no resources; we can withstand no temptation; we can encounter no difficulty; we can expect no christian grace by any wisdom or strength of our own. We must, therefore, be jealous of ourselves, and jealousy begets vigiance. Knowing then the weakness of the citadel, we cannot be too vigilant against the approach of the enemy; but if the citadel is not only weak; if it also harbours a traitorous party within, that holds dangerous correspondence with the enemy without, how needful is watchfulness. Our spirit, our temper, our constitutional propensity, our avowed principles themselves, require to be watched with jealous circumspection. That this may be successfully done, we must know ourselves; we must know the plague of our own hearts, and the sins that most easily beset us; we must guard against the first emotions, lest they break out into ebullitions of anger, impatience, pride, and unchristian-like resentment, which are all opposed to our divine Master's rule, who says, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." The sinful thought, the unhallowed

emotion, should be instantly suppressed. The cockatrice should be crushed in the egg, and no serpent will grow up to sting: the first shoot of evil should be cut off-the early buds should be nipped-lest the corrupt tree bring forth fruit unto death. Let us also look well to the sentiments and principles we have em. braced; let us test them by the standard of heavenly truth; and when we have ascertained a perfect agreement therewith, let us watch against the sophistry of error, that we may not be "children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Brethren, I pray you to be watchful here, for new-fangled notions are rife among us. We live in an age when the love of speculation and originality is drawing many into snares, involving the ruin of their best principles, and the hope of the gospel. "Brethren, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world: and be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, for it is a good

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thing that the heart be established with grace.” But,

3rdly. Our vigilance to be available requires a companion; it must be united with prayer. Like Nehemiah of old, when we set a watch we must also make our prayer unto God: our own vigilance will fail to secure us without this union. It will neither be at all times sufficiently awake to approaching danger, nor sufficiently true to give us warning, unless we bring the Holy Spirit to our aid by means of fervent, importunate prayer. The necessity of prayer it would be atheistical to deny; with the Christian it is, at all times, an indispensable exercise. From God we derive our all; on God is all our dependance; to God we must all account; before him, therefore, let us spread our every case. Our native land demands our prayers; the Church of Christ demands them; our families and ourselves demand them; God himself invites us to the duty, and awaits our approach. If our country be in any trouble, it is plainly the duty of the righteous within her borders to pray in her behalf; to beseech God "to give

repentance to the people, with the remission of sins, to heal the disorders of the land, and to cause his name to be magnified in it." It is at once the duty and privilege of God's people to unite in this pious and patriotic work. Especially let them supplicate their God in favour of those who guide the affairs of state, that they may rule with wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Let them make all ranks of the people, and all their lawful interests, the burden of their prayers; and who knows but that God will be intreated of them for the land ; and they become "the repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to walk in?" The Church of Christ in all lands, of all languages, of all denominations, has continual claims upon our prayers. This is emphatically our own cause; with the interests of the church we identify our own, for of that body we are members. The extension, the stability, the beauty, the glory of the church in the world, are objects dear to the heart of every Christian. It is required of us that we reckon her welfare of paramount importance; that we prefer her above our chief joy, and that we

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give the hearer of prayer no rest till he establish and till he make our Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Moreover, we who minister about holy things need the prayers of our people. We ask the benefit of your petitions to a throne of grace. We say with the apostle, 66 Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified; and that utterance may be given us, that we may open our mouths boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." The interests of our respective families, as well as our own individual cases, demand that we should pray, and that without ceasing. The domestic altar is an integral part in the arrangements of every christian family; you dare not, you cannot, if you belong to Christ, neglect the spiritual interests of your own house. This, indeed, were to deny the faith, and become worse than infidels; but in praying for your families, let the aspect of the times bear upon your petitions. Whatever be the prevalent sins of the day, let it be your cry to God, that you and yours may be kept by his grace from any share in the amount, and from the con