every measure which has the slightest tendency to remove the enormous mass of human misery, or to increase the sum of human happiness, he will give his helping hand, he will contribute according to the portion with which God has blessed him. Who can adequately depict the joys which fill the bosom of such a righteous steward of the manifold bounties of the Almighty Parent; who is equal to the task? They may be felt: may it be your's to experience their blessedness; they cannot be expressed. To him who thus nobly reflects the image of God, I would say, "I have a message from God unto thee. He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely. Be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, and your labor will not be vain. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life."

May we all hear, may we all obey these messages of mercy, which our Father addresses to his various children. They are of God, and for good to all. Thus passing this first stage of existence, on the morning of the resurrection, on that great and solemn day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be judged, and the actions of every human being receive their appropriate recompense, when he who is to judge the world in righteousness shall come in the glory of his Father, and shall say to each of us, "I have a message from God unto thee," Oh, may that message be thus expressed, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter ye into the joy of your Lord." God in mercy grant the prayer. Amen.

PRAYER.

All-gracious Father, to Thee would we pour forth the thanksgivings of our hearts; for all that renders existence a blessing is thy gift. Of Thee, and to Thee, and through Thee, are all things. Thou art creation's Author. At thy bidding did it arise. Thou hast clothed it in loveliness. Thou dost govern it in wisdom. It testifies of thy being and perfections. But not alone does it manifest thy glory. The earth is full of the riches of thy goodness; but in the gospel of the blessed Jesus do we behold thy boundless, thy ineffable mercy. Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Feeling our dependence upon Thee, our Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor, for life and breath and all things, conscious of imperfection, exposed as we are to temptations, and liable as we are to fall, earnestly would we seek thy favor, which is life, and thy loving-kindness which is better than life. We rejoice that thy unfailing goodness has provided a guide to our experience, and a light to our darkness, and a support to our infirmity. Thy commandment is exceeding broad. We would obey, that we may be blessed. May we ever reverence thy holy name, O God. May it be hallowed in our thoughts and words and actions. Supremely may we love Thee. At all times and in all circumstances, may that sacred love manifest itself in benevolence to man. guard upon our lips, that we offend not with our tongue. The charity which suffereth long and is kind, may that

May we place a

be our's indeed and in truth. In worldly things, may

dealings. Our integrity, May our hearts not reIn simplicity and godly

equity and probity guide our never may it depart from us. proach us so long as we live. sincerity, may we have our conversation in the world. Grateful for the great and benevolent objects, which the Saviour of mankind was raised up and sanctified to accomplish, may our gratitude be evidenced by humbly aiding the holy and righteous purpose. May it be our heart's delight to promote Christian knowledge and Christian purity. Ever may we be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. In dispelling ignorance, in alleviating misery, in removing vice, in furthering the freedom and happiness of our fellow creatures, may we deem no labour toilsome. In well-doing, never may we be weary. As individuals, as families, in thought, in word, in conduct, may we manifest that we have been with Jesus.. May we show our conviction that life and immortality have been brought to light by the Son of God, by active and unceasing preparation for its blessedness. When the day of our departure draweth nigh, may it be in serenity and peace. May ours be the well-grounded expectation of an entrance to the mansions of purity and bliss. And when time shall be no longer, and the scenes of eternity shall have opened on our view, may we appear at the tribunal of our Maker, trusting in his mercy, and accepted in his goodness. In the name of Jesus we present our prayer, ascribing to Thee, holy Father, everlasting praises. Amen.

24

SERMON XII.

IT IS BETTER TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING, THAN TO THE HOUSE OF FEASTING.

Ecclesiastes vii. 2.

"IT IS BETTER TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING, THAN TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF FEASTING."

It is good sometimes to go to the house of feasting. Neither reason nor religion forbids that we should partake of the bounties bestowed by Providence, to cheer us on the journey of life, nor are we required to confine ourselves to a solitary enjoyment of them. Such a course would be more likely to debase the mind, and produce a merely selfish and sensual spirit, than to nurse the soul in pure and noble affections. If we have imbibed right principles of action, and have acquired the power to command our appetites, it is good to mingle occasionally in the cheerful festivities of social life, "to rejoice with those who rejoice;" because the temperate enjoyment in which we shall then indulge, being associated with the presence of kind friends and dear relatives, will contribute to heighten those affections which are the charm and the ornament of domestic life; and to cherish in our minds cheerful and grateful views of the providence and bounty of Him, who "setteth the

solitary in families, and ordereth the bounds of our habitations."

The testimony, however, of the writer of the Book whence our text is taken, (a person who evidently expresses the results of much experience and observation,) as well as the most impartial estimate we can form of man and of human life, assures us that though it may be good to go to the house of feasting, it is better to visit the house of mourning; and it may be found an interesting and profitable exercise, to consider some of the circumstances on which this conclusion is founded.

I. There is much less danger of receiving moral and spiritual injury when we visit the house of mourning, than when we participate in the festivities of life. It has been remarked, that to persons of established principles and confirmed habits of virtue, it may be not only innocent, but in some respects profitable, to go to the house of feasting. Without such principles and habits, it would be obviously dangerous in the extreme. The young and inexperienced, especially, if they have not been trained up in the ways of religion and virtue, if they have been left to the mercy of accident for the formation of their habits, are exposed to the most imminent danger, when, in the indulgence of their natural wishes for pleasure, they go forth in quest of social gratification. They will, in all probability,'make choice for their companions, not of the sober minded and prudent, of those whose views of social pleasure are rational, and who strictly keep within the limits of cheerful and innocent recreation; the votaries of frivolous dissipation or of licentious indulgence will present themselves, and the freedom from all restraint, the highly seasoned enjoyments which