for His Name's sake, and to remember your sins no more," but, even to receive you into those blissful mansions in heaven which he has prepared for those who love Him and put their trust in Him: where, with "angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, you may laud and magnify his glorious name, evermore praising him and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory; glory be to Thee, O Lord most High."

66

SERMON VI.

PSALM CXIX. 105.

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A
LIGHT UNTO MY PATH."

To the pious and contemplative Christian the present aspect of affairs, as regards both our country and our church, is fraught with interest of no common character. When he attentively looks around him, and takes into his serious consideration the present extensive depression amongst our agricultural population, as also the great depreciation of railway and other property, the existence of divisions and dissensions in our own Church, and the recent imprudent and ill-judged, the arrogant and unblushing encroachments and usurpations of the Bishop of Rome in this country, he must confess that the times are most critical, and preach to us in a language that cannot be mistaken. God has, for reasons unquestionably wise, though to us inscrutable, permitted us to be thus tried. Oh, may we have grace given us, that we may come out of these trials "as gold purified in the fire !"

K

In times such as the present, it is, my brethren, of inestimable importance to us to know that we possess an accurate chart or map, and an unerring compass, by which we may steer our course aright, and, by God's blessing and assistance, reach the haven of rest where we would be. This chart and this compass is no other than the Word of God, which was designed to be "a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path." But we must carefully examine this chart and this compass, we must diligently study them, if we would become thoroughly acquainted with them, if we would be perfect masters of them; in like manner, we must not only daily read, but sedulously study and meditate upon the Word of God, if, like Apollos, we would be "mighty in the Scriptures," in those "holy Scriptures which from a child Timothy had known,” and "which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus ;" but this we cannot accomplish by our own unaided powers; we must be enlightened by the Divine Spirit, by whom the holy Scriptures were inspired and indited.

It was this Word alone which, at our Ordination, we, Ministers of Christ, received authority to preach, and respecting which we then, in the presence of God, solemnly declared "our persuasion that it contains, sufficiently, all things necessary to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and that we were determined out of the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to our charge, and to teach nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which we were persuaded might be concluded and proved by the Scripture.". (See the Ordination Service.) This is a grave and responsible charge, demanding at all times, and especially at

the present season, great faithfulness, diligence, and devotedness, and a firm and habitual dependence upon the Spirit of grace. God has, in his infinite mercy and wisdom, sent us many solemn warnings. Oh, may they not be thrown away upon us! "God spared us when we deserved punishment; and in the midst of his wrath remembered mercy." "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name be the praise." These events suggest topics of deep and earnest reflexion on the part of all those who would trace the dealings of God in the dispensations of His Providence with the world and with His Church. And they should lead us to join in offering our heartfelt and devout acknowledgments to Him who ordereth all things both in heaven and earth, disposing and turning the hearts of men as seemeth best unto His godly wisdom, in that He was pleased to look upon our land with an eye of favour in those days when men's hearts were failing them for fear, not knowing what was coming upon the earth. And the recollection of this gracious dispensation towards us should quicken our zeal in the service of so long-suffering a Master; and animate us with fresh energy in advancing His kingdom upon earth.

"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" is a question which will daily (and several times in the course of each day) recur to every right-minded Christian; and, knowing that of himself he is unable to do, and even to learn, the will of God, he will earnestly invoke the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that he may be enabled to obtain a practical knowledge of the sacred Scriptures which contain a revelation of the Divine will. From a principle of love to Christ, he will endeavour to glorify Him in all he does. Christ Jesus

came into the world not to do his own will, but the will of Him that sent him: he, therefore, will make the Word of God the rule and standard of his daily conduct,—“a lamp unto his feet, and a light unto his path." He will regard it as a great privilege both that he possesses it, translated into his mother tongue, and that he is permitted, unmolested, to read and study it. He will reverence it. He will never open it till he has eraved the light and grace of the Spirit, and that he may derive profit from what he reads, nor will he close it without returning his sincere thanks for the privilege he has enjoyed, and praying that he may be enabled to show forth the light of Divine truth in his daily walk and conversation. And well he may and should. For the Word of God is the Charter of man's hopes, of his best and dearest hopes in time and eternity! that Book which is the "treasure of the poor, the solace of the sick, and the support of the dying; and while other books may amuse and instruct in a leisure hour, it is the peculiar triumph of that Book to create light in the midst of darkness, to alleviate the sorrow which admits of no other alleviation, to direct a beam of hope to the heart which no other topic of consolation can reach, while guilt, despair, and death vanish at the touch of its holy inspiration."

Under the teaching, then, of the Divine Spirit, whose aid I invoke, I will offer you a few plain and simple rules, by attending to which, you may profitably read the holy Scriptures,may so "mark, learn, and inwardly digest them," as to become "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." And may "it please God to give to all His people increase of grace, to hear meekly" (and to read)" His Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit."..--(The Litany.)