turn to the Lord, and say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render to thee the calves of our lips." Thus we are taught of God, according to our liturgy, that if we would "obtain that which he does promise, we must love the thing which he commands;" every petition for holiness, every confession of sin, arises from the ground of the heart, and every prayer which utters them, only embodies the desire of the believer's soul. When words alone are presented, they are indeed as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal, and it matters little what is the form we follow; but when they are the medium by which the spirit ascends to God, when the sigh of true penitence wafts every confession, and the song of praise is the melody of the heart, then, indeed, is our worship a sacrifice, "acceptable, well-pleasing to God by Jesus Christ.'

It is not mine to breathe on the dry bones of a formal profession and bid them live, and clothe them in the beautiful proportion of a Christian experience; this work the Spirit of the Lord alone can perform; but it appears to to me peculiarly the office of a minister of the Church of England, to direct his flock to

the consideration of the declarations they make week by week, and to a view of the treasure they possess in the services appointed for their use. This subject I propose to bring before you on the next Sabbath day.

But before I conclude; let me beseech you in your own houses to reflect on the nature of spiritual worship. If any say, "I am no hypocrite; I do not pretend to be better than the rest of the world," let him remember that each returning Sabbath he makes a solemn profession of godliness, in the presence of God and man, which stamps an inconsistent walk and life with the brand of hypocrisy. To the many, who have never yet attached any meaning to the sounds in which from habit their voices join; whom habit leads to church, and habit teaches to follow the form of prayer; I would recommend a serious perusal of the words they utter, a deep consideration of their excellence in themselves, and a solemn enquiry whether they ought, and how far they do, assent," in spirit and in truth," to their own vows, declarations, and petitions.

To you, my Christian brethren, who count one day in the Lord's house better than a thousand ; who love the place

where his honour dwelleth, and who come here as an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ; to you, I need only say, pray for a more thankful heart for the privileges you enjoy, remember the promise, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Enter, then, into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; and may he, whose presence blessed the chamber where the disciples were assembled secretly for fear of the Jews, be with us here, and meet and bless all the true worshippers, who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.

SERMON IX.

PREACHED NOVEMBER 9, 1828.

1 JOHN, i. 9.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous

ness.

THE feelings of " a broken and a contrite heart" can scarcely be expressed in stronger language than we have all used this day; and if these expressions be indeed, the language of our hearts, blessed are we; for God has declared, "Unto this man will I look, even to him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, and that trembleth at my word:" and "Thus saith. the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to

revive the heart of the contrite ones.' "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

But, my friends, is it indeed so with 'us? Does this spirit of contrition pervade this congregation of professing penitents? Do we really believe what we say, when we acknowledge that "we have erred and strayed from God's ways like lost sheep?" that " we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts?"-that "we have offended against God's holy laws?"—that "we have left undone those things which we ought to have done," and that "there is no spiritual health in our souls?"-Do we really feel ourselves "miserable sinners," while we so plaintively call for mercy on ourselves as such? What do we consider as the spiritual sorrows which we beseech our God" pitifully to behold?" Do we really feel that we "most righteously deserve those evils" from which he saves us; and in earnest beseech him not to reward us after our iniquities?-Do we, "in spirit and in truth," acknowledge and bewail "our manifold sins and wickednesses, which we from time to time have committed," in thought, word, and in deed, against God? Are we, in truth, heartily sorry for "these