constituted authority, which can alone render society what it ought to be, conducive to the best interests of mankind. If we acknowledge that reference to God which the scriptures so uniformly inculcate, we shall be loyal to our king, as God's minister, upon the highest possible principle, obedience to Him who has placed him over us for good. And this will act again with a reciprocal influence upon our own hearts: for he that is thus obedient to the higher powers, will be more ready to acknowledge the influence of religious feelings, than he whose turbulent and unquiet spirit proclaims him to be one of those that are given to change; and who, if the scriptures may be believed, are in danger at least of arriving at such a state of mind, that they will fear neither their king nor their God. "My son, fear thou the Lord and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change," was advice offered by the wise man with an accurate knowledge of the human heart; well knowing, that when strife for worldly objects should be commenced, when sound principles should be abandoned for doctrines of expediency; when restless and dissatisfied men should set all things at defiance, for the sake of their own aggrandisement; and selfish views should be principally adopted as the motives of public life, religion and social order, the great bonds of human happiness, would be weakened, and the great sources of

morality and peace would be endangered or destroyed. Let it be the zealous endeavour of all of us to uphold and enforce among all that are within our sphere, the adoption of sound christian principles, as the great bulwark of our civil happiness. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation; it is God that rules the affairs of nations, and let us recognise him as such. Let us endeavour to sanctify that spirit of inquiry which has gone abroad amongst us, by giving it, if possible, a bias in favour of religion; let the upper and middle classes of society, appreciating that religion which they profess, shew forth its influence by their hearty adoption of its principles, and their consistent practice of its precepts. Then, whatever may be the result of the trials that appear to await this church and people, there will be something at least of soundness to remain, after the judgments of God have purged away the dross, and purified the evil; something, which, after the times of darkness and of danger have passed away, may still be made the source of honour and of happiness: something, which, connected with the holiness of God, may be the object of his favour, and may raise our country and our church to be, even more than they have hitherto been, the strong bulwarks of liberty and religion, the sources of civilisation and peace, the admiration and the blessing of the nations.

May God, in his infinite mercy, guide our rulers with his wisdom, and uphold our people with his righteousness! May he so peaceably order the course of this world, that his church may joyfully serve him in all godly quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

308

SERMON XXII.

THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE.

PREACHED, JUNE 25, 1837, BEING THE SUNDAY AFTER THE DECEASE OF HIS LATE MAJESTY, KING WILLIAM IV.

PSALM XXXIX. 4, 5.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.

It is impossible to look around us in the world, without observing the great inconsistency of character into which mankind are liable to fall. The conduct of most men, when carefully examined, presents a continual contrast of principles and practice, of resolutions and infirmities. Where is the man that in every single circumstance, acts in the precise manner which is

conformable to the dictates of his own conscience, and the precepts of the word of God? Where is the man that draws from each object and occurrence around him, its due lesson of important instruction? It may be granted that occurrences frequently repeated, and objects which become familiar, do naturally and gradually lose much of their influence upon the mind, and appeal not so forcibly to the soul: yet still there are periods which force impressions upon our minds; there are moments when the mind is awake to serious thoughts, and when convictions are held forth to our acknowledgment, which no sophistry can obviate, and no indifference can elude. But even then how soon is the impression effaced, and how shortly do the convictions of our hearts cease to influence our conduct!

It is indeed evident, that there prevails a lamentable indisposition to enter with solemnity and seriousness, upon those considerations which refer to the shortness and uncertainty of our mortal life. And nothing tends more to generate a spirit of lukewarmness in the things of God; nothing tends more to prevent the impressions of religious truth from becoming really influential upon our hearts, than this unwillingness to admit the correct estimate of our real condition, as mortal and as accountable creatures. Every symptom of indifference to religion, every instance of neglected warnings, or of despised threatenings, may be