be in accordance with the word of God,) to render him all due deference and submission. The same power which invests him with authority in spiritual matters, marks out to them the path of obedience therein. Why is spiritual rule entrusted to him, (for the due use of which, however, he must render a strict account, shewing that as far as in him lay, he employed it for the glory of God, and the salvation of his people's souls,) if they, on their part, will render no submission? To what purpose does he minister to them in sacred things, if they, "with itching ears heap to themselves Teachers," and will not receive them? Remember the solemn manner in which ministerial authority and exclusive miterial promises were given and entrusted by our Saviour himself to the first Teachers of the Gospel, and through them to their Successors, and fear to make light thereof. "Then the eleven disciples" (as St. Matthew has recorded the circumstance in his 28th chapter) "went away into Galilee into a mountain, where Jesus had appointed them. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth; go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

But further observe, my Brethren of the Laity, what strong motives the text presents to Your consideration, to induce You to comply with Your part of the obligation. It is for Your souls that your Ministers must watch, and unwatchfulness in them, and disobedience in you, will be alike "unprofitable," as the text has it, to both. To You do faithful Ministers dedicate both their time and thoughts. To Your spiritual and eternal welfare and interests, are they in heart and soul devoted. Your salvation is the great object which they have continually in view. You, therefore, being the party most vitally interested and concerned, are imperatively called upon to do your part. For, although, the text proceeds to say, that he (the Minister) "must give an account of his ministry," and hence it might be erroneously supposed, that all the responsibility will rest with him: yet this is not the case. You, as well as your Ministers, Brethren, will be answerable for the account. And if amid a long confession of ministerial errors and deficiencies, still upon the whole it can be made to appear, that the blame of "falling short of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," rests with You and not with them; then will "your blood be upon your own heads," and your Ministers be pronounced guiltless of it. Surely, then, it will be for the mutual joy and advantage of both Ministers and people, that each should religiously observe the solemn bonds by which

they are united. So shall they work together for each other's good, both for time and for eternity-" sinners will be converted from the error of their ways," and "the Lord will add daily to his Church, such as shall be saved."

Such, my Brethren of the Clergy and of the Laity, is the imperfect sketch I have attempted to lay before, and to impress upon, You, of the mutual relations (mainly in reference to Churchmembership and discipline,) which unite You to each other. And as I have selected this topic, let it not be supposed that I have endeavoured to underrate or to relax the necessity of unremitting attention to parochial duties and ministrations. Quite the reverse! But as the relations to which I have referred, are seldom viewed, and brought forward, as it appears to me their importance demands, therefore it is, that I have humbly endeavoured to direct your attention to, and to conciliate your increased esteem for, and observance of, them. And as conducing to so desirable an end, surely the prayers of each party are due for the other-the Ministers' for their people-the people's for their Ministers. Let such be offered up upon the present occasion in all faithfulness and sincerity, and doubtless, they will be heard.

In conclusion, Brethren, let me remind you, that if at all times and under all circumstances, the relations which subsist between the Clergy and their flocks, and the high privileges and

blessings resulting therefrom, ought to be duly observed and highly esteemed; more especially should they be so at the present crisis by every one who calls himself a friend and member of that pure and Apostolic Church by law established in these realms. At a time, when Popery is assuming a menacing and dictatorial attitude on the one hand, and Non-Conformity on the other, no longer satisfied with toleration, seeks the pre-eminence; and when these two naturally hostile Principles, urged forward by the infidel faction, open and concealed, now a powerful and influential body, scruple not to unite for the overthrow of our scriptural Establishment ; at a time when the admirers of French equality, are not so far deluded as to suppose, that such a system can add at all to the aggregate of human happiness and human virtue, as smitten with a longing for what may be its ultimate consequences, the introduction of French licentiousness also; at a time when every Institution amongst Us, conservative not of mammon, (for his votaries ever flourish and abound,) but of ancient English highmindedness and virtue, is threatened with subversion; and the Aristocracy of our land, the natural guardians of all that is high and humanizing-one, too large a part, in utter hopelessness and recklessness, "et jam pallida morte futurâ," is abandoning to the Demagogue the post of duty and their CountryWhilst another, literally exemplifying the case

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of those, quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat❞—are busily engaged in kindling the fires by which themselves will be the first to be consumed, (and if nothing higher and holier than they were jeoparded, e'en one might be disposed to say, "let what remains of the Constitution, and of our modified Feudalism, go;") At such a time, I say, the best possible understanding between the Clergy and their flocks should exist, and the Church herself should be the rallying point of all that is virtuous and high-principled amongst Us, not for her own sake only, (for if true to herself She will never be deserted by her divine founder,) but for the State's also.

From the efforts now making in every direction, there are manifest symptoms that all is not lost to the cause of religion and order. Let, then, every element of good, under God, hasten to strengthen and to defend the bulwarks of Zion, and shew by their deeds, as well as by their professions, that they esteem our Establishment the best protection they can possibly have, against ecclesiastical tyranny upon the one hand, and against the spirit of schism and religious insubordination upon the other; and not only so, but against political tyrants and oppressors, whether they be many or whether they be few.

Thus supported, will the Church, by God's goodness, continue to be a blessing to our land. And I rejoice in "the glad tidings," and you,