availing himself of the aids afforded by the Church, can never greatly fall. Err he sometimes may, for man must ever be fallible; but a heretic or schismatic he can scarcely become. He will abound more and more, in the riches of knowledge, love, and grace. The deeper he digs, the more convinced will he be, that this mine of spiritual wealth is interminable and exhaustless. When he has learnt much, he will still find more to learn; and while the wisdom which is not from above puffeth up the fleshly mind, the wisdom which is from above, will humble his pride, while it elevates his affections. (6)

It is the object of the Church, in her Creeds and Confessions, in her Articles and Canons, to assist the humble inquirer after truth, in thus adhering to the analogy of faith; and to aid him in the interpretation of separate texts, by keeping before his eyes the whole system, of which they are the component parts. She presents us, as it were, with a miniature portrait of the Temple itself, where we are busied in measuring its courts with a reed, in surveying its treasures of gold and pearl, and in marvelling at the gigantic stones of which it is constructed. For a like purpose, too, the ordinance of preaching has been established. For the business of the preacher, is, by bringing the diverging rays of

revelation into one focus, to convert them into a burning, as well as a shining light; quick and powerful, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (7)

When our Lord had finished the sublime discourses, which have given rise to these remarks, attended by his eleven Apostles, he had reached one of those lovely gardens, which, at that time, adorned the now barren sides of Olivet, and to which, as St. John informs us, he oft-times resorted with his disciples.* (8)

There is a consolation in withdrawing our minds, for a moment, from the consideration of sorrows, in which we are so nearly concerned, and sufferings, in which we are so deeply interested, that we may contemplate the holy Jesus, a lily among thorns,' in this, his sacred retirement, setting us an example of religious abstraction, meditation, and prayer. Even in our colder climate, and less genial atmosphere, it is good for us, to go forth into the fields and meditate; and such abstraction from society is especially wholesome to the minds, and refreshing to the bodies, of those, who, like ourselves, my brethren, are pent up during the week within

* John, xviii. 2.

the confines of a crowded city, and distracted by the bustle of secular avocations, and daily business. It is not sufficient, that we receive the Scriptures as our rule of conduct; but composed, as we are, of body as well as soul, our very senses must be engaged in the cause of religion. And I know not when we feel, more strongly, the existence of an Almighty Spirit, than when we view the glories of creation, as displayed before our eyes, in the solemn stillness of a summer night; when we remember, that the countless stars above us, are, each of them, perhaps, suns to distant worlds; when we thus see universe piled upon universe, and reflect, that, even these are as nothing, when compared to that incomprehensible Being, who willed them into existence. Who is there, that, on such occasions, does not feel,.. Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him; and the Son of man, that, manifest in the flesh, thou hast visited him!' Verily, though there be neither speech nor language, yet their voices are heard among us, preaching the insignificance, the impotence, the dependency of

man.

And then it is, when, awe-stricken by the might, the majesty, and the dominion of the Lord God Omnipotent, that we shall become duly sensible of the inestimable privilege, the ineffable blessing, the inconceivably glorious prerogative,

which we Christians possess, in being permitted to approach so awful, so stupendous a Being; to approach him, as the happy children of a condescending parent, to regard him, as our protector, redeemer, comforter, and friend.

But we must return to the consideration of that agony, and of those bitter sufferings, by which these privileges, these benefits, and this high prerogative, were purchased and procured, for the sons of Adam.

It was with far other feelings, than those, with which he had been accustomed to retire to the wilderness, the mountain, or the garden, that the lowly Jesus, on this eventful night, entered the enclosure of Gethsemane.

Wearied in body, and worn in spirit, it was rest that he required: but he foreknew, that, on this earth, no rest awaited him. Having now entered his accustomed haunts, he said to eight of his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.'* But, knowing, at the same time, that his human nature was about to be sorely tried, and supernaturally oppressed, he wished, with the common feelings of that nature, to have beside him some, who, if they could not alleviate his pangs, at least might sympathize with his

* Matt. xxvi. 36.

sufferings. It was, as man, that he was afflicted; it was, as man, too, that he felt. He took with him, therefore, Peter, and James, and John.*

The reason of this selection is obvious. Had he taken with him the other disciples, the temptation might have been greater, than they would have been able to bear. Their faith might have received too severe a shock, on beholding the excruciating agonies of one, whom, if they believed him to be the Messiah, they must have regarded as an emanation from the Deity. But Peter, and the sons of Zebedee, had been eyewitnesses of the transfiguration on the Mount. However perplexed, therefore, they might be, they would not be reduced to despair. They had, at least, wherewithal to satisfy their minds upon this point; since they had heard the Father himself, proclaim their Master to be his onlybegotten Son. Thus, then, as they had witnessed the glory of the Son of man, they were the better qualified to behold the humiliation of the Son of God. (9)

The divine nature in the Lord Jesus, was, perhaps, (to adopt the language of theologians,) at this time, quiescent; that is to say, his

* Mark, xiv. 33.

+ Matt. xvii. 1. Mark, ix. 2. Luke, ix. 28.