cepts of religion.

There are many cases which, though not so conspicuous, yet, reaching lower and spreading wider in society, are continued by the What an unendurable oddity in any

same power.

class of society would be a man of thorough Christian sincerity a man, I mean, who should think freely as well as speak freely! How every little circle of society fixes bounds of opinions and manners! Here the Dissenter is proscribed, there the Unitarian. Most nominal Christians act as if they thought that infidelity was greatly improved by hypocricy. Enthusiasm, i. e., strong and lofty feeling, is generally considered as throwing a doubt on sanity in the living; in the dead, especially if they died two or three generations back, it becomes a beauty and a splendor. There is much yet to be done to Christianize the world. The apostle John said, 'the whole world lieth in wickedness;' with good allowance for improvement, it yet lieth in a great mass of prejudice and folly.

We see, moreover, the immense importance of education. The young should be educated into Christian morality; they should have its principles firmly implanted in their minds,and be schooled to carry it out into those details which are required by the present condition of existence. Is it not monstrous, that almost the only systematic instruction of this kind is a superficial induction into that very imperfect work, Paley's 'Moral Philosophy,' at our universities? Almost all beyond this is the pulpit, which is much more occupied with faith and doctrines, and a selection of precepts to make children, servants, and sub

jects obedient. All the youth of the community should be taught their duties, i. e., their interests; taught how to add to the happiness of the world, i. e., how to secure their own here and hereafter. I say, all the youth; for an universal solid education is a national want, and should be ensured for the nation, in spite of individual folly, selfishness, or poverty. Morality rests chiefly on intelligence, and intelligence rests chiefly on education; and the excellence of its quality, and the extent of its enjoyment, are therefore of paramount concern. We have heard of a nation willing to be free: it will be a nobler spectacle to see a nation willing to be wise. God hasten it!

ters.

And seeing all this, we see also the importance of our individually entering into these objects; pursuing them for others, but never forgetting to apply them to ourselves. To be the promoters of intelligence, goodness, and improvement, we must ourselves be right earnest for their realization in our own characMen said to Christ, 'Physician, heal thyself;' and they will not fail to say it to his followers; and if they did, we should not fail to say it to ourselves. In that analysis of man which indicates our duty to others, there is the exhortation to our duty to ourselves. Do not take this up in a narrow spirit, and say, he has done most for the world's reformation who has reformed himself; for that absurd expression overlooks the fact, that he who is not solicitous about others, cannot, by any possibility, have taken efficient steps for his own reformation. We should rather apply the language of Christ, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,

and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.' Thus shall we enter into the Christian plan; and that is, to enjoy the Christian blessing; to find life, with all its discouragements and evils, yet a good gift of God, preparing us gratefully to receive the better boon of immortality.

SERMON III.

THE PRINCIPLE OF GOODNESS.

(A NEW YEAR'S SERMON TO YOUNG PERSONS.)

MARK X. 17-22.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lack. est: go thy way, sell whatscever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved; for he had great possessions.

This circumstance, which appears from the account in Matthew xix. to be related of a young man, suggests many lessons not inappropriate to the present occasion. I shall only dwell on two or three of the most important of them, and which combine themselves into an uniformity of moral tendency and impression. But it may be useful to introduce these, by first glancing at the phraseology and several particulars in the narrative. Of the character and mo

tives of this young man, I shall speak presently. Looking at the external facts, his eagerness after our Lord's instruction is an honorable circumstance. He did not wait for, but sought, the teacher. He came to him, he ran towards him, as if fearful of losing the opportunity. He was not one of those as to whom Wisdom may lift up her voice in the streets, and be unregarded. Pleasant for an instructer is it to have such dispositions to deal with. There are too many who are passive, who wait for truth and knowledge till they come, or who even oppose to them a positive resistance. So acceptable to Providence is even this humblest kind of merit, even the non-opposition to instruction, that the relative positions of teacher and pupil, as they here appear, may to you be considered as reversed; it is only asked of you not to fly from wisdom. The great agencies of divine instruction are ever waiting for you, and as it were running towards you. Coming days and weeks and years hasten to kneel at your feet, as the young man did to Jesus, and ask you what they shall do to ensure your inheritance of eternal life. You have only not to spurn their proffered service, or misdirect their mission. And that great teacher himself, whom he might fear would have passed away before he obtained the answer which he had sought as an oracle, is ever waiting to afford you enlightenment and guidance; ever waiting in the simplicity of his discourses, the loveliness of his example, and the perfection of his religion; breathing from age to age in every listening ear the words which are spirit, and life, and everlasting truth. They are his princi