its spirit, and regulated by its precepts. Let each individual here present withdraw, for that purpose, his mind from every surrounding object; or rather, let him imagine the lofty and vaulted roof of the edifice in which we are now assembled, to descend and flatten; its bulk in every direction to be considerably diminished; the number of persons it contains proportionably reduced;-in a word, let him imagine the house of God suddenly transformed into the humble mansion of a religious family. You have now before you a general view of the canvass, and of the group delineated upon it. Permit me, to point out to you a few of the most remarkable traits which distinguish the piece. Observe, in the first place, the happy pair. How content and comfortable do they appear to be! Mark the placid and affectionate smile diffused over their countenances! How do their eyes glisten with joy! What calmness and serenity are observable in every feature! See them there with parental fondness, attentive to all the wants and concerns of their surrounding little ones!-tutoring their infant minds-forming their hearts to virtue-teaching them, with hopeful reverence, to lift up their eyes to their Father who is in heaven, to refer to him as to the "author of every good and perfect gift," all the blessings which they enjoy, whether natural or acquired, and to express to him their heart-felt acknowledgments in the warmest terms of gratitude and love! See, as they are thus employed in rearing their tender plants, how the tears trickle down their cheeks!

What an amiable expression of softness do they add to the charms of content! Let no officious hand be raised to wipe them away. They are not the tears of affliction-they do not spring from the fountains of sorrow. Oh! no. They are the delicious overflowings of those benign torrents of sentimental pleasure which the parental heart is unable to contain. Leave them to enjoy their rapturous delight in the contemplation of their rising hopes, and fix, with me, your attention on the interesting spectacle of their little progeny. Behold them sweetly smiling around, contented and happy. What innocence in their every feature! How affectionately do their bounding hearts appear to spring towards each other! With what respectful fondness do they look up to those who, under heaven, are the authors of their existence! How attentively do they listen to their instructions! How docile are they in receiving them! How punctual in the observance of all their injunctions! Look at them, my little children,-brothers and sisters of the same family (for to you is this part of the picture particularly addressed); look at them, then, I say, my little children-admire them; but not only that-imitate them also. As they do, do you also-love one another. "My little children, love one another." Love, like them, your parents; respect them; be obedient to them. Thus will you be instrumental in procuring happiness both to them and to yourselves. But who are they, of either sex, who, although somewhat more advanced in years, are still flourishing in the bloom of youth? The

individuals there descried are also brothers and sisters of the same family, in whom the happy effects of a religious education are to be easily discovered-in those placid looks of mutual affection manifested by them to each other; in the aid they give their beloved parents, by communicating to the younger part of the family the instructions which themselves had previously received; and in that reciprocal display of parental tenderness, and of filial love, distinguishing the unconstrained intercourse which subsists between them. Servants, you have here before you an admirable model―a model highly deserving of your imitation—a model of fidelity, of industry, of cheerful obedience, and every virtue which can adorn your stations. Mark the modest attitude, the decent attire, the propriety of behaviour, the attention and care of those whose functions are similar to your own. See! how observingly they await the orders of those whom they serve! How studious they are to please them! How zealous to anticipate their slightest demand! How diligent in the discharge of every menial duty! Let not so excellent a model be lost upon you. But let it stimulate you to transcribe it in the regulation of your own conduct; thus causing you, in your humble station, to be instrumental in contributing to the general happiness of the family which you serve. The other parts of the piece are in perfect harmony with those to which I have been directing your attention. Every where is to be seen the most complete order; and felicity, as perfect as it

is fit for man to enjoy in his probationary state, is to be observed throughout.

This, you may tell me, perhaps, is a picture which it may be pleasant enough to contemplate, but then, it is no more than a picture; you may also say-a mere fancy piece, or fiction of the imagination. Not entirely so, however, I hope, my friends. I love even to indulge the fond idea, that its reality is to be found within the domestic walls of some who are this moment listening to me. At all events it depends upon yourselves, with the aid of God's grace, to realise it. Realise it, then, my friends, and you will experience here on earth a partial anticipation of the happiness which you will enjoy hereafter in all its plenitude, in the glorious family of the blessed in heaven.

SERMON XVI.

A CHARITY SERMON.

ON THE DUTY OF ALMSGIVING.

DEAL thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning and thy health shall speedily arise, and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord shall gather thee up. ISAIAS, c. lviii. v. 7, 8.

I COME forward, this day, the feeble advocate of the unfortunate and distressed-of the orphan and the widow-of the indigent parents of helpless children -of the helpless children of indigent parents. My object is, in discoursing to you on the subject of almsgiving, to excite your pity, and to call into action your benevolent dispositions. And, truly,

my friends, circumstanced as I am this moment, I cannot but consider myself most advantageously situated for treating a matter of this nature. On whichever side I turn my eyes, I discover objects of the strongest encouragement-the most powerful motives to stimulate exertion. The subject, the place, my present audience, my own character—all concur to inspire me with confidence, and to animate my zeal. The subject:-Oh! it is a theme on which the benevolent hearer delights to be entertained; on which the friend of humanity delights