to God from the first; and in the words

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of one who has been styled the most judicious divine of modern times," he finds his hope confirmed, and his devout affections enlivened, by the unalterable nature of the divine intentions." And this consideration ALONE can afford him solid support in his last hour, however great may have been his attainments in holiness and virtue, and whatever consolation he may properly derive from reflecting upon them.

In conclusion; it will, I trust, be scarcely necessary to remark, that there has been no intention, by any thing that has been said, to detract in the slightest degree from the importance of moral instruction; so far from it, it must ever be maintained, that the most perfect acquaintance with doctrines, and the greatest zeal in defending them, will not in the least excuse a man from the practice of Christian virtues. In order to perfect that practice, an increasing acquaintance with the holy law of God must be diligently sought, which he will write in the hearts of those who call their faith into exercise, and labour in the use of means for that purpose, and pray to him continually. The ministers of religion too will not be acting in obedience to the commands of

a Vide Dr. Hey, in loco.

Christ, nor duly fulfilling their trust, unless they devote a considerable portion of their public instructions to explain, and enforce the practice of, moral virtues. Care should also be taken by all who engage in the work of education, that the morality which they inculcate be the enlarged and improved morality of the Gospel, and that they give a due prominence to those virtues which are preeminently Christian, and are most essential to happiness and concord, such as humility, charity, sincerity. A far different system is too often allowed to pass current in the world, one which, being founded in selfishness, will (as occasion serves) admit of artifice and cunning, of pride and resentment, inculcating extravagant notions of honour and independence, and under an assumed courteousness sometimes concealing a murderous disposition. Let these opposite systems be exchanged in daily life, and then in any season of danger and alarm, as great a difference will be experienced, between the thoughtless defiance and presumptuous boldness of worldly heroism, and the reasonable courage and humble confidence of the Christian-of the dignified exercise of which latter virtues royalty has not long since furnished an example'. While how

'See Sir H. Taylor's interesting memorandum of the last illness and death of the Duke of York.

ever due attention is given to moral subjects, doctrinal instruction must by no means be neglected, especially in an age when it is attempted to be maintained, that every man ought to be left free to form his own religious opinions, and to be secure from all enquiry respecting them, though we have it upon the authority of St. John, that there are times when even the common rights of hospitality must be refused, upon the ground of a deviation from sound doctrine'. The enquiry at the present time seems to be not which is the true doctrine, but which is liberal; not which is scriptural, but which is charitable and we see those very points which have always been considered essential and fundamental articles of faith, in danger of being reduced to mere matters of opinion, and the appellation of Christian claimed by some of the worst enemies of Christianity.

It may perhaps be worth while to enquire, how far this state of things may be leading on gradually to the fulfilment of our Lord's prediction respecting his second coming, "When t the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on

$ 2 John ver. 10. The principle of the injunction is the main thing to be attended to.

t Luke xviii. 8.

the earth?" But, whatever we conceive to be the interpretation of these words, the necessity of diligence in the appointed pastors of the flock will be found to be the same, both in enforcing the belief of doctrines, and in seeking to obtain from them their practical effects; while there is no way in which their labour can be more usefully employed, than in making provision, that the rising generation may be brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." In using our best endeavours for each of these purposes, although a pharisaical separation from the world is not to be commended, yet the various important duties of our profession cannot well be satisfactorily performed by such as suffer much of their time to be absorbed in the gay circle of fashion, and in a round of frivolous amusements; while their duty to God, whose servants they profess themselves to be, to the Church, of whose honours and emoluments they partake, and to the souls committed to their care requires them to be resident upon their charge, and supplying the spiritual wants of the people. It certainly becomes us, with our present privileges, to exhibit the same zeal and diligence, which would be absolutely necessary, were the Church again left to depend under God upon its own resources, and deprived of the temporal assist