and the shroud. Though all flesh be as grass, and all the respect of quantity. In this point of view, it should be full, goodliness of men as the flower of grass; though the grass and should be proportionable. It should be full in all its withereth and the flower fadeth, admonishing you to prepare branches; for that cannot be a fruitful tree which has but for an autumn and a winter, when the spring of your youth two or three berries on the top of the uppermost bough, and and the summer of your strength are no more; yet the word but two or three berries on the middle and undermost boughs; of the Lord endureth for ever; and this is the word of the every branch must bear fruit, and bear it in abundance. Just Lord, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, so, do not consider it enough that you have spiritual gifts but the will of him that sent me;” and also, “If I go and and holy meditations alone, or laudable purposes and inclinaprepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you tions alone, or pious words alone, or becoming and unimunto myself."

SERMON VI.

THE NECESSITY OF CHRISTIAN FRUITFULNESS.

Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, in hewn down and cast

into the fire.-Matt. iii. 10.

peachable characters alone: you should have all these, and have them in abundance; your minds, and hearts, and conduct, should bear fruit, and bear it plentifully. Spiritual knowledge should abound in the mind, spiritual affections should abound in the heart, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth should speak and the hand should act for God. And the fruit should be proportionable to the means of fruitfulness, and to the length of time we have enjoyed them. If they who have enjoyed the Gospel for many years in much light, and purity, and power, are not more eminent for piety and charity than those who have enjoyed it for a shorter time, and under a less powerful and advantageous ministry, they must be wofully deficient in bringing forth fruit, and will by no means answer the expectation of the husbandman; for where he hath sown bountifully he shall expect to reap bountifully.

Remarkable was that dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which is mentioned in the fourth chapter of Daniel. He saw, in his sleep, a large and stately tree rearing its majestic head toward The fruit which deserves the name of "good," is good in the heavens, adorned with great profusion both of foliage and respect of continuance. In this point of view, we must conof fruit; but while surveying it, behold a watcher and an holy tinue to bear fruit, and the fruit which we bear must continue. one descends from above, and cries aloud, "Hew down the You should begin well in religion, but you should hold on tree, and cut off his branches!" Before the commencement well too. From the commencement till the close of the year, of another year, concerning you, and you, and you, in this during the warmth of prosperity and during the rigours of vineyard, shall a watcher and an holy one exclaim, "Hew adversity, in the spring of youth and in the winter of old age, down the tree, and cut off his branches!" Yea, how know- see that ye bring forth the fruits of righteousness. And see est thou, O vain man! but he may already be poising the that the fruit which ye bring forth continues. Juda speaks axe, and lifting it up for the fatal blow? "Now also the of some trees whose fruit withereth, and immediately after axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree describes them to be trees without fruit; so that, fruit which which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast withereth, which continues not nor ripens to perfection, is, into the fire." in the estimate of the Bible, no better than no fruit, of which

In our text, the parties threatened are the trees which withering kind, are those convictions of conscience which bring not forth good fruit; the doom denounced is, that they are not accompanied by repentance, and conversion, and reshall be hewn down and cast into the fire; and the emphatic formation; those good resolutions which are never executed; manner of the denunciation is obvious from the whole verse, those good desires which are never reduced to action nor con"Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; there-secrated by prayer; those tokens and signs of better conduct fore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn which are never realized. As when good impressions are down and cast into the fire." made upon the heart by the Word or by Providence; but the

In the first place, then, what is meant by the trees; by the sermon is ended or the affliction removed, and the cares of fruit of the trees; and by that fruit, particularly, which they the world, or the deceitfulness of riches, or the pleasures of ought to bring forth, and without which they cannot escape life, or the influence of bad example, check the seed that the doom of being hewn down and cast into the fire? might be springing up, and prevent the fruit from swelling Trees, being a figurative expression, are used in Scripture and bursting to maturity.

to point forth nations, churches, and individuals: Nations- In short, the man who hath the divine seed implanted "Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon, with fair within him, will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, which is branches and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, stature, and his top was among the thick boughs:" Churches meekness, temperance.

fession.

"Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt, thou hast cast Placing God before the eye of his mind, he will aim to out the heathen and planted it." Individuals-the tree men-discharge the duties of religious worship with sincerity, tioned in the fourth chapter of Daniel represented Nebuchad-attention, and devotion. When contemplating the excelnezzar; and Christ himself is compared to a vine. The lencies of God, he will revere him; when enjoying the tofruit of the trees means the conduct of nations, churches, and kens of his favour, he will delight in him; when chastened individuals; and the fruit which they ought to bring forth, by his afflicting hand, he will submit to him; when assaulthere denominated good fruit, is expressive of universal holi-ed by temptation, he will confide in him; when employed by ness, or such excellent and worthy conduct as honours the him in any difficult and arduous service, he will rely on his divine law, and demonstrates the sincerity of external pro- powerful and promised aid. Integrity, meekness, and benevolence will adorn his deThe fruit which deserves the name of "good," is good in portment. He will be just in his dealings, faithful to his respect of quality. In this point of view, the efficient cause engagements, sincere in his friendships. He will sympathize of it must be the Spirit of God, operating on the mind by with the afflicted, and rejoice when he has it in his power to virtue of the truth believed and improved, and converted into shield from the arrows of calumny the good name of his broa principle of action and a rule of conduct: its matter must ther, to smooth the brow of adversity, to shed consolation be conformity to the law of God; for when our heart and upon the sorrowful and the oppressed. To mean and base behaviour are regulated by the law of God, we have our fruit actions he will rise nobly superior; and in acts of generosity unto holiness, and the praise and the honour of God must be and of kindness his heart will exult, his life will be spent. its all-engrossing end. Such fruit is denominated the fruit The comforts of life he will use with temperance and modof the Spirit, and the fruit of righteousness. Such fruit will eration. The wealth and spendour of the world he will have never fail to be sound at the heart, heavy in the hand, fair to fortitude enough to hold in sovereign contempt, when they the eye, and sweet unto the taste. Moral virtue, which owes dispute the pre-eminence with intellectual and celestial joys. not its formation to the agency of the Holy Spirit, and has His pride he will endeavour to mortify; his vanity he will no connexion with the obedience and blood of Christ, nor endeavour to suppress; his angry passions he will endeavour the smallest regard to the divine will as its rule, or to the to restrain and soften; and a spirit of meekness, gentleness, divine approbation as its object and its joy, no more deserves and forbearance he will cultivate to the utmost of his power. the title of being good, than the apples of Sodom, which, The salvation of his soul, being most precious, will form though beautiful to the view, were inwardly rottenness, and, his grand object, and have the preference to every other when touched, did crumble into dust.

concern.

The fruit which deserves the name of "good," is good in And, oh be persuaded to bring forth abundantly the fruit

of faith and love, of zeal for God, of brotherly kindness, con- tinguishing ruin the bramble of the wilderness and the oak descension, and forbearance. Can ye forget that the Chris-upon the mountains, cuts off the spirit of princes, and strikes tian religion is the religion of love? Do ye think it becom- through kings in the day of his anger; while the oil of mercy ing or consistent to put off humanity when ye put on Christi- and patience, by the sinning nation refused and slighted, anity? Nay; but the wisdom that cometh down from above, adds to it incredible sharpness and brightness, and irresistiis peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. A gracious ble effect. Consult the page of history, consult the records sour spirit is, we had almost said, a contradiction in terms. which yourselves must have made of the dispensations of Be persuaded to bring forth good fruit. What but reason- Providence, and mark how awfully our text has been fulfillable, that Christ should expect, should seek, should demanded, "Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn fruit? and where but from you? Shall he seek it from the down and cast into the fire." And, oh! that Britian may uncultivated trees of the forest, from the wild olives in the profit by such sad examples; and abandon that pride, intemwilderness? Or is it more natural to seek it from the pruned perance, false security, and obstinacy, that irreligion, that and watered trees in his own vineyard? And if ye bring atheism, that corruption and fraudulence, that misgovernforth good fruit, well,-well for the Lord of the vineyard, which ment, disunion, and disorderliness, and that want of fraternal is Christ, well for the vine-dresser, which is your minister, concord, so calculated to bring upon her swift perdition! well for the barren fig tree, which is yourself. For against The doom denounced in our text, that "Every tree which every tree which bringeth not forth the fruit we have been bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the describing, is the awful doom in our text denounced. Not fire," does the Supreme Ruler inflict upon sinning Churches every tree that bringeth forth evil fruit, but, "Every tree with the axe of spiritual plagues and temporal judgments. which bringeth not forth good fruit," for that tree is evil With spiritual plagues, when he removes faithful ministers,

which is barren. "Every tree which bringeth not forth good and sends inefficient and indolent successors; when he excites, fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." among the members, intolerant and arrogant domination over Christ is the lord of the vineyard. What is the believing the consciences and liberties of each other, and strife so that soul but the vineyard of Christ? And hence, when alluding they bite and devour each other; when he suffers to prevail to those special communications which he has with the soul among them uncharitableness, malice, envy, slander, and of a believer, he calls them visiting his garden; and the sa- similar passions, which, carried far, he abhors and considers tisfaction which he has in those renewed and sanctified tem-to be equally heinous with the robberies and with the murpers that dwell in the heart and spread through the conduct ders which are visited by human justice, and are so revolting of a believer, he styles eating his pleasant fruit. "I am to human nature. With temporal judgments, when he income into my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered volves them in the calamities brought upon sinning nations, of my myrrh with my spice; I have caten my honey-comb with which they constitute part; and when, by these dire calammy honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk." Once, ities, the light of the Gospel is extinguished, the candlestick and this vineyard lay but a waste howling wilderness, in of Christian ordinances taken out of the place, civil and reliwhich Satan held undisputed sway; but the exertions of the gious freedom overturned, whatever conveniences and forgreat husbandman, and the dews of spiritual influence, have tunes they possess ruined and scattered; and the blackest enriched it with the fruitfulness and adorned it with the bloom curse of Heaven appears to spread its raven wing, and exert of Eden: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be its baleful influence, over the very spot of earth, at one time glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom favoured and consecrated from on high, which they had polas the rose:" "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir luted by unbelief, ingratitude, and impiety. "Now will I tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his and it shall be to the Lord," the keeper of the vineyard, "for vineyard: my well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." hill; and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, But Christ has another vineyard, and of more extent; we and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the refer to the whole visible Church, in which are to be found midst of it, and also made a wine-press therein; and he lookthe tall cedar and lowly shrub, fruitful plants and barren ed that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild trees. The trees in this garden were primarily the Jews, and grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of afterwards the Gentile nations. The original condition of the Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. Gentiles has been compared to that of a wild olive, not the What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have natural production of the vineyard, but transplanted from the not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should wilderness, and inserted into the better stock by the skill and bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now, kindness of the lord of the vineyard; the Jews being the na- go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tural root. But the Jews, in the divine sovereignty and in take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and the divine wrath, have been cast over the garden wall, and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; we are permitted to remain within the vineyard. Yet above and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; our head also do the judgments of the Almighty hang, and but there will come up briers and thorns; I will also comshall as assuredly seize upon us for our impenitence and un-mand the clouds that they rain no rain upon it." belief, as they siezed upon and trampled down the Church of The doom denounced in our text, that " Every tree which the Jews, of which a most awakening intimation is contained bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the in the text now before us. 66 Every tree which bringeth not fire," does the Supreme Ruler inflict upon sinning persons, forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." by exposing and blasting them even here, assuredly by punThe doom denounced in our text, that "every tree which ishing and consuming them hereafter. bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire," does the Supreme Ruler inflict upon sinning nations with the axe of public calamities.

Just while they shall be carrying upon them the blossoms of profession, and be crowned with all favourable opinions, he lets them uncover themselves, and show what in reality Among the chief of such calamities may be reckoned war, they are, and convince the world that in reality they are twice and those dread disasters which mark, and which follow the dead, and only fit to be plucked up and thrown away. For progress of an invading and successful enemy: famine, pes- he who is no more than a hypocrite, will not always be suftilence, and captivity, confused noise, and garments rolled in fered to remain a hypocrite; the disguise may soon be torn blood. The Assyrian monarch, while invading and destroy-from his person, and the mask from his face. But whether ing the nations around him, is entitled the axe and saw of exposed and blasted here, or not, they cannot fail to be hewn the divine anger, "Shall the axe boast itself against him that down by the axe of death; death, which indeed hews down heweth therewith? or shall the saw. magnify itself against the flourishing and fruit-bearing trees also, and spares neither him that shaketh it?" Such an axe against the sinning na-the verdant tree nor the dry, neither hypocrisy nor sincerity, tion of the Jews was Nebuchadnezzar, and after him Titus neither wickedness nor holiness; but mark the difference: Vespasian with the calamities brought upon them by the the trees in the vineyard of Christ are not so much hewn severe strokes of the one axe, surrounding him, did Jeremiah down, as transplanted from the nursery below, to the paradise utter his Lamentations, and deplore the miseries of his fallen above, where they flourish under a warmer sun and a milder country; with the still heavier calamities to be brought upon climate, all beauty and order, all safety and perfection; them by the other battle-axe, full in his prophetic view, did whereas, the trees that glorify not the divine husbandman by John forewarn them of the irrevocable, and complete, and bearing, must glorify him by burning; and, in the monitory final ruin of the state, "Now also the axe is laid unto the emphatic language of our text, "Every tree which bringeth root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." A ter- The doom denounced in our text, that "Every tree which rible axe! most dreadful to behold! which levels in undis- bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the

fire," suggests to our mind, that notwithstanding the care prived. If things which are seen and which are temporal and attention bestowed upon the trees, multitudes of them bound their views, it is by no means surprising to behold continue barren, or bring not forth good fruit; that no more them attached to the world; for, in the grave, their prospects signal instance of the divine mercy could be exhibited, than terminate; beyond the grave, they see nothing but everlasting withholding, time after time, the fatal blow; that when the silence and desolation. That exquisite relish which they disseason of forbearance terminates, vengeance will hew down play for the enjoyments of time and of sense cannot be so the tree; that however near the axe descends to the root of much blamed, as the hot precipitancy which they discover in the tree, however prepared the instruments of vengeance, yet arriving at conclusions so dismal; in extinguishing hopes the mercy still implores and admonishes; and that, all means most sublime; in renouncing immortality, and heaven, and rejected, all warnings slighted, if the tree be "hewn down happiness. Have they spent that time and paid that attenand cast into the fire," the blame and the blood of men's tion which are required for settling, even in a speculative misery be on men's impenitency. way, questions so important and eventful, so big with the Wherefore, our exhortation to you is, bring forth good eternal destinies of man? Have they not, with unreasonable fruit-see that ye be rooted in Christ; see that ye be stead-rashness, and under the impulse of unhallowed appetite, burst fast in the faith, not tossed with every wind of doctrine; see the bands of moral and religious feeling, and joined the standthat no worm of predominant sin be at the root; see that yeard of infidelity, without reflecting upon the substantial loss grow by the rivers of water; see that ye grow near to one which they have incurred, and upon the unsubstantial gain another; and, oh! pray to be made fruitful, even though the which they have acquired? Have they not assumed deism, pruning-knife be employed; for better the pruning-knife of to indulge in criminal passions without restraint and without affliction, than the hewing axe of damnation,

SERMON VIII.

THE DESIRE OF LIFE; A NEW YEAR'S DISCOURSE. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee.-Psalm exix. 175. In the words now before us, the psalmist prays for a continuation of his temporal life, that he might have time and opportunity in this world to honour God: "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee," or, that I may praise thee-Let my life be prolonged, that I may live to thy glory.

control? Have they not fled to infidelity as to a city of refuge, where they might be safe from the torments of consciencethe enemy and the avenger? And yet, should they search matters to the bottom, a thousand moments, and a thousand too, are occurring, in which they will find it impossible, despite of all the assurance and confidence affected by them, to persuade themselves that religion is a cheat, and eternity a baseless dream. And if so, are they not inexcusable in wishing for the prolongation of life, with a view to make no other use of it, but to fulfil the desires of the flesh and of the mind? Ought they not, in a very different spirit, a spirit of humility and inquiry, to form the wish in our text, "Let my scul live?"

But some people we meet with, who do not reject the truths of religion, yet live as if they admitted none of them; and who perceive no other end, no other benefit, in the prolongation of life, than as it furnishes them with an opportunity and with the means of gratifying their depraved inclinations. Shall it offend my audience, if I suppose that some of these baptized infidels are now hearing me?

Art not thou one of

I have no doubt, my brethren, that such a wish as this has, at least in part, been formed and expressed by most of you, during the preceding week, the commencement of a new year. them, O young man! who, ushered upon the world's stage, When, in the usual style, you wished to yourselves and to and surrounded with scenes of forbidden pleasure, believest your friends, a good new year, long life, and many comforta- no felicity comparable to the noise and hubbub of riot and of ble returns of the season, you in fact formed the very same extravagance; who shunnest the path of piety; who leavest wish with David in the text, "Let my soul live." I flatter the acts of devotion to the aged and to the dying; to whom a myself, therefore, with entering into your sentiments, when I wise and sober deportment appears the vilest drudgery, and make this wish to-day the subject of our discourse. a bar to real happiness? Art not thou one of them, O ambi

Only, as we discern in the text both the man and the be-tious man! who, from morn till night unceasing, projectest liever, humanity and piety; and as these two qualities, united schemes for aggrandizing thy fortune or thy family; who asin the psalmist, are so often separated in the hearts and lips pirest after the honour that cometh from man, more than after of the great bulk of mankind; it will be requisite to consider, the honour that cometh from above; who createst imaginary in two distinct parts, that which, with the psalmist, made but prospects of grandeur awaiting thee, and, by anticipation of one and the same emotion, or breathing of soul. He wishes future height and affluence, comfortest thyself against the for life; behold the affections of the man; he wishes for life, present, which fails to satisfy thy pride; and wouldest rather that, in the enjoyment of it, he might glorify God; behold the live no more, than live in obscurity and in shade? Art not heaven-born desires of the believer; he wishes for life, and so thou one of them, O vindictive man! who, since the injury do we all; but we do not all, like him, wish to employ that done thee, breathest nought but the ruin of thine enemy; who life which we desire for the glory of God. pursuest him with taunts, affronts, calumnies, contradictions, It is our design to examine the first branch of the text, oppressions, violence; who stirrest up thy neighbourhood "Let my soul live," as a detached wish, in which all the sons into quarrels, or thy nation into the flames of anarchy and of of men will join; and at the same time run over those culpa- war; and whose life is a continual study, how, and how soon, ble motives which every day induce the greater part of men and how much, to be avenged on thine adversary? Art not to form it; and next, to consider the words as one entire and thou one of them, O covetous man! who, envying the success complete wish, "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee;" of those around thee, strivest, by lawful measures and unlawand, in this point of view, present it to you as a model of ful tricks, to rise to a similar degree of opulence and splenthose reasonable and Christian sentiments which ought to dour; who hast a thief's fingers, and a murderer's heart; who animate you on the beginning of a new year, in desiring for esteemest him the happiest that hoards silver as the dust, and yourselves and others many returns of such a season. swims in wealth, and rides aloft in pomp and in pre-eminence ?

"Let my soul live;" let my life be prolonged; is a wish Thus, by enumerating the various classes of men, who, havcommon to all the sons of men, and it becomes laudable or ing a form of godliness, yet deny the power thereof, it must criminal according to the goodness or badness of the motives appear too evident, that multitudes are tied to life by the which influence us to form it: and we propose, in the first bonds of criminal passion, and by no other motives; insoplace, to consider this part of the text as a detached wish, set much, that if their desires for the prolongation of it should be in opposition to the last clause, and originating in those cul- reduced into direct prayers, each with its ruling motive anpable motives which induce too many of the sons of men to nexed, what a scene would be unfolded, how black with imdesire a prolongation of life. piety, how shocking to the serious mind! Let my soul live, We should naturally begin the catalogue of those who are that I may enjoy heaven upon earth; let the Mahomedan parinfluenced to form such a wish from criminal motives, with adise descend; and mine be the feast and the dance, mirth deists or infidels, who deny the Bible to be a divine revela- and sensual delight: let my soul live, that I may shine in tion, and also, for the most part, the immortality of the soul, splendour and exalted repute before men; let dignities be conthe resurrection of the body, and a future state of existence; ferred upon me from every side, and my fame be wafted on a class of men who are deeply interested in wishing, "Let every breeze: let my soul live, that I may inflict vengeance my soul live." If they believe no other doctrine but that of on my foes; brace my sinews, strengthen my hands, that I annihilation after death, on leaving the world they cannot ex-may sweep from domestic comforts and from public honours, pect an adequate recompense for that of which they are de- those who have thwarted my pursuits, wounded my vanity,

and withheld the homage which I had expected: let my soul which the spirit moves upon their heart, and religion seems live, that I may grasp riches, extort profits, cheat my credit- taking fast hold of them, and conscience arises, and higher resors, and oppress my debtors; pence instead of pardon, the olutions arise; seasons in which they condemn their folly, mammon of unrighteousness instead of God in Christ recon- and imbecility, and iniquity; seasons in which they confess ciling the world unto himself. Is the serious mind confound- themselves unfit to die; and they desire to live, in order to ed and shocked at such a prayer? yes, and so perhaps the have their state reversed, their souls regenerated: but yet, in sinner too but what? is not this the very language of the spite of terror, and in spite of reflection, and in spite of resosecret desire of your heart? Is not this, however impious, the lution, they are no more ready to die, than five, or twenty, or loud thundering language of your conduct? Is not this the forty years since. Do ye require arguments to be convinced, actual, but concealed interpretation, that you affix upon the that such conduct is opposed to the honour of God, to right wish in our text, "Let my soul live?" And oh! what else is reason, to your own vital interests? Know, that so long as your conduct but unjust, ungenerous, and ungrateful, to abuse you do not flee for refuge to Christ, the hope set before us, the divine goodness and the divine gifts, and alienate them your iniquities are daily increasing, and with them are daily from God, to the indulgence of your unhallowed appetites ? increasing your grounds of terror for that period, when before But why name equity, why speak of generosity, why of grat- your Sovereign Judge you shall be cited, and consigned to itude, to you, who are too much drenched in carnal excesses, abodes of penal vengeance, offers of mercy excluded, and no to be susceptible of such high and such elevated feelings? place for repentance, though sought with eternal tears and What spirit of error bewitches you, what blind frenzy hath lamentations. And will not your present delay to harken to seized you; desiring life, that you may consume it on your the voice of mercy, will not your present despite of the great lusts? the goodness of God which ought to inspire you with salvation, aggravate your crime, and deepen your doom? repentance; you pervert that goodness and patience, and Among the various wishes for the prolongation of life, the treasure up for yourselves wrath against the day of wrath. most unreasonable and most presumptuous we conceive to be, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed making no improvement of life for the vast and vital concernspeedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in ments of eternity, and yet praying from time to time in the them to do evil." words of our text, "Let my soul live."

A third class, much less condemned than any of the pre- We e propose, in the second place, to consider the words of ceding, but whose disposition is far removed from the psalm- our text as one entire and complete wish, "Let my soul live, ist's, we define to be such as are attached to life, and desire and it shall praise thee;" and, in this point of view, present the continuance of it, from an immoderate regard for objects it to you as a model of those reasonable and Christian sentiin themselves right and proper. What more common than to ments, which ought to animate you on the beginning of a new find persons, in the enjoyment of external comfort and tran-year, in desiring for yourselves and others many returns of quillity, desirous of building a tabernacle here, and abiding in such a season.

the midst of so much that is pleasant to the flesh and to the Praising God, consists in our acknowledging, admiring, fancy? What more common than to find persons attached to and endeavouring to imitate his excellences, and the beauty life, from anticipating some distant advantage; or from the of his power and holiness. Praising God, includes in it a remembrance of past toils and fatigues, of which it seems nat- suitable knowledge of his being and perfections, a believing ural and just for them to reap the profit; or from an ardent trust in his mercy, an ardent love for him, an admiration of affection towards relatives and friends, which dreads a sepa- his benevolence, and the manifesting of our knowledge, and ration, and abhors the unsocial tomb? However, in forming faith, and love, and admiration, in the tenor of our converse such a wish from such motives, you are preferring your own and conduct. And the praising of God which ought to be will to the will of God, the gift to the Giver, the creature to our motive in forming the wish, Let my soul live," is, you the Creator, sentiments little worthy of a rational being, far will be pleased to observe, the praises of the whole mau: less of an exalted Christian, who should desire to be with soul and body, being alike participants of his bounty, and Christ, his master, and not rest too fondly in the fashion of subjects of his redeeming love, must alike be consecrated to the world or in the delights of society. Let not the pregnant his praise. His praise must be celebrated upon the earth; cloud of the divine mercies intercept from our view the di- his praise must be celebrated by us on our journey to heaven; vine hand, which has filled that cloud with dew and with his praise ascends amid innumerable dishonours done to him fruitfulness. by our apostate obdurate race. We praise God, by securing

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It still remains for us to animadvert upon a fourth class, our own salvation-by showing forth his perfections, and whose attachment to life, and whose desire of having it pro- declaring his tender mercies-by promoting the temporal longed, appears, as one might think, much more reasonable interest, and especially the spiritual advantage of our brethren than do the cases which we have already delineated, and of mankind. In each of these respects we may pray, accordyet, if inspected, must be pronounced unreasonable and dis- ing to the words of our text, "Let my soul live, and it shall graceful in the extreme. Lo, there is a man whose head is praise thee."

enlightened in the truths of religion; he knows, in a specula- "Let my soul live, and it shall Fraise thee," by securing tive manner, his privileges and his duty; his conscience is my own salvation. The trembling soul, whom an insight alarmed by the preaching of the word; the spirit, in his com- into his native corruption frightens; whom the idea of divine mon operations, knocks at the door of his heart, or say, justice crushes; whom the possible or probable nearness of Providence lays him on a sick bed, and death and eternity death fills with anguish; who keeps looking to Jesus, desirstare him full in the face: he is roused from his former sloth-ous of prolonged time in order for the establishing of his fulness his thoughts turn inwards; reflection and the force faith; let him draw near with the prayer in our text, let him of truth illuminate the darkest recesses of his soul; after a cffer it, nothing doubting, and the answer, whatever it be, serious and careful survey, he discovers with grief bordering shall be for his advantage and his happiness. The trembling on despair, that his eternal interests have been neglected; and infirm believer, anxious and unsettled about his spiritual overwhelmed with terror, conviuced how much is to be done, state; who, though foxes have holes, and the birds of the air and how much more space he needs for doing it, he prays for have nests, hath not where to lay his head, no pillow to rest a prolongation of his life," Let my soul live." His prayer upon with certainty, in view of the eternal world; let him is answered: but scarce has he obtained his desire, scarce draw near, and offer up the prayer in our text, nothing doubthas he come from the sick bed, till, forgetting the cause and ing, and the answer, whatever it be, shall be for his advantoccasion of his desire, he holds on in the self same road of care- age and his happiness; and who knows but that, before his lessness and iniquity; and arrive death when it may, tenfold departure into the eternal world, the evidences of his state more horrible shall be its appearance, tenfold more dreaded shall be brightened, and he shall be enabled to make his its approach. What think ye of such a man? Yet we have calling and election sure and undeniable?

not done: the same circumstances recur; again he meditates "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee," by showing on his condition; again receives a broad view of death and forth thy perfections, and declaring thy tender mercies. Lord, eternity; again is alarmed, penetrated, frantic; again and I am not worthy to enter into thy celestial palace; let my again repeats his desire, his promise, his resolution; let his soul live, that I may declare how much I am indebted to thy desire be granted, and his promise he neglects, his resolution grace, before departing hence and being no more: my life he breaks; afraid of death, he never makes ready for it, pray- hitherto has been the opposite of praising thee; I have dising for life, yet he never makes a better of it-never lives honoured thee; I have hardened my fellow sinners against by the faith of the Son of God, who hath abolished death, thee; I have drawn aside thy professing people, and instiand revealed to us a spiritual life and a blissful immortality. gated them to blaspheme thy name, to mock thine ordinances, We shall do these men justice: they are neither speculative to bring discredit on the Christian character: let my soul unbelievers, nor hardened sinners; they have seasons in live, that I may be the instrument of repairing what I have

injured, of restoring what I have taken away, of building up commend. His mind was early formed to piety. It was in what I have destroyed. his early years that his thoughts were turned towards the "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee," by promoting ministry; and during the course of his studies he was rethe temporal interest, and especially the spiritual advantage, markable for his modesty and his diligence. In the beginof my brethren of the human race. We are commanded to ning of 1798, he received licence to preach the Gospel. His put on, towards our neighbour, bowels of mercy and com- services were very acceptable to the religious public, and he passion and if the believer deems it in his power to con- soon received a harmonious call from the congregation in Jedtribute to the edification of his brethren, he should by no burgh, to be successor to the Reverend Alexander Shanks, means desire to be made perfect without them. What a their then aged and venerable pastor, and was ordained in the beautitul exemplification of such disinterested love did the August following. When he entered on his ministry, it was Apostle Paul display, when he said, "I am in a strait be- with every favourable circumstance. The dawn indicated twixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, the approach of an auspicious day. Nor did the indication which is far better; nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is prove fallacious, for his ministry was eminently distinguished more needful for you:" Love to man, love to the church, by public usefulness. In discharging all the functions of the made him willing that his entrance into heaven should be sacred office, he continued to be the successful minister unto deferred; out of tenderness for them, he accepted of his min- the end.

isterial cares and the dreariness of exile from Christ, content In general his judgment was good, his memory strong, his to remain among them for the advancement and for the joy reading extensive, and on men and books his observations of their faith! Let us desire life, not merely for ourselves, were judicious.

but for the interest and advantage of our neighbours. Let us In regard to his bodily constitution, it was not robust. He imitate the genorous Uriah, who refused to share the comforts was rather of delicate health; but by a careful attention to of his house and bed, because his brethren were stretched in himself, previously to the illness which terminated his lathe camp, and exposed to the fatigues and to the calamities bours, he was very seldom laid off from his public work by of war. Let us imitate the courageous Nehemiah, who, bodily indisposition.

though royal cupbearer, mourned and pined, because the city As a man, he had an amiable mind, and was of conciliating of his God lay in ruins, and his brethren under contumely dispositions. In his manner there was a patience, a meekand distress. And if these be our motives for desiring a ness, a softness, accompanied with a visible willingness to prolongation of life, let parents in behalf of their children, let oblige, which endeared him to all. Benevolence to men, I ministers in behalf of their flocks, let rulers in behalf of the may say, was the very element in which his soul lived and country whose interest they do or should promote,-let them moved. His integrity was of the first order; in friendship he offer up with boldness and assurance the prayer in our text, was sincere; in counsel prudent; to admonish he was loath, "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee." and when he had to do it, it was always done in the tender

And finally, it being a custom, on the commencement of a ness of friendship. new year, for men to present each other with congratulations His piety was of the most amiable cast,-it was enlightenand friendly wishes, according to the same custom do I pre-ed, it was mild, it was uniform. In him Christianity apsent you, my Christian brethren, with my pastoral congratu-peared lovely and inviting; pouring day over the dark mind, lations. In the scriptural sense of the phrase, I wish you a strengthening the weak, consoling the afflicted, gladdening good new-year. May your souls live, not that you should the hearts of the faithful, commanding the respect of the most act upon infidel sentiments, not that you should throw loose worthless. It shone, not like the moon when labouring under the reins to your depraved inclinations, not that you should an eclipse, but like the sun when shinning beauteously in the sink down in doating attachment upon secular pursuits and heavens.

earthly relatives, not that you should trifle and procrastinate In religious principle, he was the enlightened and steadfast with the affairs of your eternity; but that, with heart and man. Where religious principles were concerned, no earthly soul, and mind and strength, you should praise God, by authority weighed with him. It was necessary that with his securing your own salvation, by showing forth his perfec- own eyes he should see them to be in the word of the Lord; and tions, and declaring is tender mercies; by promoting the when satisfied of their being in the word of the Lord, to them temporal interest, and especially the spiritual advantage, of he adhered with a firm and unshaken mind. He was a Presyour brethren of mankind. May this be to you the year of byterian from principle; and a Presbyterian of the Secession jubilee, of release from Satan's yoke, and of an increasing Church from principle. But though a Presbyterian, and of the advancement in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you Secession Church, he could well appreciate the worth of all free. And if this year you shall die, may it be the year in good men, to whatever denomination they belonged. He which you are born into the world of glory, where time is kept by the Scripture doctrine, That all who believe on Jesus measured out, not by drops, but by a full and ever-flowing Christ, and walk in him, are in the sight of God valuable flood of happiness and of praise. Let me live, that I may characters, and as such, these he loved; and that, where this praise thee on earth; let me die, that I may praise thee in is not the case, whatever denomination of Christians a man heaven: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." belongs to, his religion is nothing.

SOME ACCOUNT

OF THE

REVEREND PETER YOUNG,

LATE MINISTER OF THE FIRST UNITED ASSOCIATE CONGREGA-
TION IN JEDBURGH.

In the discharge of his ministerial duties, in the pulpit and out of it, he was most assiduous. Presiding over a large body of people, and having a constitution not of the strongest kind, he had much to do; but, notwithstanding, in discharging all the offices of the Christian pastor, his labour was unremitting. Besides his attentions to his own congregation, he was ready to give his assistance to every institution, which had for its object the good of man. Every institution, pious and charitable, felt his energies; especially that greatest of all charities, the dissemination of the word of life" among the various nations of mankind.

His manner of preaching you know much better than I can describe. In the language of Scripture, he was "an able minister of the New Testament." His manner of preaching was eminently suited to a numerous congregation, made up of

From the conclusion of a sermon, delivered by the Rev. Rebert Hall persons of every capacity. His subjects were the great and to his own congregation, in Kelso, in 1824.

interesting doctrines of Christianity. His exposition of the truth was always luminous, and happily adapted to the taste During the progress of this discourse, your minds will na- of the renewed soul. In his discourses there was an uncomturally have been turned towards the memory of our dear mon zest of savouriness, for his heart was transfused into the friend, whose death has led to the present train of meditation. words which proceeded from his lips. His countenance was Praise, I know, availeth not the dead; but when truthfully mild; his manner grave; his utterance deliberate; his voice and judiciously bestowed, may be of service to the living. It full-toned. The truth coming from him, was tenderly and is under the influence of this feeling, that I proceed to say strongly impressive; but on the assembly it fell not in lightsomething of our dear departed friend. ning, and thunder, and tempest, but as the warm refreshing Among those who knew him, this we believe to be the rain upon the earth. I know any congregation is going along general feeling, that of living characters, few were to be met with me in all that I have said. with, in whom was to be found less to censure, and more to For twenty-five years he was our regular assistant at the