come round weekly, or monthly, or yearly; and this we do as endeavouring to follow the old paths, and the good way of the primitive Church. Thus we are taught to regard the first day of every week as that of our LORD's glorious resurrection, and the sixth, as that of His bitter suffering, and death upon the Cross. As the months come round, we commemorate "the Names of the twelve Apostles of the LAMB." And on certain days, returning every year, we commemorate some of the chief of those great and glorious events, which tended to the accomplishment of the mighty works of man's redemption by the SON of GOD, and sanctification by His SPIRIT. In all these things, as I before said, it is most certain, that the Church hearkens not after fancies and novelties, but "asks for the old paths, where is the good way, and walks therein.”

But, alas! it is too true, that for various causes we, the ministers and professed members of the Church, do not follow, as we might, her wise and holy example of walking in the good way of the old paths. No doubt, the world has so strong a hold on people's affections, that they are glad to find excuses to escape from the strict rules and obligations of the Gospel. And then, unhappily, the corruptions of the powerful Church of Rome have been so great, that they supply a ready pretence to us when we wish to avoid primitive truths, rules, or practices.

And so, between the fascinations of the world on the one hand, and the prevalence of religious errors on the other, the Cross of CHRIST is in reality slighted and forgotten; and this too, strange to say, under pretence of more than ordinary regard to It.

But we, Christian brethren, if we would be, indeed, sincere members of the Church and Body of CHRIST Crucified, we must look to the good way of the old paths, we must consider how the first Christians lived and died, and pray to be enabled to follow their example. We must not be carried away by vain fancies, of modern invention; we must not be scared and frightened from the path of truth and duty, because it is unpopular, or because it is called popish, or any other name of ridicule and reproach. We must be thankful, that as members of the English Church, we may be Catholics without being Romanists,

and Protestants without being dissenters; that we profess the Creeds of the Apostles, Saints, and Martyrs of the primitive Church; and that we have no need to be ashamed of our profession. We have no need to be ashamed of our profession, but we have need to be ashamed of our practice. We have need to be ashamed, that at the best we fall so far short of what we ought to be, and might be; and we have need to endeavour, for the time to come, to live more and more as becomes Christians and Church people. In short, we must look not to new modern paths, but to those "old" ones, where alone is "the good way;" the paths of lowliness, penitence, obedience, of daily mortification and self-denial, and taking up the Cross after HIM, whom we call our MASTER.

In particular we must not seek after a comfortable religion, but rather suspect and shrink from any thing of the kind. Not because there is not great and solid comfort in the true service of GOD, but because, in these latter days, there is so much danger of our soothing ourselves with false confidences and trusting to them. The only safe life for us, therefore, is a life of watchfulness, caution, self-warfare, and daily taking up the Cross. Any other course but this is most dangerous for us, as all thoughtful persons will confess.

In conclusion, I may just suggest to the thoughts of those who have lately sought the Church's solemn blessing, or rather, I should say, to the thoughts of us all, what comfort or encouragement it is,—and I may add, what matter of wonder toothat in this kingdom of Antichrist, this evil world, we are permitted, in some way or other, to pay regard to Sunday, the LORD's holy day.

The true Christian Sabbath-keeping, no doubt, is (as the Catechism explains the fourth Commandment) "to serve GoD truly all the days of our life." Nevertheless, Sunday, the weekly celebration of our glorious Easter, has, from the earliest days of the Church, been regarded with special honour, and is, in our present fallen, decayed condition, a precious relic, reminding us of that eternal Sabbath which still remaineth to the people of GOD. It is a day on which (almost) the evil world will let us alone, if we choose it. It is a day on which we may, in thought, at

least, "Stand still, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and pray, and hope to walk therein," in the toilsome, dangerous week which is coming on again; and so, for a time at least, "find rest and refreshment for our souls."

Sunday, then, to the sincere penitent Christian should be, not a day of darkness and gloominess, but a holy, happy, day. It should not be a day of excitement, of amusement, or curiosity, or running about from one place of worship' to another, or of indolent trifling, or gossiping; least of all, of seeking wild, disorderly company: but a day of happy, cheerful contentment, of peaceful looking forward to better things, of resolutions of amendment wherever we find ourselves deficient, of encouraging feelings of love, trust, and confiding resignation towards our FATHER, REDEEMER, and COMFORTER, and joining with His Church on earth in those praises and thanksgivings, which Angels and Martyrs, and the Spirits of the just delight to offer in their state of bliss.

"One day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." In God's sight we are as though we lived in the very times of the Apostles; as Christians lived then, so ought we to try and pray to live now. And we have many difficulties on every side of us, many enemies against us, though we see them not.

How cautiously, then, and "circumspectly ought we to walk," in these "evil days," (as the Apostle says,) how ought we to "work out our salvation (as he says again) with fear and trembling," lest after all that our merciful SAVIOUR has done, and still does for us, we should find, when it is too late, that we have "received His grace in vain," and thrown away these our precious lives, which, as conscience itself continually warns us, ought to have been devoted wholly to His glory and service.

* The numerals refer to the volumes, the figures to the pages.

NOTE. Such of the Catechetical Lectures (vol. ix.) as relate to Christian
Profession and Doctrine are chiefly assigned to Sundays between the Epiphany
and Trinity Sunday; and those relating to Christian Obedience, to various
Sundays after Trinity.