"of

"he appeared: and he felt within himself the gratulations of a good conscience, and the hope of immortality. It was peculiarly delightful to see him in the latest period of his life, at the "venerable age of eighty-two, looking back on "almost threescore years spent in the public ser"vice of his God, pleased with the recollections "which it gave, possessing a mind still vigorous "and clear, the delight of his friends, sensible to "the attentions which they paid to him, burning "with zeal for the good of the Church, and with "all the ardour of youthful ambition, preparing "the materials of a new claim to the gratitude and "admiration of posterity. In this active state of

..

preparation, with the lamp of life still clear and bright, he was found by the Great Lord of all "when he came to say, 'It is enough';' and, af"ter a single night of pain, to call him gently to "his rest.

"He has gone to give an account of his steward

ship. The Church mourns in him the loss of "her brightest ornament.-Let us submit to the "stroke with resignation and reverence; and as "the most acceptable proof of respect to his 6c memory, let us learn to practise the lessons which " he taught."

EDINBURGH, March 13th, 1801.

J. FINLAYSON.

SER

!

Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

T

I.

HE High and Lofty One who in- SERMON habiteth eternity, dwelleth also with him that is of humble and contrite heart. In the midst of his glory, the Almighty is not inattentive to the meanest of his subjects. Neither obscurity of station, nor imperfection of knowledge, sinks those below his regard who worship and obey him. Every prayer which they send up from their secret retirements is listened to VOL. I. B

by

SERMON by him; and every work of charity which I. they perform, how unknown soever to the

world, attracts his notice. The text presents a signal instance of this comfortable truth. In the city of Cæsarea, there dwelt a Roman centurion, a military officer of inferiour rank, a Gentile, neither by birth nor religion entitled to the privileges of the Jewish nation. But he was a devout and a benevolent man; who, according to his measure of religious knowledge, studied to perform his duty, prayed to God always, and gave much alms to the people. Such a character passed not unobserved by God. So highly was it honoured, that to this good centurion an Angel was sent from heaven, in order to direct him to the means of full instruction in the truth. The Angel accosts him with this salutation, Cornelius, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

It is to the conjunction of prayers and alms that I purpose now to direct your thoughts, as describing the respectable and amiable character of a man, as forming

the honour and the blessedness of a true SERMON Christian; piety, joined with charity, faith with good works, devotion with morality. These are things which God hath connected, and which it is impious in man to separate. It is only when they remain united, that they can come up as a grateful memorial before God. I shall first endeavour to shew you, That alms, without prayers, or prayers without alms, morality without devotion, or devotion without morality, are extremely defective; and then shall point out the happy effects of their mutual union.

LET us begin with considering the case of alms without prayers; that is, of good works without piety, or a proper sense of God and religion. Examples of this are not uncommon in the world. With many, virtue is, or at least is pretended to be, a respectable and an honoured name, while Piety sounds meanly, in their ears. They are men of the world, and they claim to be men of honour. They rest upon their humanity, their public spirit, their probity, and their truth.