polis presents-and this spectacle is not for a moment be compared with that its streets, and not its parks, and not its presented by the history of Jesus? How palaces; but the forest of masts which true, and how affecting, was the larrise for mile upon mile from its noble guage which He used, when his disciriver, and when we remember how, ples were contending as to who should with Christianity at the helm of the be reckoned greatest, Whether is swarming vessels, the glorious news of greater, he that sitteth at meat or he that redemption might be rapidly borne over serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? the habitable globe; it is not easy to but I am among you as he that serveth." repress all foreboding, to keep from an It was for the very meanest, as well as ticipating a time when God may visit for the noblest of the children of men, upon us the not having used in his cause that the Redeemer engaged in that the vast powers derived from our traffic, stern work which could be accomplishand when this nation shall cease to be ed only through sorrow and death. great amongst kingdoms, through hav- Which of us is there who can say that ing failed to be their servant, "minis- this Reedeemer did not perform on his tering the Gospel of God." At least, behalf the most servile of offices, stooplet it be remembered by those who ing to every kind of indignity, enduring have in any way an influence on the every form of hardship, and undertaking commerce of the country, that God every species of toil? But if Christ has given spiritual blessings to be diffu- thus made Himself servant to the human sed as well as enjoyed; and that it can- race, it is this very fact which is to draw not be in his sight an indifferent thing, to Him finally universal homage. Had whether we keep them to ourselves, or He not been their servant, He could not act as stewards and communicate to have been their Redeemer; and, if not others. Thousands on every side are their Redeemer, then at his name would perishing, according to the Scriptural not every knee have bowed, " of things expression, "for lack of knowledge:" in heaven, and things in earth, and what then shall be said of those, who, with the Bible in their hands, and with unrivalled facilities for the diffusion, take no pains to "hold forth the word of life," if not that they are virtually as guilty as though a lighthouse had been given into their charge, and then, on some tremendous night, when sea and sky mingled in fierce confusion, they had neglected to kindle the flame, and thus left a navy to be broken into shreds?

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But we would now turn for a few moments, in conclusion, to that touching reference to his own case by which Christ illustrates the rule which we have been engaged in examining. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Who did not feel, whilst we were gathering illustrations from warriors, and statesmen, and philosophers, and philanthropists, that we might have gone to a higher source, and have given one example, including, yet immeasurably surpassing, every other? It is true that the most eminent amongst men are their servants; for eminence results from usefulness, and usefulness from the dedication of energies to the service of others. But where is there an instance of this dedication of energies, which can

VOL. II. 35

things under the earth." Thus He illustrates his own precept: He became great through redeeming; but since He redeemed through making Himself the minister to a lost world, He became great through becoming a servant. Can I then need other proof of the worth of the direction furnished by our text? I "consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself," and I find that the office which He undertook was one of humiliation, an office which can be no better defined, whatever its awfuluess and arduousness, than as that of a servant; for it was an office of unbounded toil that a burdened world might be lightened, and of continued suffering that a stricken world might have peace. And when I further observe that all which is most sublime in exaltation wast awarded to "the man Christ Jesus," in recompense of his discharging this office, do I not learn, that if I would stand high in his kingdom, I must imitate Him in lowliness, and in devotion to the interests of all classes of my fellow-men?

There can then be no dispute as to the secret of true greatness: it only remains, that, having the rule, we adopt it in our practice. Earthly greatness, in the or

dinary sense, is attainable but by few: | storm? Christ hath come "a light to heavenly is within reach of all, who, as lighten the Gentiles;" and his cross, the servants of God, make themselves like a moral pharos, directs to immorthe servants of man. And a day is ap- tality. There hath descended the proproaching when the important question mised Comforter, to guide the wanderwill be, not whether we have stood high ing to everlasting rest. There is provi

in the present world, but whether we sion in the Gospel for a hope which have prepared ourselves for the next." maketh not ashamed," "which hope The voyage of life is drawing rapidly we have as an anchor of the soul both to a close; and on that shore, to which sure and steadfast." all are hastening, must the illustrious Then we have but to use the means, stand with the mean, the conqueror with and appropriate the blessings, proffered the conquered, the wise with the illiterate, by the Bible, and when the last tempest to be "judged according to their works." beats on this creation, and the proud It is our own fault, if the voyage terminate and the sensual and the selfish go down disastrously. What is there no bea- in one wild wreck, we shall be found in con, lit up for those who toss on dark-"the haven where we would be;" on ened waters is there no pilot to steer that "sea of glass like unto crystal," the laboring vessel? is there no anchor which St. John saw spreading before the to hold her fast amid the drivings of the throne of God and of the Lamb

SERMON II.

CHRISTIANITY THE GUARDIAN OF HUMAN LIFE.

"The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."-ECCLESIASTES VIL 12

then can be more appropriate to the assembling of an illustrious corporation, which, bearing on its banner the great mystery of the Godhead, sets itself to preserve thousands who could scarcely escape death, were it not assiduous in firing the beacon and fixing the buoy?

It will readily be admitted, that we to claim, as one great characteristic of interpret this passage consistently with the Christian religion, the being the the other writings of Solomon, if we giver or guardian of human life: what understand by knowledge, knowledge of God, and by wisdom, "the wisdom that is from above." It will also be allowed, that we do not propose any strained application of the text, if we understand by knowledge and wisdom what those terms represent under the Christian dispensation, as distinguished from that beneath which Solomon lived. If these preliminaries be conceded, the text appears specially applicable to the present occasion. For it may be said

*Preached before the corporation of Trinity House, on Trinity Monday, 1840.

Such, then, is the point of view under which we have to display Christianity. Christianity is the dispenser of life to the human body and soul. Let other knowledge vaunt itself on this or that excellency: we claim for "the wisdom that is from above," the giving "life to them

that have it."

Now we may unhesitatingly charge ous sceptre, animosities have subsided, upon Heathenism, even if you keep out and happiness has been increasingly dif of sight its debasing effect upon morals, fused. And whilst it has thus, in the and think of it only as a system of reli- general, polished and compacted sociegious ceremonies and observances, the ty, it has spread, in a hundred ways, a having a direct tendency to the destroy-shield over human life. It has gradualing men's lives. It commonly repre- ly substituted mild for sanguinary laws, sents the Deity as delighting in the suf- teaching rulers that the cases must be ferings of his creatures, and therefore rare which justify the punishing with seeks to propitiate him through slaugh- death. If it have not yet exterminated ter. It has not been merely amongst war, it has greatly softened its horrors. the more savage of Pagans, but also It has made warriors-who can withamongst those who have advanced far hold his admiration ?-who never sulin civilization, that the custom has pre- lied victory by cruelty, who never wanvailed of offering human sacrifices. tonly caused a tear, who were always Writers the best qualified by learned as eager to protect the unoffending as research for delivering an opinion, assert able to subdue the opposing, and who that there is no nation mentioned in never vanquished without studying to history whom we cannot reproach with make defeat a blessing to the conquered. having shed the blood of its citizens, in And what but Christianity, giving saorder to appease the Divinity when he credness to human life, ever taught men appeared angry, or to rouse him when to erect asylums for the sick and the indolent. The Grecians made great aged? Hospitals and infirmaries are progress in sciences and arts; yet it among the most splendid of the trophies would seem to have been a rule with of Christianity. They were never found each of their states, to sacrifice men in heathen times and lands. Monarchs before they marched against an enemy. never reared them, though half a world The Romans, who emulated the Gre- stood ready to execute their bidding. cians in civilization, appear not to have Warriors never planned them, though the been behind them in the cruelties of carnage which they wrought might have their religion; even so late as in the suggested their necessity. Philosophers reign of Trajan, men and women were never demanded them, though the virslain at the shrine of some one of their tue which they praised was but a name deities. As to the heathenism of less without compassion. But there came refined states, it would be easy to affix" a man of sorrows and acquainted with to it a yet bloodier character: nothing, for example, could well exceed the massacres, connected with religious rites, Add to this the mighty advancings which appear to have been common which have been made under the fosamong the nations of America: the an- tering sway of Christianity in every denual sacrifices of the Mexicans required partment of science. It matters not many thousands of victims, and in Peru what may be the connection between two hundred children were devoted the two; the fact is, that knowledge of for the health of the sovereign. What every kind has walked side by side with a frightful destruction of life! But the religion of Christ, as though, in unChristianity owns only one human sacri- chaining the human spirit, and pointing fice, and, through that one, death itself it heavenwards, this religion gave enwas abolished. largement to the mind, and strengthened But we should vastly underrate the it for discovery. And how wonderfully, influence of Christianity in saving hu- in promoting knowledge, has Christianman life, were we merely to compute ity preserved life. The study of the from the abolition of the destructive body, of its structure and diseases; acrites of heathenism. The influence has quaintance with the properties of minebeen exerted in indirect modes yet more rals and plants; skill in detecting the than in direct. We need hardly tell you sources of pain, and applying remedies that Christianity has proved the great or assuagements-all this would appear civilizer of nations, heightening the peculiar, in a great degree, to Christian morals, and enlarging the charities of nations; as if there could be only inconcommunities, so that, beneath its righte-siderable progress in medical science,

grief," and at his word, the earth was covered with homes for the afflicted.

whilst a land were not trodden by the alone Physician of the Soul.

And need we point out to such an assembly as the present-themselves the best witnesses-how knowledge of other kinds, cherished by Christianity, has subserved the preservation of life? Witness astronomy, watching the mariner, lest he be bewildered on the waters. Witness chemistry, directing the miner, that he perish not by subterranean fires. Witness geography, with its maps and charts, informing the traveller of dangers, and pointing him to safety. Witness architecture, rearing the lighthouse on rocks, where there seemed no foundation for structures which might brave the wild storm, and thus warning away navies which must otherwise have perished. Witness machinery, providing for the poorest, what once the wealthy alone could obtain, the means of guarding against inclement seasons, and thus preserving health when most rudely threatened. We assert, that for the science, thus continually and powerfully exerted on the saving human life, we are practically indebted, through one cause or another, to the Christian religion. It is science which had made little or no way till this religion gained the ascendancy, which is still comparatively a stranger where this religion has no footing; and if the religion and the science always go hand in hand, we may assume, without entering on lengthened demonstration, that they are virtually connected as cause and effect.

mild sway, would be indiscriminately slaughtered. Thou hast led the way to medicinal springs, and instructed us to arrest the ravages of disease. Thine is the marshalling of the rich troop of stars on the guide-book of the mariner, that he may be safe in his wanderings. Thou hast lit the lamp for the adventurous, as they penetrate the depths of the earth. Thine is the beacon against shipwreck; thine the mechanism for multiplying the necessaries and comforts of life; thine the legislation which takes note of the destitute; thine the philanthropy which leads numbers to be on the watch for the suffering; thine the skill which often restores those in whom life seems extinct. O then, we may well address thee as the preserver of human life, and feel that to thee alone belong the beautiful words, "The excellency of knowl edge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."

But it were greatly to wrong Christi anity as a giver of life, were we to con fine our illustrations to the bodies, in place of extending them to the souls of men. We have higher evidence than any yet assigned, that Christianity is the only wisdom which will answer the description contained in our text. It may be said of the world, in every period of its history, "The world by wisdom knew not God." And they who have been most successful in scientific inquiry, have not only been often destitute of acquaintance with God, but deprived of it through the very knowledge But who, after this hurried survey of for which they have labored, and of the influence of Christianity, can hesi- which they have been proud. There tate as to the truth of that assertion of is a tendency in earthly science, to the Solomon which is under review. If encouraging that haughtiness of spirit ever there were an assertion, proof of which is directly opposed to religion: which seemed to start from history, from they who are distinguished by its attainevery thing above, from every thing ments, are the most likely to be staggeraround us, it is that which ascribes to ed by the direction of the Apostle, "If Christianity the preserving human life. any man among you seemeth to be wise Yes, Christianity, if we may personify in this vorld, let him become a fool, that thee at all, we would personify thee as he may be wise." But, without considthe guardian, the giver of life. Thou ering human wisdom as opposed to the hast cut down the groves, and levelled acquisition of heavenly, what is it in itthe temples, where a misinformed priest-self, as to the power of giving life, when hood slew their fellow-men. Thou hast covered lands with receptacles for the suffering, who must otherwise die for want of succor. Thou hast placed mercy on the judgment-seat; yea, taught it to find a home amid scenes of bloodshed, so that multitudes live, who, without thy

you regard man as an accountable being, and examine how he may stand at the tribunal of God? Will philosophy give any information as to the pardon of sin? Will reason open up any method through which God can be "just and the justifier?" Can natural theology carry us