in the congregations of the Roman obedience (as it is called) are not permitted to drink of the consecrated Wine. This is bad; but perhaps it is worse what is too commonly the case among those who may be called Ultra-Protestants, that they esteem the Holy Sacrament of little or no value, not much better than a mere form; and, at the best, a bare memorial of the death of CHRIST. This wretched doctrine drives religious people to the church of Rome; just as the coarse doctrines and practices of many Romanists herein, drive light and simple people almost to infidelity.

The true doctrine doubtless is, that we cannot reverence this Holy Sacrament too highly, considering that therein, most certainly, the souls of the faithful are strengthened and refreshed by the Body and Blood of CHRIST, by them verily and indeed taken and received in that most heavenly Feast. This unquestionably is the doctrine of the ancient Church; also of the Catechism and of the Prayer Book. We need not, then, scruple to say to any perplexed and doubting Christian-perplexed and doubting with regard to this, the most sacred of all holy Mysteries-" See, and ask for the old paths, there is the good way, walk therein, and thou shalt find rest for thy soul."

Certainly, it must be allowed that there is much to distress and perplex the humble and meek-spirited soul on this, as on other important points, relative to Christian duties and privileges. Nevertheless, the perplexity rather arises from the sad decay of Christian piety amongst Christians in general, whether Protestants (as they are called) or of the Roman church.

If a person, to the best of his power, follows herein the old paths, not modern ones, he will not be far from the truth; and that for this reason, because he will follow the teaching of the Apostles, and of the first fathers and martyrs of the Catholic Church. And for that cause we place confidence in the teaching of the English Church, because we trust it is essentially in harmony with that of the Primitive Church, whatever may be said to the contrary.

There is, indeed, much to perplex and humble the sincere Christian in the present aspect and condition of the Christian world. But it is of no use to stand idly complaining, but rather we should consider well what fresh duties our still changing condition imposes on us. It is but idleness for people to say, "What

need of making alterations? what took our forefathers to Heaven, may surely take us there too." Alterations must and will be made, and our business is to receive them in a Christian way. And when people say, their forefathers were good enough, how do they know this? Has any one come back from the grave to tell us that all is going on well here? and that, if we live as others live, and die as others die, all will be well? Rather, it concerns us most deeply to look higher than any thing here; to consider, not what satisfied our forefathers, nor what satisfies people nowa-days, but what is the declared will of our LORD and SAVIOUR; what was the teaching of His Apostles, and the practice of His first saints and martyrs.

These are the old paths which alone are safe to walk in; the paths of love, and peace, and holiness; and the doing our duty in that state of life to which it has pleased GOD to call us. This is the old way, the good way, and the safe way. This is the path which is indeed narrow and difficult; but it leads to life, and no other can be ventured on by any one who values the salvation of his immortal soul.

But alas! as the prophet warns us, so too often do we realize the warning; we say, in answer to all that can be said, one brief sentence, "We will not walk therein." We give no reasons; only, perhaps, a few passing excuses, to satisfy ourselves and others like us, just for the time. And so our precious life slips away from under us; and the precious opportunities which are given us of doing honour to GOD, and edifying the whole Church and Body of CHRIST,-these opportunities we let pass, and they return no more. As the prophet Isaiah says, 'Our ears hear, indeed, a word close to us, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, or when ye turn to the left;' but our answer, alas! is, too, too often, "We will not walk therein."

And this we make no account of. But the time will come when we must answer for it, and then all our excuses will avail us nothing; there being others like us, or our having so much business, or our being no scholars, or our thinking ourselves unworthy, or our not setting up to be better than our fathers, or our vague, unwarrantable trust in God's mercy, and our own feelings of confidence; all this will be swept away, and we shall

stand before the Judgment-seat, self-condemned, as those to whom the LORD OF MERCY addressed that most bitter reproof, “Ye will not come to ME, that ye might have life."

For HE HIMSELF alone is "The Way," even "The Good Way." HE alone can enable us to "find rest for our souls." If then we refuse to "come to" HIM in humility, penitence, and obedience, surely we cast off our only Hope.

SERMON CCCXLVII.

THE OLD PATHS, AND THE GOOD WAY1.

JEREMIAH vi. 16.

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and waik therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

In again directing our attention to this very remarkable passage of God's Holy Word, we seem naturally to be led to inquire what comfort and encouragement, as well in kind as in degree, is here held out to those whose sincere desire it is to know and to follow the will of their heavenly FATHER. For we may understand the Divine message as put in the form of a question, as thus: Do you indeed seek rest or refreshment for your souls? spiritual rest, substantial refreshment? Then, "stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." And to this the answer of the hard-hearted people is, (as it were,) "Certainly, we do seek rest for our souls, of course we do; nevertheless, we will not walk therein," in the paths which you direct us to ask for; we do not trust your guidance.

The question, then, for ourselves seems to be, whether we are of the same mind and temper with those in former days, who thus unthankfully received the LORD's nierciful warning, or whether we do sincerely wish and endeavour to seek "rest for

1 Preached on the Sunday after a Confirmation.

our souls" in GoD's appointed ways of "the old paths" and in them only. Now, of course, in this, as in other cases, we should all be inclined to hope favourably of ourselves, to trust that we are not such as they of old time, who refused to walk in the good way which the LORD pointed out to them.

But still there may remain the question, what is this good way, and how may we know when we are in it? The LORD's answer by His Prophet is, "Ask for the old paths, and you will not miss of the good way; walk therein, and ye shall find rest." So that the inquiry comes to this, what are the old paths, in which the Christian may safely walk? And to this inquiry we will now, by God's help, endeavour to ascertain, however imperfectly, a true and plain answer.

And first and principally, we may call to mind, that the foundation principle of all true religious practice must of necessity be a sincere devoted love for ALMIGHTY GOD, implying faith in His power, and hope in His mercy,-in one word, resignation. This was "the old way" in which the saints of GOD walked, who, in the early morning of the world, received the testimony of God's gracious favour; they all "walked with GOD." Thus to mention only the three illustrious patriarchs, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. Of Enoch we read”, “Enoch walked with GOD : and he was not; for GOD took him :" he did not die like the rest. By faith" (says the Apostle to the Hebrews) he "was translated," (that is, taken away from this world to another,) so as not

to "see death." By faith," i. e. on account of his faith, his trust,

"For

his entire resignation and obedience to the Divine Will. before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD." And this explains the meaning of "walking with God," pleasing HIM by an obedient, resigned course of life and conduct.

Accordingly, of righteous Noah, the second father of mankind, it is said thus, "It repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIм at His heart. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." And why? Because he was a just man and one that "walked with GoD,"-the very same expression which had been before used of Enoch. And as in

2 Gen. v. 24,