which powers of usefulness are restrained, and tendencies to mischief are cherished; by which the poor are pressed lower down in poverty, and the natural fruits of industry and ability are checked in their growth, and withered before they ripen; which make many feel, that so far as externals are concerned, they are not placed according to their capacity, nor rewarded according to their works; but these are amongst the evils, and foremost amongst them, which should excite the spirit of reformation. Meanwhile, whatever each one's sphere of good, let him fill it; whatever each one's race of righteousness, let him run it; whatever opportunity each coming hour may afford for strenthening the mind or elevating the heart, for acquiring or imparting knowledge, for correcting error or revealing truth, for lightening affliction, or increasing enjoyment, for smoothing life's asperities, or surmounting its difficulties; or for incidental or general benevolence, or for that particular good which each may be best qualified to promote; whatever of this thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Herein,' said Christ, 'is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so are ye my disciples.'

Thus was it, that he fulfilled his mission; by what deeds and sufferings the evangelical records tell, and you well know. How he realized it by his teachings it will be the object of these lectures to evince.* have selected their topics for that purpose. are the means as to doctrine, by which he showed

I

These

*This was the first sermon of a course on the subjects afterwards mentioned.

the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of council and of might. They will all be further illustrations of his mission. The next subject will be the character of God; and never more than in exhibiting the divine loveliness did Christ preach glad tidings to the poor, give sight to the blind, freedom to the captive, and healing to the broken-hearted. His proclamation of the universal paternity of God was full of blessing for mankind. It made devotion a filial homage, and morality a brotherly affection. Never in creation, miracle, or prophecy, was God so glorified, as in the revelation that he is our Father. That description of him is a standard by which to try the purity of a religion to the end of the world. It is the criterion, it is the source and inspiration of our faith and worship. Well did Christ fulfil his mission of moral renovation, and of consolation and hope, when he enabled us to say, 'Now are we the sons of God.' The third subject is the principle of morality. And in this too, shall we have to show, how Christ fulfilled his mission. The principle of Christian morality is that of utility in its best and purest, its broadest and its highest sense. Christ first inculcated this, distinctly and consistently, with all the comprehensiveness of a principle, the precision of a law, the pithiness of a proverb, the inducement of an interest, and the power of the most touching persuasion. Who could mitigate the world's sorrows, and abate its vanities and animosities, and augment its blessings, like Him who gave religious sanction to the precepts, 'Love one another; do unto all men, as ye would that they

should do unto you.' The next topic is the education of the human race; of whom Christ was the most efficient instructer, not only in his personal teachings, but by the light he threw upon that whole plan of Providence, to which we owe all real wisdom; by which mankind has been conducted thus far on the great and gradual ascent of intelligence and goodness; and which, beginning with the earthly elements amongst which primeval ignorance must grovel, rises to the very heaven of heavens. And thus shall we come to that universal and deeply interesting topic with which the course will terminate, futurity;-futurity, with its promise of earth's improvement, to which Christ pointed for man's encouragement; futurity, with its individual revival, which Christ exhibited for man's faith; and futurity, with its grand final consummation of universal restoration, towards which Christ showed Providence and grace advancing for man's perfect blessedness.

By attention to such topics shall we approximate towards just and adequate conceptions of Christ's mission, enter into that enlargement of spirit which becomes his disciples, and uphold that pure faith and worship to which this place is consecrated.

SERMON II.

CHRISTIAN MORALITY.

MATTHEW vii. 12.-Therefore all things, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them.

ROMANS xiii. 10.-Love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 TIMOTHY iv. 8.-Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

These three texts contain in their combination, the sum and substance of all moral philosophy. They comprise the essence, scope, tendency and sanction of that view of our social relations and obligations, which it was the mission of Christ to introduce into the world. The first is a practical rule, most easy of application. In default of a well digested system, or the opportunity of an elaborate calculation, it apprises every man of an efficient substitute to which he may have instantaneous recourse. And there are two remarkable advantages attending its use-Ist. That it makes gross selfishness self-destructive. It taxes a man's efforts on behalf of others in the same proportion as he is desirous of taxing their efforts on behalf of himself. Therefore, on those who crave most of others, i. e., the most selfish, it imposes that they should do the most for others, i. e., be the most benevolent. The other advantage is, that it be

comes an increasingly efficient rule for the promotion of good to mankind, in proportion to the intellectual power of the being who acts upon it. The wiser a man is, the better he knows what to wish for from others for himself; the better is he directed by this rule to benefit others. He becomes, in its application, the agent of more extensive good. The second text quoted, declares the principle or spirit of that conduct which the first guides in the practice of. The rule to do as we would be done by, when its rationale is sought, resolves itself into the theory that 'love is the fulfilling of the law.' The rule conducts us to the principle, which, in turn, as it is understood, guides us to the more unerring and useful application of the rule. And to this, the third text adds, that which rule and principle alike require for ensuring their adoption, the adequate motive. That motive is of the most comprehensive and cogent description. It involves the happiness of the individual as its object; pleads the promise of God as its security; and extends over both the present and the future; the life that now is, and that which is to come.

It has been said, that what in one age is a truth of revelation, becomes a truth of reason in a subsequent age. And it is evident that such must be the tendency of all revealed truth. Revelation discovers; but it can only discover that which exists, and is comprehensible. Its discoveries may, therefore, be by reason eventually comprehended and demonstrated. The supernatural facts of the divine dispensations suggested thoughts which may be verified by experience, and become the subjects of natural demonstra2*