his mind, and loving Him with all his heart, and obeying Him with all his strength.

My friends, if there be truth in these observations, let it be inscribed on our hearts. Let us live and act in the faith, that true happiness and perfect rest, in this life and in the future, are to be found, not in ease and idleness, but in following the admonition of our text. "Arise, and be doing; and the Lord be with thee."

SERMON XVI.

(DELIVERED ON THANKSGIVING-DAY.)

1 THESSALONIANS V. 16.

· Rejoice evermore!"'

"THE heart knoweth its own bitterness; " but not every heart knoweth, that it hath that within itself wherewith to make the bitter waters sweet.

The God of nature, who has taught the little insect how to draw sweet and wholesome food from poisonous herbs, has blessed, also, the understanding heart of man with the mysterious power to gather joy from trouble, love from hatred, wisdom from folly, life from death. I maintain, then, that it is in the power of every human being, under all circumstances of life, even in trouble, disappointment, and despondency, to receive and to answer the inspiring call of the Apostle, "Rejoice evermore!" Of those, to whom the Apostle writes these words, the Thessalonian Christians, he himself says, "We glory in you for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations.” Patience and faith are not sources of joy, which are found only in some favored places, which flow only at particular seasons, but they are fixed for ever in the unfathomed depths of hu

In

man nature, springing up into everlasting life. deed, there are, within and without us, numberless sources of joy, suflicient to supply every thirsting soul. But some are sources of happiness, hedged in by the selfishness of their possessors; others, though within the reach of every one, are too deep to be reached without labor and effort, and therefore deserted by many for broken cisterns on the surface.

"Rejoice evermore ! " This admonition of the Apostle is accompanied by two other kindred sentiments. He says, "Rejoice evermore! Pray without ceasing! In every thing give thanks! for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Constant rejoicing, unceasing prayer, thankfulness in every thing; — the junction of these three affecting and inspiring commandments shows a profound knowledge of the changing tides, and the steady currents, of the heart. Joy is the object of prayer, and the cause of gratitude. Our hopes and our fears, our doubts, and griefs, and disquietudes, all the overplied powers of body and mind, are prayers, petitions of suffering human, nature, for that fulness of joy, which marks the supply of our wants and the gratification of our wishes. And the joy, which springs from the fulfilment of our prayers, overflows in gratitude. As, in the human body, the deteriorated and exhausted blood rushes back to the heart to be purified and renewed, and then to be propelled again, to warm, and quicken, and invigorate every part of the system; so in the soul, the wearied powers and chilled affections are continually refreshed and strengthened, and

thus a constant circulation of vital action is kept up in the inner man, by the quickening influence of joy.

It was, then, with a perfect understanding of the harmonious workings of the soul, that the Apostle bound up, in the same injunction, the three kindred emotions of prayer, gratitude, and joy. And we would open our hearts to their united influence, especially on this day, which has been set apart, in this Commonwealth, for acknowledging, with devout and grateful joy, the great blessings allotted to us by a kind and impartial Providence.

It would not be practicable, if it were desirable, to attempt any thing like an enumeration of the blessings, for which we have come hither to render thanks to the bountiful Giver. Who can record the benefits which every day brings forth, the good things which perish in the using, as well as those in which we rejoice evermore. It seems most profitable to reflect on some of the more permanent relations of life, which are the sources of duties as well as pleasures, and in which the measure of our joys is determined by the fidelity with which we meet the responsibilities which they impose. And if the consideration of these blessings should leave us better satisfied with our condition than our deserts, let us remember, that we do not meet here to congratulate cach other on the attainments we have made, but rather in view of the littleness of what we have done to prepare for higher efforts. Truly, if there be any moral connected with thanksgiving, it consists in making this expression of our sentiments the precursor of and a preparation for

showing them forth by a more substantial, practical gratitude.

Let us look at the various relations of life, which give rise to our best joys and most important duties. We are members of families, inhabitants of the same city, citizens of the same country; we are men, and we are Christians. We belong to each of these social circles, which extend from our most immediate neighbourhood gradually over the whole world, and from this present moment of time onward through the ages of eternity. Each of these spheres, in which we move, devolves upon us peculiar joys, cares, and responsibilities. To begin with the nearest and dearest of our social relations; we rejoice, that we are members of families, united by the simple and holy ties of husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister.

From the manner in which this day is, and always has been celebrated, it is most peculiarly a family day. And it is as a family day, that it is fitted to fulfil a special moral mission in society. The quiet reliance on the efficacy of the natural ties of affection, the countless and nameless comforts, which are continually and unconsciously derived from domestic intercourse, tempt us to receive the services of our nearest friends with the same thankless enjoyment, with which we habitually expect our lungs to move, and our blood to pulsate. It is only when symptoms of fever or consumption disturb our listless security, and we begin to count the pulses and watch the heavy breathings, that we learn to prize the blessing of unconscious health. And so it is, often, only when the