assured that God indulgently beholds the feeblest efforts, if they be sincere; that a cup of cold water, given for his sake, will not lose its reward; that this obedience will brighten into a happy intercourse with God; that from being servants, we shall receive the adoption of sons, and become the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus.

But the great means for the attaining that faith, which works by love, and bears every blessed fruit, is prayer. You perceive that I cannot mean by this, the going over some barren form of words, as the daily morning and evening task. But I mean the language of the heart: that importunity which men well know how to use, when driven, by distress, to supplicate a fellow-creature ; but which always finds in God, a mind and nature, prone to mercy, gentle, and easy to be entreated; and whose delight it is to pity, to relieve, to give more than we can either ask or think. Enter, then, into your closet, and when, withdrawn from every other eye, you find yourself alone with God, pour out your heart before Him.

These prayers But be patient,

may appear, for a time, unfruitful. be fervent, be persevering: and the heavens will soften; the clouds will pour down their genial showers; Christ will manifest himself to your souls; and faith," the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen," will open all its treasures. Have you ever seen one of the captive fowls of the air, immured, and pining in imprisonment, when some door of escape is opened, dart like an arrow from its cage, that it may again sing among the branches, and drink in the breath of the pure heavens? So will you find that faith can emancipate the soul; call it forth from the bondage of the flesh and sin, into its connatural element and native air; there to walk at liberty, and exult in the open daylight of eternity.

301

SERMON II.

SAINT MATTHEW, V. 5.

"BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH."

THAT the meek, the mild, and the gentle, should be, in a peculiar sense, the care of heaven, is a truth which, even if it had not been revealed, all men would be ready to admit. It might, however, be natural to suppose, that persons of this class must, even more than others, look for their reward in softer regions, and in climes more congenial than the present world. It might be thought, that for brisker spirits, and more resisting tempers, the good things of this life were more attainable: that amidst the oppositions of interest, and the collisions of effort—that in that race of rivalship which so many are running, and where the prizes are so few, the gentle must be thrust aside, and the meek-spirited decline the contest. And so it would be, in a great measure, if happiness consisted in objects of outward splendour, and vain ambition.

But, in the words before us, we are taught

a far different lesson. We are told that the meek are happy: and that to such a temper and disposition of the soul belongs, in a peculiar manner, not merely happiness in reversion, but happiness in present possession; in a word, the utmost enjoyment allotted to man while here below. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Let us, then, devote the opportunity now afforded us, to a few reflections on so calm and delightful a subject.

In the first place, meekness tends to promote the comfort and enjoyment of our condition, by disposing us to live peaceably with those around us, and thereby inclining them to live peaceably with us.

There are, no doubt, some spirits so "contrary," as the apostle speaks, “to all men ;" so indisposed to fair adjustment and candid explanation; that it is hard for the utmost gentleness to allay such ruffled waters. And though there is a wisdom in meekness, which discerns the obvious duty of withdrawing ourselves, when we can, from such society; yet, nevertheless, Providence, not unfrequently, forbids the extrication: and God, at times, constrains his children to dwell with Mesech, and to have their habitation among the tents of Kedar; even to take their lot with them that are enemies unto peace. In these most trying cir

cumstances, however, the Christian can, at least, possess his soul in patience. A soft answer turneth away wrath: for where the fire is nourished by no fuel, it soon goes out. In failure of all secondary means, God himself arises to help the meek upon earth: and where the ways of a man please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

But the truth is, such unreasonable spirits are not frequently to be met with. In many of the disputes that arise, both parties are to blame; not always in the same degree, but still something is contributed on either side to foment the quarrel. But in proportion as we are truly meek, no provocation will arise on our part. There will be no conflicting of pride with pride. That uneasy passion cannot endure a rival. The proud man must have the whole field to himself. And when his restless movements come in contact with a mind, as unyielding and unbending as his own; thence arise those deadly hates, and those interminable contests, which fill the earth with violence. But it is well known, that those who are proud themselves, love and admire humility in others. Upon the soft green of meekness, the sleepless eye of fevered passion will sometimes delight to dwell. To turn aside from the face of defiance, of rival