Such is the real nature of divine faith. Such was the faith of the Apostles: such the example which they have given us, and which is abundantly and powerfully manifested in their writings. We have information enough, if we will but use it; examples clear and imitable, if we desire to follow them.

Nay, even their silence is exemplary: and, certainly, not the least instructive part of their example. For, to the great majority of mankind, it is comparatively of but little importance, to understand the duties of high and official stations, and the conduct to be pursued in extreme dangers and rare emergencies. But there is no man living, to whom it is not of infinite moment, to transcribe into his inmost affections and understanding, the spirit of their humility, their indifference to applause and admiration, their forgetfulness of self, their oneness and integrity of purpose, their devotion to that service, which, in all that is substantive, and essential, is the business and duty of every human being upon earth. We

learn much from the little they have recorded. We learn no less from the fact that they have recorded so little. In both cases, it is their spirit and principles which are the real object proposed to our imitation.

And high and glorious as their example is, we need not despair of being enabled to follow it, if we be but sincere; if we but persevere in our supplications for His all-sufficient and transforming grace, which was the source from whence flowed all their purity and goodness. God grant that we may do so! God Almighty grant us grace, so to follow His blessed saints in all godly and virtuous living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou, O heavenly Father, hast prepared for them that love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

SERMON XII.

THE DAILY SERVICE.

HEBREWS, X. 25.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."

It would be difficult to point out a more remarkable feature in the state of religion in these latter times, than the almost universal neglect of the daily services of the Church. Of the fact itself, it is unfortunately needless to offer any proof. Any one who entertains a doubt on the subject, can but too easily satisfy himself, by visiting occasionally those churches in which the divine worship is still celebrated on the week days. In this place, where the Liturgy is constantly performed during the

week with the solemnity and beauty of cathedral service, we look, from day to day, in vain, for a congregation to unite with us in our common devotions, or to claim, by the bare fact of their presence, the performance of the promise of our blessed Redeemer, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Day by day, the bell tolls, to summon you, my brethren, to enter these hallowed walls. Day by day, in the order of our ministration, we stand here, ready to offer up for you. and along with you the sacrifice of prayer and praise, which the Almighty hath commanded to be continually offered before the mercy-seat of His divine Majesty, through Him who has sanctified us by His own blood 2, and has made us "priests unto God and his Father." Day by day, we open the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament; of which the blessed St. Paul has told us, that they are able to make us

1

Matt. xviii. 20.

2

Heb. xiii. 15, 12.

3 Rev. i. 6.

God 2"

"wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus '." Day by day, we preach, in the true and Scriptural sense of the word, the Gospel of Christ; while we read the sacred histories of His life and passion, and the Epistles of the holy Apostles. Here are "the lively oracles of Here, in this place, is day by day fulfilled the prophecy of the Psalmist, prayer shall be made ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised 3." Here are the priest, the altar, and the sacrifice. But where are the worshippers? Where are the multitudes pouring forth their supplications, while the incense of prayer and intercession is ascending before the throne of God 4?

66

3

Indeed, my brethren, I have no pleasure in reproaching you with your habitual absence from the house of God. Still less, at a season so joyful, when we are once more assembled to commemorate the ad

1 2 Tim. iii. 15.

2 Acts vii. 38. Rom. iii. 2.

3 Ps. lxxii. 15.

Rev. v. 8. viii. 3, 4. Ps. cxli. 2. Luke i. 10.