heart of the righteous sad, whom the Lord hath not made sad! Is not this a duty that requires those rich gifts from heaven -wisdom, experience, aptness for teaching, zeal, caution, firmness, and tenderness, in no common measure imparted to us?

While we would not discourage the piety which is unwilling to give but as a Christian, joining words of advice and comfort in ministering to the sick and needy; while we gratefully acknowledge that charitable help afforded us, by discreet and condescending visits among the poor, we do most certainly deprecate any interference with the duties, strictly ministerial. Let not the office of the Priesthood be dispensed with; until it be found that a minister, having been sent for, will not attend. Sorry am I to state, that there are occasions in which the minister is called upon to visit under the plea of giving religious comfort, and the case made out as critical, so that, on an inclement evening, he is hurried to some distant habitation-on

reaching which, he finds, that alms, not spiritual advice, is that which is really desired. Or he is sometimes required, at an hour most unseasonable, to number some little one among the members of Christ's flock, whom neglectful parents have omitted to bring to the font, while health and life seemed secure.

Brethren, prepare now, by deep repentance and lively faith, for passing a holy and peaceful time on the bed of sickness. It is, as we well know, in many cases, a season of such excruciating pain and such distraction of mind, that to begin the work of grace on the heart, requires almost a miracle of Divine interposition. Neglect not your soul now, while grace is offered, lest, when that service is read, which presupposes union with Christ, you be compelled from conscience to cry out, "I am no servant of Christ. Lead me to Him, that I may for the first time, bend the knee of sincere sorrow, and be reconciled to my Lord." Be not offended, when we

strive to probe the conscience, to awaken conviction, to show your need of Christ, to strip the soul of all false pleas of merit, to present you to the Comforter for His healing gifts, and to Christ for covering you with the robe of His righteousness.

That eminent Christian, Hooker, was so far convinced of the Church being an instrument for giving to the lowly believer assurance of pardon, that he desired and received absolution from a brother minister. This humble man was not so mistaken in views of spirituality, as to imagine himself above the appointed means of grace; but received in his last sickness, "the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of our Jesus." After which, says the devout writer of his life, his friend saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face'.-Pray that in the hour of sickness, patience of so high a character, may be vouchsafed unto us, that we may welcome the chastising hand of

1 Iz. Walton.

the Lord, and say from the heart, "Though He slay me, I will trust in Him." Pray that we may be in sickness thankful for the least office of kindness. If we cannot read much, may it be granted us, to enjoy short prayers, and extract nourishment from meditation on choice and comforting texts of Scripture. May we attain to an humble and reverent, more than rapturous frame of mind!--and if the prayer of faith should prevail, through Him who brought back three souls from the grave-should we be spared a little to recover our strength -may we live unto the Lord! Should we be once again raised up, let us be faithful in PAYING the vows, which we made when we were in trouble-and tell forth, in the short remnant of life, what God hath done for our souls.

1 Job xiii. 15.

SERMON XI.

BURIAL SERVICE.

REVELATIONS xiv. 13.

66

I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING UNTO ME, WRITE, BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD FROM HENCEFORTH YEA, SAITH THE SPirit, FOR THEY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.

FOR man, to be indifferent to that body, in which our first parent was created in the image of God; in which the Son of God condescended to tabernacle, though without sin; in which the Holy Ghost deigns to reside, as in a temple, when filling the heart of the Christian, would be base indeed, and an act little short of profaneness.