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anners, and exemplary conduct, had endeared himself to all who knew him, is removed from his previously happy home; or that another domestic hearth is rendered forlorn by the removal of a beloved wife and mother, and that a tender babe may seek in vain for nourishment from those natural springs which the cold hand of death has frozen; or that the father of a numerous family, in the full vigour of health and strength, has been cut off by a stroke, and left his household to want and woe.

These, my brethren, are great,—are severe trials,—and yet they are no uncommon events; they are daily passing occurrences in the world! In many a parish they might be easily verified. But death sometimes comes to us in even a more fearful form than these which I have selected. Some are

snatched away from us in wreaths of flame, whilst others disappear beneath the waters of the deep; yet let death visit us how it may, little matters it if we be found in the way of righteousness; for then, whether the head be hoary with age or golden with youth, the crown will be a crown of glory. It is not the exit out of this world which must be regarded, but the entrance on eternity, and then, if the hoary head which is laid in the dust be found in the way of righteousness, the crown of glory will for ever encircle his brow.

Are we then at any time subject to such a visitation—what is to be done?-what the course to be pursued? Our first duty is certainly to submit with perfect resignation to the Divine dispensations, however severe, remembering that "it is appointed unto all men once to die." Be it, in the next place, our fervent but humble prayer that, if we suffer at present, we may be permitted hereafter to derive profit from

thinking and reflecting upon the Christian virtues and graces, and imitating the example of our lamented friend and of other true servants of Christ.

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Let us, therefore, put on charity, and be clad, as it were, in the garment of love. Let us do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God; ever doing to others as it is our wish they should do unto us. Let us, in short, cease to do evil, and learn and strive to do well; let us so walk on earth as to be accepted in the Beloved, and be thus received into His presence in the courts of heaven. Above all, let us tread in the steps of Him "who went about doing good,”"who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." Let us repent truly and deeply of all our past sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new and better life, cherishing a lively faith in the efficacy of redeeming grace and mercy, and cultivating unbounded charity towards all mankind. Thus, and thus only, shall we so walk in the path of the righteous, as to indulge a humble hope that "our last end may be like his," and "the hoary head" "a crown of glory."

SERMON X.

LUKE xiii, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

"THERE WERE PRESENT AT THAT SEASON SOME THAT TOLD HIM OF THE GALILEANS, WHOSE BLOOD PILATE HAD MINGLED WITH THEIR SACRIFICES! AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO THEM, SUPPOSE YE THAT THESE GALILEANS WERE SINNERS ABOVE ALL THE GALILEANS, BECAUSE THEY SUFFERED ́SUCH THINGS? I TELL YOU, NAY: BUT EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. OR THOSE EIGHTEEN, UPON WHOM THE TOWER IN SILOAM FELL, AND SLEW THEM, THINK YE THAT THEY WERE SINNERS ABOVE ALL MEN THAT DWELT IN JERUSALEM? I TELL YOU, NAY; BUT, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH."

To understand the propriety of our Lord's discourse, we must first briefly state the melancholy facts here alluded to. The Galilæans here mentioned, were the followers of Judas Gaulonitis, a factious leader, and the same probably, who is alluded to in Acts v. 37. He contended that God, being the only rightful sovereign of the Jews, they ought by no means to pay tribute to Cesar, or acknowledge the power of the

Komans. Josephus, in addition to the above principles of this sect, mentions their incredible fortitude and contempt of sufferings; but does not mention the particular fact of any being slain in the temple, as the words of St. Luke seem to imply; but Lardner thinks the reason was the popularity of their notions amongst the Jews, and the abhorrence in which they were held by the Romans, rendered it impossible for him to record such facts without offending one party or the other.

The fall of the tower of Siloam, which was probably sudden, and accidental, is neither recorded by Josephus, nor by any contemporary historian.

For in those days there were no public journals, and those of the Government were nearly confined to their own transactions. There is no reason, however, to question either of the facts, and both had doubtless occurred very recently, since they were communicated to Jesus by some person who visited the temple. We may see, however, by the remark of our Lord, the proper way in which such events should be improved. We should not vent our feelings in execrations on the sufferers; but consider that we also are sinners, and liable to the same calamities. Indeed, these events pourtrayed, in a very lively manner, the subsequent sufferings of the nation, vast numbers of whom were slain by the Romans in the temple, during the celebration of one of their great public festivals, while many thousand others were buried under the ruins of the temple itself, when taken by the Romans. In this discourse our Lord also sets a very excellentexample to his ministers in every age. While He carefully avoids political discussion, He improves all public events to the best moral and religious ends; showing the uncertainty of life, the perpetual danger of death,

and the great importance of being prepared for all circumstances by a timely and sincere repentance; for death often strikes with little or no warning.

In order to fix these things upon the memory of his hearers, our Lord introduces the parable of a barren fig-tree, which, having repeatedly disappointed the reasonable expectations of its owner, is ordered to be cut down, as "a cumberer of the ground;" and is spared only through the intercession of the keeper of the vineyard, under which character our Lord himself is represented as interceding on behalf of the Jews, and labouring to rouse them to national and personal repentance by every proper means.

May the Holy Spirit be with us, whilst further considering the solemn subject before us, and work in us repentance to salvation not to be repented of.

It is no common thing, my brethren, to put a right construction on the doings of God. By a large number of men they are not observed as His doings: and often those who are so far right as to regard them as His, give them an interpretation that is false and mischievous. But in this portion of Scripture are supplied to us materials for a judgment on calamities that may occur, which shall be both correct and useful. The subject, which is highly important at all times, is peculiarly so at the present solemn season,* when we are exhorted to consider our ways, and be wise; to "deny ourselves, and take up our cross," yes daily and follow Christ."

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We shall first notice these words in their original reference, and then in their application to ourselves. There are, as has already been remarked, two events alluded to in the remarks

* Lent.

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