go into the house of the Lord if it have led him to see more fully than before, and to profit by this) knowledge, that "Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity in itself." yllubb gw Jedt Jod I now proceed with my application of the Psalms bu igion but OR I OS Sw jelt In the first place then, the Order of the sen timents here expressed by David seems to me to suggest an important lesson, worthy of par ticular illustration it is this to that for our prayers and our labours to be adequate and effective, they ought to spring, like David's, from a contemplative examination of the struc ture and purposes of our Church, and a com prehension, thus acquired, of the whole scheme of her organisation. Hoes to youst In speaking to my brethren of the Clergy, I speak to men who have given in their deliberate adhesion to the Church of England, believing that her doctrine is pure, her formularies worthy of their assent and consent, and that, as a living member of the Church of Christ, she deserves their support, and justifies their devotion of themselves to her service. But I would urge, that to be efficient ministers of her altars, more than this is required of us: I would submit that in addition to this approbation of her general character, and our own personal conviction of e the paramount importance of her general object (that of bringing souls to God, and building them up in our most holy faith) it is fitting and incum bent that we dutifully and cordially identify ourselves with her plan of effecting this object, that we enter into and comprehend all the parts of her system, that we construe, attentively her intentions as to the manner in which they shall be applied in practice, that we study and observe their mutual references and connections, their subordination to a controlling law of order, and their proportionate adjustment by which all togethers are made to form an harmonious and symmetrical whole. For want of a clear view of this obligation, I believe that much inconsistency of action has arisen, inconsistency both with themselves and with their Church, amongst truly pious ministers of God, and much offence and occasion of scandal given both within and without our sanctuary. og er oufinob rod Jadt gnThis compact unity of our Jerusalem reigns throughout the three parts of her structure her Government, her Ordinances, and her Doctrinë : and a practical observance of it should never be lost sight of with regard to any of these parts.It I. With regard to the first point, her Government, I shall say but a very few words. We receive it as of Apostolical institution, and we see с t its admirable adaptation for keeping up from age to age a ministry retaining faithfully primitive doctrine, and fitted to be the independent and yet paternal rulers of the flocks committed to their trust. Let us duly prize this great advantage and in proof that we do so, let us each gladly welcome every occasion on which we may exhibit our constant and dutiful sense of subordination and respect to our ecclesiastical superiors, of association and brotherhood with our equals in the ministry: avoiding carefully the sin of those persons whom St. Paul denounces in his address. to the Ephesian elders, as men who from amongst themselves" should arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."* Let us check that proud affectation of singularity and desire of pre-eininence, which were the stigma of a Diotrephes, and which must certainly be recognised as amongst the besetting temptations of our calling; and let us studiously cultivate their opposites, a reverential deference to lawful authority, an unenvious and cordial spirit of brotherhood and co-operation. As to the amount of authority which we ourselves may rightfully claim over our flocks, whether as to doctrine or practical obedience, (a subject, I am aware, of doubtful, and now much * Acts xx. 30, #3 John 9. See also 1 Tim, vi. 3, 5, agitated, disputation,) I think it safer only to call to your remembrance, that while Scripture repeatedly enforces upon the people their duty of recognising that authority,* (a duty which is plainly necessary for the perfection of the Church's peace,) it also repeatedly reminds us that we are not to act, as "lords over God's heritage," but as "tensamples of the flock,"** not as "having dominion over their faith," but rather as "helpers. of their joy:" and that it holds out as our examples in this matter the Son of God, who came not" to exercise authority," "not to be ministered unto, but to minister;"‡ and his Apostles, who invariably preached Christ as the one Master of us all, and rejoiced always to term themselves the Servants of his Disciples for their Master's sake. I will add, however, that with regard to the practical solution of the question two facts are certain where the Minister's heart is in his work and he speaks the truth in love, where he is an ensample as well as a teacher of his flock, there (eventually, at least) not only will his person be loved, but his authority will be recognised, and it will be great: where his words are contradicted by his spirit and his conduct, there *Heb. xiii. 17, &c. ** 1 Pet. v. 2. Matt. xxiii. 8. † 2 Cor. i. 24. § 2 Cor. iv. 5. the just authority of his office will inevitably suffer, and it is he who is principally chargeable with this breach of the due subordination of the Church. II. But it is especially with regard to her Ordinances and Formularies that I think this study of the Church's system and intentions is requisite, so that her Ministers may be consistent one with another, and the instrumentality which she supplies them with may be experienced by them as not an incumbrance and a yoke, but, as it was intended by her, the effectual means of applying to the hearts and lives of the people the saving influences of christianity. Admirable is the adaptation of that instru-/ mentality to the various crises of human life; and, by seizing its favourable eras and cardinal events, influential, or at least calculated to be influential, in a degree which cursory, inspection suggests not, and which experience alone fully discloses. It thus comes home to men's bosoms and businesses :" it deals " 66 with them when their nature affords the most favourable purchase, the TÔυ σTÔ, from whence the powers of heaven may act with greatest advantage.When parental love is warm in the heart, she invites and receives at Baptism, the precious deposit of the infant soul; when that infant soul awakens to the desire |