which concur to enrich us with plenteousness, God is the original mover, and to him our praise is to be addressed. Without his blessing the ox would have ploughed and the husbandman would have sowed in vain. How easily could he have shrivelled up the grain by heat, drowned it by showers, destroyed it by insects. By his permission an enemy might have invaded our borders, and war have spoiled the finest of the wheat.-Every thing is full of God; he lives through all life, and while seeming to do nothing, is doing all. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights. To him let our praise ascend in a perpetual flow of affection and obedience. While we live upon divine goodness, shall we never acknowledge it, or acknowledge it in word only? Is this our kindness to our friend? O that our insensible hearts may be affected, and that the goodness of God us to repentance! O! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Bless the Lord, O, my soul.

may

lead

But let us remember that man liveth not by bread alone: nor is he to live here always. He has a soul within him, and an eternity before him, and he would be worse than a brute were

he only concerned to provide for the inferior part of his nature, and the shortest period of his existence. What will these things be to us when we come to die?-What are they now? We feel far greater wants now than any of these things are able to supply. We want all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

And blessed be God they are attainable. Let us therefore improve this season by making it a religious monitor. As we walk in the fields or reflect while at home on the process of harvest, let us say "O my soul thou too hast thy season, "and every thing forbids thee to be slothful. "See the children of this world, how wise they are "in their generation. And shall they labour so

eagerly for the meat that perisheth, and I be all "indifference to acquire that meat which en"dureth unto everlasting life? I must work the "works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.”

DISCOURSE XVI.

THE FUNERAL OF A YOUTH.

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on

her, and said unto her, weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, young man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.-Luke vii. 12 to 15.

As we follow our Saviour in the evangelical history, we verify the words of the apostle when he says of him-Who went about doing good. This character marks his diligence, and the cause in which it was employed. His life was one continued career of goodness. He did

good to the soul and to the body. He did good by preaching and by miracles.

Every thing recorded of him is worthy of our attention; but the narrative before us is beautiful and impressive in the highest degree. We behold grandeur blended with simplicity; and omnipotence with compassion. The circumstances progressively rise in importance; the mind is at last powerfully attracted to a single point, and all the passions remain in awful suspense till the joyful event relieves us by a flood of tears.

The miracle requires a few remarks, and a few reflections.

The first thing we behold is a funeral procession. This is a scene which we have all witnessed; a scene by no means unusual-but alas, owing to its frequency and familiarity, it fails to impress. It is however an occurrence unspeakably interesting in itself, and it ought to rouse our attention. How many lessons, were we disposed to learn, would a funeral supply.

Place yourselves under a tree, in a meadow, along which lies the path-way to the lonely church-yard. You say within yourself, “Here "it comes in slow and silent sadness. See!

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every one has some importance. Who could

What a loss is the

"bear to die unmourned? "death of some!-See those who walk nearest "to the corpse-Ah! these are the bereaved. "The rest are friends and neighbours, and a "heedless rabble drawn by the spectacle."Man goeth to his long home. It is the end of "all men, and the living should lay it to heart. "Soon the like ceremonies will be performed "for me. When carried along myself, how "insensible shall I be to all those things which now agitate and perplex me! Of what importance will it then be, whether I have been poor or rich, honourable or despised!-But "one thing is needful. O may I choose that good "part which shall not be taken away from me. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my "last end be like his."

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But let us draw near and contemplate this funeral solemnity. It was the funeral of a young man. We are not informed whether he died by disease or accident, slowly or suddenly; but he was carried off in the prime of life. One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. Another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. What is our life?