be better. They would be, did they act up to their principles. Many, to a considerable degree, do so. These exhibit superior purity, elevation, dignity, and beauty of character. Some do not thus act; their faith and fidelity are at variance; their conduct is unworthy of their principles; they dishonor the name they assume; they bring reproach on the cause they profess to espouse. Do any who read these pages belong to this number? Let all look into their hearts, and upon their lives; then let them answer the question, each for himself, to his conscience and his God.

Consider our views of human nature. Can any be conceived of more ennobling? any better suited to raise and perfect the character? In the dark dogma of hereditary total depravity, we have no faith ; the paralyzing one of entire moral impotency, we reject. In place of these, we adopt the encouraging, elevating truths, that we came from our Creator's hand innocent and pure; that we are able, with the assistance God continually vouchsafes us, to do our duty; that our Maker has given us every faculty and means requisite for working out our salvation; and that as we now use them, will be our condition hereafter. Who does not perceive the advantage such views afford? We rejoice in it, heartily rejoice. But do we avail ourselves of it, as we might? Do our lives correspond to our glorious convictions? Is it true, brethren, and do we believe it, that there is within us a divine, immortal principle? that the inspiration of the Almighty bath given us understanding? that, if faithful to our trusts, we shall

hereafter be what angels now are?

What, then, ought not to be hoped of us? What self respect ? What dread of every thing low and sinful? What aspirations after excellence? What endeavors to be worthy of our origin, our nature, our destination? Now do we come nearly up to the standard of our belief? Do we not fall greatly below it? But what is faith without works? Why take to ourselves credit for our principles while our practice is at war with them?

Advert to the manner in which we are accustomed to think and speak of God. Nothing revolts us more than the views some entertain of the Deity. What can be so winning as our own? Do we not regard this great and powerful Being as our Father? Do we not believe that all our thoughts and feelings, relating to him, ought to be, in the best sense of the term, filial? Do we not say that we are his children; that we are loved, provided for, blessed by him continually; and that we expect no other treatment from him, either in the present orthe future life, than what is perfectly consistent with parental wisdom and goodness? Yes, and we joy in these convictions, these feelings, these hopes. But what, brethren, is our conduct? We know well enough what it ought to be. We should live nearer to God, find more delight in communion with him, converse about him oftener and with greater satisfaction, and render him a more willing, affectionate, unreserved obedience, than they of a different belief. Is it so in fact? Do we not betray inconsistency here? Is not our fidelity unworthy of our faith? Is our piety as much better than that of other chris

tians, as we suppose our creed to be? Why, then, any more boast of our superior views of the divine character and purposes, while our lives but ill accord with them? Would we not be liable to the charge of inconsistency? Would we recommend the principles we deem so true and so salutary? Let us do something more than talk in their praise. Let us show ourselves less insensible to God's presence, less indifferent to the marks of his goodness, less cold in our devotions, less reluctant to speak of his loving kindness and tender mercy, less sluggish in performing the duties he has enjoined upon us.

Think of the light in which we view Jesus Christ. How mild, beautiful, affecting, it is. How different from the medium through which others see him. He presents himself to us as one with whom we can sympathize, and whom we may attempt to imitate with the hope of making some approaches towards the standard of his exalted virtues. He not only taught what we must do; he did it himself. He not only pointed out the way we should tread; he trod it before us. We know how he was tried, how he struggled, how he triumphed ; and in this we have at once a pattern and a motive. All the dispositions we are invited to cherish, he cherished; all the virtues we are called upon to practise, he practised; the complete character we are bidden to form, he formed Our model is before us; our instruments are put into our hands ; our work we are instructed, both by precept and example, how to execute; and our reward, as was his, is in the heavens. Far otherwise would it seem to us, did we

see in Jesus, the eternal, self-existent, infinite God. Who does not discern the singularly good tendency of our views? But how, brethren, have they affected us? What advantage have we derived from them? Is the example of our Saviour better imitated by us than by others? Does it take hold on our sympathies more strongly? Does it draw us after him with greater force and uniformity? If not, then let us take shame to ourselves, and learn, before it is too late, how vain it is for us to have correct opinions of our Lord's character, if they do not purify our thoughts, hallow our affections, sanctify our lives, and prompt us to high attainments.

How beautiful, we say, is our theory of christian charity. What is it? That none should be excluded from love and fellowship for difference of opinion; none censured for mere speculative error; none treated with the least unkindness for choosing another faith, church, sect, than our own; but that all, of whatever name or party, who believe in Christ and aim to obey him, ought to be regarded as brethren, and esteemed according to their moral worth. Can any thing, we ask, be better than this? Let such a law of mutual affection and behaviour prevail, and there would be heaven on earth. But theory, brethren, is nothing without practice. What can that charity avail which is not operative? How many among us have to lament the inconsistency of some, who profess to be liberal in their sentiments and to embrace all the good in the arms of their fellowship. How many are often shocked with the harsh expressions and ungenerous conduct of such as agree with us in the doctrine

of duty, when the persons of other christians happen to be the subject of their remark or social treatment. Alas! how apt men are to deceive themselves; how apt to transfer to the score of their individual and practical deserts, the prevailing excellences of their party and of their system. In God's name, we ask for something better than this of such as we address. We call on them to maintain a stricter correspondence between their theory and practice, between the charity they profess and the charity they exercise. Common consistency puts in no less a claim than this; and this, who does not know, Christ himself has made the test of discipleship?

What is our habit of thinking and speaking of the holy scriptures and of human creeds? The latter we hold to be worthless; the former, above all price. The Bible, the Bible, we say, is our rule of faith and practice. To others, we leave the formularies of men's devising; as for ourselves, no volume shall even seem to stand upon equal footing with that of divine inspiration. So far, very well. But how do many use this sacred, this inestimable book? Are there not some who seldom read it at all? They possess it; they extol it; they are indignant when any presumes to name human creeds in connexion with it. Yet, go into their dwelling, and you shall see it covered with the dust of many months. Others peruse it, chapter by chapter, at stated times; but nothing is clearer than that they do so, not from love of it, but merely because they think they must. See with what a listless eye they look over its pages. See with what an unanimated counte